|
Administrator notice:
Outage Notice: FA to go down approximately 4:40am Pacific Time, approximately, for at least 6 hours. Please check the Site Status forum for further updates. |
|
|
Tales of Carpe Diem: Unexpected Relationships, Part 1
|
 |
File type: Text File (.txt) [ Download]
-----------------------------------------
Part 1: Homeless Discovery
Burt looked at the wet clump of fur in his paw, turning it over and watching the water drip down into the shower stall drain where he had found it. He might never have noticed it had it not been for the fact he dropped the soap, and when he reached down to retrieve it, he noticed the soggy lump sticking out like a beacon.
The panda's eyes narrowed into a squint, remembering how he took extra care of cleaning the shower stalls last night after closing. He had to open the next day (Josh needed the day off to go register for college classes), and he was a stickler for keeping the gym clean before he came in. It just wasn't right, putting off things that could be done right then and there.
He knew this clump of soaked fur was not there when he cleaned last night. So how did it get there this morning? He hadn't even had his first cup of coffee yet, and already he had to deal with something out of the ordinary. He already ruled out a robbery; he doubted any thief would take the time to clean himself up. There were also no signs of a break in, no evidence when he came in early that morning for a quick workout that the gym had been forcibly entered. Now that his mind was mulling over the situation, he realized the shower stall had been dry as a bone. Whoever took the shower had either dried the walls and floor, or had done it long before Burt had shown up. He could check the washer and dryer in the back storeroom, but he didn't bother. He doubted he would find anything that could help him.
What he couldn't figure out is why. Why would someone take a shower in the gym? Unless...but he then shook his head, setting the clump of fur aside to put on his clothes. He had a good thirty minutes before the gym opened, and he needed to have some breakfast before he tried to think of any reasons, no matter how far-fetched or accurate they might be. The granola bar he had before his workout had already digested, and his original plan was to relax a bit before the day's work began. Only now, he suspected he wasn't going to be able to devote the half hour for relaxation. One coffee, three glazed donuts (breakfast being the only time for indulging his sweet tooth) later, he came to the most logical conclusion.
There was a squatter living in the gym. His gym. His means of financial support. How this mysterious individual managed this feat was unimportant to him. What the panda needed now was to discover the identity of this unwanted vagabond, and direct him (or even her, he hadn't discounted that possibility) to places better capable of attending the needs of a homeless person. He spent the last ten minutes before the gym opened to search the entire building, but finding no trace of inhabitation. It wasn't until he went to the storeroom to get the ladder when he heard the locks on the front door click-clack open that he realized the gym should be ready for the exercise buffs, the hardcore body sculptors, and those just wanting to stay in shape. He kept the ladder in the storeroom. He'd check the crawlspace above the ceiling later; right now, he needed to warn the opening employee about what he had discovered.
"Mornin' Burt," Kevin said, clipping his nametag on the waist of his pants, already peeling off his sleeveless shirt to reveal his muscular physique. Burt didn't like the idea of Kevin working shirtless at first, but the tiger made his boss a deal to try it for three days; if the results weren't positive, Kevin would willing go back to wearing a shirt. During those three days, the panda bear noticed more people with visitor passes opening up a membership, most of them being men rather than women. Thus, Burt conceded, letting Kevin work without need of a shirt. He even told the other employees if they wanted, they could do the same thing, but no one else took him up on the new dress code. It was for the best, in the panda's opinion, as Kevin was distracting enough for him. He didn't want to think how uncomfortable he'd feel if Josh had shucked his usual humbleness to walk around shirtless.
Burt shook off thoughts of a shirtless Josh. Those ponderings were not allowed in his mind at this time, or any other time. "Hey Kevin. We got ourselves a problem."
Kevin put away his shirt under the counter, already beginning to count the register for the day's till. "What's wrong?"
Burt held up the clump of fur, then paused for a moment. He was going to explain how he found the object clogged in the shower drain, but it wasn't until he held the fur up in his view of the tiger that he realized a simple fact that had previously escaped him.
The clump of fur was an orange color. The same color that you'd find on a tiger.
"Kevin...this is your fur, ain't it?" Burt wasn't sure, the coloration may have been a coincidence, but maybe it wasn't. Kevin's expression didn't change, but his eyes were locked onto the fur in Burt's hand. The panda waited a bit before he spoke again. "Kevin, how long have you been sleepin' in th' gym?" He didn't use the term 'my gym'; subconsciously, he knew he didn't want to make it sound like a territorial thing. Kevin was a good employee, a bit rough around the edges though, and Burt didn't want to provoke the tiger.
Kevin stared at the fur a bit longer, then looked directly into Burt's green eyes before answering. "It would've been three weeks tomorrow."
Burt lowered his arm, thankful that none of the early risers were there yet. "How in th' world have you been managin' to sleep here without no one noticin'?"
Kevin kept his gaze on Burt, his eyes never flinching for a moment, as if he was trying to prove something. "It wasn't too hard," he said with a shrug. "I did all those closing shifts because no one else wanted the hassle of closin'. Well, except for Josh. Then I'd just pretend like I was goin' somewhere, and come back later." He finally looked away for a moment, as if the admission of sneaking around bothered him, but he returned his gaze to Burt's own. "On the days I didn't work I showed up as if I had nothin' else better to do. Free membership an' all that. Then I'd just sneak in after they closed up."
"Which explains why you were always early for work when you had the opening shift. You never left." Burt's mind was reeling. This tiger, a loyal employee for almost two years now, was homeless and living in his gym. What was the panda to do about this? He didn't know, and was left speechless.
Kevin shifted his weight, shuffling his feet a bit. The silence made him feel edgy, so when he finally spoke up, Burt wasn't surprised at the question. "So are you gonna fire me?"
Burt hadn't even considered that option, shaking his head almost immediately. "No, Kev. I don't think this is grounds for termination." He then reconsidered his words for a moment, then "Well, maybe for some employers it would be, but not for me. The question I'm wonderin' is what do we do now?"
Kevin straightened up a bit, throwing his shoulders back and puffing out his chest as if being challenged. "I dunno, you tell me."
Burt would normally find Kevin's usual attitude amusing, maybe even charming (the definition of the tiger's pectorals, even under that fur, made it more than a bit sexy as well), but this time, it served to only annoy the panda. "Considerin' we're talkin' about your options of where you could sleep, one of them bein' the street, I think I could use a little help, Kev."
That took the wind out of the tiger's attitude, his shoulders slumping just a bit, his chest deflating. "Sorry, Burt. I didn't mean to be a smartass." He looked away towards the dumbbell rack on the opposite wall, lost in thought for a moment before locking eyes with Burt. "I just don't know where else to go."
"Don't you have any friends? Any family?"
Kevin shook his head. "Don't know anyone that could put me up for more than a couple of nights, and I don't have any family here." A short laugh tinged with bitterness escaped his throat. "Man, I couldn't wait to get away from my aunt and uncle. Now I'm wishin' they were local."
Burt felt a twinge of sympathy for the tiger. He couldn't emphasize with him, not having had this type of dilemma, but he could give him somewhere to stay. "Kevin, why didn't you ask me for help? You knew I had an extra room, you've been over for dinner often enough."
Kevin looked away again, shrugging. "Guess I didn't want to seem like a bum."
Burt placed a hand on the tiger's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. Normally he'd enjoy the feel of those deltoids under the fur, but this wasn't a time for groping. He still lingered too long for his comfort before he pulled away. "I wouldn't have thought that. I don't care what happened to put you in that situation, and I won't ask. Right now I see that one of my employees--one of my best employees, mind you--needs some help. You want to stay at my place, you're more than welcome to, Kevin."
Kevin looked at Burt, eyes widening with surprise at the offer. "I...I appreciate it, Burt, but I don't think that'd be the right thing. You shouldn't have to get involved with my problems. I'll go to the shelter after work. It's the right thing to do."
Burt winced inwardly. "Well, if that's what you want to do, kiddo." Kevin's last words made him wonder how much of his offer was one borne of sympathy, or one of desire. He was attracted to this tiger, he admitted as much, but he didn't feel right about hitting on him. Burt was the employer, and it wouldn't be right to date an employee. "Can I at least offer you a ride to the shelter?"
Kevin slowly nodded his head, picking up a bit of speed as he spoke. "Yeah, I'd like that, Burt. Thanks." He acted as if he were going to say more, but the first exercise buff of the day, a very well-developed elephant female, entered the gym. Kevin then flashed the arriving gymgoer a smirk, and Burt knew that the conversation would have to be on pause as the tiger went into his friendly rivalry mode with her. "Hey there, Kesha. Thought you could get here before me, huh?"
Kesha shook her head, rolling her eyes towards the ceiling and suppressing a giggle that seemed out of place with her physique, which was almost as large as Kevin. "No, I figured you could use the headstart, skinny."
Kevin snorted, but his grin was friendly. "Is that a fact?" he said, walking around the counter to get the manilla folder with the elephant's name on it. "Well, lucky for you today's your day to up the bench press weight. With me as spotter."
Kesha acted as if struck with a jackhammer, going so far as to drop her duffle bag (covered in various spots with overcute little ponies of different colors) in mock surprise. "Burt! What did I do do deserve Kevin as my trainer today?"
"You're the only one who can resist his charms, Kesha," Burt replied with a chuckle.
"Yeah, it's easy. Now, if he were female..." her voice trailed off as she retrieved her bag, going to the ladies' locker room. Kevin and Burt shared a laugh, then grew quiet when Kesha was out of sight.
"Let's talk later," Burt said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah," Kevin started to walk to the free weights, then paused in mid step. Turning to face the panda, he rubbed the back of his head as he spoke. "Burt, could you do me a favor, and not tell anyone?"
"I won't tell a soul, kiddo. It's no one's business unless you make it their business."
Kevin looked away, as if unable to look at the panda, but Burt caught the twitch of a smile on the tiger's muzzle. "Yeah. You're right." He then went over to the free weights, and the panda took a moment longer than necessary to watch the feline move, the broad muscles on his back bunching and flexing as he prepared Kesha's sets on the bench press.
Not for the first time did Burt wish Kevin wasn't an employee. It would also not be the last time he thought this. For now, he brushed aside such selfish wishes in his mind, and focused himself to the day's work and arriving gym members.
|
|
Tales of Carpe Diem: Unexpected Relationships, Part 1 - by GraveyardGreg
|
Submission information:
Posted:
Category: Story
Theme: all
Favorites:
29
Comments: 27
Views: 396
|
|
This was a piece I did ages ago, and I have decided to share it here with you fine folks. I'm sure it might be a "tl;dr" kind of deal for those used to my microfiction chapters, but hopefully the fans of Carpe Diem will enjoy this.
I should mention it's a prequel, shouldn't I?
<<< PREV | FIRST | NEXT >>> |
|
|
|
|
|
|
