Banging on the door, a pair of loud and rambunctious furs talked to each other as they waited for a reply. Getting nothing, a large well built crocodile hammered again. “Come on, Lou." He shouted through the door, using the shorthand name for his friend. “You've got to come with us, this place is bumpin'!"

“Ah, If he doesn't show up in a minute, I'm gone!" A panther said with a playful growl as he  leaned against the doorframe. “Louis! We know you're in there! I can smell yoooou." He continued in an exaggerated, albeit creepy, singsong voice and pressed his nose playfully to the corner of the door where it met the jamb. 

“Come on, man!" The croc spoke again, being a bit more firm, though it wasn't clear if it was for Louis hiding in his apartment, or to the panther next to him.

Behind the door a young, lanky built puma was busy taking medication, nerves telling him he should ignore them. They were not really his 'friends' so much as people he hung out with to avoid being alone. He had nothing in common with them and feared what their reaction would be if they found out his secret.

But he had been cooped up for a while and needed to get out. Just a rave was not what he had in mind.

He was slightly on the cute side, easily able to pass off as male or female with the right clothing. Right now he wore a loose fitting T-shirt and baggy blue jeans, had a fluffy mane that ran from his head down to the middle of his back, a fluffy tail tip and the most striking pair of lilac coloured eyes.
“O-okay, coming," he said, looking at a garment in the corner but sighed before opening the door and gave the group a nervous smile. 

“He lives!" The jokester panther said in a cheerful roar and wrapped a muscled arm around the lanky puma, who didn't enjoy it as much as tolerate it. Barely. 

Wincing at the jeering and roar, he managed to slip free of his grasp. “Okay, l-lets do this," he said as he closed the door to his flat and locked up, turning around and gave a half attempt at a brave smile that ended more in a grimace at the burly boys.

“Hell, yeah, man. I promise you, this place is amazing. Great music, great drinks. And oooooh man, the girls!" 

“Dude, just shut it and go! You're making a scene." The croc said and pushed the panther ahead of them, nodding and smiling gently to an elderly sloth woman slowly closing the door again after having peeked out to see what the noise was about. “But seriously, you're gonna love it." He said more sedately as they entered the stairwell.

They all climbed into Louis's car, an old but roomy Sedan car given he was the only one who hadn't recently had his licence revoked, which was unusual for a fur of 19.

Jason sat up front with Louis, turning sideways so he could talk to the pair of them. Eventually he looked over at the puma and chuckled. “Maybe you should come with us to the gym more often, get you pumped up." Jason said and flexed with a toothy grin, “guys are going to start thinking you're a tomboy at best!" He laughed.

Driving towards the venue, he half listened to the noisy banter from the rest, ignoring a jibe from one telling him to be careful not to be mistaken for a girl. “Me, a girl? Heh…hehe," he laughed nervously. “Don't be silly, anyone can tell I'm a guy," he said, not sounding convincing at all.

“Well maybe, but you're not going to get many chicks with noodle arms like those." Jason retorted in jest.

They could hear the music well before they reached the club, the deep bass not having to work hard to vibrate into the actual street. The strobe of RGB light filtered through the door when it was opened, painting the sidewalk in colour.

Louis swallowed as he could hear the noise through the building and car. He had a natural sense of rhythm but this was not something he had really entertained. He cursed himself for being such a pushover.

 Getting out of the car, Jason grinned. “Get ready for the time of your life, boys!" There was a line, but the panther passed it and right up to the front of the line, giving a much playful, but forceful jab to the taller panther. “Hey big bro! Plenty of tail tonight?"

“You're a pig," the bouncer and Jason's brother, Alex, said bluntly and forced a grin before stepping aside to let them in. “Jason, behave yourself…" He said to the smaller feline as he passed. “I'm hoping you'll keep an eye on him, Bek?" He added to the croc, who nodded his reply, before Louis came up. “Hey Louis, have you been doing alright?" Alex asked more quietly, more directly to the puma, seeing he was obviously unsettled about something.

Louis gave a heartfelt smile towards the older brother, wishing deep inside it was his brother. Alex was two years older than he was but had looked after him in school whenever he got bullied and even lent a shoulder to cry on.

“I'm doing okay I guess?" Louis said in a low voice, his ears half back, “work is a pain in the tail and been living my life inside my flat outside of that on video games and such, so guess I am needing this outlet. Doubt anyone will look twice my way," he said before smiling at Alex, “how you doing man? You look like you are hitting the gym every day, that suit is just about ready to burst at the seams," he said. Out of everyone he got along best with Alex, even though he was older by about two years than him.

“Everyone has those days. Take your mind off things and go wild. Just don't go as far as my brother, please." He joked, knowing Louis was much more 'tamed' about things than Jason was. At the compliment, he gave a gentle flex, straining the jacket just a little bit more. “Twice a day now, that's my outlet." he chuckled, “being a bouncer ain't the easiest job." 

“It's not all bad though. You'll find someone, even in your own time, Louis. YOUR drinks are on me tonight, just don't tell the guys. Have fun, okay?" He said before he let the puma into the club.

Louis opened his muzzle in protest but then shut it. He was broke and all he could buy would be the club sodas which would earn more than the odd snarky remark.
“Thanks man, I owe you one," he said with a small chuckle that sounded more than a little effeminate before catching up with the rest.

If the noise was loud on the streets, you were lucky to even be able to hear your thoughts over the music and sound of furs trying to hear their own friends that were only a foot away from them. But there was great and fun atmosphere, not a sad face in the crowd as they danced or drank, even a few getting roaming fingers as they bounced to the music.

As soon as the puma stepped in he wanted to bolt straight out. But other furs were pushing their way in and past and around him and the one friend he got along with, Bek the croc, was looking at him as if expecting him to flee.

He swallowed his anxiety best he could, and ran to catch up with the rest of the gang, shouting to wait up but was drowned by the din.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the club, a pretty fennec fox was trying to join in with the rave.
“Come on Sandi girl, get with the program, like this," a gothic dressed female bunny said, shaking her hips with ease to the beat and waving her rave sticks to match her movements. “You're never going to attract a bed buddy with moves like that," she said as one or two similarly dressed guys looked at the buxom bunny with hungry eyes.

Sandi was a lovely fennec fox with a pair of satellite dish ears that stood tall and gave her a good portion of her total height. Her proportions were interesting, she had a slight curve at her hips, but her almost G-cup breasts looked all too big for a fox her size. She giggled as her own full chest bounced as she tried to dance, looking a bit stiff in her motions…or that she was strung out on too much caffeine, it was hard to tell.

Her blue eyes almost glowed with the lights that flashed and filled the dancefloor. “I'm trying!" she said with a giggle, not slightly embarrassed about her 'dance' moves. That was until she bumped into a large wolf, her sharpish claws gouging at his footpaw.

“Hey, watch where you're going!" he snarled at her over the music, but his face softened slightly as he saw her large chest. “Hey now, I suppose I could forgive you," he said in a cheeky, hungry way and bared his teeth in a grin, “if you know…" he moved up to her and brushed his tail along hers in a rather forward way, making her ears fall back and smile weakly.

Somewhere along the line Louis had lost his friends, and with all the flashing lights and noise was hard to hear himself think, never mind find them amongst the throng.
That was when he saw a pretty fennec fox struggling to get a rhythm going, at first he was just going to move on, none of his business until he saw the vulpine's uncomfortable expression and the large wolf grabbing her, a hungry look and all too clear what his intentions were.

“I–ah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" She said quietly, suddenly meek before her friend pushed the wolf away. 

“Hey bozo, I think you'd crush her in bed, or turn her to dust," the goth bunny said playfully, her wide hips checking him, only reaching the top of his leg.

Whilst the bunny was distracting him, Louis made a quick snatch for the fennec and dragged her away into a clear spot near the bar. “That was close," he said, “that wolf clearly had no good on his mind. Hope you're…okay?" Louis came to a halt, getting a good look for the first time at her. “Wow…" he said before catching himself and bashfully rubbed the back of his head. 

Sandi gave a squeaking yip that was easily muted by the music, though she could hear her bunny friend and the wolf arguing thanks to her large ears. “Y-Yeah, I'm okay. Thank you." The fennec got her voice back and looked up at Louis, having to tilt her head back to look him in the face. 

Just behind Louis, she could see Jason looking her way, his eyes wide and hungry, about to make his way towards her when Bek pulled him backwards, his expression quickly turning to a look of disappointment.

“Ehehehe, I-I'll be going now!" he said in an octave or two higher, turning to leave with his muzzle suddenly drying up.

At the notion of Louis leaving, she quickly squeezed his paw to keep him from going. “N-No!" She blushed and smiled softly, getting back into her usual energy. “I mean, I have to thank you for saving me. Buy you a drink?"

Sandi pulled him to the bar, just as the wolf was escorted out by security, another wolf funny enough, easily pushing him out of the building. “I'm Sandra, But everyone calls me Sandi." She said to Louis, her tail lashing back and forth behind her as she sat down at one of the open stools.

Louis felt flustered, he'd never so much as hit on a girl nevermind dating one, which to every teen meant you were gay. Well, they weren't far off the mark.

“L-Louis hey um, you don't need to buy me a drink. They are on me," he said before talking to the bartender.

“Oh hey, one of Alex's friends. Hey, does your girl want a drink too?" the warthog behind the counter said in that huffy manner of speech they sported.

“M-My girl? No no, we just met," he said before turning to her, his lilac coloured eyes seeming to sparkle in his nervousness. “Um, w-what do you fancy um, Sandi?" he said, tripping over himself and feeling like an idiot for it.

“I uhm, I'll just do a rum and coke." Sandi said with a smile, saying one of the first drinks she could think of. “I don't…drink often." She leaned over to whisper the last bit to Louis. She got her drink first, the warthog looking at Louis for his order.

Louis asked for his which consisted of beer and lime before turning to her, “That's okay, honestly I don't drink nearly as much as a lot of guys. I like it but I don't understand why anyone would want to get plastered."

“Well since I can't buy you a drink, I will have to think of another way of showing my appreciation." Sandi chuckled and leaned over a bit to talk to him without having to shout too loud. “Honestly though, that's not the first time someone like him has tried to take advantage after I've trod on a paw."

“Yeah I'm all too familiar with those types," Louis said as he looked in the distance seeing one of his so-called 'friends' trying to hit on a girl, coming on strong with the girl seeming like she was about to bust out some mace to spray him with.

“I've got no rhythm, but I just love being here and dancing. They say to dance like no one's watching, but when I do…well you saw." She said, seeming to follow two tracks of thought at the same time, sipping on her drink. “But, yeah, I step on someone's foot, guys take advantage of me," she waved her hand, “but enough about me, what about you?"

“Well I can dance of sorts, I think with these you just got to pay more attention to your arm movements and less about your footwork," he said, taking a sip of his drink before reaching into his pockets and fishing out two pairs of glowsticks, handing one green and purple to her and keeping the other pair for himself before the track changed to one he'd heard before called Kandi Raver. “Here, I'll try to show you," he said with a slight blush with the vocals starting.

As the music beat in time to the lyrics, his hips swung one way with his arms mirroring the movements, seeming to get into a natural flow with his tail acting as a pendulum. With an encouraging nod of his head, he bashfully invited her to try and join him as others got into the spirit.

She watched him as he moved out, the glow sticks shining brightly as the blacklight hit them. Taking another swallow of her drink, Sandi quickly got up and followed him over, her tail wagging excitedly.

Sandi watched him for a moment, before she began to follow his movements. She kept her feet on the floor, lifting the heel to twist and turn with her movements. Her chest bounced as she flicked one arm up, bringing the other down her side before raising the opposite paw.

Grinning at Louis, Sandi's tail lashed about, following the rhythm of her hips, swaying them in turn with her arm motions. It seemed she knew what to do. She just needed someone to help focus her energies.

Grinning as the puma felt his confidence building with her, he started alternating hands, flinging his head left and right with their tails swaying, almost in perfect sync. Shutting his eyes, his tongue poked out cutely, feeling the beat overtake him, unknowingly becoming a duo people were giving space to watch.

Before long, she couldn't help but start singing, “I love this song!" She said to Louis as she moved a bit closer, sliding her paws so that she didn't accidentally step on him next. Sandi's eyes moved over his body, partly to help her mimic his motions, partly to admire the taller male's form, a blush spreading across her muzzle as she stepped closer.

Louis could feel her body moving and gyrating to the beat, feeling her brush against him as he opened his eyes to look shyly at her, seeing they were on the couples cam with a heated flush. He was about to say something when he noticed someone drunkenly stagger towards them.

Unfortunately, a hyena morph, obviously heavily drunk, came over behind Sandi and began to gyrate against her. His species' laugh heard over the music. “Hey! Get off me!" She said with a growl, trying to escape his arm that wrapped tightly around her middle and spun her away from Louis.

Louis knew this type, he was stoned out of his mind and would be prone to violence, “Hey, can I ask you something?" He said, tapping him on the shoulder. He wasn't feeling particularly brave, far from it, he was terrified, but he couldn't let him do this to Sandi.

The hyena growled, “What?" He said shortly, the strong booze smell wafting over both of them. His short tail flitted behind him in agitation at the puma's interruption, glowering at him over his shoulder snarling and showing off the infamous, bone crushing teeth. He didn't let go of the fruitlessly struggling vixen, curious at what Louis was going to do. “I bet she needs a real man to take care of her, I'm more than happy to help." The male gave a high pitched chuckle as he looked Louis' lanky form up and down. “She could use a REAL man." He slurred.

“I think she could do with someone who knows manners and when they are not wanted actually," he said. He was hoping the hyena would be too stoned to see straight and hoped his sense of rhythm would translate into keeping out of his way enough to lure him into more trouble with a certain bouncer. “And maybe someone who knows hygiene," he said, making an exaggerated waft of his hand.

The male growled and let go of Sandi, throwing a heavy punch at the puma. Louis' insite was right, he missed by a wide margin, but still kept swinging, trying to hit the feline. “I'll show you manners, pussy cat!" The hyena kept throwing sloppy punches, getting closer as his anger cleared out a little of the foggy stupor.

“Well, maybe you should get your eyesight checked too, or do you have a job getting pussy?" Louis taunted, though if the Hyena was seeing and thinking straight he'd see he was terrified out of his mind, reflexes alone keeping him from getting sent to hospital from a big, meaty fist.

He slid under one table with the hyena throwing it out of the way, now really pissed off at him before Louis hopped over another. His heart hammered and tears started beading at the corner of his eyes as fright fought to paralyse him before the bouncer met him.

Easily Alex snatched the hyena's thrown punch before it collided with the puma. “What's going on here?!" He shouted and quickly spun the aggressive male around, pinning him to the wall with his arm bent painfully behind his back before turning to Louis for explanation.

“LET GO OF ME!" He shouted and struggled in the small pause between Alex's question and Louis' answer.

“He…was…h-harrassing a girl, I h-had to do something," Louis gasped, doubled over with his eyes tearing up now, shaking as fright finally caught up with freezing him in place, slumping against the wall and sliding slowly towards the floor.

Alex looked down at the puma, his face falling as he saw the tears starting to darken his fur. He pulled a zip tie cuffs from his belt and quickly bound the hyena so he couldn't do much else, and called the police to pick up the hyena. “You needn't have done that. Brave for sure, Louis, but I don't want to call the ambulance for you…" Alex said quietly as he kept the hyena pinned to the wall with one arm.

Louis had no words, everything seemed to fade as he shook, huddling up with his arms around his knees as he went into shock. He had been bullied yes, but never anything like that.

“Louis!" Sandi's voice came out of the crowd suddenly, the short fennec bouncing over. She was shaking almost as bad as Louis was. “Are you okay?" She quickly knelt down next to him, touching him on his arm gently before hugging him as carefully as she could.

As soon as the fennec's arms wrapped around him, her voice and touch seeming to break his fear induced paralysis as he looked up at her, the tears in his eyes making his lilac coloured irises brighter.

“Y-yeah I-I'll b-be f-fine," he hiccupped before taking a deep, calming breath. Steadying himself with one hand on the wall, he managed to stand up on shaking legs. “Are you okay Sandi though?" he said, his voice hardly above a whisper. “S-some hero I am huh?" he said with a watery smile.

Sandi helped him stand. “I'm okay. That…definitely was heroic to me," she looked at the hyena who struggled and tried to kick back at Alex. She still shook as she held him, though her smaller frame gave little for him to brace. Her bright blue eyes gazed into his for a moment before she glanced to the floor to help walk them to the door. “I live nearby. We'll go there…okay?" 

Alex nodded, “I've got things here, Louis. Take care of him, yeah?" Alex said the last part more to Sandi, who readily agreed. “Come on!" The bouncer turned to the rabble rouser, pushing him outside as the police drove up.

“We'll uhm, leave through the side." Sandi said in a shook whisper as she led Louis around the outside of the dance floor to a side door.

“Hey um, th-thanks," Louis said in a soft voice, seeming somehow more effeminate as he leaned against her, the poor small fennec doing her best to keep him propped up before he managed to find his footing and took the strain off her little body.

She smiled and held him, obvious that she was straining a slight bit, he was quite a fair bit taller than her. Sandy was at least thankful he didn't have the bulk that his friends or that hyena did. But in her head she was thankful when he found his own footing, and she stayed close to him. “I should be the one saying thanks…again…" 

“You…really think that was heroic?" He said as they passed under street lights, the odd car passed by with some having their lights dazzling with their high beams.
“Honestly I was expecting everyone to laugh at me for being a coward, wouldn't be the first time," the last part he muttered more under his breath, his tail and ears low. “I'm sorry the night was ruined," he said with a glance at her, a small smile on his muzzle whilst pausing at the road, waiting for the lights to change, “but…I'm glad I came to the rave."

“I'm glad you did too…you saved me twice tonight." She gave a small chuckle and flitted her large ears to the side, the tip of the inside one touching his shoulder gently, “that in my books is a pretty heroic and brave thing. And I'm glad that it didn't devolve into a real fight." She blushed slightly. “I would have hated seeing you get hurt. I mean that guy was the definition of a brute." The small Fennec giggled as the light changed, letting them walk across the street and into a set of flats with a staircase that led up to the front door. 

“Heh, I think if he did get his hands on me he could have literally torn me in half," Louis half joked, shuddering inwardly and hoping the hyena was too stoned to properly recollect the events or what he looked like.

“Uhm, did you still want to come upstairs? It's not much, but I could get us some coffee or hot chocolate." Sandi prattled on, the blush starting to show through her fur as she looked up at him, shifting lightly on her dainty paws.

“Sure!" He said with more enthusiasm than he intended to let on, “um that is, if it isn't too much trouble?" he said, his long tail gently brushing over her own bushy tail, smiling at her with a genuine warmth, looking at her pretty face with his lilac eyes before allowing himself to be led up the stairs and into her apartment.

“Not at all." she said with a small flit of her own tail as she blushed brighter, the blue eyes locking with his before she turned and opened the door for him, letting him into the front of the flats first before they called the elevator. “Might be a small bit of a ride, I'm up on the eleventh floor. I hope that you don't really have a fear of heights." she said rhetorically.

“Thankfully not, it's rare but there are some felines with a real fear of heights…more have a fear of pain heh, among other things," he said with a playful laugh.
As the elevator climbed up the floors with a soft hum, Louis shifted uncomfortably. Whereas not a phobia, he didn't care much for being in elevators with other strange people, which was how he kept slim from climbing the fifteen floors each day to his flat.

A few other furs got on and off at different floors, the halls looked nice, not exactly lavish, but nothing decrepit either. They got off on the eleventh floor, and she led him to her flat, opening the door with a key. “Here we are, home sweet home."

The flat was simple, a single bedroom apartment, a decently sized TV sat across the way from a sofa. The kitchen was clean and in order, a few dishes piled next to the sink from earlier in the day. “Go ahead and make yourself comfortable, I just got to get things made up real quick." Sandi went into the kitchen, just a corner of the main room, to start making them some hot chocolate.

“Your place is much nicer than mine," Louis said, looking around almost wistfully. “They do the minimum to keep where I live 'up to standards' but nothing like this. I live on the east block, a 20 floor flat with faded red borders," he said as he took in how neat and tidy the place was. Not lavish but cosy, more than the spartan layout of his own.

“I think I know of the place you're talking about." she said as she tilted her head, picturing his building in her mind.

“I wish I could make my own place nice like this, but a lot of my expenses go on…medical bills," he said, just catching himself and hoping he hadn't said too much. 

“Oh? That's not good." She said with lowered ears as she looked at him. In her head, she was guessing as to why he had medical bills that forced him into those apartments, but she saw nothing wrong with him, he was healthy, if a bit on the skinny side.

 “I'm sorry, if there's any way I could help…?" She left the question open as she heated the milk in a saucepan on the stove, poured it on top of the mix and stirred them until both mugs held nice deep coloured hot chocolate.

“What? No no, I'm not saying because I want help. Besides, I'd hate myself for taking money off of someone," Louis said,  “hey, I'm no TV chef but I'm hungry. If you have something in I'll rustle us something together," Louis said as he wandered into the small but tidy kitchen.

“Uhm, I don't have much, I don't cook much at all. Mostly easy baking foods and TV dinners." She admitted and opened the fridge and the freezer, showing off bagged and boxed meals. There were a few fruits and vegetables in the fridge section. “If you can use any of this…there's things like pasta and rice down here." Sandi opened a small cupboard near the refrigerator.

“Well I can do a little fruit salad if you're cool with that?" Louis said as he fished around for a sharp knife before getting to work. Kiwi, strawberries and some mango slices were all piled in before he found some granola pieces to sprinkle on top for an extra crunch. 

“I can try and help out as best as I can." She chuckled and reached up to reach a couple of plates so he could serve then

“I appreciate the offer really, but is it okay to be offering that to someone you just met?" Louis said as he came into the room with two bowls of fruit. “Some might take advantage of that, besides I'm kinda used to having to fight my own battles," he said, sounding as if he was trying to put a bit of distance, a noticeable weariness in his tone.

“I just meant with MAKING dinner tonight, you goof. I understand fighting your fights." She emphasised the word with a giggle.

“Ah s-sorry," he said feeling slightly foolish, “well it's nothing special but at least it is healthy," he said with a nervous chuckle, feeling a bit bashful. “Sorry if I seem a little standoffish, I've mostly known people who are…less than sympathetic most of my life. I don't think I've ever met anyone as nice as you," he said. 

“Well, I'm glad that I could show you that there's still a few good people in the world." She groaned and stretched her back. “Uhm, I'll let you get started, okay, Louis? It's one thing about having such a small body and large assets that I really don't like…" She said bluntly and gestured to her almost G cup breasts. “Really gets to my back. So I'll go get my back support, and then I'll be right back." Sandi said and smiled up at the tall puma as she went to her bedroom. 

Louis felt his fur prickle in a heated blush as he sipped his cocoa and waited for the cute busty fennec to return, not wanting to start eating without her. He found himself warming up quite quickly to her company, but how would she react if he let on about his transition? 

That tormented him, he knew once it became obvious his so-called mates would ditch him. Would she be like that or would she stand by him if she got to know him?
He was interrupted from his thoughts as she came back into the room, wearing a cute gown that made him want to snuggle into her.

Sandra came out a little bit later, wearing a long shirt that almost acted as a nightgown for her. It was obvious that she didn't have a bra on anymore, the black back brace was strapped on over her shirt, taking the seat next to him at the small table. “You didn't have to wait, silly," she smiled. “but I appreciate it."

They both ate the first bites, and while yeah, it was simple, Sandi thought that it tasted amazing. “I was thinking about what you said, and honestly I can't think of another man I invited over who didn't try immediately to skip the cocoa." The fennec gave a blush. “So I want to thank you for showing me that they're not all just thinking one thing. It's hard having the look I do and being a lesbian, honestly." She admitted, though it sounded like her words were just a bit ahead of her mind, that showing easily in the dark blush growing under her fur as she ate the salad and savoured the hot chocolate.

“Oh? Y-you're a lesbian?" Louis said in surprise, nearly dropping his fork before regaining his composure. “Um we-well I'm not one to judge, I hope whatever girl gets you realises how lucky they are to have someone so special."
He felt his face heat up more at his admission, choosing to just eat his food and not say anything for a bit until he got his hammering heart under control.

“S-So uhmm…" she stammered for a moment, the comment he'd given her making her blush even darker. “W-What do you do? You know besides teaching girls how to dance at the raves? Like me…I work for a newspaper, I want to be the one taking photographs, but with my limited height, they keep me in as editor".

It was a while before Louis answered, choosing to eat the last of the late night salad. Once he'd mopped the last of the fruit up and drank the juice, he made a bit of a habit of cleaning his muzzle with his hand before talking. “I'm…nothing special, just an average Joe trying to make ends meet working 52 hours a week at a local store," he said. “I wish I could work for a newspaper like you. I always wanted to make my living by being a photographer for the paper but that will never happen. You need confidence, to be strong and decisive to be a journalist, and I'm none of those," he said before hanging his head.

Sandi ate her own salad while Louis spoke, her large ears raised and faced him directly to show she was listening. Her heart dropped slightly the more he told her. “I would say that you do. I mean,  you might just need an umph to show it."

“Can I tell you a secret?" Sandi nodded to his question, “I don't…fit in with guys. I never have, so my confidence has always been shaky. But whenever I hear music my paws and hips take on a rhythm of their own, which is why I love listening to music a lot. Guess a rave wasn't all that bad save you know, that one jerk," he said in a half laugh.

“Yeah, he did kind of throw off the mood. Doing something like what we were doing…that wouldn't be a bad job, I think." The fennec giggled. She breathed deep and smiled at the taller feline. “Dance instructor or something."

“I can understand what you're saying, though, Louis." Sandi smiled and reached over to put a paw on his. “When I was coming out, figuring myself out, I couldn't do much either. It wasn't until I met Nat, that bunny I was with at the rave, that I started getting my confidence built up." Her thumb idly rubbed the back of his paw in a caring manner. “You just need to find people that you can talk to openly without judgement. I could be that person for you if you'd let me?" Sandi offered with a kind smile. 

“I'm not really sure how to let people in really," he said, turning his head and shutting his eyes tight. His tail ended up in hands and he squeezed it nervously. “Maybe just get to know each other on a basic level before I open up. Maybe we could meet again after work tomorrow? I'd love to have a proper rave with no drama and hear they are holding it for the next two days," he said, standing up before fetching the pots into the kitchen, not even waiting for her to say anything as he rinsed the dishes. 

Sandi smiled and nodded, but didn't remove her paw before he gathered their plates and moved them to the kitchen. She was about to interject, tell him that she'd take care of the pots but chose to hang back. “That's okay, it's best to take things slowly." She quickly nodded in agreement. “Hmm I would like that. Hopefully, yeah, we won't be interrupted this time."

Looking at the clock it read 11pm, “Well, my shift starts in about seven hours so better get off home, get what sleep I can and just hope there are no weirdos on the street at this time," he said, smiling a sincere, warm smile. “Thanks for letting me crash here, it has been a while since I have talked like this to anyone. It was…nice."

“Yikes, I mean…I wish I could give you a ride, sadly I'm usually on paw. If you wanted to stay here for the night?" She said shyly. 

“Oh um," Louis stammered, “I-I would love to-like to I mean but er I can't. You've already done enough for me and I need to get my work clothes from home," he said bashfully. “Maybe we could on a non-work night, sort of…sleep over?"

"That sounds like fun. Been a long while since I've had one." Sandi giggled, and nodded. Just call me anytime if you need to crash, like properly for the night, or just relax, or talk. My door's always open for you." She said caringly before handing him a quickly written scrap of paper with her phone number on it. “I'll see you tomorrow evening, Louis. And thanks again." She smiled back the same kind smile as he left out the door, leaving her in a momentary silence as she went about getting ready for her own sleep.

Hey, where'd you go man? You're missing one hell of a dancer right now!

A text message read on his phone from the panther's number. It was sent only a little bit ago, it seems they just now realised that he was gone. Attached was a photo of an overly drunk badger girl, busty, wide hipped and thick thighed, removing her bra, the panther looking very much pleased in the selfie.

Louis groaned, he had to get home otherwise he would be a walking zombie at work for his 12 hour stint. 'Had to help someone out and crashed at her house, got to sleep for my 12 hour shift tomorrow. You guys have fun, will see ya later,' he text back before putting his phone on silent so they couldn't bug him. He would have enjoyed it with Sandi, he admitted to himself, but that opened up a world of complications. She was a lesbian, and he was… “Of all people to meet, why did it have to be like this between us two," he said softly to himself before crossing the street to avoid a drunk and grizzled homeless beaver before climbing the stairs and collapsing on his bed, passing out.

His dreams were of a more…perverse nature. He was at a dance, but it wasn't him how he was. He was a female version, sporting a tomboyish outfit. A halter that didn't quite cover her bra straps, a modest C cup bust and a pair of leggings and half pants along with some glittery fur make-up had her looking quite flamboyant. And opposite her was Sandi, the kind and beautiful, busty fennec from the rave. They were dancing together, both smiling and giggling to the cheering of the other patrons. Then the scene shifted. They were in Sandi's flat, kissing and making out. Their paws were all over each other, undressing one another as they laid down on the bed, ready to passionately make out and fully explore each other's body.

 Louis's alarm sounded for his shift, waking him up. He looked down at the underwear he was wearing, seeing it sporting a bulge. The sight disgusted him, he hated it, he hated himself and burying his head in his hands, he cried before calming down to don his work clothes.

When Louis opened his phone, he was bombarded by a half dozen text messages from Jason, his panther friend.  'Oh my god! No waaaay!' 'come one man! Tell me the deets!' 'hello?' 'I'll see you tomorrow, then I guess.' Then finally a picture of him with the badger…after the show somewhere dark. He obviously loved to show off. '

There was also a text from Alex, asking how things were. If he'd gotten Sandi home okay, and if he got home himself. It was day and night between the two brothers. Bek was as quiet as ever, not getting a message from him. 

He merely texted “Nice" back to Jason with the badger, unable to find the enthusiasm to say anything else.
To Alex he left a quick text letting him know he was safe, and that he had lunch with Sandi and got home safe, saying she was nice but things probably wouldn't work out between them before pulling himself together for work. “12 hours of being a drone, oh joy," he groaned to himself before taking the pills for the morning. 

***

Sandi had woken up, her own dreams were filled with thoughts of Louis as well. The fennec blushed as she looked at the pink panties she'd worn to bed, seeing that she'd had a dark spot, wet from the dream she'd had. Sandi couldn't recall it, but it left her warm in every way. “He's the first guy I thought about like that." She blushed and shook her head as she stripped to get ready for her own day, starting with a shower. 

The day was long and drawn out. She got stuck once again with desk duty. She wrote the articles before sending it off to her editor before she got a return email criticising her article, so she could rewrite it. Sighing she looked at her phone, looking at the time as it slowly turned to 13:00. The end of day just wouldn't come soon enough.

***

Louis was about halfway through his 12 hour stint for the day, and had already made several mistakes that had an hours pay docked from his wages. He was having an increasingly hard time pulling himself together, his moods were swinging more and his focus was starting to become haphazard. He assumed it was due to the effects of the pills starting to affect his hormone balance, but Sandi was in the back of his mind. He didn't want to hope, he'd had those dashed too often, but he wanted to know her. Maybe if he did tell her he was a…but no, what if she was revolted and didn't want to know? She would find out eventually, he should probably just put space between him and her and be done with it already.

He was just stocking the shelves before a familiar voice called out behind him, making his round ears twitch and turned around to the owner of the voice.

“Louis!" A male's voice called out to him. It was calm, but deep so that ruled out Jason. Coming up to the feline, Bek clapped his hand onto the scrawny male's shoulder. The crocodile gave a wide grin and tensed his arms to make his muscles stand out more, the tank top barely holding across his broad chest. “I hear you got with the girl! I hope you didn't disappoint." he said bluntly. “Then again, if it's that fennec I saw you with, I'm sure you showed her the world."

It was obvious he only took Jason's words at their face value. “Glad you got with someone, I was starting to think..."

“Hey, i-it wasn't like that!" Louis blurted out, only to get a stare from Bek before feeling his skin heat up under his fur. “I mean yeah, of course I like her, yeah heh. I mean, I don't want to give the juicy details in respect for her privacy but yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his head. If he was capable of sweat, it would be a waterfall cascading down his head right now.

The crocodile eyed him before another familiar voice interrupted Louis in his mutterings with Bek, “Louis? So this is where you work!" It was Sandi that came up to the taller feline and the giant of a reptilian. “I got…uhm" she shrunk back as the overly buff reptile turned on her.

“So you're Louis' new friend? I saw you two at the club…" He gave his wide, toothy smile again. “I'd say he's found a great match in ya." the crocodile added, looking her over with a low rumble. He stood up, looked Louis in the eye, grinned and turned away. “I'll leave you two to it!" 

Louis thanked a random deity mentally for the interruption, cursing at his tired, careless text message. “Sorry about them," he said quietly, making sure they couldn't hear as they waltzed off.

“Uhm, who was that?" She asked suddenly, her large ears turned to the side, a slightly unsettled air about her as her fur stood on end. She saw the panther come out of an aisle, seeing Louis and Sandi. He gave a wide, excited grin and a pair of thumbs up at the puma before following Bek out of the store.

“Those were um, my friends," he said sheepishly, “I may have said I was at a girl's place and they might have got the wrong message," his eyes looked downwards in embarrassment. “I know they are a bit loud and obnoxious but they mean no harm…mostly," he said, not sounding too convincing before changing tact. “So do you shop here often at Save Mart? I think I may have caught you in passing once but faces kinda blur," he said, his tail lashing behind him, feeling nervous and jittery.

“I vaguely recall seeing them at the rave. They seem…nice." She said encouragingly. “Well, it's got the best deals in town, so as often as I can, plus it's a short bus ride to home from here." Sandi chuckled. “Though it's usually later in the evening I come. They let me off work early because I was getting a little distracted…" the fennec admitted with a blush.

“But Uhm. When do you get off? I could always hang out, and try not to distract you too much before we go out to the rave… Uhm, though I suppose we've got to change too." She looked down at her own work clothes: nice and form fitting black leggings, and a partly unbuttoned blouse that showed more than a fair share of cleavage. “N-Never mind." Sandi blushed even darker, it was starting to show through her fur. Quickly, she shook her head. “See distracted."

“Don't worry about it I've been…distracted myself of late," Louis said, his tail still wafting about. With a sensitive nose like hers she might just pick up that there was something amiss in his scent, a lighter underlying scent perhaps? “I'm just driving myself so um…c-could drive us there," he said, getting more tongue tied and shy, finishing with a mumble.

“That sounds like a good plan." Sandi smiled, “I'll just have to run home though and put away groceries, get something to wear and I'll meet you back at your place?" The fennec said with a smile, her tail waving around behind her.

“Well we just had a coffee shop added as an extension, if you like could always wait there, tell them you're a friend of Louis, they'll give you a discount heh," he said, trying to not come across weird again despite how being near her made his heart hammer. 

“You could always wait there for me after you get changed? That is er, if you want to like?" he said, shifting as Louis felt the heat build up under his pelt..

“Yeah, I think that will work. I'll be back in a little bit then?"

“Louis! Never mind chitchat, the shelves in aisle six need restocking!" A booming voice demanded, belonging to a greying ox. “I'm sure you can talk to your girlfriend off of work, hop to!" He said, grabbing and gently pushing him off with a 'help me' look in Louis's eyes.

Sandi had jumped at the loud voice. As Louis was pushed away, she gave a gentle smile, one saying that she wished she could, lifting a paw to show a playful height difference between her and the ox. When he was pushed into the back past a pair of saloon doors that squeaked with age, she went about to finish her shopping.

***

She rode the bus home, stocked her pantry shelves with the items and then went to her bedroom. Looking over at the bedside clock, she saw that she'd only used up about an hour of time, leaving her with three hours before she had to meet up with Louis.

Closing her eyes, Sandi thought about the scent she'd caught in Save Mart, still playing in her nose. Giving it a wiggle, she tried to discern what she was smelling. It was Louis, but it wasn't as strong as other males she'd been around. Laying back on her bed a heat rose up in her belly and she cursed.

“Come on, Sandi. He's just a friend. He's a he…" She grumbled as she stood up. “Cold shower, metaphorically, maybe literally. And I'll go to the shop a bit early, just be there to wait for him." Sandi gave a gentle grumble to herself and went into her small bathroom to get a quick shower.

When Sandi had finally picked out what she was going to wear to the rave: a sparkling red short skirt and a black top that hugged her form, she got dressed, pulled on a larger coat to cover herself up from gawkers and started her way back to the shop. Just over an hour left to wait.

As Louis's final shift came to an end, he was completely exhausted. He would have been more than happy to stay at home and shove his 'friends' but the prospect of seeing Sandi again and hopefully having a better time with her kept him going.
Trudging into the cafe section he slumped opposite Sandi with a mug of strong coffee. “Hey," he said with a weary smile to her. 

“Hey, You look like you were taken around town. Hopefully he didn't work you too hard?" she asked, dipping at her own latte.

“Well I will give you my professional opinion…don't ever work for a corporate chain, they care about one thing and one thing only. How much blood they can get out of you," he sighed before straightening up in the chair. “I should be good though, besides music is like my tonic. I hear it and my feet get moving, why I wish they would play the more upbeat music over the intercom here, would make work more bearable."

“Yikes, I could imagine that." She squeezed her eyes in an exaggerated flinch, “to everything, really." 

“To be honest if it wasn't for the music at the rave that night, I probably would have just frozen and got steamrolled by that hyena," he shuddered before downing the thick, strong smelling drink in one big gulp before getting to his feet, bashfully holding out his hand to help her out of the chair. “I um, hope I didn't keep you waiting too long?" he said, his ears doing a cute flicker as he led the way to his car.

“You definitely seemed a lot livelier last night, hopefully we'll both be right up and ready to get our groove on." She said as she finished her drink and pushed the ceramic mug to the centre. “And again, I'm glad that you were there."

Smiling widely at the offered hand. “Such a gentleman." She said softly and shook her head gently as she took the offered paw. “Nah, not too long." Sandi partly lied. 

“But that is a really nice coffee shop, we'll have to stop in there a bit longer next time." She slid into the passenger seat as Louis opened the car door for her. Sandi's tall ears flattened back to keep from brushing the roof. Looking over she chuckled. “I'm surprised you didn't get a taller car?"

“Heh well…it was all I could afford," he said, mostly telling the truth, “honestly it was more of a hand-me-down. Bought it for a 100 big ones from my dad. That was before…" he trailed off and bit his lip. “A-anyway, we'll stop at my place so I can get dressed," he said, not making eye contact with her as he closed the door for her before climbing in himself.

Starting the engine up, he drove the ten mile drive back to his block on the outskirts. Sure enough, it wasn't a lot to look at and was in a pretty questionable area, to which more than one gruff looking passerby gave her a whistle with one even trying to slap her on the rump, only for Louis to quickly pull her over and glared, only getting a toothy grin in return.

“Sorry," he muttered, eyes downcast before pausing somewhat awkwardly in the building. “Um, are you okay with exercise?" He said sheepishly, inclining his head to the stairs.

Sandi's ears were flat against her head, the encounters with the men making her feel a bit unnerved about the area. But feeling Louis next to her, she smiled up and nodded slightly as they got into the building. “Yeah, I'm fine with it, I walk everywhere, so a few stairs isn't too bad." The fennec smiled and flicked her shorter tail as they made to start the climb.

“Um, it is about…fifteen floors. I do it in part to keep fit and also well…you've seen the kind of guys around. Not the people you really want to know…or get inside an enclosed space with."

“I can't argue with that…" She said with a light giggle and a playfully nervous smile. Climbing was a bit different than walking…or at least the fifteen flights of stairs to get to his apartment. But with their difference in sizes, she had to move double time to keep up with the feline. 

Louis could have kept ahead of her by about two or three floors, but he kept pace with her incase Sandi needed a hand, plus he really didn't want to leave her alone here.
“Personally I wish I could move to somewhere like yours. It isn't perfect but it is a million times better than here," he said as he helped the fennec up the last few slights, gently pulling her along before they reached the fifteenth floor.

The hallway had peeling paint and the odd lightbulb that flickered eerily, the odd raised voice being heard.

She waited for him to let them inside. “It's not all that bad a place…I mean if you can ignore the ogling." She said as she felt another pair of eyes on her from further down the hall.

Getting to his place, he opened the door. It was as he said, it was a bit dilapidated, nothing like Sandi's, but it was at least clean, functional and smelled better than the hallways thanks to several air fresheners left about on sills and tables.

“Please get comfy in the living room, I'll just get changed," he said, pausing and gave a shy glance back, “make yourself at home," he smiled before opening and closing the door to his bedroom.

“Sounds good. I'll say though, I am glad I have this jacket on. The clothes I'm wearing out tonight…might have drawn even less friendly attention here." She said and opened her long coat to look at herself. “I don't know why I pick these outfits." Sandi added playfully, just loud enough he could hear through the bedroom door, zipping the jacket back up.

Settling down on the sofa, it was a bit lumpy, obviously aged before he even got it. But she did her best to get settled properly. There were the usual gaming items strewn on the table top, but other than that, it was a very well kept apartment.

Glancing at the arm of the sofa, she saw the strap of a bra, and cocking her head, ears turned to the side, she reached out to pick it up. There was weight to it, and now she found out why; It was a bra that had fake breasts built in, used mostly for those that had breast cancer…and…

The door clicked and she dropped it quickly to settle herself back into her spot as Louis returned, dressed for the night at the rave.

“Hey, you ready to go…is anything the matter?" He said to her, one ear cocking forward.
He stood there dressed in glittery purple slacks and a similar matching top that perfectly matched his eyes. 

“N-N-nothing. Just thought…uhm I saw a bug." Sandi said quickly and blushed. “You're looking quite sharp. I love those pants." She said and adjusted, the bottom of her jacket slipping off to show a bit of her red skirt.

He looked at her, a shy look on his face when he saw she had part of her outfit revealed, “You look…really lovely Sandi," he said, his face fluffing in a blush, an almost jealous like quality to his tone of voice. The way that dress showed off her goods…
“Are you ready to go, Sandi?" He smiled, holding a hand out to pull her up, she gave a stagger and accidentally ended up in his arms. “Um," he said, looking as though he might suddenly burst into flames with the heat of his blush.

She stumbled as she took his hand, his pull not helping as she nearly fell into the male, but was held up easily in his arms. “Uhmm Y-Yeah, I'm ready to go." Sandi mumbled, but didn't move. She looked up from his chest and twitched her ears, tickling just under his jaws. Her vivid, blue eyes seemed to sparkle in the light as they met his.

“Louis…" Sandi said just before she stood up quickly and looked down at her foot paws. “Uhm–" She paused and looked down at both of their paws, still held. She felt the thump of her chest and gave a slight shake of her head. “You're looking pretty." She repeated herself, not focused as they stood in the middle of the living room, neither seeming to know what to do or say next.

Louis swallowed hard at that, setting off a blossoming heat in his core, “You…think I'm pretty?" He said, although only at about an A-cup, there was a defining definition, pressing into her large chest.

She gave a gentle nod and smiled, “I do."

“If you are saying that then…you must know the truth about me," he said, looking away as if she would view him as a freak. “I keep it quiet because I know once the guys find out they will ditch me. I know I am prolonging the inevitable, but I can't be happy with pretending I am a guy. I have liked wearing dresses since I was a cub and well, even after my dad beat me up it didn't change how I felt. In fact, it only made me want to be as different to him as possible. Once I moved I guess I made my mind up, no matter the cost."

He turned his head to look apprehensively back at her, his ears pulled back and tail limp as though she would lash out at him.

She listened intently, her tall ears standing tall as he spoke his thoughts. Biting her lip, the fennec gazed sideways and contemplated her words for a second. “I can say I had a feeling pretty quick. Just a vibe, a good one, but I didn't know if I was right at first," she said quickly and gave his paws a gentle squeeze, her shorter tail lashing behind her. “And tonight when I said I found a bug, I really saw one of your bras you had left out. You don't have to worry about your friends, your secret is safe with me until you are ready to go through things fully. I'll be your support, Louis," she paused “Lois?" she said in partial jest, but didn't laugh to show her seriousness in wanting to help the puma.

“Heh…" Louis said dryly, his eyes starting to shimmer with tears, “you know, I don't usually warm so well to people. But I feel as though I have known you a lot longer than the last few days," he said, sniffling and wiping at his eyes with a furred sleeve. “I'm glad I can rely on you and honestly…once I went through with the full transition I was going to have my name changed to Lois," he said, giving her a genuine warm smile.

“I guessed right then, with your name." she said playfully. “And…uhm who knows? We could end up dating sometime." She blurted out without much thought, the flash of her dream last night quickly coming to mind, the flash of Louis as he was now dissolved in her mind to the female he wants to be.

At her words, his lavender eyes shot wide open, biting his own muzzle lip. He'd felt an immediate connection with her but when he heard she was only into women, he had no idea where that put him in her standing.

Seeing his expression, she quickly apologised. “Sorry, I don't know where that came from." She blushed and shifted from paw to paw, finally drawing her gaze down and away from the feline, a slightly goofy, nervous smile on her face.

He clenched his hand in determination, taking a deep breath, he put on his female tone, feeling like he could let himself be how he truly felt and pulled her firmly against him, tilting her head up with one hand. “I love you too, I felt it since that night at your place," he said, gently lowering his face to her, wanting to kiss her but not wanting to do something she might be against, or moving too fast.

Turning her head back, their muzzles touched and lingered for a minute before she stood a bit on her tiptoes and gently kissed him, finishing the act. “I love you too, Lois." She said, voicing her true feelings and smiled as she sank back to a natural stance. “I'll be here, through thick and thin. I don't know…fully, what all goes on with transition, but I'll do my best. Just be patient with me as I will with you, too."

“I will do my best," he said before sobering up, “but…I will have some pretty bad mood swings whilst I transition. I will try my best not to get nasty but if things get too hairy, I will back off to be by myself and protect you, at least for a bit," he said, a sad but determined note in his voice.

“I won't take anything personally then if you are in a state." Sandi smiled at Louis. “And when you need breasts, I'll happily share." Sandi chuckled in jest as she pushed her own larger chest before drawing back. “It's actually something I've been debating on, myself, getting a reduction."

“I think they look good on you, but I understand the weight it puts on your back. I think they actually are developing experimental technology to transfer the fat from someone's chest, essentially being a breast doner.

But hey, let's just go out and have fun okay?" He said before pausing, “would you…mind if I put some glitter make up on? I have some eyeliner I have been practising with and claw paint."

“Heh, we'll have to look into that, then for sure, watching what the hormones do first." Her paws squeezed his and she gave a nod. “I'll come give you a paw, maybe you can teach me a thing or two about getting 'dolled up'." Sandi chuckled as she showed off her paintless claws as they moved back into his bedroom to get properly ready for the rave.

END PART 1~