Art by  panchi-tiger!

* * *

"Venti, you home?" Art called out as he entered Venti's apartment. The room was empty, but the lights were on. Unless Venti decided to start keeping them lit while he was gone it was a strong hint the jackal wasn't out.

Venti poked his head out from the bedroom. "Hey there, boyfriend of mine!" he said before his eyes saw the mail in Art's hand. "And you brought me my mail!" He took the envelopes from Art, and started looking at them. "Now if only I could get you to do my housework, I'd be set."

Art rolled his eyes. "This place is spotless, unlike my place."

Venti made a noncommittal grunt, tossing away the occasional envelope into the trash. "Yes, well I like to think you appreciate my immaculate domicile over the chaos of yours." Another envelope addressed to CURRENT RESIDENT flew into the trash.

Art frowned. Not at Venti, but at his own lack of good housekeeping. "It's not that bad, is it?"

"Nah, and besides you're so orderly outside of your home." He held up a large, thin, brown envelope, squinting at the address. "Your cash till was always perfect, and..." His voice trailed away as his eyes widened. "It's here."

"What's here?" Then Art realized the size of the envelope was just right for... "It's the magazine?"

"It's the magazine!" Venti quickly opened up the envelope and pulled out the second issue of Muscle and Fur. The cover showed Venti pulling away an apron, exposing his unclothed muscles underneath it. "Huh."

Art's ears flicked as he heard the tone in Venti's voice. he didn't like it very much. "What?"

Venti didn't answer the question for several seconds, then finally said "I didn't expect them to choose that picture for the cover." Venti's tone and expression were neutral, but Art could tell underneath the facade was disappointment.

"You were expecting something like you flexing?"

Venti glanced at Art. "I guess I'm too much a showoff for my own good."

Art slipped his arms around Venti's waist, his hands sliding up the jackal's back. "Not usually, but when you got it, you flaunt it."

"You're the best."

"So you keep on telling me."

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