Where Foxes Hunt with Wolves (Folk Lore 2)

Radek’s eyes snapped to him as if Yev had insulted him. “I don’t want the jacket!”

Yev stilled, returning his gaze to the road when a car approaching from the other direction shone its headlights straight into his eyes. “What? Why not?”

Radek breathed faster now, and Yev had no idea why. If an animal was hurt or hungry, it was easy enough to work out the reason behind his distress. But this?

“Is it the zipper?” he tried. “We can pull over, and I’ll close it for you.”

“No!” Radek croaked, as if something was blocking his throat, preventing him from taking enough air. “Look at it. The hood is lined with fox fur. I’ve been wearing it for so long, and it could as well be my mother’s skin. I’m sick just thinking about it!”

Yev’s heart sank, but his brain was already coming up with solutions. “We can go back. Get you another jacket at the strip mall. We haven’t gotten that far away from town. Wait, don’t you still have the one I gave you? The red one.”

Radek hugged himself. “It’s in the back.”

“Okay, hang in there,” Yev said and stopped on the side of the road soon after. He jumped out of the vehicle with a sense of purpose. The red jacket felt bitterly cold after resting in a box on the bed of the truck, so he didn’t think twice before offering Radek his own coat instead.

“Take this one. I’m warm anyway.”

Radek slipped on the jacket and rubbed his eyes. “Thank you. I’m sorry I’m such a mess. This isn’t like me. I usually have my shit together. But it’s these revelations, and the arm, and I just feel like I’m losing it.”

Yev slid into the truck and took hold of Radek’s hand, looking straight at him, as if he’d been hypnotized by the freckles dotting his skin. “You will be fine. I promise.”

Radek watched him for a while, but then unbuckled his seatbelt with a determined expression and climbed over the gearstick, into Yev’s lap. “I’ve wanted to do this at the vet’s so badly,” he whimpered, wrapping his arms around Yev’s neck.

Yev’s skin prickled when he looked outside, but barely any cars passed by, and the nearest homes were some yards away. And even if someone had seen them, they’d assume Radek was a girl anyway, because of his long hair.

It would be fine. He could comfort his boy without worry over being confronted by some lowlifes.

Radek’s weight felt nothing but pleasant, and his form fell so perfectly into Yev’s arms he shut his eyes and buried his face in the fiery locks, breathing in the scent of Radek’s hemp shampoo. He couldn’t help but love that Radek was in turn soaking up Yev’s scent from the jacket.

“We could… you know, lay the jacket to rest, if you want.”

“What do you mean?” Radek nuzzled Yev’s ear, curling up to him further when a large truck sped by, making their vehicle stir.

Yev rubbed his lips against Radek’s forehead, sliding his fingers up and down his back. “Bury what remains of that fox.”

“I’d like that,” Radek whispered after a pause. “Is that dumb?”

Yev smiled, meeting the shimmering gaze that was both Ember’s and Radek’s. The two flames that had kept him warm this cold winter. “No. Wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t think it made sense.”

Radek exhaled, and his body lost most of its tension, settling into Yev’s arms. He leaned in and kissed Yev’s lips almost shyly, as if they hadn’t enjoyed a beastial fuck just last night. When Yev parted his mouth in invitation, Radek was quick to oblige. He slipped his fingers over Yev’s stubble and made his tongue dance against Yev’s as if this was the most tender fuck. And it was so good even though Yev knew they wouldn’t be having sex there. The mood wasn’t right, nor was the place. But making out with Radek for no reason other than tenderness and comfort was bliss.

Yev tightened his hold around Radek and leaned back in the seat, focusing on the soft pillows of the boy’s mouth, his gentle tongue, his warm breath and soft skin that was smooth as silk. He was one of a kind. Perfect. Beautiful. Lovely. The only one who could understand Yev.

No car stopped to honk at them, and so, they were lost in their bubble of warmth in the middle of winter. Yev didn’t know how much time had passed, but he was still jerked out of the kiss when a phone rang. The Rammstein ringtone was a dead giveaway that it had to be Radek’s.

“Wait, I’ll get that,” Radek gave him one more kiss and arched away to reach the phone. He’d charged it at the vet’s, and while Yev was annoyed it disturbed their peace, they could always finish this moment in the safety of their home.