Art by  genesisw!

* * *

Ivan stared at the bee, but it still had not moved since it last buzzed its wings. It was missing a leg and what seemed to be all of its right eye, though he wasn't certain. He was not willing to crouch down to look closer at it. He was satified he'd won the battle of snow leopard versus bumblebee.

"You really are scared of those bees," Tank said, grinning. "Don't worry, I'll sweep up the little bug and let you get dressed in a bee free locker room."

Ivan murmured his thanks and the lapine departed. He collected his belongings from his locker and moved over to a secluded corner to get dressed. The bee was gone when he left the locker room. Tank was a lapine of his word, apparently. He was back behind the counter, and as Ivan signed out, Tank gave him a warm grin.

"Be careful of the nighttime bees, Ivan," he said.

Ivan merely smirked. "Bees do not come out at night."

"The bee in the locker room did."

Tank had a point, but it was one Ivan did not care to think about. Daytime bees were bad enough today, but ones at night? All he would hear would be the ominous buzz before the painful sting, followed by the allergic reaction.

"If I am stung, I hope you vill to be rescuing me."

Tank winked. "I'll be sure to do just that should a bee attack you outside the door, but when you vanish into the night, you're on your own." He then looked up at the clock hanging over his desk, then added "Of course, you could always run back here before we close at eleven."

"I vill remember that." Ivan said, then said his goodbyes and left the gym. The temperature was starting to cool down, which was fine for him. After he jogged to the apartment complex, he took off his tanktop and paused to enjoy the cool air around his body. It felt wonderful, and rejuvanated his spirits a bit. The phone call to his family would be the perfect end to an otherwise dismal day.

After he entered the apartment he reached for the cordless phone on its cradle on the counter, but a slight movement from the aquarium caught his attention.

Iggy had her front paws on the glass and staring at him with unblinking eyes.

Ivan blinked, all thoughts of the phone now forgotten as he returned Iggy's stare with his own. He moved closer to the aquarium, then paused. "Hopper vill be happy you are not dead, Iggy."

Iggy flicked out her tongue in response.

"You scared him good." He felt silly for talking to Hopper's pet, but it had been a strange day. Iguanas who played dead. A bee that was determined to sting him. And a rabbit who flirted with him. The only person to do so since his arrival in the States.

Maybe this day was not as dismal as it started.

<<< PREV | FIRST | NEXT >>>