“So, what's the sleeping plan?"

Octo put his plate down and looked up. They were in the villa living room, watching the television whilst having dinner. He was quite tired after that drive, and thankfully Max was willing to help him cook some dinner for them. It was half to 23 in the night and thanks to summer, it was just about half an hour after sundown.

At Lucas' question, though, he sank into his seat. He wanted them all to sleep together, but he chose this villa because it had three bedrooms. Sleeping together meant he could watch them better, especially Kevin and Tom. There had been nothing suspicious today, which he was glad of, but he could never be too careful.

“Octo and Kevin, done." Vilkas said. “Octo, please, please, I beg you to do him good and knock some sense into that wanker, please?"

“Aw, Vil, you want a piece of me that badly?"

They chuckled.

The panther nodded. At least he could watch Kevin, and not because he really wanted to sleep with him anyway.

“How about this," Andy said and burped, uttering a small apology. “let's bunk up based on sexuality. Mike, you're with me. We're straight so we can talk about tits. No offense Max but you got Tom."

Max nervously coughed. Octo knew they used to bunk together when they had to during matches, him, Max, and Andy.

The lion continued. “Lucas, you're with Max and Tom. So, Vilkas with me. Sounds good?"

Lucas, Max, and Tom went rigid. Lucas and Max looked at each other nervously, while Tom looked flustered. Eventually, Max sighed and said, “Sure, i-if that's fine with Lucas."

Damn Andy and his lack of tact. How troublesome.

“Wait, lemme say goodnight to the husky."

As soon as Kevin moved, Vilkas immediately put his empty plate down and walked away, getting away from Kevin. “Kevin, fuck the fuck off!"

They laughed.

“Poor Vilkas. Is he gonna be fine? Kevin's been up his throat all day." Lucas asked them.

“I hope he is. He's been keeping up with red for so long." Mike stood up. “Thanks for the meal, though. What's the plan for tomorrow?"

“Grocery shopping first." Octo shrugged. “You said you wanna go to the gym?"

“Yeah."

“I kinda miss the gym."

“Think I'll pass that one." said Max. “Someone gotta take care of the villa, right?"

“Aw, just say you wanna some time alone with T—"

Octo whacked his head as a warning. “Kevin, behave."

Andy laughed as Kevin whined.

Max continued, “Well, we have all morning for gym. Sunrise is at 4 if I'm not mistaken… or is it at 3?"

“Shush, let's all still be sane people and wake up at 7 or 8 like usual." The lion said.

They chuckled.

Octo turned to Tom. “By the way, Tom, do you mind cooking breakfast tomorrow? Don't worry, I'll help."

The grey wolf nodded. “Sure. What's on the menu?"

“Duck anyone?"

“I kinda want vegs."

“You got some suggestions, Tom?"

“Hmm. How about steamed potatoes, vegs, and chicken?" Tom shifted on the sofa.

“Sounds good."

“I'll eat anything you make, wolf. Lion's promise."

“Thanks, Andy. Hope I can find the market in the morning, though."

“Okay, we'll cook breakfast at around eight. After that you can do what you want, then we'll go to the beach at 15."

Vilkas returned to the living room but stayed away from Kevin who was grinning at him with hazy eyes.

“Rad. Think I'll be going to sleep now. Hafta enjoy those days when I can sleep before midnight." The jackal yawned. “Night, everyone." He said, standing up and taking his backpack. “Where's my room again?"

“Wait, Mike, don't leave me." Vilkas did the same and took his backpack.

Octo pointed with his muzzle. “Up the stairs, first on the right."

“Well, thanks."

Max and Tom also stood up, took their backpacks, then said goodnight before going into their room, followed by Lucas a few minutes later. Octo gave a sigh before standing up and picking the empty plates up. Kevin was pretending to sleep on the sofa, and the panther really wanted to pull his wagging tail.

Just when Andy was about to sneak into his room, Octo caught his tail. “You help me clean this up."

The lion turned around sheepishly. “Oh, right, I forgot! Sorry, lemme just… uh…"

“Andy, you ate three full plates." Also, you could use some lessons in reading a situation.

Deflating, the lion picked the empty bottles up and followed the panther into the kitchen. “Hey, how about Kevin?"

“He's just pretending to sleep. If he doesn't help me in ten seconds, I'll make sure he sleeps on the sofa until we get back to Barrowisle."

Kevin immediately woke up. “Oi!"

It was a fun day. They had a lot of fun on the beach. The weather was pleasantly warm and although he woke up feeling like a rock, the day was more than made up for it. The beach was a lively place with many people, enjoying the warm North Atlantic wind coming from the sea.

Mike walked towards their spot on the beach, tired after playing volleyball earlier. The day wasn't over, so he wanted to take a break first. He sat down on the mat beside Octo, with Max napping behind them.

“Tired already?" Octo asked him with a smile and threw him a bottle of soda.

He caught the bottle and gulped its content down. “Yeah. I wonder how they're still running all over."

They looked to where the others were playing volleyball. Despite his big ego, Kevin sucked at it, which made him an easy target for their opponents. Tom and Vilkas were pretty good, even despite Tom's height, while Lucas absolutely dominated the game.

“Haven't they been playing for… an hour maybe?"

The jackal shrugged. “At least they're having fun." He burped softly. “You're not joining them?"

“Volleyball isn't really my thing. I'm sure I would suck even more at it than Kevin." Octo chuckled softly. “You're a pro."

“I'm not a pro, mate. I just used to play it with my mates back home." The jackal chuckled.

“That intense look on Lucas' face said otherwise."

He laughed. It was true that before, the game felt really like Lucas versus Mike rather than team a versus team b.

“Anyway, where's Andy?"

“Over there." Octo pointed to a spot under an umbrella.

They both let out a chuckle as they saw Andy there, surrounded by other beachgoers, most of them girls. Admittedly, he wouldn't mind being there. Maybe he could go with Andy to get laid. Despite his air, the lion was very smooth with his pick-up lines.

“You're not going there?" Octo asked him.

He shrugged. “Too tired. Feel like I want to sleep right here."

The jackal gulped down his soda empty and put the empty bottle aside. He lay down on his back on the mat and let out a happy sigh, closing his eyes. This was life…

He felt kind of guilty leaving the bar in times like this, but at least he and Vilkas found replacements for their two-week absence. While they were only paid one week, Mike didn't mind. He didn't spend any money on this holiday, anyway, aside from his own spending.

Speaking of,

“Hey, Octo, uh… thanks for the holiday." He looked at the panther. “You sure it's really nothing? I don't mind paying my part."

Octo shrugged him off. “It's really fine, Mike. That's a family villa, anyway."

“Really, thanks a lot, panther."

The panther smiled at him. “Anyway, I… I'd like to ask about Kevin."

He put his paws behind his head and closed his eyes. “Ask away."

“I'm sorry if you find any of this… offensive of some sorts." Octo looked away and let out a sigh. “What's his job at your workplace?"

“Part-time waiter." He simply replied. Did Octo not know about Kevin's job? Well, it was kind of bad to say that they were naked waiters, though, so he understood if Kevin didn't say it. “He's… well, a part-timer. Not just a waiter, he usually also helps with bartending, restocking, etc. Vilkas and I are waiters, so we have our eyes on him most of the time, and I think in his revenge Kevin has his hands all over us most of the time." He ended with a small laugh.

“How long has he been working there?"

“Eeh…" he trailed off. “Five to six months, give or take. He joined not long after the new year."

“Is he… you know… financially inadequate, perhaps?"

Mike opened his eyes and looked at the panther curiously. However, before he could answer, Octo continued. “Sorry for that. It's just…  sometimes I feel like he's not being honest with me." He explained, pinching the base of his muzzle.

“I get it, mate. I know the feeling. Ye feel like he's not trusting you, right?" He said with a smile. “Had that too with my last girlfriend."

Octo smiled back at him. “So, you're single now?"

“Yeah. We broke up about a year ago. Turned out she's been shagging someone else behind my back. Honestly, I wouldn't be angry if only she told me about that, but she'd been lying. I broke up with her eventually." He shrugged. “I'm not saying that Kevin might be shagging someone, though in my ere I… wouldn't doubt that much given his…"

“Insatiable sexual drive."

“Your words, mate, your words, not mine." The jackal laughed. “But yeah, no offence. Maybe he just needs time to open up. I mean, I sure did to my girlfriend."

“Maybe." The panther let out a sigh. “How about that previous question, if you'd want to answer?"

“Right. I don't know much about that, sorry. Kevin doesn't really talk much about himself. Maybe that's true when we see his paycheque, but maybe he's got another job."

“Of course." Octo said. They went quiet again for a while, then the panther asked him again. “Another question, did Kevin ever have… some accident at work or something? One that leaves a wound?"

He furrowed his brows without looking at the panther. Octo was rather a curious fellow; he must be very concerned about Kevin. While he thought Kevin would be just fine, he had also seen how careless was the red wolf. That reminded him of that fight in the alley.

Wait, no, Kevin told him not to tell anyone. Besides, Octo just asked him about accidents at work, not outside.

“None that I could think of." He shrugged. “He's a tad clumsy at times but aren't we all?"

The panther sighed, then smiled at him. “Ah, you're right. Thanks a lot."

“Anytime, mate." Mike answered before giving a big sigh and closing his eyes. Hopefully, no one woke him up.

Max sipped his drink, then put it down and leant on his elbows on the bar, letting out a happy sigh. He was spent after all that beach activities. He didn't manage to score a lot, mainly because Lucas kept stealing his shots. Heh, I can't play volleyball my ass. He was so tired of just jumping around so he decided to take a nap instead. Now, he was enjoying a drink in an open beach bar.

Next to him, Tom fidgeted a bit, glancing at the clock now and then. “Uh, Max, do they have some snacks here?"

“Wait, 'm gonna ask." He called the barista. “Yo, you got some snacks here?"

“We got the usual!" The barista pointed at the sign above the bar.

The shepherd turned to Tom. “Which one do you want?"

“Uh… I'll have some Oreos."

Max laughed. “You sure 'bout that?"

“Yeah."

“We'll take some Oreos!"

He heard some amused laughs around them. He himself couldn't help but let one out. Not long after, the Oreos came and the waiter put them in front of the shepherd.

Taking one, Max gave it to the grey wolf. “Here's for you, babe."

Tom was instantly red. He took one Oreo and looked away. “Please don't call me babe."

Max laughed.

“Max, keep teasing Tom, I like it." Next to the wolf, Vilkas chuckled while Lucas was looking at them amusedly.

Tom batted the husky with his tail.

“Hehe." Max took one Oreo, twisted it, and licked the cream all the while looking at the wolf lewdly. He was wearing an unbuttoned shirt, and he let his saliva drop onto his chest fur. It wasn't as thick as Tom's fluff, but hey it still made him look hot.

The grey wolf just looked at him and let out a chuckle. “You're a dirty one."

Max wiggled his eyebrows.

“Wipe that off."

“Don't you want to wipe it?"

Tom took a tissue from the counter, then wiped Max's chest while Max kept staring lewdly and grinning widely at him.

When it was dry enough, the wolf threw the tissue at his muzzle and chuckled softly. “Dirty boy."

“Clean me up, then."

“You'll get me dirty instead."

Lucas and Vilkas stared at Max. When the dog laughed and elbowed the wolf, Lucas looked away blushing and Vilkas flustered. Max didn't catch them staring but he did see Vilkas flustering. He looked back at Vilkas while Tom was not looking and wiggled his brows at the husky.

Vilkas just looked away.

The dog laughed again. “Hey, Lucas."

The coyote just gave a mrf. Max grinned and raised his brows, teasing him.

“Your boyfriend is literally next to you." Lucas said, not impressed.

“So?" Max just asked him.

“Tom, Max's being an arse." Vilkas gulped his drink.

“Uhh…"

“It's thick, isn't it?"

“Tom, seriously, how on Earth did you turn Max into… this?" Lucas asked the smaller wolf.

The shepherd gulped his drink, just giving a chuckle. Apparently it was quite fun teasing them.

“Um, the alcohol, maybe?" Tom shrugged.

That made the shepherd laugh. “Okay, okay, sorry. I couldn't help it." He turned around and leant forward on the counter, smiling at them. “Eh, how many glasses did I have again?"

“Three, I think. Or four. I reckon three, since that whisky is about 80% ice." Tom replied, then drank his glass of soda empty.

Someone put their hand on his shoulder. “So, had anyone hitting on you yet?"

Max looked over his shoulder. Kevin was snickering at him, topless with his tail wagging happily and a bottle of beer in his other hand. The red wolf licked his own muzzle and put his arm over Max's shoulders, not even trying to hide that he was rubbing the shepherd's back. His breath smelled like alcohol.

He just finished his drink, feeling a bit nervous with Kevin here. “Okay, Kev… uh… think I'll come over to Octo."

“Naw, let's spend the night together, hot stuff. Don't worry, I'm flexible."

Lucas, Vilkas, and Tom all laughed as Max's ears went down, well, Tom only chuckled. Damn Kevin, always teasing him like he really wanted to do it. Unlike Lucas, whom he often teased anyway, Kevin was not shy about his intentions. Even though he knew he had Tom and Octo, the red wolf was still too forward.

“Hehe." The red wolf gulped his beer. “Now, my turn to turn Vilkas on."

“W-wha—fuck off, Kev!"

“Hey guys, did you know Vilkas likes it rough? He lik—"

“God-fucking-dammit, Kevin!"

Lucas stood up and pulled Tom and Max away, leaving the poor husky in the red wolf's mercy, or horny drunkenness. “Oookay, we do not need to hear that."

“H-hey, don't leave me!"

“Naw, husky, let's get husky!"

They laughed as they exited the bar and walked into a more comfortable area of the beach. “I'm sure Octo will give him a good, nice spanking session." said the coyote.

“Honestly I want to tell him off." Tom said. “Believe it or not, he's a lot better to handle when he's drunk."

“He's also a lot funnier when he's drunk. Ask Octo."

Lucas and Tom laughed. Max noticed that Octo was staring at Kevin and Vilkas from across the bar. He looked… amusedly jealous, maybe? The panther didn't do anything, though. Perhaps he already knew what a slutty boy was Kevin.

They looked for an empty spot near the water. It was nearing sunset, and the beach was very lively. Max sat down on a spot, not getting too far from Tom. Although he could sense Tom's nervousness, at least he wasn't outright scared. Besides, they had Lucas here.

“Eh, Luc," the wolf said as he sat down. “nice tattoo you have there. I usually don't like tattoos but that looks very good."

The coyote looked at his tattoo and smiled bashfully. “Thanks, Tom."

“May I ask what's the meaning?"

“Not much." Lucas said, the sleeveless t-shirt he was wearing giving them a good view of his tattoo. It was a continuous red line on the coyote's upper arm, making a kind of spring. “Men in my tribe have tattoos. This is just a sign that I've passed my rite of adulthood."

“What rite of adulthood?" Max asked.

Shrugging, Lucas elongated his legs and leant back on his arms. “Just me fasting for three days. It used to be me hunting for my own food for three days but the point is still for young adults to act for themselves in hard times. It's just a three-day fast. Muslims fast for thirty days."

“Not continuously, though."

“From dawn till sunset, right? Mine too, but you can only use fire to cook for food, no cookers allowed. Back in Canada there used to be hunting grounds for this, but I'm an immigrant here so of course there isn't one." He chuckled. “I passed it and got this."

“So, you're an adult now." Max pulled him into a bro hug. “Congratulations, dude. Was wondering why you acted like you lost your candy."

“Get off!" Lucas laughed, trying to pull himself away from the German Shepherd.

“From what tribe are you, if you don't mind me asking?"

“From the Seven Nations." The coyote said with a proud smile.

“Anyway, uh, sorry if it's a bit sensitive, but…" Tom said carefully. “Kan you're from Hampstertown, and you're gay… I was wondering if… I heard that gays have a tough time in Hampstertown…"

Max saw Lucas go rigid for a bit, then lessened. He gave the wolf a sad smile with his ears drooped down and looked at him. “Yeah… you can have a pretty hard time being gay there. There's a reason Hampstertown is one of the most unsafe cities for LGBT people in the country."

“Sorry to hear that, Luc." Max said apologetically.

“It's fine. I moved to Barrowisle anyway." The coyote straightened his pose and the cheerful smile returned. “I don't know how long I'll be living here, but I'm pretty sure I won't be returning for a while." He shrugged. “Actually, I think I'm gonna stay here, my job and all."

“Heh, welcome to Barrowisle, man."

“You're not from Barrowisle, too, Max."

“Eh, right. Think Tom or Andy should've been the one to say that."

“Where're you from, Max? I thought you're from Barrowisle."

“Thunderstone, Upper Ysenhalt. Just next shire but really corner-to-corner." Max explained.

Lucas laughed. “Right."

Vilkas then came running towards them, trying to hide behind them. They looked at him curiously; the husky just put a paw over his muzzle to tell them to be quiet. Looking behind them, they saw Kevin walking around the beach.

“Where the fuck is that husky?"

They watched as Kevin looked for Vilkas in the crowd. The red wolf didn't seem to notice them or even Vilkas' happily wagging blue tail between Max's ears.

Kevin then walked away and joined Octo instead.

Feeling that he was no longer being followed, Vilkas gave a relieved sigh and sat down next to Max. “Fuck's sake!"

Max chuckled. “I want to ask but I'm not sure I want to know."

“Kevin is hot and sexy and all but really can't he do that somewhere private?" The husky shook his body. “Besides, I don't want to be at the bad end of Octo's anger."

“Well… would it calm you down if I say that Octo's bites really hurt?" The shepherd said.

Vilkas narrowed his eyes to look for Octo in the bar. He then huffed and stood back up. “You three help me when he bites me, okay?" He said, pleading.

Max shrugged. “Sure. I'm pretty sure Octo's gonna tell Kevin off first, though."

“Good to hear." Vilkas gave a short growl. “Anyway, I have things to do tonight. I'll come back later before midnight."

“Okay sure."

“Be careful."

“Call if you need us."

They watched as the husky walked away. Max leant closer to Tom and Lucas and asked them. “You know what it is?"

Tom replied, “A deer hit on him earlier. I'm pretty sure he's about to spend the night with him."

Lucas coughed in embarrassment.