Desert Breakdown
by Winter

Aiden walked around the silent scooter, then pressed the on button, again. The fact that nothing kept on happening each time he tried, really irked him. With a growling snarl, he gave the scooter a light kick, then immediately regretted it and used the hem of his colourful t-shirt to wipe the scuff mark off the shiny blue paint.

"My poor baby," he cooed to it while he patted the saddle. "Daddy didn't mean to be a big bad wolf."

He rummaged around in his backpack and fished out his water bottle. There was barely a mouthful left. The sensible thing, Aiden thought, would be to save it for as long as possible, but instead he gulped it down. No matter. He felt sure that someone would come along soon to save him. Any moment now.

He wiped sweat out of his light grey face fur, then looked around, shielding his blue eyes from the fiery sunlight. This was a really desolate place. Barren rocks jutted up here and there from the dirt-brown ground, but he could see nothing green. Nothing that looked alive. No waterholes. Not even a rustic little roadside café that could serve him a double-cream mocha and a sticky pastry thing. Aiden licked his dry lips. He really liked sticky pastry things.

"I'm rambling," he told no one. "I could really use a rescue."

His phone was no help. Out here there was not even a single bar. Ooh, for a bar! Cold beer! Or one of them parasol drinks with lots of fruit juice and really strong booze that went straight to Aiden's head and made him a really clingy dancer.

"Yeah, I'm a cheap date," he giggled into his silent phone, "but I'm reeeally expensive to keep!"

Rambling again. He looked down at his backpack and wished he still had that mouthful of lukewarm Evian. C'mon, karma, he thought, I ain't been that bad. Recently. Where's my knight in shining armour? He glanced ahead down the road he had meant to go; a dusty grey streak of cracked asphalt that ran straight to the horizon and vanished beneath it. The other direction was the same, but in reverse. At that horizon the road he had come appeared and then beelined towards him.

"Knight, hey," he demanded of the universe. "Shining armour, hellooo?"

And just like that, a tiny speck of a dust cloud appeared back the road.

* * * * * *

The shining armour turned out to be a slightly travel-dusty bright red... something. Aiden didn't know much about cars beyond how to sit in one. He didn't have a licence, and got along just fine with his trusted scooter. Usually.

The knight was... well, Aiden could really take a shine to him. The driver of the red thing was a fox man; tall, wide-shouldered, easy on the eye, well-dressed in dark jeans, a light green shirt and nice brand shades. Bright red foxy fur shifted to white and fluffy-looking where it disappeared down his collar. He ticked many of Aiden's boxes, to a point where he could feel his heartrate quicken and something else thicken.

"Oh, thank you thank you thank you!" he gushed. "You... you did stop to save me, didn't you?"

"Of course." Deep, manly voice. Another box. Aiden just barely stopped himself from swooning. "Can't just leave a fellow to his fate. Especially not such a cute one."

"Huh," was as far as Aiden got before his brain-to-mouth connection went on a short break. He hadn't expected flirting. "That's... that's good. Fine, fine. I... uh... name? Yeah, right, name!. I've got one! Aiden. I'm... that is... Aiden. Aiden Greymane. Silly last name. Dad took it, then gave it to me."

"Hello, Aiden Greymane," the fox chuckled. They shook hands, Aiden's slender fingers all but lost from view inside a sizable palm. "Roden. Roden Stewart, at your service."

"Thank you so much for stopping, Roden. For being my shining knight" Aiden did manage not to sound too flirty, he hoped. "My stupid, silly, stupid scooter, which is still plenty awesome by the way, just died on me. And I ran out of water and there's not even a café! Did I tell you I love sticky pastry things?"

"I'll remember that. Come on, now. Let's put your little bike in the trunk."

"You. Are. Fan-tastic!"

"Did you forget to juice up?"

"Huh?"

"The bike. Did you forget to charge the battery?"

"Oh..." Aiden sighed. "I thought... well, no, I had full charge when I left home. Usually it lasts for... uh... a really long time."

The scooter actually fit inside Roden's trunk, which Aiden could have sworn would be impossible. He did help lift it, mainly by staying out of the way to watch Roden's muscles flex. Just as he put the scooter down, the fox's top shirt button popped, and Aiden nearly did, too. Damn, but the man was strong! Another box.

The two of them climbed into the car, and Roden set off down the road. The fox reached back and opened a cooler on the backseat floor, and handed Aiden a soda can. His favourite! He took a long sip, then let out a happy sigh that bordered on a moan. Hopefully, Roden wouldn't think it sounded... inappropriate. As he often did when he was sitting still with nothing to do, Aiden began tapping out some or other song rhythm with his feet, and he glanced around inside the car. He was in the shotgun seat, but thankfully there were no shotguns that he could see. The glove compartment looked too small to fit a chainsaw or something like that. He saw nothing that triggered the jittery part of his brain. Still, who knew what he was really getting himself into. What this Roden guy might have planned for an innocent little scooter rider. He chewed his lower lip while he tried to catch the fox's eye.

"Will you... will you let me off in the next town?" he asked meekly. Roden flashed him a smile, and Aiden almost dropped his soda. "I mean, I should be able to get help there. Or at least call somebody. Stupid barless wateland."

"Sorry, Aiden, but I hadn't planned to drive all the way into town today. My house is just a few miles down the road. But you can call from there, no problem."

"Uh... thanks." Aiden's brows furrowed. "But..."

"I know a guy in town who does all kinds of repairs, he'll come 'round to fix up your little bike."

"It's a scooter," Aiden huffed. "The coolest mode of transportation ever devised."

"If you say so." The fox took off his shades and smiled again, and his green eyes glittered in a joyful way that made all kinds of shivers run through Aiden. "If you say so."

* * * * * *

"...and then," Aiden failed to suppress a giggle, "it turned out he'd been there with his wife all along! And she came back from the ladies' room just as he slipped his hand inside the back of my shorts."

"Bet she didn't like that." Roden laughed. "Was there a fight?"

"If you call a one-punch knockout a fight. They were unjoined in holy divorce a week later."

"To think you were such a home-wrecker, Aiden."

"I was just sitting there, enjoying my parasol drink. It's not my fault that I'm irresistible with my shirt off and my face fur glittered up."

"I bet you're the life of every party," Roden said, his voice even deeper than usual. "Stealin' spotlights and breakin' hearts."

"Is... is that a movie quote?"

"Not that I know. Here's our turn."

"Oh."

The new road was narrower, but it was well-kept and devoid of bumps. After a couple of minutes, they reached a chain-link gate, which Roden opened with a click on a dashboard button. More road, then they arrived at a large, one-storey house. It was built to blend in with the bleak landscape surrounding it, but through a set of glass doors Aiden could see a lush garden atrium. He really liked the look of the whole thing. Roden pulled into an open-sided carport, and parked. 

"So," Aiden asked as they stepped out of the car, and Roden plugged in a charger, "is there a Mrs Studlyhunk waiting to greet us?"

"No missus." Roden stretched his arms above his head, drawing Aiden's gaze all the way in. "I like the quiet out here. Just me, for miles and miles. And now you, Aiden."

Aiden tried for a manly laugh between men, but all he managed was something half giggle, half squeal. If his life were a movie thriller, this was where the tone would shift and he would end up chained to a wall in the basement. Instead, Roden placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and they more or less helped picking the scooter out of the trunk. Roden set it to charge right next to his car, while Aiden lovingly stroked one of its handles.

"I was going to get one of the more expensive brands, you know. Top shelf is top notch. But then this little fella caught my eyes with his slim little build and his lovely blue paint job that really brings out my eyes, don't ya think?"

"Absolutely." Roden caught Aiden's gaze and held it a little longer than just to check his eye colour. "But don't you think somethin' more expensive would have been better in the long run? I mean, cheap things sometimes break down in the middle of the desert."

"Don't listen to him, sweetheart," Aiden cooed at the scooter. "You're not cheap, you're a purr-fect purr-chase."

The two of them left the carport and walked to a door, which  beeped and opened when the fox used a keyring fob.

"Nifty."

"It's great when you've got lots of shopping." Roden stood aside and ushered Aiden in. "C'mon, let me give you the grand tour before you make your phone call."

The interior of the house was sparingly lit, with large windows and skylights making good use of the sun. Somewhere  off to his left, Aiden could hear the soft hum of an AC, and the air was nicely cool and fresh. The two of them walked through room after room, with Roden explaining what they were for and Aiden gushing over the interior design.

"The drapes and the carpets are so colourful," he said as he looked over the dining room. "But the wall paper's almost pure white."

"I had a designer who was very sure what he wanted," Roden explained. "Especially when it came to contrasts."

"You gotta give me his number! That fireplace... I'd let him rearrange me any time."

Roden just chuckled, shaking his head. They passed through the inner garden to the back of the house, which held a game room that made Aiden's fingers itch for a good video game battle, and a large bathroom with a hot tub. That one gave Aiden ideas for a different set of games to play.

"And lastly, the master bedroom."

The sight of it made the thumping inside Aiden's chest pick up a notch. He walked around the king-sized main attraction, and stood to stare out of the full-wall window.

"I bet you get some glorious sunsets in here," he all but whispered. "But doesn't it get too hot?"

"Another idea my designer had."Roden ran a finger against the glass. "It's a material that gets darker the more light shines on it. I forget what it's called, but like you said, the sunsets are marvellous."

"And the bed looks great. Sturdy." Aiden grabbed the footboard and gave it a shake. He grinned. "And all the pillows, it looks really... inviting."

"The perks of building from scratch; you can get what you really want."

"Do you often have guests, Mr Roden?" Aiden leaned closer to the fox, and softly tapped his fingers on his broad chest. "Shame to have all this just for one."

"I may have picked up a hitchhiker or two."

"What about adorable little scooter drivers?" Aiden purred. Despite the chill in the room, he felt a drop of sweat trickle down his back. "You get a lot of those?"

"Come to think of it, I've only ever seen one." Roden's voice sounded deeper than ever, rmbling through Aiden's chest and settling right in his never-you-mind. "But he's really somethin' else."

Roden's arm found its way around Aiden, pulling him close. The side of Aiden's face pressed against the fox's chest, at just the right height to nuzzle a nipple, if thet pesky shirt hadn't been in the way. They stood there for a while, in silence, both seemingly waiting to see who would lead the dance. Then Aiden looked up, to find Roden looking down. Blue met green, and they both smiled.

Aiden sighed happily as he let himself get stripped, then fell back onto the bed. The pillows were every bit as soft as they looked. He watched the fox undress, slowly and sensuously, until at last the final garment hit the floor and every bit of Roden was on full display.

Oh yes. Final box ticked.

* * * * * *

Quite a few of hours later, after a thorough shower and after Roden had changed the sheets, the two of them lay side by side, Aiden's head resting on the fox's muscular arm. Aiden loved to snuggle, and he loved being held. He found himself purring like a kitten, while he twirled his finger's through Roden's fluffy white chest fur. The silence stretched out, but he didn't mind. It was a comfortable one.

"We forgot to make your phone call, Mr Greymane," Roden rumbled. "Might be too late by now. Will you stay the night?"

"Uh... sure. If it's not inconvenient."

"Not at all. I'll fix us somethin' to eat. Right after I've caught my breath a little while longer."

"Don't tell me I wore you out, hunkly," Aiden teased, leaning up to lick the side of Roden's muzzle. "'Cause I'm pretty much ready for rounds six, seven and eight."

"Lucky me to stumble upon such a little firecracker."

"Did... did you like it?" Aiden found that his voice almost caught. "It wasn't too much, was it?"

"Not at all." Roden wrapped his arms around Aiden's slender torso and lifted the wolf up to lie on his chest. "It was fun, as always."

"Thank you for indulging me." Aiden initiated a deep kiss, which was gently, lovingly reciprocated. "These little silly games of mine."

"I could barely keep a straight face when you asked for my designer's phone number. You like talkin' to yourself, hun?"

"You know I do." They kissed again. "But I love talking to you more. Especially when you come off as so mysterious, almost saying nothing."

"Gotta find somethin' new from time to time. Can't always play the handsome handiman seducing the neglected husband."

"As if. You spoil me." Aiden yawned. "Can supper wait? I think I need a little beauty nap."

"Sure."

Aiden slid off of his husband and snuggled into his side. A strong arm went around him and made him feel safe and warm. It took him less than a minute to drowse away.