Three Months Later

Kris sat with his back against the wall on Fox's bed. He was fiddling with a Rubik's Cube while watching Fox, who was standing in the middle of the room, playing with red balls that went from one hand to the other, multiplied, and merged back together. The boy looked ridiculous in his black cape and top hat – yet at the same time, Kris's heart overflowed with love for the boy, who could be so passionate and didn't care what others thought.

He winked at Fox when he caught his gaze, and immediately, Fox's smile widened, and his cheeks turned rosy. A curl danced with his movements as he started juggling five balls–which he managed for only a few seconds before they bounced around the room.

No–he wasn't very good at it.

Kris chuckled when Fox looked around, crestfallen. "Epic fail."

Fox stuck his tongue out at him, gathered the balls again, and started over. "Practice makes perfect. Someday I'll be a professional magician!"

"You're the only magician who can turn himself into a rabbit, man. Leave the juggling to the clowns."

"But only turning into animals is a boring act."

Kris grinned. "The only reason I don't fall asleep while watching you is because you have such a cute face."

A ball landed on his nose. "You're just an old grouch. Okay, I'll do a card trick! Then you can join in."

Fox forgot the ball and almost toppled over his desk in his excitement as he searched for the deck of cards. Kris watched with a half-smile and allowed himself to be persuaded to draw a card three times–after that, he couldn't keep up the pretense and was truly bored.

While Fox was still shuffling, Kris got up, closed the distance between them, and buried his fingers in his dark curls. He gently pulled his head back and kissed him teasingly.

"Shall I show you some real magic, Foxie?" he whispered in his ear. Goosebumps appeared on Fox's neck, and Kris left a love bite there. He grinned when Fox gasped. "I may not know much about magic, but you have a wand I know how to handle."

A weak sound came from Fox's throat. His face turned bright red. Even his lips felt feverish when Kris kissed them.

"You want that, hmm?"

Fox held his breath, the blush on his cheeks deepening. His eyes darted to the door. "W-what if someone comes in? I, um, don't have a 'do not disturb' sign, and my roommate can walk through walls and doors."

With one look, Kris covered the door with sparkling red crystal. "He'll get the hint."

And if not, that was his problem.

He let his hands rest on Fox's shoulders and kneaded the tension away while kissing him. Only when his friend relaxed did his hands move down to Fox's buttons, starting to undo them.

"Well, watch and learn," Kris said with a challenging grin as he knelt. Not that he had ever done this before, but he had never lacked confidence. "This is what real magic feels like."

. . .

"Why are your housemates always complaining?" Kris said irritably as the knocking on the door grew more insistent.

"I want to sleep, Fox. It's almost midnight."

Kris rolled his eyes. "Come on, you're not an old man. The night is just beginning," Kris called back. Leaning on his elbows, he looked at Fox. The look in his eyes was uncertain. "Do you want me to leave, Foxie?" He hovered his face above his boyfriend's and breathed against his lips.

"No," he whispered breathlessly. "I – I never want you to leave me." His hands slid over Kris's torso, making him tense his abs.

"Good," Kris said with a grin. "Your roommate can go somewhere else." He hovered over Fox and continued kissing him. Just when he was getting excited again, there was more knocking on the door.

"It's midnight!" Another bellowing voice. "You know the rules."

With a growl, Kris dropped his forehead against Fox's. Fucking Fire with his stupid rules. Soon he'd need a lawyer to see his boyfriend.

"Well, Mr. Cockblocker has spoken again," Kris sighed. He knew this would go. Though he could convince Fox to ignore most of his housemates, the boy had an almost otherworldly respect for Fire, the leader of the Lion's House. "Maybe we should ask if he wants to join us for a threesome."

Fox turned bright red.

Kris chuckled softly. "Oh, so my boyfriend is into that? Wants to see if he bursts into flames when..."

Fox punched his chest. "Not so loud," he hissed.

Laughing, Kris grabbed his wrists and pinned them to the mattress, then started kissing Fox's neck. "Do you really think I'd share you? No way, Foxie. And certainly not with that sourpuss." He rubbed his middle against Fox's until a moan escaped him, then looked at him smugly. "Exactly. That lovely moan of yours is only for my ears..."

More damned knocking on the door.

"You better go," Fox said.

Kris rolled off him with a sigh. He didn't have a roommate, so it was much easier if Fox slept at his place, but he knew his friend didn't like staying in the Buffalo house. He wouldn't be surprised if Fire had whispered that to him.

Fox also pulled on his boxers. While Kris gave him a long kiss, he let the crystal on the door disappear. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Fox nodded, his eyes gleaming. Kris pressed his lips against his boyfriend's one more time, then turned and left the room before Fire would smoke them out or something.

Kris closed the door behind him. Fire looked at him with a fierce glare.

"Want a blowjob too?" Kris asked with a challenging grin. "It's not free for you, though. Especially not with the risk of burn blisters."

He snickered at the sight of Fire's blazing look.

"Well, you can't say you don't want it, huh? Quite annoying, that side effect of your gift." He winked at the boy and walked down the hallway. The temperature noticeably increased, and from the tension in the air, he could tell the boy was trying hard to control his anger.

Kris wasn't sure why Fire disliked him. He found him boring, but he hadn't done anything to constantly get that I-want-to-burn-you-alive look. Oh well. A life without mysteries got boring quickly.

. . .

Fire watched the Buffalo leave with clenched teeth. He didn't trust that guy one bit. He had had doubts about his relationship with Fox from the start, but he had assumed it would fall apart within a few days. Fox was a good guy, but also very exhausting, and he didn't know Kris to be patient or kind. He kicked at everything he could find, and Fire was afraid he saw in Fox someone he could easily influence, who would then start doing stupid things too.

Fire knocked on the door before opening it. Kris had more or less chased Ghost away, and although Fire didn't know exactly what had been said, it certainly hadn't been a friendly request. Fire found it important that all his housemates felt safe in their rooms and that their access wasn't denied. Of course, couples needed privacy, but they should be considerate of others. Something Kris didn't do at all. He thought the whole world revolved around him.

Fox's gaze briefly met his, then he looked down. Was he ashamed of his boyfriend? Fire didn't think he would have sent his roommate away himself, and he couldn't shake the feeling that Kris was walking all over him.

Fire sat on the edge of Ghost's bed. He wasn't very good at conversations like this, but for some reason, he felt he had to do it. "Is everything okay between you and Kris?" Fire asked cautiously.

Fox looked up. His cheeks flushed, and he nodded.

An awkward silence fell. Fire didn't want to criticize Fox's boyfriend, but he felt he had to say something.

"Ghost doesn't like being unable to enter his room."

Fox ran a hand through his curls. "I understand. It, um, it was the first time we... did something, you know. I think we got a little carried away."

Fox at least. Fire didn't see Kris as someone who easily got carried away by anything. He bit his lip. He really wasn't good at these kinds of conversations. He couldn't help feeling concerned.

"You don't like him, do you?" Fox's direct question startled Fire. He wanted to deny it, but no words came out. He shrugged. "We're not best buddies, no."

"He's always very kind to me." Fox sat up straighter. "His classmates don't like me," he said softly. "That's why we're here so often. Kris has already punched someone twice for calling me names."

Fire didn't really know what to do with these words. Maybe he should just stay out of it.

"I feel your stares," Fox mumbled. He picked at the edge of his bedspread. "When we're together." He looked up. "But he's with me now, Fire. And if you guys were less hostile towards him, I'm sure he'd feel more at ease. I know how that judgment feels," he muttered. "And no one has a problem with Safira being my best friend, even though she's also a Buffalo. He feels that too."

Fire gave a hesitant nod, as a sign that he would try to consider it. Whether anything would actually change, he couldn't say. He had known Kris for too long to speak of "giving him a chance." And Fox might now portray him as someone who felt judged, but he doubted Kris cared. 

"Did he say that?" Fire asked. "That he feels judged?" 

Fox shook his head. "No. He acts like he doesn't care. And everyone might believe that, but I think everyone deep down wants to be liked. Even if they want the world to believe otherwise."

Fire thought about that. He was a bit surprised by Fox's insight into people–apparently, more was going on in that busy head of his than he had thought. He stood up. "Well, I just hope you're careful, Fox." 

Fox smiled. "Don't worry. I've never felt this happy before." 

Maybe that was what worried him. He didn't like the idea of Fox's heart breaking, though he understood he had to let it go. Fox had to make his own choices. And he had to stop projecting his own fear of losing people onto others.