“Happy birthday!"

Tom smiled wide. In front of him was a birthday cake, not big, but it was homemade. He spent the whole afternoon with Martin, Lucy, Nathan, and Yohan to make it, almost wrecking Andy's kitchen in the process.

In front of the cake were his friends. Tom almost cried, he was so touched that they would celebrate his birthday, even going an extra kilometre and throwing him a birthday party. Sure, few were here, but they were his friends, and he felt like he was home, celebrating his birthday with his family.

Those were strong words since he never actually celebrated his birthday, never exactly had a place which he could call home, and never really had a family.

He had one sad excuse for a birthday party, though.

“Let's just skip the gift exchange and eat the cake!" Martin said, excited.

The wolf laughed, “Go ahead. If it tastes bad we know Martin made it."

Everyone laughed.

He took the cake knife and took a slice of the cake, then put it on a small plate. The cake looked beautiful. The insides looked like a rainbow… a deformed one of course because they couldn't put the layers correctly, but still beautiful in its chaos. He really hoped it didn't taste too sweet or too chaotic, though.

“You're gonna give the first slice to who?" Lucy spoke up.

Tom looked around. His friends were smiling, but Martin especially looked like he wanted that first slice. He glanced at Octo who was smiling softly at him, then at Andy whose bright innocent smile rivalled the sun.

His smile almost faltered; he wished Max were here. He wanted to give the first slice to him.

“Well, I'm curious what does it taste like." He shrugged and took the first bite.

Almost everyone groaned.

He chuckled. “Okay, you big babies." He put his own plate aside and took other slices of the cake, putting them in separate plates.

“Here's for Martin. Thanks for being a best bud for me this year. T'es vraiment mon meilleur ami." He gave the second slice to Martin. The fox gladly took it and grinned a big thanks.

“Here's for Lucy. Thanks for not making me forget where I come from. Makasih banyak ya."

“Here's for Octo. Thanks for being my big brother and being there for me."

“Here's for James. Thanks for being the story dump whenever I, Martin, Ellie, and Lucy feel like talking about someone."

“Here's for Kevin. Thanks for being such a good and annoying friend for me."

“Here's for Andy. Thanks for being Mr Party Animal whose house we ravaged over and over. The rest of you whose names I can't mention all, feel free to take a slice of the cake."

They all laughed and accepted the slices, giving him congratulatory remarks. And just like that, Andy stepped aside and roared. “Let's get the party started!"

Tom laughed and took another bite.

Several hours of questionable life choices decided by Andy later, he sat down on the sofa next to Lucy with Octo sitting on the armrest—he seemed to like that spot on every sofa—watching the others dance to the song. Andy turned out to be quite a dancer, his moves as he danced with John's girlfriend were really great. Martin and Ellie also turned out to have perfected their moves.

The cake tasted really good, maybe a bit too sweet, but still good. And the cherry on top was… well, it had cherries on top. He took several more slices, then gave it for those who wanted more slices.

“I still can't believe Andy actually agrees to your plan that it's a no alcohol night tonight." Octo said next to him.

He just shrugged. “I just don't want anyone to wake up with a hangover. Besides, it's not like one night will kill anyone."

“It will definitely kill Andy." He chuckled. “Anyway, what were those slices for? I mean, I've never seen someone give slices like that."

“That's how we usually do birthday parties." Lucy answered beside him. “The first slice is for whoever is most important for you, usually parents. Then the second slice is for the second most important, the third is for the third, and so on, usually only until five or ten."

“Yeah. The larger the cake and audience, the lesser the number. If only close families attend the party, they're all going to be given slices like that. And that is only if there's a party. Usually we don't really celebrate birthdays like this, though that depends on the tribe, province, religion, stuff like that." Tom added.

“Complicated," The panther said with an interested gaze. “yet intriguing."

Tom looked back at the dancers, leaving Octo to talk with Lucy. Even though Max said he would come, Tom didn't expect him to. They hadn't really had much progress since he talked to Octo other than Max answering the panther's call and saying he was in his girlfriend's house.

That calmed Tom a bit. At least he was safe and in no real danger.

They hadn't met since then. There weren't many classes, and Max left quickly after those that were.

What was Max doing now? Why didn't he want to talk? Octo said that Max would come tonight and Max was always true to his words. Yet, if the shepherd lied and he weren't coming, Tom didn't mind that. The shepherd said he celebrated his own birthday in his house after all. Maybe he would need to bring his present for the dog home and give it to him sometime later.

Someone took his hand, making him turn his head. Kevin tugged his hand with a grin. “Come on, wolf. Let's dance."

“Kev, wait—"

The red wolf just laughed and pulled him into the dance floor. He could hear Octo letting out an amused chuckle and Lucy laughing behind him.

“You know how to dance, right? Just follow me, one, two, three, one, two, three."

“Ya I know how to dance." He snorted, but the other just grinned. He took several steps as they started to dance.

Kevin suddenly took hold of his hands and embraced him, making him blush. Right, they were dancing. The red wolf put his hands on the grey wolf's waist while guiding his movements. Tom just let him; it was his birthday anyway, might as well enjoy being with Kevin for a while. He put his hands on Kevin's firm shoulder and started moving, ignoring the happy wagging of his tail betraying him.

He looked up to see Kevin smiling sweetly. It was kind of making him blush because he was sure they looked like a couple right now. Kevin's rather tight shirt also didn't help at all. He followed the rhythm along with the bigger wolf, ignoring the stares he was sure they were getting. He looked away in embarrassment, his ears going down.

“Look at me." Kevin said. Tom let out a sigh and looked up again, ignoring the blush that formed on his face.

Kevin was still smiling.

Someone shouted at them, and he hid his face on Kevin's chest, earning a laugh from the larger wolf.

He said something in exasperation, but his voice was muffled. The red wolf didn't reply, instead he just moved to the rhythm.

When the music ended, they separated. They bowed slightly, then Tom looked up to give the other a weak shove. Unfortunately, Kevin just looked at him with another grin, which made him look away with more blush and walked back to the spot next to Octo.

Kevin's laughter was loud.

He couldn't fight a small smile, though. The red wolf really knew how to charm people. It came with the package, he guessed.

Kevin then waved his hand at Octo to dance with him. Surprisingly, the panther actually went.

He was about to throw his arse back to the sofa when he saw someone walking towards him. Max walked towards him and stopped a few distances away. His brown fur was noticeable and there was tiredness in his face. In his hand was something.

The shepherd smiled weakly. “Thomas."

Tom let out a breath. He wanted to close the distance between them and slap the dog for shunning him out. Didn't he know that he made him worried? There was nothing he wanted to do other than go there and hug him, then slap him, then hug him again and say that he was sorry for having done that and relieved that he was here.

Worried. Relieved. Max was here.

He took a few steps forward and smiled back. “Max. You're he—"

He couldn't finish his sentence because the big shepherd just lunged forward and hugged him. He chuckled a little, awkwardly hugging him back and being almost crushed in the dog's thick arms. Max said to him, almost whispering. “I'm sorry."

“It's okay." The wolf said, ignoring the agitated but relieved feeling in his gut. “I forgive you."

Max let him go, and Tom remembered something. He pulled the dog's hand, beckoning him to follow him. He led him to the cake and let his hand go; the dog just stood there curiously.

Tom took a slice of what was left of the cake and put it on a plate. He then gave it to the dog. “This is for Max. Thanks for being…" he faltered and looked down along with his ears, then looked back up at the shepherd's face, smiling painedly as he ignored the ache in his heart. “my best friend."

Max didn't take the cake, but instead he hugged him tightly again.

This time, Tom didn't protest and simply allowed him to do so.

“It's for you." Max said, giving him the package. Tom accepted it graciously. “Happy birthday."

“Thanks. Eh wait I have something for you." The wolf smiled, then went back to take something. “Here. Happy birthday."

Max took the brown package. It smelled like coffee.

“I didn't have time to wrap it, sorry."

He read the label, his eyes going wide in surprise. “Civet coffee?"

“Sorry if it's not what you like." Tom's ears went down a bit, but he still smiled nervously and wiggled his tail.

“Wolf, did you just give me a kilo of civet coffee as a birthday present?!" Max asked him incredulously. Was the wolf serious? “This costs 200 euros!"

“Well… yes?"

“Thank you!" Max said. “You are my fucking best friend!" he moved to hug the wolf again, but this time he held up a hand.

“Yeah, no problem. I don't want to be crushed tonight."

He laughed at the joke as his tail wagged. Suddenly, he felt his present was not enough. He only gave him a scarf, a plain blue one. It was the only thing he thought would fit with him. The scarf was nothing special, while Tom gave him this… treasure.

And now he just remembered that it was summer.

“Beautiful." He heard Tom say. Looking down at the wolf, he saw him trying his scarf out. “It's so soft."

Tom looked handsome.

“Oh, and in case you're wondering, yeah that's a legitimate civet coffee. Lucy went home a week ago so I asked her to buy it." He said. “I tasted a cup. It did taste very good but I'm not really a coffee enthusiast so… I hope you have a better time."

“Really, Tom, thanks a lot!"

“Now," the wolf crossed his arms and his gaze went serious. His reddish eyes tingled with authority and anger and his ears were half-mast. “I believe we need to talk."

Max felt a chill go down his spine. He found himself almost wishing he didn't come here so he didn't need to face him. But no! No more running away. Tom deserved to know.

“Do you know I went everywhere to look for you? Do you know how many people have I asked? Where have you been? What were you doing? Do you know how worried have I been?!"

Each question felt like a slap on his face. It was right, then, he made Tom feel bad. He deserved this guilt.

“Why?"

That last one felt like a punch in the gut.

“Tom, listen!" he said, gripping the wolf's shoulder. Tom didn't even bulge, he kept looking at him with those harsh eyes. I deserved that, Max thought. “I… I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being an asshole."

There, I said it.

There were only a few people he felt comfortable with. He had many friends, sure, but he only felt comfortable for being vulnerable with a few people. It was a weakness, he knew that, and he could seriously hurt himself if he chose the wrong person to trust. However, those he trusted, he trusted them deeply. Tom was one of them. He had done what he shouldn't have, and Tom wanted an explanation. There was no reason not to tell him.

He deserved whatever thing Tom wanted to do. Tom was his best friend, and he didn't want to lose him because he was his best friend. There might be some practical reasons, but most of all, he didn't want to lose them because he only had few to trust the level he trusted Tom.

Tom's resolve faltered at those words. He let out a sigh, a relieved sigh. He put his arms down and took Max's hand. The wolf looked at him, his expression softened. “It's okay." Tom said, then hugged him gently. “It must've been lonely, ya? I know how you feel."

He hugged him back. This is what hugs should feel like, not the crushing grip you gave before, he mentally chuckled.

Letting him go, Tom gave him the cake slice he discarded. “Eat it. We'll talk."

“Um, Tom?" he said, putting back the slice on the table. “Let me make it up to you? We can go out tonight. Then you can stay at my place and play Uno or whatever, my roommate isn't there anyway."

Tom looked at him, then glanced at the clock. It was 21.

“Okay, but… it's my party, and I don't feel right leaving them."

“Go."

They both looked up to see Octo coming towards them, a glass in his hand. He looked relieved to see them talking to each other.

“Just go, I'll handle things from here. I'm gonna make sure your cake is still intact tomorrow. Well, what's left of it anyway."

“Really, Oct? But it's my party."

“What? Ye're leaving already?" Andy said, appearing out of nowhere.

Octo sighed. “They need to talk, Andy. I know they can just talk here, but I'm more than happy to let them get away from people like you."

The lion shrugged and gulped his drink in one go. “Well, if ye got Octo's seal of approval, then go ahead. It's not like I can do anything." At Octo's glare, Andy threw his hands, fortunately not the glass too. “Thou know it's true, Oct! Anyway, let's go play some card."

Grabbing the lion's tail before he could get away, Octo said to him with a harsh tone. “Not so fast. Apologize."

“W-what?! What does this have to do wi—"

“Apologize or I will kick your ass again." He repeated.

“Tch, fine." Andy clicked his tongue. “Apologise for what?"

“For making them kiss each other."

Tom blushed and turned his gaze away. Max looked at the panther in uneasiness. “Oct, that's fi—"

“I'm sorry for making you two kiss." Andy then said and sighed, his ears folded back. Surprisingly, the lion sounded really sorry.

Max put his hand on his waist and scratched his head. “Okay, fine. Listen, Andy, the football club can get crazy sometimes, I know, but keep it with us, okay? Don't drag anyone into this."

“Yeah but I thought Tom's one of us?"

That made something inside him smile in happiness. “Yeah… but go easy with him."

“Aye, uh…" The lion looked away, his tail waving nervously. “Sorry again, mates. Just… don't let Octo kick my arse again, 'kay Max?"

The dog smiled and crossed his arms. “Oct, don't kick his ass again."

“Of course."

Tom watched them curiously.

“'Kay, uh… I'll get back."

With that, Andy then walked away. Octo turned to them with a smile. “Go ahead, I'll tell the others. It's pretty late, they're going home soon anyway." His gaze then shifted to Max and turned harsh. “You too. Don't you dare make us and Tom worry like that again."

Octo's threats were never bluff, so he hung his head low in shame. If he made the panther angry, then he knew he fucked up big time. Even though he was his vice-captain, Octo was the image of discipline in the team, unlike his easy-going leadership style. They balanced each other, that was why the team trusted them. They also often corrected each other behind closed doors.

The panther's gaze then softened, and he took hold of Max. “Come here, you." Octo proceeded to put him into a headlock and ground his knuckle on the dog's head with a grin, messing his head fur.

“Dude, stop!"

Octo laughed a little and let the shepherd go. “But seriously, don't just disappear like that again. I was starting to think that Priscilla kidnapped you."

“I won't, but I'm not letting that just pass away." Max retorted with a grin, well, he tried to grin, but it still came out quite shyly. “Stay in the locker room next Tuesday after practice."

“I'll make sure to let John stay. Anyway, I'm holding onto your words." Turning on his heels, Octo gave them a small smile and a wave of his tail.

“So," Tom said as he watched the panther go. “to where are we going?"

Max grinned, this time more honestly. “Andy, I'm borrowing your car, okay?!"

“I fucked up, didn't I?"

Tom kicked his own feet softly. Max just laughed a little to cover his nervousness.

The city square was deserted. There were only a few people there. It was half to 22, so that was to be expected. Besides, the night was great. He'd prefer the square being this quiet to being loud and packed as usual.

They walked close to the fountain in the middle of the square, then they sat in one of the available benches. The lamps were bright, and it wasn't secluded, so it wasn't as scary as it seemed.

An elderly couple passed by them and they greeted them politely.

“Why, Max?" Tom asked beside him. “You never told me why you kept a distance from me."

Max took a deep breath. “I didn't mean to keep my distance from you, but I... I do feel a bit funny."

The wolf looked at him curiously.

“What I meant is… uh… I…" he looked away. “I liked that kiss."

Several moments of intense awkwardness passed, and when Tom didn't answer, Max dared look at him. Tom was looking away with a fluster on his face. That made Max fluster too and his ears went down along with the wolf's.

“You… liked it?"

“Yeah…"

They went silent again.

“It… felt good."

“Uh… t-t-thanks…?"

“I mean, uh… I'm not gay, but… that was… good…" Max scratched his head.

“Please don't make this even more awkward."

The dog let out a small chuckle at that.

He heard Tom taking a deep breath, then he looked back at him. “Well, uh, how was your Intercom score?"

“Huh?" asked Max, a bit dumbfounded at the change of topic.

“Your Intercultural Communications score?"

“Uh, B."

“B?" Tom leant back on the bench. “Sorry for that,"

“What? Why?"

“You ran away from your responsibilities. I couldn't make up any more excuses."

Max looked at him.

“During the peer interview, I was asked about how my committees perform, including you." The wolf said with sorry in his words. “I had no choice but to say that you didn't report anything to me during the D-day and your team had to manage it without you. The prof said she'd give all of us an A, but then I told her that…"

“Oh…" Max just uttered, his guilt multiplied by ten. Was he really that messed up till he didn't do his duties?

Just how much did he fuck up?

“You didn't even attend our final evaluation."

Too much, apparently.

“But, that's beside the point. I hope you're happy with your girlfriend now."

The tone Tom used was neutral, almost hopeful, but he interpreted it as cynical, sarcastic. Even if that were, he knew he deserved that. Max let out a sigh and looked at the sky. “I broke up with her."

Surprised, the wolf turned to him. “Huh, you what, mate?"

“I broke up with her." At Tom's look of disbelief, he added. “No, I didn't just dump her, we broke up peacefully."

“Somehow I doubt that."

He laughed a little. “I know you're gonna doubt that."

He still remembered her words. I know you're not in it for me anymore. You like someone else. Go get her. I know you're gonna be in good hands.

Yeah, he looked at the wolf, nervous and hopeful at the same time. She did not know that he did not like someone else. Tom was his friend; he knew he could count on him. I'm in good hands.

“You know," Tom nervously started, his tail wiggled beside him. “I… I often thought that I… that I'm not enough for you. That I don't deserve to be your friend. I mean, you're the football star who won the Nat-Champ, I'm just… no one."

He looked at the wolf, surprised by what he said.

“I often thought that I need to do something to prove myself to you, that I'm not… simply using you as a social ladder." The wolf let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping. “Who am I compared to you?"

Max took a deep breath. He should've seen this coming. Many students thought that he was the football star till he grew a bit tired of them. Of course behind the way Tom acted, he was no exception. However, the way Tom spoke about it wasn't putting Max above him, but putting him below Max. The wolf wasn't comparing himself to Max so much as comparing Max to himself.

He said that from the point of view that he was the low one instead of Max being the high one.

“Dude, that's bullshit. You don't have to do that to me. I make friends with you because I want to."

Letting out a small chuckle, the wolf leant into his arm. “You befriend people because you want to. That's why I like you."

“But if you really want to make it that way, remember, you won second place in the Provincial Conference." Max gave a small grin when Tom turned to look at him. “Don't think I don't know that."

“So, we're even?"

“Well, if you could win the National Conference next semester, then we're even."

Tom laughed. “I will."

The atmosphere went up again.

“I reckon we should get home. It's almost midnight." Tom said, glancing at his phone.

“You're right." Max stood up.

“That offer to stay over at yours still up?"

He shrugged. “Dude, that's not an offer, that's a request."

“O-okay."

The drive to the dorms was quiet. Max focused on the road, occasionally taking glances at Tom who looked tired. The wolf repeatedly nodded off with an exhausted but relieved look on his face. Max smiled softly; he looked cute like this. Now that their problem was resolved, he hoped nothing weird would happen again.

When they reached the dorm, Max parked the car and went out, Tom walking behind him. They gave the dorm manager a quick “Good evening.", then went to his room.

“Here we are."

Without any fuss, Tom took his trousers and shirt off and launched himself onto the bed. Max just chuckled at him. He took his own jeans and jacket off and sat on his own bed in his pants. It was a warm night tonight. Tom's t-shirt looked too loose, but he guessed it was just the wolf's preference.

“Why is your roommate's bed softer than mine?"

“Really?" Max shrugged and plugged his phone in on the nightstand. “I never thought about that."

Tom said something but was muffled by the pillow.

“You're going to sleep?"

“Mmmmrf."

“I thought we were gonna play Uno."

The wolf just hummed something.

Max hmphed and turned the lamps off.

He put his hands behind his head and sighed. Tom was already deep asleep, making him wonder how much of this was exhausting him. And he was, too. His emotions were taxed tonight. The sleep tonight seemed to be relaxing, especially with Tom already forgiven him. Max closed his eyes, slowly drifting to sleep.

Some shuffling noises then woke him up. He didn't look at it because he guessed it was just Tom moving around in his sleep. However, he then felt the wolf next to him, their sides touching.

“Can I... Can I sleep here, please?" said the wolf in a hoarse voice but was already beside him. He couldn't make up the wolf's expression in the darkness, but he caught the distress in his voice.

He glanced at the clock; it was almost 2.

“Yeah." He let the wolf cuddle up next to him. “You okay?"

“No… not really." Tom yawned and turned to his side, giving Max his back so he could fit.

Max just chuckled. “Come here." Then he put his arm around the wolf, cradling him. Tom just let him do it, still giving his back.

The wolf's erratic tail slowly calmed down. His fluff was somewhat coarse and he was a bit cold, his scent filling the dog's nostrils. It was gay, and Max might regret it tomorrow, but right now, it was the least he could do for the wolf.

This actually felt nice when he wasn't having an internal debate inside his mind.

That night, he slept well.

Best-friend-zoned fufufu

Notes:
T'es vraiment mon meilleur ami. = You're really my best friend.
Makasih banyak ya. = Thank you very much.