All the Best
Efforts

© Cederwyn
Whitefurr

20^th
September, 2021

(This was
actually the Weekly Writing Challenge for like, three weeks ago, I've
been so tied up in my own works, I neglected to finish this one in
time)

This Week's
Writing Challenge: All best efforts still ended in failure.

Lacey sighed
in exasperation, his hooflets clicking swiftly over the keyboard as
one after another, words flowed across the screen before he twitched
and instinctively reached up between his tubular ears to scratch at
the antlers that had yet to spike and branch.

It always
drove him almost to madness, how the new growth of his antlers itched
so abominably. No other deer he knew of suffered so – he swore to
himself, he'd consult with a Veterinarian one day to see if there
wasn't some way to just be done with them for the rest of his life.

His
reflection stared back at him from the screen, before he squinted and
his pale furred face wrinkled as his eyelids closed to mere slits,
almost masking the bright green eyes behind them.

Adjusting
the brightness down he inwardly swore at the incompetence of the IT
staff. He had asked – many times – for the brightness and gamma
of these LCD monitors to be adjusted for one such as he, as bright
lights frequently had adverse reactions to those like him.

There are
none like me... Lacey thought
to himself.

Reaching over, his hooflets clicked against the mug that
sat on the edge of his desk and in his carelessness he accidentally
knocked it over and its hot contents spilled out onto the desk and
then the floor.

"Oh
for the love of - " Lacey swore, then stood up and his paws
wiped at the thin slacks he wore, trying to sweep away the spilled
tea.

Pushing his chair backwards, Lacey splayed out his
fingers of the desk, trying desperately to retain his calm as others
looked over at him. Without a word, he turned and his cloven hooves
pressed down the carpet as he made his way to the break room.

Taking a cloth, he ran it under the tap for a few
moments, then wrung it out and walked back to his desk. Moving the
keyboard and mouse, he sopped up the spilt tea as best he could, then
looked down at the puddle that had permeated the fibres of the
carpet.

“Wonderful - “ Lacey muttered then set the cloth
down and rested his head in his hands.

One
ear twitched by itself, as Lacey lifted his despondent head up just
as the human boss dropped a large pile of paperwork on Lacey's desk
and looked down at the deer before him.

“You
feeling alright Lacey?" Come the low voice of the man beside him.

Lacey
considered a possible myriad of answers, then settled on the truth.

“I'm
sorry - “ Lacey began, then tilted his head back and closed his
eyes. “I've been having some personal issues that are..."

His
black nose twitched slightly, inhaling the scents around him – it
didn't take much to scent the distinctive lack of interest in Lacey's
problems, nor the awful colonue this human wore. Really, were
human's sense of smell so inferior? Lacey felt his eyes begin to
water at the strong scent, yet he held himself together – just.

“Get
his mess cleaned up - “ Growled his employer, then turned away.
“Please..."

“Sure..." Lacey nodded.

That
please was thinly veiled, Lacey could tell. Yet he wasn't the only
anthromorph who worked for this company. Right now, as Lacey began
scratching again at his antlers, he wished he was anywhere but
here...

*

Humanity and the Anthromorph's lived peacefully – for
the most part – with equality and respect. Of course, that was the
'law', but often the law didn't hold up to the ideal, as some
conflict and distrust existed between the human and the
anthromorph's.

Some
had intermarried – none had yet produced offspring – at least
none that Lacey knew of. How certain species even had intimacy of a
sexual nature – Lacey's mind wandered, as his left paw lightly held
the wet cloth that started to drip. Coming back to full awareness,
Lacey shook his head, his long ears slapping from side to side,
before he returned to the break room and rinsed out the cloth.

Resting his paws on the bench, Lacey took several deep
breaths, letting them out slowly as he held his eyes closed and
forced his racing heart to slow. His boss rode him hard, almost
singling out the deer – or so it felt – for special attention and
Lacey knew, if there was extra work to be done, it'd be dumped on his
desk.

Lacey's hooflets scraped on the laminate, as he startled
as a female voice come from behind him.

“Hey
Lacey? You okay?"

Twisting
about and instinctively backing up against the counter, Lacey's
widely spaced eyes focused on the young human woman who stood before
him.

Lacey's furred throat rippled as he swallowed what felt
like a medium sized apple that had gotten stuck there.

“Sure..." Lacey smiled weakly, then blinked and the
smile spread wider.

Lacey
hated himself, hated lying like this to his work colleagues, but
humans couldn't tell when one such as he was withholding.

With
a frown, the young woman gave a weak smile of her own and began
preparing some tea. Lacey watched her out of the corner of his eye,
surreptitiously, then sighed and leaned his head back against the
cupboard.

“Johnson's on me like a tick - “ Lacey whispered,
then flinched, almost as if his sibilant voice was shouted from a
megaphone.

With
a weak chuckle, the woman smiled a laid a hand lightly on Lacey's
forearm in a comforting gesture.

“Descriptive – me? I'd think of him more as a
leech..."

With
a gasp, Lacey's eyes widened and his ears slicked flat.

Frowning, the lady turned and gently took Lacey's paws
in her hands, then looked up at the pale furred stag.

“You
are naturally high
strung, but this... is so out of character for you Lacey? Do you need
me to cover for you if you duck off to the Vet or something?"

Lacey
involuntarily shivered, then shook his head slowly.

“You're sure? Really, its no problem, I got a fairly
light schedule, nothing I can't push back a few hours..."

“Thank you," Lacey forced a weak smile, then gently
squeezed the woman's hands in appreciation. “I'll be fine, its
just – well – its silly, I know..."

Lacey
gestured towards his antlers, then rolled his eyes and took the cup
of tea his co-worker handed to him, then smiled shyly.

“Thanks for the tea – I think I need it, now, nose
back to the grindstone and all that..."

Giving him a motherly look, the young woman smiled and
lightly patted him on the forearm.

“Honestly, if you need some time, let me know, I'll
cover for you."

Lacey
paused, then sighed quietly and turned to look over his shoulder.

“I
got a checkup with my Veterinarian after work, so I'm hoping for some
answers, even better, some solutions. Thank you for your kindness
though, I appreciate it."

Lacey
nodded to his co-worker, then carefully made his way back to his
desk, sitting the cup where he could keep a close eye on it, before
he rolled his shoulders and set his mind back to his work.

*

“Sir?" Come the quiet voice from behind the desk.
“Doctor Mered is ready to see you now."

Lacey started, ears slicking back, before he snapped
the book closed then laughed nervously, setting it aside as he rose
to his cloven hooves and quietly walked down the hallway.

Outside the examination room, a human doctor stood
patiently, then gestured and followed Lacey into the room, closing
the door behind them.

*

Lacey dropped the keys on the sideboard, then rested
his head against the wall and sighed in exasperation.

“I hate my life...." Lacey muttered, his eyes
squeezed closed as he shuddered from ears to hooves.

Pushing off the wall, Lacey clopped down the hall,
tugging at the shirt that felt like it was two sizes two small and he
made his way to the kitchen, only to stop, seeing the dark brown rump
and heavy black tipped tail sticking out of the fridge.

“Really, Colin?" Lacey grunted.

With a startled squeal and a crash of its head striking
the top of the fridge, the kangaroo backpedalled out of the fridge, a
large carrot clutched in one paw, before it turned and smiled weakly.

“Hi honey!" Came the sweet voice, as the buck
looked around, then bounded over and wrapped his slender arms around
Lacey's neck and pulled the deer close.

Lacey at first resisted the cuddle, before his resolve
collapsed and he gripped his partner tightly, feeling his love and
warmth spread through Lacey's body.

“I need this - “ Lacey murmured, burying his nose
in the kangaroo's neck and inhaling the musky scent.

As only a Kangaroo could, he leaned back on his tail,
his spine curving, before he took Lacey's muzzle in his paws and
gazed adoringly into Lacey's eyes.

“What you need," Muttered the Roo, before he kissed
Lacey deeply and passionately.

Lacey shuddered again and nearly collapsed there and
then, so overcome with the pressure and stress of work, now he was
home, he just let it all flow away like water down an drainpipe.

“Is a nice hot bath!" Colin grinned, continuing the
conversation as if nothing had happened.

Lacey shuddered and began unbuttoning his shirt, before
he just collapsed into a chair and Colin straddled his thighs and
helped Lacey undress.

“You're too kind to me - “ Lacey murmured as he
rolled his shoulders and the shirt fell to the floor.

Dressed in his stained slacks, Lacey unclasped the belt
and pulled it off, then slid the slacks down his furred thighs and
stepped out of them. Colin picked them up, then poked a claw at the
stain, raising both eyebrows before looking up in Lacey's eyes.

“It was an accident - “ Lacey grumbled.

“Oh, I imagine it was quite an accident!"
Colin giggled, then grabbed up the shirt and followed Lacey to the
bathroom.

Lacey paused, leaning against the door frame, before he
looked back over his shoulder and snorted. “It wasn't that
kind of accident – I spilt my tea..."

“Uh huh, sure..." Colin giggled.

Lacey snorted and walked into the bathroom, followed by
Colin.

*

Lacey lay sprawled in the bath, his cloven hooves
resting in the stirrups at the end of the bath, next to the taps.
Water that would almost scald the fur off his skin soaked him from
shin to mid-chest as he leaned back, resting his head against the
special head-brace on the end of the bath. Colin in turn, placed his
paws around Lacey's neck and gently stroked and rubbed the taut chest
muscles.

“Mmm..." Lacey gurgled, eyes closed and slowly
relaxing under his partners gentle massage.

“Feels good, doesn't it?" Colin snickered, then
walked his fingers slowly down Lacey's chest.

Lacey trembled the water rippling, before he swallowed
and forced himself to relax. Colin just thought Lacey was tense from
work stresses, so nuzzled his lovers ears and began to gently slide
them down Lacey's chest and towards his belly.

“Paws above my waistline, thank you very much - “
Lacey mock-growled, tilting his head back to look up at Colin.

“Aww - “ Colin whined playfully. “I know how to
relax you love..."

Lacey nodded and shuddered, then as Colin's paws slid
back down her belly, Lacey suddenly twitched and snarled.

“I said no!"

Colin squealed and leapt backwards, as his eyes widened
at Lacey's sudden, unexpected savage outburst.

“Lacey...honey?" Colin whispered, any romantic
thoughts he'd had vanishing in a heartbeat.

Lacey sniffled, then shut his muzzle and just shook his
head slowly. Quietly, Colin rose and crept meekly from the bathroom,
quietly closing the door behind him, leaving Lacey to cry helplessly.

*

“Honey..." Colin began, as he reached over and
placed a paw on Lacey's wrist. “Please my love, what is wrong with
you?"

Lacey tried to snatch his paw away, but Colin gripped
Lacey's slender wrist and held it firmly – not hard, but he didn't
let go either. With a sniffle, Lacey looked to his left, then hung
his head.

“Your...satchel? Honey, please!" Colin begged,
turning Lacey's paw over and laying his on it, then curling his
fingers to grip Lacey's hooflets.

Fresh tears welled in Lacey's eyes as he leaned over
and tugged his satchel onto the table. With shaking fingers, Lacey
flipped it open then pulled out an envelope and pushed it towards
Colin, who let go of Lacey's paw and took the letter. Opening it,
his eyes widened, then his ears went flat as he read.

Ms. Lacey,

It is with deep regret, I inform you that the tests
were conclusive. Due to your unique physiology and other factors
beyond your control, it is physiologically impossible for you to
conceive a fawn. I know your past history, your upbringing, what was
done to you in that orphanage.

Truly, I wish I could give you joyous news,
regrettably, the scans and tests were conclusive, as I mentioned. I
wish I had better news for you.

END