Each of the boomers toweled themselves off, removing the residual dampness the brush failed to. Rupert made his way out of the bathroom first. He was quick to close the curtains, not wanting to chance someone seeing him and his son naked in the room.

That alone wouldn’t be evidence of what they had done, of course. Rupert never would have been uncomfortable being naked around his own family. At the same time, Rupert was sure he must have the guiltiest expression. Anyone who glanced would surely read what he’d done scrawled across his face. It was sickening, swinging between such intense emotions. Intense love for Kyle, fear of what was happening, the hot pulses of lust for his son’s words… the disgust after he got off. Disgust for abusing his son, twice now. Flip-flopping between the idea that this would be good for Kyle, that it could be good for their relationship. Then, a sudden switch to fear and hate for everything he’d done. Hurtling down a path he didn’t know, didn’t trust, and the brakes weren’t working. 

Humming brought Rupert’s attention back to the present and out of his runaway thoughts. Kyle had exited the bathroom, towel still working atop his head and ears, humming Rupert’s bath time song. Kyle froze mid-stride, when his eyes met Rupert’s. Kyle smiled, and continued toward his luggage, still humming. 

The weight lifted off Rupert. His lungs filled as the tightness in his chest ebbed away. Rupert could even feel himself returning a genuine smile, following Kyle’s lead and returning to his own luggage. 

Rupert wasn’t sure what the right thing to do was. He had never thought himself smart, and he surely never learned what to do in a situation like this. But, as he pulled on a clean pair of underwear, he knew one thing for certain. 

Rupert hadn’t seen his son so happy since before Nicole and him had split. 

And that was enough. For now, it was enough. Kyle always seemed to have something on his mind, some sort of pain or ache, all throughout his teen years. Rupert wasn’t sure if it was his absence, living with the jaguars, assholes at school… probably mix of them all. But right now, the smile wasn’t forced. It wasn’t hiding something dark behind it. 

Right now, Kyle had that dumb, innocent smile of a guy who didn’t know there was bad in the world. 

Rupert pulled on a pair of pants, and shirt. He was sitting on the bed to pull on socks when Kyle approached, holding out Rupert’s worn clothes. 

“You know I saw you sniffing those, right?” Rupert sat up with one sock on, taking the neatly-folded pile of laundry to put back in his travel bag. The shocked, embarrassed expression across Kyle’s face earned a hearty laugh from Rupert. “At least you’re not taking being caught as bad as last night.” 

Kyle just put a hand to his face, covering his eyes and drooping his head, then chuffed. He walked back around the bed to his luggage, ears flushed with blush. 

Rupert kept chuckling, pulling on his other sock. He grabbed his bag, pushing the remaining items into it, before tossing it up on the bed. 

“Go ahead, get your fill.” Rupert teased, savoring how Kyle’s ears turned even redder. He might feel guilty if Kyle was actually hurt, or upset… but Rupert could see how much Kyle loved it. Particularly with how Kyle was staring at the bag, tempted by the offer. 

Rupert pulled his shoes on, lacing them up and tying them. He pushed with his tail, standing and making his way to the table. He gathered all the trash into the bag he’d brought food up in, then wiped the table off into it as well. He set the bag next to the trash and went into the bathroom to get his toiletries bag. Kyle quickly stood upright as Rupert approached, zipping Rupert’s bag closed and returning to his own. 

Rupert chuckled again, rolling his eyes. He didn’t know what future was destined for … whatever he and Kyle were doing, at this point. But he certainly knew he would have to get Kyle more comfortable and open around him- whether they were being horny, or just hanging out. 

A quick snag of his bag from the bathroom, a once-over of the room, and Rupert was satisfied. He lifted the bags, nodding to Kyle. 

“Think I’m about ready. Manager wasn’t in yet earlier, so I have to swing by the office again. Meet you at the truck?”

Kyle nodded, “Yeah, I’m just about ready too.” The younger roo chuffed from the bed, pulling his shoes on. 

Rupert left the room and tossed his stuff behind the seats of the truck’s cab. He headed to the office, doubting that it would be worth the trip. When he stepped inside, all eyes were on him. A few shocked expressions from the smaller guests. A mix of furs half-asleep and others eager to check out after they filled their bellies. 

As usual, Rupert ignored the more blatant stares. He pretended he didn’t notice a mother guiding her pup closer to her, opposite from Rupert. Earlier, the desk had been attended by another equine. A male, this time, though just as droll and deadpan as the one the night before. They could have been twins, for all Rupert knew. That had made Rupert expect another equine family member to be the manager. 

To his surprise, a rhinoceros stood behind the desk, on par, or even taller, than Rupert. She appeared to be talking to one of the other guests about some sort of issue, but had noticed Rupert when he entered, like the others. She looked back down to the rabbit she was helping, bringing some sort of resolution to the conversation. 

As Rupert stepped up, she stood properly, raising even a few inches higher. Of course, she had been reducing her size for the smaller guests. 

“You must be mister DiProto. I am so sorry for our lack of appropriate accommodations for you and your son.” She held out her hand, which Rupert gripped and shook. Being on the opposite side of size difference was a rare, but her hand held around Rupert’s gently. “I’m Sally, the manager. I’d be happy to fully wave the charge. I know how awful small accommodations can be, and I’m sure you or your son couldn’t have been comfortable. Heck, you probably had to use the floor… That is not the kind of hospitality we extend here. My apologies.” She withdrew her hand, resting it on the desk.

Rupert felt his inner ears heat, and his face pale. No, Kyle and him had not taken the floor. Though one of them doing such would have avoided… so much. So many complications. A solution Rupert hadn’t even considered. 

“Ru’s fine, and thank you, but I’d feel bad taking the money from you. We were fine, sure wasn’t the first time I’ve stayed in a small space.”  Rupert’s paw lifted, scratching at the base of his ear. “Besides, we got plenty of sleep. Got no complaints.” He lied. But, it was a fair lie. Getting too small of a room was not what had cost him sleep the night before. 

“A roo named Ru? Handsome, and a great sense of humor.” She smiled, looking down to the log book. 

Rupert felt his ears get hotter. He hadn’t expected the compliment, and he was already so off balance with all Kyle had put him through. All Kyle and he had gone through, Rupert corrected himself. 

Sally’s fingers drummed at the desk, and she looked back up to eye Rupert, those beady eyes sizing him up. “Well, Ru. Let’s split the difference. I’ll give you a half-off discount, since the room was half the size you needed. Does that sound fair?”

Rupert wanted to protest further, but he didn’t have the energy, nor sense, to do it. He dumbly nodded, putting his paw back on the desk. 

“Alright, sure… but I’m going to be sure to stay here next time I need to bring the joey back to college. And I’m paying full price.” 

“Sounds great! I look forward to it.” Sally gave a charming smile, then looked back to the logbook. “I’ll reverse half of the charge, and you should see the refund on your account within the week.” She reached over and took a hotel information card, handing it to Rupert. “If you don’t see it, please be sure to call us.”

Rupert took the small card, nodding. “I’ll be sure to. Thank you, Sally.” 

Sally gave another charming smile, nodded, then looked back to the guests lined up to get breakfast. Rupert turned and left the office, looking down to the card. He didn’t usually get flustered when talking to anyone. Things were so very turned around and mixed up in his head. 

Kyle was reaching the truck just as Rupert was exiting the office. Kyle, holding his suitcase with both hands, hopped up onto the truck bed, balancing on the side. He carried his bag over the truck bed’s side and he tucked his bag back in, then secured the fastenings over it. He hopped off just as easily, landing beside the passenger’s side door. 

Much to Rupert’s amusement, a young-looking canine was at the rail of the second floor, watching Kyle with his jaw hanging open. It was so easy for Rupert and Kyle to take for granted the gifts of macropods. It was nice to be reminded, now and then, just how lucky they were. 

The young canine looked to Rupert as he approached the truck, the pup’s eyes going even wider. The poor thing likely never seen a kangaroo in person before. The size tended to be pretty shocking. Rupert lifted a paw, smiling and waving to the pup. The pup’s jaw snapped shut, then a huge smile spread over their face. The pup eagerly waved back. 

Maybe the world was changing for the better. 

Rupert got into the truck, reached over, and unlocked Kyle’s side. Kyle climbed in and buckled himself. Rupert turned, arm over the back of Kyle’s headrest, reversing out of the parking spot. 

“It’s like, half an hour, right?” Kyle asked, eyes at his father’s armpit before he quickly looked to his phone. 

“Mmmhm. I would have got us closer, but everything is booked solid. I can’t believe the prices they charge this time of year too…” Rupert chuffed and shook his head, facing forward and shifting to first gear. 

“Yeah… I should have thought that through. Since the school’s town is so rural, there’s not a lot of hotels nearby… but worth it. I love it out there.” Kyle turned, smiling to Rupert. “It’d be awesome if you could come stay up there and check it out some time. There’s so many fun and cool things around campus and in town.”

“You really want to drag your old man around, when you could be hanging out with all your friends?” Rupert chuffed, checking around before they merged onto the highway. 

“Hell yeah! I mean… I got the coolest dad ever, why wouldn’t I want to?” Kyle insisted. He lifted his hands up, behind his head, barely able to fit the position in the cab as he relaxed back. “Besides, I have … a lot of time to make up for.”

“I’m sure down for that.” Rupert agreed, though his eyes kept shifting between around them and his mirrors. It wasn’t too late in the morning, but there were already plenty of vehicles on the road. A good chunk of them likely heading for the same destination.  

Both Kyle and Rupert were silent for a while. Relaxing, mulling over the situation. Processing all that had occurred since dinner the night before. Rupert was pushing himself, knowing he should say something, talk to Kyle about… anything. 

“Are… you okay?” Kyle queried, his voice meek and small. When Rupert glanced over, Kyle was looking at him. That unthinking, happy expression he had earlier was gone. The weight was back on his shoulders, his eyes betraying that he was thinking, worrying,  about everything all over again. 

Rupert forced his eyes back on the road, checking his mirrors again. Plenty of people were driving poorly, and the last thing he wanted was to eat his words about accidents from the night prior. 

“I’m …” his instinct was to lie. To tell Kyle that he was great. That he didn’t have any regrets, or fears, or disgust at what they had done. What he had done. To his own son. 

“I’m still processing, bud. I mean… You’ve got to know I… enjoyed it.” He glanced over, a vague smirk on his muzzle. “It’s real easy to tell when a guy’s having a good time, hard to fake that sort of thing. Especially how…” he looked forward again. “… quickly I got there. Wasn’t lying when I said that’s probably the best thing I ever felt.” 

Kyle snorted and clapped a paw over his muzzle end, somewhere between stifling a laugh and holding back an overly emotional response. All of it probably topped the list of things he had never expected his father to say. He took a moment to compose himself before he removed his paw, head leaning back against the small window on the back of the cab. 

“Well… yeah. But I mean…” Kyle took a breath, and looked over to Rupert. “Well… first… I’m glad you did. Like… man, it would blow if I did a bad job. All hot on you and stuff, then I just make you go soft…” Rupert arched a brow, glancing briefly to Kyle. “But like… there’s enjoying it and getting off, but like… are you okay in your head. Are… we okay? Like… My brain is just… spinning out of control. I’m… worried that like… this’ll make you hate me or something.” Kyle’s voice gradually shrank, the whole time his throat feeling tighter and tighter. His eyes stinging and growing wet. 

Rupert’s arm was resting on the door, but lifted and took the wheel, his other paw leaving the wheel and resting on Kyle’s thigh. Rupert wasn’t looking over, instead eyeing the car that kept dashing back and forth between lanes ahead of them. Greedily trying to get ahead at others’ expense. 

“Kyle… There’s nothing in this world that could make me hate you. Hell, if there is a God out there, I doubt even he could manage that. I might get… upset, disappointed, disagree with what you do, but…” Rupert turned his paw over, holding it open, the back of his paw resting on Kyle’s thigh. After a moment, he felt Kyle’s paw rest in his palm. He closed his hand, holding it. He briefly glanced over, smiling, then forward again. “Like I told you… the first time I held you, my world changed. I loved you from the very first moment and always will.” 

Rupert took a deep breath, then let it out. “My head is spinning too… I never even considered…” He went quiet for a second, then chuffed, chattered. “That… incest… was something that might ever be relevant to me. I honestly never had the thought. About you, I mean. But I’m not angry, I’m not upset with you, I’m just… trying to make sense of everything.”

Rupert glanced over again. Kyle was facing him, smiling. Eyes misty, but he wasn’t crying. 

“Thanks dad.” Kyle chuffed, squeezing his paws around Rupert’s paw. “I think that’s… yeah. I mean… I can’t say I didn’t think about it.” Kyle looked down, to his father’s paw, holding his own. “… It’s been a fantasy for… a long time. But it’s like… different?” Kyle ground his teeth, jaw feeling tense, before he forced it to relax. He chuffed. “I thought about it, but like… doing it? Totally different. Like two separate things. Kind of like, watching porn and fantasizing, instead of actually doing what’s in the porn?” His head fell back, giving a distinct ‘thunk’ as it landed against the back of the cab. He stared at the pale off-white of the cab’s roof. “But… yeah. Even if it never happens again, this was… amazing.”

Kyle lifted his head and squeezed Rupert’s paw. He was given another brief glance and smile, before Rupert’s paw pulled back to take the wheel again. They were quiet again. The oppressive feeling had thinned, but was still there. Just a little.

What should have been thirty minutes took nearly forty-five. There were three main ways into town; from the south, the north, and west. But eventually, all three would merge upon the college campus. Rupert had never been there, and the forty-five would have been an hour and a half without Kyle’s guidance. 

“It’s basically a weirdly shaped watch face.” Had earned Kyle a curious glance from Rupert. “No, like…” Kyle chuffed, “Not it’s round. It’s more like… a lumpy diamond. But if you think of it like a watch, the oldest building is at the middle, the hall where the president is. Then the college buildings radiate out from there. Around the edge of campus are the dorms.” Glancing at his phone, Kyle triple-checked, then nodded, “I’m at like… four o’clock. There’s a way to cut over there without going through campus.” 

Rupert followed Kyle’s directions, ignoring the GPS. To Kyle’s immense relief, he had been correct. Just a few minutes later, they were pulling into the parking lot for his dorm building. Luck was with the kangaroos. The building was about half checked-in, half to go, and not many were arriving at just that moment. They took a moment to stretch, then Kyle went to check in while Rupert got to unloading the truck. Rupert had the securing straps and net removed and put away, and was already pulling a couple items off the truck bed when Kyle returned. 

And their luck had run out.

“We’re all good. Got my key card and some welcome stuff.” He lifted up a cloth grocery bag that looked a quarter loaded. “Bad news is… I’m up on the third floor.”

More accurately, Kyle’s luck had run out. 

Rupert couldn’t have a bigger smile on his muzzle. “No elevator, huh?” He rumbled.

Kyle shook his head, ears dipped back.

“Guessing you haven’t been working on your high hops?”

Kyle drooped with an audible sigh and dipped his head. He gave a defeated, “Nope. This is gonna suck.” 

“I’ll take up the heavier half, but you’re taking up half.” Rupert rumbled, clapping a paw onto Kyle’s back and rubbing it. “It’ll be good for you. A boomer’s gotta keep looking good, it’s how you hook a hot fly… How you’ll hook a hot boomer.” 

Kyle perked his ears, a smile on his muzzle. He reached out and tapped his paw at his dad’s belly. 

“Hey, you almost got it right that time.” He teased, starting to unload the boxes and items out of the bed. 

“I got it right! I just stumbled a little.” Rupert lifted a box, paused, then looked at the label on top. Books. “And you can give me some slack for taking the heavier half…” Rupert looked to Kyle, lifting the box up and down. “You really need this many? Don’t you buy bucks when class starts?”

“Yeah, it’s just… last semester’s and books I wanted to read. I was going to read a bunch over the summer but just… didn’t.” He shrugged, lifting a mini fridge out of the truck bed. “Plus mom got me like… all these books to prep you for college, and some church stuff and a big bible…” Kyle rolled his eyes, “Brainwashing stuff.”

“She’s just trying to help you be your best.” Rupert motioned toward the dorm with his head. “Better to have them and note need them than need them and not have them.” He looked down at the box, and chuckled, “The prep books, at least.” He added. 

Kyle nodded, giving a soft “Mm.” in reply. They both hopped over toward the dorm building. Luckily, the check in table was right next to the entryway. There was an older buffalo there, and an alligator looking around Kyle’s age. When they approached, the gator propped open the door, making it so Kyle didn’t have to juggle using his keycard while carrying items. Beyond the doors, the entryway was rectangular, wider than deep. Straight ahead was an open doorway, and beyond a hallway with doors along both walls. All quite sizeable, since it was a ‘large species’ building, the ten foot ceilings only beaten by the single ‘extra large species’ dorm with thirteen-foot-high rooms. Along with most every campus building accommodating furs of all sizes.

“Couldn’t ask for a better setup.” Rupert chuffed at his son, walking to the bottom of the staircase. It spiraled around the entryway room, a landing at each of the external corners, and a long landing along the building side of the entryway. Three sets of stairs per floor. Rupert crouched slightly and sailed right up to the opposite corner, skipping two sets of stairs. He turned as he bounced up to the original corner, one full floor up. Kyle watched his father go back and forth, getting to the third floor landing in a matter of seconds. All with that heavy box packed with books.

Kyle got to the same spot Rupert had started. He eyed the guard rails wearily. His father had gone right over and landed on the other side of them so easily. Kyle knew he had every physical quality to do the same. And at worst, Kyle had his tail to help catch him. He sucked in a breath, squeezing the mini fridge to his chest. He crouched, then landed, perfectly fine. He hardly knew he had jumped before he was there, his body knowing just what to do, just what his brain was over-thinking. 

Kyle puffed in relief. He turned, hopped, landed, turn-hopped, and got the last few landings just as Rupert had. 

“Knew you could do it.” Rupert chuffed, his tail pressing to Kyle’s side. “Just don’t forget to breathe next time.” He coached, just as Kyle puffed out his breath and sucked in a fresh one. 

“Got it.” Kyle huffed another breath. He felt pride swell his chest. To have his father’s approval on hopping felt unique. Special. The physical was Rupert’s realm. Something Kyle had been a part of, long ago, before the divorce. 

Kyle considered getting back into it. It had always been fun back then, with Rupert. And the school sure did brag about their gym facilities, proudly made for all sizes of furs, despite larger ones making such a small portion of the student body. A waste of money that could be better spent, many complained.

It was a short journey after they made it up the stairs. Once they stepped into the hallway it was just a couple steps to the first dorm on the left. Kyle held the mini fridge between his thigh and one arm, the other inserting and pulling free his keycard. He pulled the door handle and pushed, stepping into what would be ‘home’ for the next nine months. 

After the hotel, the tiny bed visible from the doorway seemed an awful prank. Kyle stepped further in, the rest of the room becoming visible. It expanded to the left, and on the wall opposite the small bed, was another. A bed large enough for Kyle. 

“Oh thank god.” Kyle chuffed, laughing. He went to the other bed, setting the mini fridge on top of it. As he turned, he noticed the small bed already had boxes and items on and under it. The small desk as well. A larger desk stood bare, next to the closet space that took up the wall adjacent to the doorway. 

“I guess I got a small roommate. Man, I would die if I had to use that small of a bed all semester.” Kyle chuckled, eyeing it.

Rupert set the box of books next to the desk, looking around the room. “Not bad… Even more space, since you don’t have another large fur in here. And looks like he’s already here.” Rupert said as he gestured to the smaller bed. 

“Yup… not around though. Still, should be safe to prop the door open… just while we’re moving things in.” Kyle scooted next to his father, opening up the box, and pulling free the bible his mother had forced him to bring. As they exited, Kyle tucked the book between the door and doorway, keeping it from closing and locking. 

Moving in went smoothly. Rupert finished his half of the load well before Kyle did. Rupert lounged back on his son’s dorm bed, letting Kyle bring up the rest. For the last few, Kyle used the stairs normally. It wasn’t the deep burn in the muscles used for hopping, rather than walking; it was that his computer, monitors, and electronics were too fragile. He knew they were lies to himself, pointless, as Rupert certainly wouldn’t see to judge him. The very last trip, with his suitcase of clothes and essentials, he had planned to hop. But he was stuck walking up the stairs. He could hear some people going up floor above, and the last thing he wanted to do was freak out his new neighbors by flying around and showing off. 

Rupert was half-asleep on the bed. It would fit Kyle easily, but Rupert was just large enough that his heels hung off the far end, even with his head as high up the pillow as it could be. He couldn’t afford the grogginess of sleep. Luckily, Rupert had long ago grown used to recharging on minor power rests amid his duties. 

“Oh! Uh… Hi!” spoke a tiny voice. 

Rupert opened his eyes and looked over, spotting an orange and white cat. Rupert pushed himself and turned, sitting off the side of the bed. 

“Ah, hello! You must be… Tom? The roommate, right?” he rumbled, holding his left paw out, low for the smaller feline. If the cat was lucky, he hit five-foot even on his tip-toes. 

“I usually go by Tommy! But yeah, that’s me, the roommate. I knew I got put in a large dorm, but man… I didn’t think you’d be this large! Or older than me, but that’s cool!” his tone was sweet, higher pitched from his smaller size. A small paw took Rupert’s, and he gently shook it. 

It took a moment to connect in Rupert’s head. He shook the paw, looking up as an older pair of cats walked in. A calico and an orange, rather hefty, tabby cat. As Rupert looked back down, he barked a laugh, making the parent cats just barely tense, Tommy cringing back. 

“Ah, sorry! Not your roommate. I’m his dad.” Rupert retracted his paw, resting both them on his knees. “I’m just the chauffer up here. Kyle’s bringing up the last of it right now, then I’ll be on my way home. Sorry for the confusion.”

Rupert almost pushed himself up, but quickly realized that would only intimidate the cats more. He raised his gaze from Tommy up to the parents, giving his best warm smile. Self-conscious of the scars that only made him scarier to many furs. 

“Ru DiProto.” He held out his paw, both of the cats starting to raise their right before rapidly swapping with their left. “Ah, sorry. Us macropods are mostly left handed, easy to forget.”

“Margaret, and no problem at all.” The calico responded, her tone sweet and tempered, as she shook Ru’s paw. “Tom Senior.” The tabby said, as he took his turn shaking Ru’s paw. 

“A pleasure to meet you both.” He looked back down to Tom, smiling warmly. “Looks like my son’s got himself a good roommate.” He looked back up to the parents, nodding, “And I promise, my joey’s a good kid. Tommy doesn’t have a thing to worry about being in a large dorm with Kyle around.” 

Tom nodded, both his paws clapping down on Tommy’s shoulders. “Oh, I promise you, Tommy’s the same. He’s a great kid. I’ve been on the force all my life, and Tommy’s upstanding as a cat can be.”

Rupert’s chest tightened. He had no idea how to respond, but Kyle saved him. “Oh! Uh, hi! ‘Scuse me!” Kyle’s sweet voice came from the doorway. The two cats backed further into the room, Tommy turning to watch Kyle enter the room. 

Kyle looked around, carrying a collapsible hamper full of odds and ends that didn’t fit in any of the other luggage. He walked toward his desk, Tommy scampering out of the way, back to his parents. 

Kyle stood and turned, puffing, “Finally done! Hi there, I’m Kyle!” he chuffed merrily, holding out his right paw. Only to freeze when his eyes fell on the mother. 

Tommy’s paw took Kyle’s, shaking it, “I’m Tommy! Nice to meetchya, roomie!” 

Kyle shook back, nodding, “Likewise!” before he looked back up to the parents. He sheepishly held his paw out to the mother. “Uh… Hi! I think we actually saw each other at a hotel, yesterday?” He meekly chuffed, his left paw rubbing at the back of his head. 

Margaret maintained composure, nodding, “Why yes, I think we did! Just happened to leave our rooms at the same time. My name’s Margaret, Tommy’s mother.” For the shock she had the day prior, the cat showed not a moment’s hesitation in shaking Kyle’s paw. The name caused Kyle a moment pause before his paw was snatched by the orange cat. 

“Oh! You’re that guy!” Tom laughed heartily, shaking Kyle’s paw. “Think ya took a life off of Margaret here! She’s a bit sheltered, doesn’t go to the more diverse parts of town and such. Thanks, got a hell of a laugh last night when she came back in!” Tom barely managed to say through laughter, reminding Kyle of a jolly Santa. 

Margaret interrupted the laughter, her paw resting on Tom’s shoulder. “Sweetheart, we ought to let the boys get to know one another. Poor Tommy has put up with us all summer, he has earned his time away from us.” Her paw tensed. It was subtle, but Kyle easily noticed claws pricking from her fingertips. 

“Oh, of course, honey! Sorry, she’s always keeping me from talking others’ ears off.” Tom chuckled, showing no hint of the claws at his shoulder. 

“I should hit the road too. Kyle, want to do a last check of the truck with me? Don’t want you forgetting anything.” Rupert finally pushed himself up from the bed, standing fully. Three sets of cat eyes followed him up, and up, and up. Tommy looked awed, Tom impressed, and Margaret’s ears paled visibly. “A pleasure to meet you all.” Rupert rumbled, dipping his head, before making his way out of the room. 

Kyle followed closely behind, looking back at the room as they exited. Rupert checked over the guard rail, then bounced down the stairs the same way he had come up. Kyle followed, all too happy to have the trip down rather than up. 

“What’re the chances?” Kyle chuffed as they left the building. He looked back up, at the windows of his dorm room. “The cat I freaked out is my roommate’s mom. That’s some like… badly written movie kind of thing.” 

“You know, just because it’s in movies, doesn’t mean it can’t actually happen. Like Nicole and I.” Rupert responded, glancing to the sky. The sun wasn’t quite above them yet. He wouldn’t be home too horribly late. 

“You mean meeting by literally running into each other?” Kyle questioned, glancing up to his father. 

“Yeah. Just hopping along, distracted, and… wham! Right into each other.” Rupert smacked his paws together with the ‘wham!’. “Or the singing thing. Sure I stole it from some movie, but… you know. Really did it.”

Kyle absently nodded as they got to the truck. He went into his tall stance, looking through the bed. “Yeah. I suppose that’s true.” He hopped around the truck to the passenger door. Rupert unlocked the driver’s door, then stretched across to unlock Kyle’s side. Once opened, they together searched under the seats, behind them, and the foot wells. 

“… Pretty sure that’s everything.” Kyle chuffed, Rupert nodding in agreement. 

“And I guess I should hit the road. Definitely want to get home in time to get some real sleep.” Rupert responded. 

Kyle leaned his ears back, making his way around the front of the truck to his father. “I’m sorry. I wish I’d let you get more sleep last night.” He softly chuffed as he approached. He reached out to hug his father. 

“Don’t worry about it. I’m… happy that we got to get closer this visit.” Rupert rumbled, reaching his arms out to hug Kyle. One arm went around Kyle’s shoulder and down his back, but the other paw gripped the back of Kyle’s head. Instead of a proper hug, he pulled Kyle down against him, gently pushing his son’s snout into his armpit. A hug, of a kind, at least. 

“Gonna be a while until you can enjoy again, so get as much as you want.” 

Kyle was dumbstruck for a moment, but then he breathed in. Rupert’s fragrance was lighter than earlier, care of the shower. A touch of fresh sweat from moving in, and just… Rupert’s smell. The smell that Kyle knew as ‘dad’. Kyle drank in several slow, deep, draughts of the smell. All the while, Rupert nuzzled atop his head, chuffing and chattering softly to his joey. 

Finally, Kyle pulled back, freeing himself from the sweet serendipity of his father’s scent. He lifted his muzzle, Rupert pulling him into a more proper hug. 

“Dad… you’re the best.” Kyle chuffed, squeezing his father with impressive strength. Rupert mirrored it, chuffing affectionately. 

“And you’re the best joey I could ever wish for.” 

They held the hug for a long time, before finally breaking it. Warmly smiling to each other, Kyle up to his father, Rupert down to his joey. 

“Oh… uh, mind if I see your phone?” Kyle took a small step back, holding his paw up. 

Rupert raised an eyebrow, curiously eyeing Kyle, but pulled his phone free. He unlocked it, then put it in Kyle’s paw. Kyle took it and started tapping at the screen with both thumbs, navigating far faster than Rupert could. 

“I’m going to make it so when we open the maps app, we can see where the other is. I can’t like… do it one way, but I don’t care. You can check where I am whenever you like. I just want to like… check and make sure you’re okay on the trip home. In case you get into… in case anything bad happens.” Kyle looked up from the phone, his ears perking up. “Is that okay?”

Rupert felt an odd flutter in his chest. “Yeah, of course bud. I don’t care if you can peek in on me whenever.” He chuffed. But it felt so much more than that. His son taking an interest in him, after so many years of distance. A moment later, Kyle handed the phone back to Rupert. Rupert took it, looking at the phone. The maps app was open. There was an icon with Rupert’s profile picture on it, and just next to it, an icon with Kyle’s selfie. 

Rupert looked back up and hugged tight on Kyle one last time. 

“I love you bud. So much.”

Rupert heard a soft sniff over his shoulder. “I love you too dad. I’ll like… let’s talk. Soon. I’ll call you this weekend.” 

Rupert stood up straight and nodded. “That’d be great. I’ll text you when I get home, so you don’t lose sleep.” Rupert got that lopsided grin and chuffed, “Heck… I’m supposed to be the parent here.”

“Yeah yeah. Go on, get home. And thank you. For like… everything.” Kyle smiled up to his father, then paused. “Wait, uh… just one last thing.” Kyle pulled his own phone out, then turned his back to Rupert. He lifted it up, holding it out, and leaned back against Rupert. “Smile!” 

Rupert chuckled, hooking his arm over Kyle’s shoulders. He lifted his paw, putting up a peace sign. Kyle chuckled, but snapped the pic. 

“There. Been a while since we’ve been in a pic together.” Kyle chuffed, satisfied. 

“Send it to me too, yeah?” Rupert asked, squeezing over Kyle’s shoulders before releasing his joey. 

Kyle hopped back to the front of the truck. He watched as Rupert got in, started the truck up, and backed out. There was a pause as Rupert shifted from reverse to first gear. Rupert looked to Kyle, waving his paw, Kyle waving back. 

Kyle watched the truck through the driveway. As it paused at the exit, Rupert setting up his phone for directions. Then the truck pulled out, driving along the road. Kyle waved as he passed, Rupert waving back. 

And then Rupert was gone. 

Less than twenty-four hours, and Kyle’s whole world had changed so very much. With Rupert out of sight, he turned back to the building. He hopped his way over to the door, then back up the entryway. Bouncing from landing to landing, as his father had. 

By the time he got to his room, the door was closed. Kyle used his keycard, then stepped back inside. Tommy’s parents were gone, and Tommy was on his bed, rummaging through a box. He looked up and met Kyle’s eyes, a smile on the cat’s lips. 

“Welcome back! The ‘rents headed out. Freedom!” he cheered. 

Kyle laughed, “Yeah. Back at college, no more worries about nosey parents.” He chuffed, looking over the floor. He looked around, then over to his desk, spotting the bible set atop his it. 

“So like…” Tommy started, his large green eyes meeting Kyle’s when the kangaroo looked back to his roommate.  

“You’re gay or something, right?”