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TRIGGER WARNING: TRANSPHOBIA
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"You want me to meet your friends?"

Gris turned around in his chair, still holding his tablet pen.  He'd been in the middle of a freelance art piece when Dwayne busted in with the news.

His boyfriend nodded, an eager smile on the wolf's face.  "I've told them I'm seeing someone, and everyone got super excited!  They want to hang out with you."

Gris hesitated.  "I don't know. . ."  He could already feel his anxieties rising in the pit of his stomach.

"It would be just a chill thing, probably at Tony's," Dwayne said.  Gris perked up at the idea of visiting their favorite bar.  "It wouldn't be a big thing, I promise--just a little get-together.  No pressure."

Gris nodded.  ". . . Ok," he said, definitely relieved.  "I can handle that."

"Alright."  Dwayne kissed him on the cheek.  Gris always loved that contact with fur, nose, and lips before the wolf pulled away.  "I'll text everyone and let them know you said yes.  You probably don't want me to tell them you're trans, right?"

"You can tell them I'm trans," Gris said, shrugging.  "I really don't mind."

"Really?"

"Yeah."  Gris ran a hand through his hair.  In his last relationship, he'd been accused of lying when he hid that fact, and didn’t want that drama again.  Plus, he was more confident now . . . well, somewhat . . . and it was ok to be trans!  Nothing to be ashamed of!

Right?

Dwayne smiled, and gave his boyfriend a smooch.  "I'll text everybody, see who can hang out.  They're so excited to meet you."

With that, he left the room, and Gris resumed his art.

__________

Gris and Dwayne walked up to Tony's.  "Last chance to bail if you're too nervous," Dwayne said.  "I can cancel if we need to--it's just Clarence today anyway.  I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

Gris shook his head.  "I'm ready," he said firmly.  "And I'm excited to meet him!  I've been looking forward to it, actually."

The wolf smiled.  "That's good," he said, relieved.  "Let's go inside."

The two stepped inside Tony's, and were greeted by the crowded but cozy atmosphere of the bar.  Paintings and abstract art hung around the walls, and the dimly-lit building revealed tables, chairs, and stools all occuped by people.  Tony's could get a bit crowded in the afternoons.

A goat sitting in the corner waved at them, and Dwayne smiled.  He walked up to the goat, and Gris hesitantly followed behind, taking a deep, deep breath as he did so.

"Gris, this is Clarence," Dwayne said when they reached the goat, who stood from the table.

"H-Hi!" Gris said, smiling at Clarence.  He actually felt relaxed, which was always a nice surprise.  "Nice to meet you!"

"You're pretty short," Clarence said, frowning at Gris.

The human felt himself shrink in the goat's gaze.  "What's wrong with that?" Dwayne asked, confused.

"Nothing."  Clarence shrugged.  "Just that your past girlfriends were pretty tall.  And /way/ hotter than this chick."

"Clarence, we've been over this," Dwayne said, in a tone of practiced patience.  "Gris isn't my girlfriend--he's my /boyfriend/."

Clarence shrugged.  "Not a real man though, is he?"

Dwayne's eyes widened, and Gris saw him clench a fist.  "The fuck did you just say?"

"Will you excuse me for a moment?" Gris squeaked.  Without waiting for an answer, he fast-walked to the restroom, his breathing heavy as he shoved the door to the men's bathroom open.

The good lighting was always a surprise at first, but he quickly overcame that and slammed the door, running into the stall and sitting down on the toilet.  Then the tears came, slow at first, then streaming fast down his face.

/I shouldn't have come here.  I should have just stayed home, locked myself away, just . . . something!/

His breathing was becoming more and more audible, and he clutched his chest.

/Oh fuck./

He heard the bathroom door open, and soon someone was knocking on the stall door.  "Gris?  You in there?"

/Breathing . . . unsteady.  Oh god, I don't feel good./

"Gris, I'm so sorry.  Can I come in?"

/I shouldn't have come here.  All I'm doing is proving how much of a burden I am./

"Gris?  You don't sound too great. . ."

/Man, it's cold in here.  But why am I sweating?"/

The wolf burst into the stall and saw Gris in mid-anxiety attack.  He immediately knelt in front of the human and took his hands, holding them gently.  "Ground yourself, babe.  It's alright."

/It is?/

"Take it easy.  Breathe."  Dwayne's soothing voice washed over him, and the human took deep, steady breaths at his boyfriend's command.  Soon, Gris's panic levels were lowered, and he breathed easily again.

"Sorry," he said, wiping away his tears.  "I-I didn't think I'd react like this."  He closed his eyes.  "Fuck."

"You don't have to apologize," Dwayne growled.  His jaw tightened.  "I'm gonna give Clarence a piece of my mind--you stay here."

Gris sat back down in the stall as Dwayne stomped out of the bathroom.  For a few seconds he couldn't hear anything over the bar chatter--but then he heard Dwayne yelling.  Gris recognized that tone: it was the one Dwayne reserved for a special type of asshole, and apparently Clarence was one today.  Then the yelling died down, and the chatter continued.

Gris heard the bathroom door swing open, and Dwayne reentered the stall.  "Told him off, babe," the wolf said, taking Gris's hand.  "Someone's certainly not a friend anymore."

"You didn't have to do that," Gris said quickly.

"Of course I did," Dwayne said.  "I can't be friends with people who diss trans people like that, and especially," he added, giving Gris deep kiss, "people who diss my boyfriend.

"Now."  Dwayne stood up, stretching and showing off his beautiful belly.  "We can still have drinks, at least, make it a date.  You want a beer?  It's on me."

Gris smirked.  "For that travesty?  I'm gonna need /at least/ a martini."

Dwayne smiled.

"You got it."