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“Fraternity” by Domus Vocis (read by Ta'kom)

Franklin, president of his college’s Pride Alliance, is recruited by a frat house to help their leader come to terms with his sexuality.

Today’s story is “Fraternity” by Domus Vocis, who spends his free time listening to vaporwave music & working the graveyard shift while writing/reading furry fiction. He also recently published a historical romance novella titled “Two Souls of Fangcrest Manor” alongside his co-author Fruitz in 2023. You can also find more stories by Domus Vocis on his Patreon.

Read by Ta’kom Ironhoof, the Equine Charmer.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/fraternity-by-domus-vocis

Transcript
Speaker:

You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Pride

Speaker:

Month

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog. This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is “Fraternity”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Domus Vocis, who

Speaker:

spends

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

free

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

vaporwave

Speaker:

music &

Speaker:

working the

Speaker:

graveyard

Speaker:

shift while writing/reading furry

Speaker:

fiction.

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

also

Speaker:

recently

Speaker:

published

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

historical

Speaker:

romance

Speaker:

novella

Speaker:

titled “Two

Speaker:

Souls

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Fangcrest

Speaker:

Manor”

Speaker:

alongside

Speaker:

his co-author Fruitz in 2023. You can also find more stories

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Domus Vocis on his Patreon.

Read

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Ta’kom

Speaker:

Ironhoof,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Equine

Speaker:

Charmer.

Fraternity

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

word

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

unpleasant

Speaker:

associations.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

may,

Speaker:

according

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

some,

Speaker:

be a word

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

unpleasant

Speaker:

associations.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

Pride,

Speaker:

among

Speaker:

many

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

things,

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

occasion

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

redefinition, but

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

uncovering

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

deeper,

Speaker:

truer

Speaker:

definition

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

along.

Speaker:

Let

Speaker:

us,

Speaker:

then,

Speaker:

extend

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

opportunity

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

word,

Speaker:

undeserving

Speaker:

though

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

recipient

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

seem,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

recover

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

pleasant

associations:

associations:

Liberty,

associations:

Equality,

and:




“Fraternity”

and:

by

and:

Domus

and:

Vocis
My

and:

rabbit

and:

nose

and:

flinched

and:

at

and:

the

and:

surrounding

and:

smells.

and:

At

and:

least

and:

two

and:

houses

and:

had

and:

toilet

and:

paper

and:

draped

and:

around

and:

their

and:

exteriors

and:

like

and:

popcorn

and:

on

and:

Christmas

and:

trees.

and:

Another

and:

had

and:

used

and:

cigarettes

and:

and

and:

empty

and:

beer

and:

cans

and:

littering

and:

the

and:

gutters.

and:

Musk,

and:

alcohol,

and:

and

and:

burnt

and:

pizza

and:

wafted

and:

past

and:

my

and:

nostrils

and:

as

and:

too

and:

many

and:

mammals

and:

walked

and:

in

and:

and

and:

out

and:

the

and:

front

and:

doors

and:

either

and:

in

and:

a

and:

haze

and:

or

and:

with

and:

a

and:

member

and:

of

and:

the

and:

opposite

and:

sex,

and:

sometimes

and:

copping

and:

a

and:

feel.
However,

and:

Delta

and:

Iota

and:

Kappa

and:

immediately

and:

stood

and:

out

and:

from

and:

them

and:

all,

and:

sitting

and:

quiet

and:

and

and:

lifeless,

and:

like

and:

a

and:

tomb.

and:

The

and:

only

and:

signs

and:

of

and:

occupancy

and:

were

and:

several

and:

parked

and:

cars

and:

in

and:

the

and:

backyard.
I

and:

gripped

and:

my

and:

backpack

and:

slung

and:

around

and:

my

and:

right

and:

shoulder. “Better

and:

get

and:

this

and:

shit

and:

over

and:

with…”

and:

I

and:

muttered

and:

to

and:

myself. “Just

and:

hope

and:

they

and:

won’t

and:

be

and:

too

and:

loud…”
Truth

and:

be

and:

told,

and:

I

and:

didn’t

and:

have

and:

a

and:

fondness

and:

for

and:

the

and:

fraternities.

and:

I’d

and:

befriended

and:

a

and:

few

and:

of

and:

their

and:

members,

and:

including

and:

Chad,

and:

a

and:

stallion

and:

who’d

and:

invited

and:

me

and:

to

and:

the

and:

Delta

and:

Iota

and:

Kappa

and:

house

and:

for

and:

a

and:

study

and:

session.

and:

However,

and:

between

and:

my

and:

past

and:

experiences

and:

with ‘frat

and:

bro’

and:

personalities

and:

and

and:

the

and:

casual

and:

homophobia

and:

mentioned

and:

by

and:

Alliance

and:

members

and:

coming

and:

from

and:

said

and:

personalities,

and:

I

and:

wasn’t

and:

looking

and:

forward

and:

to

and:

visiting

and:

the

and:

DIK

and:

House.
The

and:

front

and:

door

and:

opened

and:

before

and:

I

and:

could

and:

knock,

and:

and

and:

the

and:

familiar

and:

horse

and:

loomed

and:

over

and:

my

and:

raised

and:

ears.

and:

He

and:

grinned

and:

with

and:

outstretched

and:

arms

and:

that

and:

tested

and:

his

and:

college

and:

football

and:

jersey.
“Frankie!”

and:

he

and:

laughed

and:

joyously,

and:

patting

and:

my

and:

shoulder

and:

a

and:

little

and:

too

and:

hard. “Welcome

and:

to

and:

DIK

and:

House!

and:

It’s

and:

sick

and:

of

and:

you

and:

to

and:

show

and:

up!”
“No

and:

problem…”

and:

I

and:

forged

and:

a

and:

polite

and:

smile,

and:

lightly

and:

rubbing

and:

my

and:

impacted

and:

shoulder. “How’re

and:

things

and:

going

and:

tonight,

and:

Chad?”
“Just

and:

had

and:

some

and:

dinner,”

and:

he

and:

said,

and:

letting

and:

me

and:

inside. “We

and:

need

and:

to

and:

get

and:

started

and:

soon.”
“Why’s

and:

it

and:

so

and:

quiet,

and:

anyway?”

and:

I

and:

asked,

and:

making

and:

my

and:

way

and:

inside

and:

the

and:

living

and:

room. “Don’t

and:

you

and:

guys

and:

have

and:

parties

and:

here

and:

on

and:

Saturday nights?”
The

and:

living

and:

room

and:

mostly

and:

matched

and:

what

and:

I

and:

expected.

and:

A

and:

stained

and:

carpet

and:

that

and:

had

and:

thankfully

and:

been

and:

scrubbed

and:

and vacuumed

and:

recently,

and:

sofas

and:

facing

and:

a

and:

flatscreen

and:

TV

and:

on

and:

the

and:

wall,

and:

countless

and:

framed

and:

photos

and:

and

and:

Delta

and:

Iota

and:

Kappa

and:

memorabilia

and:

likely

and:

as

and:

old

and:

as

and:

the

and:

house

and:

itself,

and:

and

and:

a

and:

massive

and:

DVD

and:

rack

and:

in

and:

the

and:

corner

and:

overflowing

and:

with

and:

cases.

and:

The

and:

distant

and:

scents

and:

of

and:

spilled

and:

beer

and:

and old

and:

marijuana

and:

wouldn’t fool

and:

the

and:

dean.

and:

Walking

and:

through

and:

a

and:

packed

and:

party

and:

here

and:

would

and:

be

and:

akin to

and:

fighting

and:

for

and:

one’s

and:

life

and:

during

and:

Black

and:

Friday.
While

and:

there

and:

were

and:

no

and:

drunken

and:

partygoers,

and:

the

and:

room

and:

was

and:

still

and:

packed

and:

with

and:

frat

and:

boys.

and:

Ten

and:

or

and:

so

and:

of

and:

them,

and:

all

and:

staring

and:

at

and:

me

and:

as

and:

they

and:

sat

and:

either

and:

on

and:

couches

and:

or

and:

stood

and:

against

and:

the

and:

wall.
“Guys,

and:

this

and:

is

and:

my

and:

buddy,

and:

Franklin

and:

Joseph,”

and:

Chad

and:

introduced

and:

me. “He’s

and:

the

and:

gay

and:

club’s

and:

president.”
I

and:

held

and:

back

and:

a

and:

deep

and:

frown,

and:

my

and:

fur

and:

bristling.

and:

By ‘the

and:

gay

and:

club’,

and:

he

and:

likely

and:

meant

and:

the ‘Pride

and:

Alliance’.
As

and:

everyone

and:

awkwardly

and:

waved

and:

and

and:

muttered

and:

a ‘hello’

and:

or

and:

a ‘hey,

and:

Franklin’,

and:

I

and:

glared

and:

up

and:

at

and:

the

and:

horse.

and:

An apologetic

and:

grin

and:

formed

and:

across

and:

his

and:

lips.
“Did

and:

I

and:

accidentally

and:

stumble

and:

into

and:

an

and:

intervention?”

and:

I

and:

asked

and:

him, “Or…do

and:

all

and:

of

and:

you

and:

really

and:

need

and:

help

and:

with

and:

Political

and:

Science?”
“Not

and:

exactly,”

and:

Chad

and:

said,

and:

sounding

and:

a

and:

little

and:

embarrassed. “Listen,

and:

uh,

and:

I

and:

haven’t

and:

been…completely

and:

honest

and:

with

and:

you,

and:

Frankie.

and:

I

and:

don’t

and:

need

and:

tutoring

and:

and

and:

neither

and:

do

and:

the

and:

guys

and:

here.”
He

and:

held

and:

his

and:

palms

and:

together

and:

like

and:

a

and:

prayer

and:

towards

and:

me. “Can

and:

you

and:

please,

and:

please

and:

promise

and:

not

and:

to

and:

get

and:

mad?”
“That

and:

depends.”

and:

I

and:

stared

and:

confusedly

and:

at

and:

the

and:

stallion. “What’s

and:

going

and:

on?”
“It’s

and:

a

and:

favor,”

and:

one

and:

of

and:

the

and:

other

and:

frat

and:

bros

and:

spoke

and:

up. “A

and:

real

and:

secret

and:

favor.”
My

and:

eyebrow

and:

stayed

and:

arched

and:

as

and:

I

and:

surveyed

and:

the

and:

room

and:

again.

and:

Among

and:

the

and:

Delta

and:

Iota

and:

Kappa

and:

members

and:

present,

and:

I

and:

only

and:

recognized

and:

a

and:

few

and:

faces

and:

besides

and:

Chad’s.

and:

Two

and:

of

and:

them

and:

were

and:

casual

and:

acquaintances

and:

of

mine:

mine:

Bryce

mine:

Dallas,

mine:

an

mine:

easy-going

mine:

beaver

mine:

from

mine:

the

mine:

same

mine:

Poli-Sci

mine:

class

mine:

Chad

mine:

and I

mine:

attended,

mine:

and

mine:

a

mine:

timber wolf

mine:

named

mine:

Keith

mine:

Oberon,

mine:

who

mine:

I’d

mine:

had

mine:

Trigonometry

mine:

with

mine:

freshman

mine:

year.

mine:

A

mine:

stone-faced

mine:

bulldog

mine:

sat

mine:

between

mine:

them,

mine:

whose

mine:

name

mine:

I

mine:

couldn’t

mine:

remember

mine:

but

mine:

I

mine:

knew

mine:

he

mine:

served

mine:

as

mine:

a

mine:

linebacker

mine:

on

mine:

the

mine:

college

mine:

football

mine:

team.

mine:

Otherwise,

mine:

there

mine:

were

mine:

also

mine:

a lion, two

mine:

deer,

mine:

a

mine:

black

mine:

panther,

mine:

a

mine:

Dalmatian,

mine:

and

mine:

a

mine:

female

mine:

border

mine:

collie.

mine:

She

mine:

was

mine:

dressed

mine:

in

mine:

shorts

mine:

and

mine:

a

mine:

red

mine:

blouse

mine:

while

mine:

everyone

mine:

else

mine:

wore matching

mine:

fraternity

mine:

jackets

mine:

emblazoned

mine:

with

mine:

the

mine:

Greek

mine:

letters

mine:

for

mine:

Delta

mine:

Iota

mine:

Kappa.
“Alright

mine:

then.

mine:

Tell

mine:

me.”

mine:

I

mine:

crossed

mine:

my

mine:

arms,

mine:

still

mine:

attempting

mine:

to

mine:

smile. “What’s

mine:

this

mine:

secret

mine:

favor,

mine:

and

mine:

why

mine:

didn’t

mine:

any

mine:

of

mine:

you

mine:

just

mine:

stop

mine:

on

mine:

by

mine:

the

mine:

Pride

mine:

Alliance

mine:

office

mine:

to

mine:

ask

mine:

your

mine:

questions?”
“Because

mine:

it’s

mine:

a

mine:

big,

mine:

big

mine:

favor,”

mine:

Chad

mine:

emphasized. “Like,

mine:

the

mine:

kind

mine:

that

mine:

would

mine:

get

mine:

us

mine:

all

mine:

in

mine:

trouble

mine:

if

mine:

word

mine:

got

mine:

out

mine:

we

mine:

asked

mine:

for

mine:

your

mine:

help.

mine:

Last

mine:

thing

mine:

I

mine:

need

mine:

is

mine:

one

mine:

of

mine:

the

mine:

other

mine:

frats

mine:

hearing

mine:

about

mine:

it

mine:

and

mine:

making

mine:

assumptions…y’know,

mine:

about

mine:

us

mine:

liking

mine:

guys

mine:

and

mine:

whatnot.”
Any

mine:

trace

mine:

of

mine:

a

mine:

polite

mine:

smile

mine:

fell

mine:

to

mine:

the

mine:

wayside. “Is

mine:

this for

mine:

some

mine:

sort

mine:

of

mine:

a

mine:

prank?”

mine:

I

mine:

demanded. “Or

mine:

some

mine:

kinda

mine:

fucked-up

mine:

hazing

mine:

ritual

mine:

you’re

mine:

expecting

mine:

me

mine:

to

mine:

help

mine:

with?”
Their

mine:

eyes

mine:

shot

mine:

up

mine:

in

mine:

unison.
“It’s

mine:

not

mine:

what

mine:

you

mine:

think!”

mine:

Keith

mine:

protested.
“Isn’t

mine:

it?

mine:

You

mine:

think

mine:

you’re

mine:

the

mine:

first

mine:

frat

mine:

to

mine:

ask

mine:

me

mine:

or

mine:

another

mine:

Pride

mine:

Alliance

mine:

member

mine:

to

mine:

do

mine:

shit

mine:

for

mine:

them

mine:

like

mine:

that?”

mine:

I

mine:

shook

mine:

my

mine:

head,

mine:

disgusted. “I’m

mine:

getting

mine:

the

mine:

fuck

mine:

out

mine:

of

mine:

here…”
“Franklin,

mine:

wait!”

mine:

the

mine:

wolf

mine:

spoke

mine:

up.
“We

mine:

can

mine:

explain,

mine:

Frankie!”

mine:

Chad

mine:

begged.
Call

mine:

it

mine:

an

mine:

effect

mine:

of

mine:

skepticism

mine:

towards

mine:

straight

mine:

people.

mine:

Call

mine:

it

mine:

repressed

mine:

trauma

mine:

from

mine:

the

mine:

bullying

mine:

and

mine:

taunts

mine:

in

mine:

my

mine:

small-town

mine:

high

mine:

school.

mine:

Whatever

mine:

the

mine:

case,

mine:

I

mine:

didn’t

mine:

wait

mine:

for

mine:

them

mine:

to

mine:

explain.

mine:

Turning

mine:

sharply

mine:

around,

mine:

I

mine:

stormed

mine:

away

mine:

from

mine:

the living

mine:

room

mine:

and

mine:

right

mine:

towards

mine:

the

mine:

front

mine:

door.

mine:

A

mine:

few

mine:

voices

mine:

rose

mine:

up,

mine:

some

mine:

speaking

mine:

over

mine:

each

mine:

other

mine:

in

mine:

a

mine:

growing

mine:

cascade,

mine:

but

mine:

one

mine:

made

mine:

me

pause:

pause:

the

pause:

border

pause:

collie

pause:

in

pause:

the

pause:

red

pause:

blouse.
“Wait,

pause:

it’s

pause:

not

pause:

for

pause:

recruits!”

pause:

she

pause:

said. “It’s

pause:

for

pause:

Xavier.”
I

pause:

stopped

pause:

with

pause:

my

pause:

paw

pause:

on

pause:

the

pause:

door

pause:

handle.

pause:

Though

pause:

we

pause:

had

pause:

never

pause:

met,

pause:

I

pause:

knew

pause:

who

pause:

Xavier

pause:

Boone

pause:

was.

pause:

Everyone

pause:

did.

pause:

As

pause:

the

pause:

president

pause:

of

pause:

the

pause:

Delta

pause:

Iota

pause:

Kappa

pause:

chapter,

pause:

he

pause:

in

pause:

particular

pause:

had

pause:

a

pause:

reputation

pause:

for

pause:

dating

pause:

anyone

pause:

and

pause:

anything

pause:

with

pause:

a

pause:

pair

pause:

of

pause:

tits.

pause:

I

pause:

couldn’t

pause:

fathom

pause:

why

pause:

the

pause:

coyote

pause:

would

pause:

need

pause:

the ‘gay

pause:

club

pause:

president’,

pause:

but

pause:

my

pause:

curiosity

pause:

was

pause:

certainly

pause:

piqued.
My

pause:

nostrils

pause:

flared

pause:

as

pause:

I

pause:

mulled

pause:

over

pause:

the

pause:

border

pause:

collie’s

pause:

words.

pause:

Despite

pause:

not

pause:

turning

pause:

around,

pause:

I

pause:

could

pause:

feel

pause:

her

pause:

standing

pause:

a

pause:

few

pause:

feet

pause:

behind

pause:

me.

pause:

Her

pause:

feet

pause:

tapped

pause:

apprehensively

pause:

to

pause:

the

pause:

floor.

pause:

She

pause:

whimpered

pause:

in

pause:

a

pause:

voice

pause:

way

pause:

too

pause:

quiet

pause:

for

pause:

anyone

pause:

else

pause:

to

pause:

hear.
As

pause:

I

pause:

tipped

pause:

my

pause:

head

pause:

back

pause:

in

pause:

her

pause:

direction,

pause:

recognition

pause:

suddenly

pause:

dawned

pause:

on

pause:

me. “You’re

pause:

Lydia,

pause:

right?

pause:

We

pause:

were

pause:

in

pause:

Professor

pause:

Riley’s

pause:

creative

pause:

writing

pause:

class

pause:

last

pause:

semester.”
She

pause:

nodded. “I’m Xavier’s…” Lydia heaved a heavy

pause:

sigh. “I mean, I

pause:

was

pause:

Xavier’s

pause:

girlfriend.

pause:

We…We

pause:

broke

pause:

up

pause:

a

pause:

few

pause:

days

pause:

ago.

pause:

It’s

pause:

gotten

pause:

too

pause:

complicated

pause:

for

pause:

me.”

pause:

She

pause:

stepped

pause:

closer,

pause:

but

pause:

didn’t

pause:

close

pause:

the

pause:

distance,

pause:

and

pause:

respectfully

pause:

didn’t

pause:

place

pause:

a paw on

pause:

either of

pause:

my

pause:

shoulders. “Listen,

pause:

Franklin,

pause:

I

pause:

get

pause:

why

pause:

you’re

pause:

skeptical.

pause:

You

pause:

should

pause:

know

pause:

though

pause:

that

pause:

I’m

pause:

the

pause:

one

pause:

who

pause:

suggested

pause:

this

pause:

whole

pause:

thing,

pause:

and

pause:

as

pause:

someone

pause:

who’s…well,

pause:

gay…I

pause:

feel

pause:

like

pause:

you

pause:

can

pause:

help

pause:

Xavier.”
My

pause:

body

pause:

turned

pause:

around

pause:

by

pause:

itself.

pause:

My

pause:

curious

pause:

feet

pause:

warily

pause:

followed

pause:

Lydia

pause:

back

pause:

to

pause:

the

pause:

living

pause:

room,

pause:

and

pause:

everyone

pause:

stopped

pause:

whispering

pause:

and

pause:

muttering

pause:

to

pause:

each

pause:

other,

pause:

locking

pause:

their

pause:

eyes

pause:

on

pause:

me.

pause:

The

pause:

expressions

pause:

on

pause:

their

pause:

faces

pause:

were

pause:

earnest,

pause:

hopeful

pause:

even.
The

pause:

instinct

pause:

to

pause:

leave

pause:

was

pause:

still

pause:

strong,

pause:

but

pause:

in

pause:

my

pause:

rational

pause:

mind,

pause:

I

pause:

was

pause:

beginning

pause:

to

pause:

believe

pause:

them. “You

pause:

have

pause:

five

pause:

minutes

pause:

to

pause:

explain,”

pause:

I

pause:

stated.
Lydia

pause:

dove

pause:

straight

pause:

into

pause:

the

pause:

topic

pause:

at

pause:

hand. “Xavier

pause:

and

pause:

I

pause:

have

pause:

been

pause:

experiencing

pause:

relationship

pause:

troubles.

pause:

We’ve

pause:

slowly

pause:

stopped

pause:

cuddling,

pause:

making

pause:

out

pause:

as

pause:

often,

pause:

or

pause:

even

pause:

doing

pause:

it

pause:

for

pause:

that

pause:

matter.

pause:

At

pause:

first,

pause:

I

pause:

thought

pause:

he

pause:

was

pause:

just

pause:

busy

pause:

with

pause:

catching

pause:

up

pause:

on

pause:

classes,

pause:

and

pause:

I

pause:

tried

pause:

being

pause:

patient.

pause:

But

pause:

then,

pause:

last

pause:

week

pause:

was

pause:

our

pause:

anniversary.

pause:

Xavier’s

pause:

never

pause:

been

pause:

fond

pause:

of

pause:

going

pause:

out

pause:

to

pause:

fancy

pause:

restaurants

pause:

and

pause:

neither

pause:

have

pause:

I,

pause:

so

pause:

I

pause:

got

pause:

Bryce

pause:

and

pause:

Keith

pause:

here

pause:

to

pause:

help

pause:

me

pause:

with

pause:

cooking

pause:

a

pause:

candlelight

pause:

dinner

pause:

while

pause:

the

pause:

other

pause:

boys

pause:

here

pause:

kept

pause:

Xavier

pause:

out

pause:

of

pause:

the

pause:

house.
“We

pause:

managed

pause:

to

pause:

get

pause:

everything

pause:

perfect

pause:

before

pause:

they

pause:

got

pause:

home,”

pause:

she

pause:

continued,

pause:

sounding

pause:

more

pause:

and

pause:

more

pause:

forlorn

pause:

as

pause:

she

pause:

spoke. “Xavier

pause:

was

pause:

surprised,

pause:

but

pause:

happy.

pause:

Chad

pause:

convinced

pause:

everyone

pause:

to

pause:

give

pause:

us

pause:

a

pause:

few

pause:

hours

pause:

alone.

pause:

It

pause:

went

pause:

really,

pause:

really

pause:

well.

pause:

We

pause:

ate,

pause:

we

pause:

drank,

pause:

we

pause:

stumbled

pause:

for

pause:

his

pause:

bedroom,

pause:

and

pause:

I

pause:

thought

pause:

we’d

pause:

finally

pause:

get

pause:

to

pause:

be…intimate…after

pause:

several

pause:

weeks.

pause:

But

pause:

then…he

pause:

couldn’t

pause:

get

pause:

it

pause:

up.

pause:

At

pause:

all.”
I

pause:

raised

pause:

a

pause:

subtle

pause:

eyebrow. “Like,

pause:

he

pause:

couldn’t

pause:

get

pause:

an

pause:

erection?”
“No,”

pause:

she

pause:

stressed

pause:

her

pause:

words. “We

pause:

were

pause:

both

pause:

naked,

pause:

tumbling

pause:

in

pause:

bed,

pause:

and

pause:

I

pause:

promised

pause:

him

pause:

that

pause:

I’d

pause:

not

pause:

forgotten

pause:

my

pause:

pill.

pause:

We

pause:

even

pause:

took

pause:

things

pause:

slow,

pause:

but…I’d

pause:

never

pause:

seen

pause:

him

pause:

so

pause:

frustrated.”

pause:

Lydia

pause:

heaved

pause:

a

pause:

shaky

pause:

sigh. “I’ll

pause:

admit,

pause:

I

pause:

wasn’t

pause:

the

pause:

best

pause:

girlfriend

pause:

by

pause:

getting

pause:

angry at

pause:

him

pause:

about

pause:

it,

pause:

and

pause:

we

pause:

ended

pause:

up

pause:

fighting.

pause:

By

pause:

the

pause:

time

pause:

that

pause:

the

pause:

boys

pause:

returned,

pause:

I’d

pause:

already

pause:

stormed

pause:

out

pause:

the

pause:

front

pause:

porch.”
Chad

pause:

then

pause:

jumped

pause:

in. “When

pause:

we

pause:

all

pause:

got

pause:

back,

pause:

I

pause:

found

pause:

Xavier

pause:

holed

pause:

up

pause:

in

pause:

his

pause:

room,

pause:

sobbing.

pause:

I’ve

pause:

never

pause:

seen

pause:

him

pause:

like

pause:

that

pause:

before.

pause:

Then,

pause:

he

pause:

tells

pause:

me

pause:

that

pause:

he’s

pause:

no

pause:

longer

pause:

into

pause:

women.

pause:

Says

pause:

he

pause:

doesn’t

pause:

think

pause:

about

pause:

sex

pause:

with

pause:

women

pause:

or

pause:

get

pause:

that

pause:

hard

pause:

for

pause:

them.”
I

pause:

uneasily

pause:

turned

pause:

to

pause:

Lydia,

pause:

hesitating

pause:

before

pause:

asking

pause:

the

pause:

question

pause:

on

pause:

the

pause:

tip

pause:

of

pause:

my

pause:

tongue. “Is

pause:

that

pause:

why

pause:

you two

pause:

broke

pause:

up?”
Exhaling

pause:

through

pause:

her

pause:

nose,

pause:

she

pause:

slowly

pause:

nodded. “He

pause:

told

pause:

me

pause:

that

pause:

he

pause:

thinks

pause:

of

pause:

me

pause:

as

pause:

a

pause:

sister.

pause:

And

pause:

not

pause:

the

pause:

kinky

pause:

incest

pause:

kinda

pause:

way

pause:

either.

pause:

Just

pause:

a

pause:

regular

pause:

sister.”
Chad

pause:

let

pause:

out

pause:

a

pause:

cough

pause:

to

pause:

clear

pause:

the

pause:

awkward

pause:

silence

pause:

in

pause:

the

pause:

room. “Anyway,”

pause:

he

pause:

said, “Xavier’s

pause:

upstairs,

pause:

waiting

pause:

for

pause:

you.

pause:

Like

pause:

Lydia

pause:

said,

pause:

she’s

pause:

the

pause:

one

pause:

who

pause:

thought

pause:

it’d

pause:

be

pause:

a

pause:

good

pause:

idea

pause:

to

pause:

get

pause:

someone

pause:

who

pause:

knows

pause:

what

pause:

it’s

pause:

like.

pause:

That’s

pause:

why

pause:

we

pause:

were

pause:

so

pause:

shaky

pause:

earlier.

pause:

We

pause:

need

pause:

him

pause:

to

pause:

discuss

pause:

it

pause:

with

pause:

someone

pause:

who’ll

pause:

keep

pause:

all

pause:

this

pause:

shit

pause:

on

pause:

the

pause:

down

pause:

low.”
“He’s

pause:

our

pause:

leader,

pause:

but

pause:

doesn’t

pause:

want

pause:

word

pause:

about

pause:

this

pause:

going

pause:

out,”

pause:

Bryce

pause:

added.
“Why

pause:

didn’t

pause:

he

pause:

just

pause:

send

pause:

an

pause:

email

pause:

to

pause:

Pride

pause:

Alliance?”

pause:

I

pause:

asked them

pause:

all. “He

pause:

could

pause:

have

pause:

requested

pause:

to

pause:

set

pause:

up

pause:

a

pause:

private

pause:

appointment

pause:

anytime

pause:

with

pause:

either

pause:

me

pause:

or

pause:

a

pause:

university

pause:

counselor.”
“I

pause:

tried

pause:

to

pause:

convince

pause:

him

pause:

to

pause:

go

pause:

in

pause:

person,”

pause:

Lydia

pause:

groaned, “but

pause:

the

pause:

big

pause:

dummy’s

pause:

acting

pause:

like

pause:

the

pause:

other

pause:

frats

pause:

spy

pause:

on

pause:

us

pause:

with

pause:

CIA

pause:

technology.

pause:

Or

pause:

that

pause:

word’ll

pause:

travel

pause:

back

pause:

somehow

pause:

to

pause:

this

pause:

street.”
By

pause:

the

pause:

anxious

pause:

looks

pause:

I

pause:

saw

pause:

on

pause:

the

pause:

other

pause:

members’

pause:

faces,

pause:

and

pause:

the

pause:

fact

pause:

that they’d

pause:

had

pause:

to

pause:

invent

pause:

a

pause:

lie

pause:

to

pause:

get

pause:

me

pause:

out

pause:

here

pause:

in

pause:

the

pause:

first

pause:

place,

pause:

it

pause:

was

pause:

apparent

pause:

that

pause:

Xavier’s

pause:

paranoia

pause:

was

pause:

shared

pause:

among

pause:

them.
Keith

pause:

piped

pause:

up, “Xavier

pause:

just

pause:

doesn’t

pause:

want

pause:

rumors

pause:

traveling

pause:

around

pause:

before

pause:

he

pause:

figures

pause:

his

pause:

shit

pause:

out.

pause:

Like,

pause:

what

pause:

if

pause:

this

pause:

isn’t

pause:

about

pause:

being…well,

pause:

gay?

pause:

What

pause:

if

pause:

it’s

pause:

something

pause:

else?

pause:

And

pause:

if

pause:

it

pause:

does

pause:

turn

pause:

out

pause:

he is

pause:

gay,

pause:

well…”
“Yeah,”

pause:

Chad

pause:

interrupted. “I

pause:

even

pause:

invoked DIK

pause:

House Rule #420. Anything uber-secret

pause:

has

pause:

to

pause:

stay

pause:

in

pause:

the

pause:

house,

pause:

or

pause:

else

pause:

they’ll

pause:

get

pause:

expelled

pause:

from

pause:

the

pause:

frat.

pause:

Something

pause:

this

pause:

confidential

pause:

and

pause:

personal

pause:

isn’t

pause:

ours

pause:

to

pause:

talk

pause:

about

pause:

unless

pause:

they’re

pause:

okay

pause:

with

pause:

it.

pause:

We

pause:

protect

pause:

our

pause:

own,

pause:

especially

pause:

if

pause:

it’s

pause:

our

pause:

president.”
An

pause:

uneasy

pause:

silence

pause:

fell

pause:

on

pause:

the

pause:

room

pause:

again.

pause:

The

pause:

compulsion

pause:

to

pause:

reply

pause:

fell

pause:

on

pause:

me.
“That’s

pause:

understandable,”

pause:

I

pause:

said

pause:

with

pause:

a

pause:

nod. “Yeah.

pause:

That

pause:

does

pause:

make

pause:

sense.

pause:

I

pause:

can’t

pause:

exactly

pause:

call

pause:

myself

pause:

a ‘gay

pause:

expert’,

pause:

but

pause:

I

pause:

can

pause:

do

pause:

my

pause:

best

pause:

to

pause:

talk

pause:

to

pause:

him.”
“I’m

pause:

sorry

pause:

I

pause:

lied

pause:

to

pause:

you,

pause:

good

pause:

buddy,”

pause:

Chad

pause:

apologized. “Heh,

pause:

and

pause:

for

pause:

making

pause:

you

pause:

initially

pause:

think

pause:

I’d

pause:

brought

pause:

you

pause:

here

pause:

for

pause:

help

pause:

in

pause:

a

pause:

hazing.

pause:

Entirely

pause:

my

pause:

bad.”
“You’re

pause:

good,”

pause:

I

pause:

sighed,

pause:

patting

pause:

him

pause:

on

pause:

the

pause:

shoulder. “I’m

pause:

uh…I’m

pause:

also

pause:

sorry

pause:

for

pause:

shouting

pause:

earlier…”
A

pause:

couple

pause:

of

pause:

the

pause:

guys

pause:

around

pause:

us

pause:

chuckled.

pause:

Chad

pause:

did

pause:

too,

pause:

telling

pause:

me, “Can’t

pause:

blame

pause:

ya.”
Lydia

pause:

giggled

pause:

as

pause:

well,

pause:

only

pause:

for

pause:

her

pause:

amused

pause:

grin

pause:

to

pause:

fade

pause:

slightly. “I’ll

pause:

be

pause:

okay

pause:

too.

pause:

I’m

pause:

more

pause:

worried

pause:

about

pause:

Xavier.

pause:

We

pause:

might

pause:

not

pause:

be

pause:

together,

pause:

but

pause:

he’s

pause:

still

pause:

my

pause:

first

pause:

serious

pause:

boyfriend,

pause:

and

pause:

a

pause:

good

pause:

friend. If

pause:

you

pause:

can

pause:

help

pause:

him,

pause:

I’ll

pause:

be

pause:

grateful.”
“If

pause:

you

pause:

can

pause:

talk

pause:

to

pause:

him,

pause:

you’ll

pause:

be

pause:

in

pause:

our

pause:

debt,

pause:

Frankie.”

pause:

Chad

pause:

side-hugged

pause:

me,

pause:

then

pause:

motioned his

pause:

long

pause:

nose

pause:

towards

pause:

the

pause:

central

pause:

stairs. “His is

pause:

the

pause:

only

pause:

room

pause:

on

pause:

the

pause:

top

pause:

floor.

pause:

We

pause:

promise

pause:

not

pause:

to

pause:

interrupt

pause:

or

pause:

listen in,

pause:

okay,

pause:

buddy?”
I

pause:

surveyed

pause:

the

pause:

Delta

pause:

Iota

pause:

Kappa

pause:

members

pause:

present.

pause:

They

pause:

all

pause:

stared

pause:

at

pause:

me

pause:

with

pause:

such

pause:

expectation

pause:

and

pause:

uncertainty.

pause:

Momentarily,

pause:

I

pause:

thought

pause:

back

pause:

to

pause:

my

pause:

own

pause:

coming-out

pause:

day,

pause:

and

pause:

wondered

pause:

how

pause:

much

pause:

I

pause:

would

pause:

be

pause:

less

pause:

of

pause:

an

pause:

aloof

pause:

rabbit

pause:

if

pause:

I’d

pause:

possessed

pause:

the

pause:

same

pause:

loyal

pause:

friends

pause:

back

pause:

then.

pause:

The

pause:

thought

pause:

made

pause:

my

pause:

tail

pause:

wiggle,

pause:

and

pause:

a

pause:

small

pause:

smile

pause:

formed

pause:

under

pause:

my

pause:

wrinkled

pause:

nose.
Gripping

pause:

my

pause:

backpack

pause:

along

pause:

my

pause:

shoulder,

pause:

I

pause:

turned

pause:

to

pause:

Chad. “I’ll

pause:

do

pause:

my

pause:

best.”
***
Xavier

pause:

Boone’s

pause:

bedroom

pause:

was

pause:

actually

pause:

a

pause:

converted

pause:

attic.

pause:

The

pause:

high

pause:

angular

pause:

ceiling

pause:

made

pause:

the

pause:

room

pause:

feel

pause:

larger

pause:

than

pause:

it

pause:

was,

pause:

though

pause:

it

pause:

was

pause:

likely

pause:

more

pause:

spacious

pause:

than

pause:

the

pause:

bedrooms

pause:

on

pause:

the

pause:

floors

pause:

below.

pause:

I

pause:

imagined

pause:

being

pause:

able

pause:

to

pause:

wrap

pause:

Christmas

pause:

lights

pause:

from

pause:

the

pause:

rafters

pause:

for

pause:

low

pause:

illumination

pause:

or

pause:

even

pause:

making

pause:

use

pause:

of

pause:

the

pause:

slanted

pause:

walls

pause:

to

pause:

place

pause:

deeper

pause:

bookshelves.

pause:

Otherwise,

pause:

Xavier’s

pause:

décor

pause:

was

pause:

exactly

pause:

what

pause:

I

expected:

expected:

video

expected:

game

expected:

posters,

expected:

an

expected:

out-of-place

expected:

gaming

expected:

computer

expected:

on

expected:

the

expected:

corner

expected:

desk,

expected:

a

expected:

pile

expected:

of

expected:

college

expected:

textbooks

expected:

sitting

expected:

beside

expected:

said

expected:

desk’s

expected:

chair,

expected:

too

expected:

many

expected:

dirty

expected:

clothes

expected:

on

expected:

the

expected:

floor,

expected:

and

expected:

the

expected:

unappealing

expected:

sight

expected:

of

expected:

a

expected:

musky

expected:

bottle

expected:

of

expected:

lotion

expected:

on

expected:

the

expected:

nightstand.
As

expected:

for

expected:

the

expected:

coyote

expected:

himself,

expected:

I

expected:

immediately

expected:

found

expected:

him

expected:

sitting

expected:

hunched

expected:

over

expected:

on

expected:

the

expected:

bed.

expected:

He

expected:

glanced

expected:

up

expected:

from

expected:

his

expected:

phone

expected:

as

expected:

I

expected:

stepped

expected:

past

expected:

the

expected:

door’s

expected:

threshold.

expected:

A

expected:

handsome

expected:

canine

expected:

with

expected:

downcast

expected:

ears

expected:

and

expected:

piercing

expected:

blue

expected:

eyes,

expected:

his

expected:

unrecognizable

expected:

heavy

expected:

metal

expected:

t-shirt

expected:

and

expected:

dark-tan

expected:

fur

expected:

did

expected:

little

expected:

to

expected:

hide

expected:

a

expected:

jacked

expected:

physique

expected:

likely

expected:

earned

expected:

from

expected:

long

expected:

hours

expected:

spent

expected:

at

expected:

the

expected:

gym.

expected:

To

expected:

my

expected:

surprise,

expected:

his

expected:

cheeks

expected:

were

expected:

glistening

expected:

with

expected:

tears,

expected:

which

expected:

he

expected:

wiped

expected:

away

expected:

as

expected:

soon

expected:

as

expected:

he

expected:

saw

expected:

me.
“I

expected:

take

expected:

it

expected:

you’re…Franklin?”

expected:

he

expected:

asked

expected:

hesitantly. “The

expected:

Pride

expected:

Alliance

expected:

leader?”
I

expected:

nodded,

expected:

feeling

expected:

slight

expected:

relief.

expected:

Thank

expected:

Christ

expected:

he

expected:

didn’t

expected:

just

expected:

call

expected:

it

expected:

the ‘gay

expected:

club’.
“Yeah,”

expected:

I

expected:

replied. “And

expected:

you’re

expected:

Xavier,

expected:

right?

expected:

Your

expected:

friends

expected:

downstairs,

expected:

they…they

expected:

told

expected:

me

expected:

you

expected:

needed

expected:

somebody

expected:

to

expected:

talk

expected:

to.”
The

expected:

coyote

expected:

nodded

expected:

slightly

expected:

and

expected:

motioned

expected:

to

expected:

his

expected:

spot

expected:

while

expected:

going

expected:

to

expected:

his

expected:

desk

expected:

chair,

expected:

spinning

expected:

it

expected:

around

expected:

to

expected:

face

expected:

me.

expected:

I

expected:

sat

expected:

down

expected:

without

expected:

breaking

expected:

eye

expected:

contact,

expected:

while

expected:

Xavier

expected:

was

expected:

torn

expected:

between

expected:

looking

expected:

at

expected:

me

expected:

and

expected:

avoiding

expected:

my

expected:

gaze.

expected:

I

expected:

didn’t

expected:

judge

expected:

him

expected:

for

expected:

it.
“You

expected:

promise

expected:

not

expected:

to

expected:

say

expected:

anything?”

expected:

he

expected:

asked. “Right? I dunno if I’m

expected:

even—”
“Relax,

expected:

Xavier.

expected:

Relax.”

expected:

I

expected:

offered

expected:

a

expected:

reassuring

expected:

smile. “I’m

expected:

not

expected:

going

expected:

to

expected:

tell

expected:

everyone.

expected:

What

expected:

happens

expected:

in

expected:

here

expected:

stays

expected:

in

expected:

here.

expected:

Actually!

expected:

Not

expected:

unless

expected:

it’s

expected:

explicitly

expected:

illegal.

expected:

Then,

expected:

yeah,

expected:

I’ll

expected:

have

expected:

to

expected:

say

expected:

something.”
“Good…Good.”

expected:

Xavier

expected:

cleared his

expected:

throat,

expected:

flared

expected:

his

expected:

nostrils,

expected:

then

expected:

finally

expected:

looked

expected:

at

expected:

me. “Dude,

expected:

I

expected:

think

expected:

I’m

expected:

gay.”

expected:

The

expected:

silence

expected:

from

expected:

him

expected:

stretched

expected:

uncomfortably

expected:

far,

expected:

so

expected:

I

expected:

broke

expected:

the

expected:

tension

expected:

myself

expected:

with

expected:

an

expected:

obvious

expected:

question.
“You

expected:

think,”

expected:

I

expected:

asked, “or

expected:

you

expected:

know?”
“I

expected:

think I am,” he stressed. “Did uh, did Lydia tell

expected:

you…um,

expected:

about

expected:

what, y’know…happened?”
“Not

expected:

all

expected:

of

expected:

it,”

expected:

I

expected:

clarified

expected:

for

expected:

him. “She

expected:

didn’t

expected:

go

expected:

straight

expected:

into

expected:

the

expected:

details,

expected:

but

expected:

did

expected:

say

expected:

that

expected:

you…couldn’t

expected:

get

expected:

hard

expected:

on

expected:

your

expected:

anniversary

expected:

night?”
Xavier

expected:

shook

expected:

his

expected:

muzzle,

expected:

stifling

expected:

a whimper.
“You

expected:

told

expected:

Chad

expected:

that

expected:

you

expected:

haven’t

expected:

been

expected:

interested

expected:

in

expected:

sex

expected:

with women

expected:

for

expected:

a

expected:

long

expected:

time,

expected:

either?”
“No…Not

expected:

really…”
“Well,

expected:

that

expected:

doesn’t

expected:

automatically

expected:

mean

expected:

you’re

expected:

gay,”

expected:

I

expected:

told

expected:

him. “You

expected:

could

expected:

be

expected:

asexual.”
The

expected:

coyote

expected:

frat

expected:

bro

expected:

perked

expected:

an

expected:

ear up. “Asexual?”
“Basically,

expected:

someone

expected:

who

expected:

has

expected:

little

expected:

to

expected:

no

expected:

interest

expected:

in

expected:

sex,”

expected:

I

expected:

explained. “Asexuality’s

expected:

a

expected:

spectrum,

expected:

though.

expected:

It’s

expected:

different

expected:

for

expected:

everyone.”
“So,

expected:

they

expected:

can’t

expected:

be

expected:

attracted

expected:

to

expected:

anybody?”

expected:

he asked.
I

expected:

lightly

expected:

gritted

expected:

my

expected:

teeth. “In

expected:

an

expected:

oversimplified

expected:

nutshell,

expected:

yeah.”
Xavier

expected:

clicked

expected:

his

expected:

tongue

expected:

in

expected:

understanding. “Gotcha.

expected:

Sorry

expected:

if

expected:

I

expected:

come

expected:

off

expected:

like

expected:

an

expected:

insensitive

expected:

jackass. I’m,

expected:

uh…not used

expected:

to

expected:

discussing

expected:

it

expected:

all

expected:

out

expected:

in

expected:

the

expected:

open.

expected:

Never

expected:

really

expected:

talked

expected:

to

expected:

someone

expected:

who’s

expected:

gay or

expected:

LGBTQ

expected:

or

expected:

whatever

expected:

until

expected:

today,

expected:

actually.”
I

expected:

cleared

expected:

my

expected:

throat. “You’re

expected:

fine,

expected:

though

expected:

it’s

expected:

a

expected:

good

expected:

idea

expected:

to

expected:

be

expected:

informed

expected:

about

expected:

the

expected:

different

expected:

ways

expected:

people

expected:

may identify.”
“This

expected:

is

expected:

all

expected:

confusing,”

expected:

he

expected:

muttered. “I…really

expected:

don’t

expected:

think

expected:

that

expected:

applies

expected:

to

expected:

me

expected:

though.

expected:

I

expected:

still

expected:

like

expected:

the

expected:

idea

expected:

of

expected:

sex.

expected:

I

expected:

just

expected:

stopped

expected:

being

expected:

attracted

expected:

to

expected:

Lydia.

expected:

I

expected:

don’t

expected:

get

expected:

it…I

expected:

care

expected:

a

expected:

lot

expected:

about

expected:

her.

expected:

She’s

expected:

a

expected:

very

expected:

beautiful

expected:

woman,

expected:

but

expected:

I

expected:

can’t

expected:

stay

expected:

hard

expected:

long

expected:

enough

expected:

to

expected:

put

expected:

it

expected:

inside

expected:

her.

expected:

It’s

expected:

pathetic!

expected:

I

expected:

mean,

expected:

did

expected:

she

expected:

tell

expected:

you

expected:

what

expected:

led

expected:

to

expected:

us

expected:

breaking

expected:

up?”
“She

expected:

did,” I said. “Even if you’re not ace, though,

expected:

there

expected:

are

expected:

other

expected:

possibilities

expected:

aside

expected:

from

expected:

you

expected:

being

expected:

gay.

expected:

You

expected:

could

expected:

be

expected:

going

expected:

through

expected:

a

expected:

period

expected:

of

expected:

low

expected:

libido,

expected:

or—”
“Yeah,

expected:

yeah,

expected:

I

expected:

know,

expected:

I

expected:

get

expected:

all

expected:

that,”

expected:

he

expected:

interrupted. “It’s

expected:

just…what

expected:

happened

expected:

with Lydia.

expected:

It’s

expected:

not

expected:

that

expected:

I’m

expected:

disinterested

expected:

in

expected:

having

expected:

sex,

expected:

or

expected:

even

expected:

just

expected:

having

expected:

sex

expected:

with

expected:

her

expected:

specifically. I’ve…”
He

expected:

trailed

expected:

off,

expected:

staring

expected:

down

expected:

at

expected:

the

expected:

floor

expected:

with

expected:

his

expected:

tail

expected:

curling

expected:

onto

expected:

his

expected:

lap.

expected:

After

expected:

a

expected:

moment,

expected:

I

expected:

gently

expected:

prompted

expected:

him. “It’s

expected:

alright,

expected:

Xavier.”
He

expected:

slowly

expected:

stumbled

expected:

over

expected:

his

expected:

words. “F-For

expected:

a

expected:

long

expected:

time…I…I’ve

expected:

actually

expected:

been…thinking

expected:

about

expected:

other…guys.

expected:

I’ve

expected:

just

expected:

been

expected:

pushing

expected:

it

expected:

and

expected:

ignoring

expected:

these

expected:

thoughts

expected:

forever.”
“And

expected:

there’s

expected:

nothing

expected:

wrong

expected:

with

expected:

that,”

expected:

I

expected:

replied. “Can

expected:

I

expected:

ask

expected:

how

expected:

long

expected:

you’ve

expected:

been

expected:

going

expected:

through

expected:

this?”
“I

expected:

dunno,

expected:

since

expected:

late

expected:

middle

expected:

school…maybe?”

expected:

He

expected:

shrugged,

expected:

letting

expected:

out

expected:

a

expected:

frustrated

expected:

growl. “I can’t

expected:

remember

expected:

when

expected:

it

expected:

all

expected:

started,

expected:

or

expected:

how

expected:

it

expected:

all

expected:

started.

expected:

I

expected:

know

expected:

that

expected:

in

expected:

gym,

expected:

my

expected:

eyes

expected:

would

expected:

wander

expected:

over

expected:

my

expected:

classmates

expected:

and

expected:

teammates.

expected:

It

expected:

started

expected:

off

expected:

as

expected:

quick

expected:

glances,

expected:

then

expected:

longer

expected:

glances,

expected:

then

expected:

staring—I’d

expected:

convinced

expected:

myself

expected:

it

expected:

was

expected:

just

expected:

curiosity.

expected:

I

expected:

was

expected:

just

expected:

admiring

expected:

how

expected:

fit

expected:

they

expected:

were,

expected:

that I

expected:

was

expected:

just

expected:

jealous

expected:

I

expected:

didn’t

expected:

have

expected:

their

expected:

muscles

expected:

or

expected:

envy

expected:

I

expected:

didn’t

expected:

have

expected:

six-pack

expected:

abs

expected:

yet.

expected:

My

expected:

cock

expected:

size

expected:

didn’t

expected:

compare

expected:

to

expected:

the

expected:

larger,

expected:

buffer

expected:

mammals.

expected:

I

expected:

kept

expected:

telling

expected:

myself

expected:

that

expected:

all

expected:

the

expected:

way

expected:

through

expected:

senior

expected:

year.

expected:

Anytime

expected:

I

expected:

stared

expected:

too

expected:

long

expected:

and

expected:

ended

expected:

up

expected:

popping

expected:

a…a boner,

expected:

I…I

expected:

just made

expected:

more

expected:

excuses.

expected:

Thank

expected:

Christ,

expected:

nobody

expected:

saw.

expected:

They

expected:

would’ve

expected:

thought

expected:

I

expected:

was a f…”

expected:

Xavier

expected:

sputtered

expected:

out,

expected:

his

expected:

expression

expected:

darting

expected:

away

expected:

from

expected:

my

expected:

sharp

expected:

gaze

expected:

as

expected:

he

expected:

shifted

expected:

uncomfortably. “Um…I mean, t-they would’ve

expected:

suspected…me.”
“Did

expected:

your

expected:

girlfriends

expected:

ever

expected:

suspect?”

expected:

I

expected:

asked

expected:

him

expected:

tentatively,

expected:

brushing

expected:

past

expected:

the

expected:

near-miss

expected:

of

expected:

a

expected:

slur. “I

expected:

assume

expected:

you’ve

expected:

dated

expected:

others

expected:

besides

expected:

Lydia,

expected:

right?”
“You

expected:

got

expected:

it.”

expected:

He

expected:

let

expected:

out

expected:

an

expected:

awkward

expected:

chuckle. “Two

expected:

of

expected:

them.

expected:

Well,

expected:

three

expected:

serious

expected:

girlfriends,

expected:

including

expected:

Lydia.

expected:

Sophomore

expected:

year,

expected:

I

expected:

dated

expected:

a

expected:

girl

expected:

named

expected:

Janet,

expected:

one

expected:

of

expected:

the

expected:

junior

expected:

cheerleaders.

expected:

We

expected:

fooled

expected:

around,

expected:

but

expected:

we

expected:

never really

expected:

went

expected:

past

expected:

second

expected:

base.

expected:

I

expected:

dated

expected:

on

expected:

and

expected:

off

expected:

with

expected:

different

expected:

girls

expected:

after

expected:

that,

expected:

until

expected:

senior

expected:

year

expected:

when

expected:

I

expected:

met

expected:

Stacey D’Angelo,

expected:

this

expected:

gorgeous

expected:

leopardess. She

expected:

was

expected:

way

expected:

outta

expected:

my

expected:

league,

expected:

but

expected:

I

expected:

somehow

expected:

managed

expected:

to

expected:

convince

expected:

her

expected:

to

expected:

be

expected:

my

expected:

prom

expected:

date.

expected:

We

expected:

had

expected:

a

expected:

great

expected:

night,

expected:

and

expected:

I

expected:

even

expected:

lost

expected:

my

expected:

V-card

expected:

to

expected:

her

expected:

afterwards.

expected:

But…”
I

expected:

leaned a bit

expected:

forward. “But?”
He

expected:

groaned. “I

expected:

only

expected:

managed

expected:

to

expected:

stay

expected:

hard

expected:

by

expected:

thinking

expected:

about

expected:

exercising

expected:

at

expected:

the

expected:

gym.

expected:

I’m

expected:

imagining

expected:

myself

expected:

surrounded

expected:

by

expected:

a ton

expected:

of

expected:

other

expected:

guys,

expected:

dozens

expected:

of ’em. I’m

expected:

wearing

expected:

a

expected:

jockstrap.

expected:

So’s

expected:

everyone

expected:

else.

expected:

They’re

expected:

all

expected:

lifting

expected:

weights

expected:

or

expected:

stretching,

expected:

and

expected:

I’m

expected:

just

expected:

watching,

expected:

paw on

expected:

my…”
“I

expected:

get

expected:

the

expected:

picture,”

expected:

I

expected:

interrupted

expected:

with

expected:

a

expected:

chuckle.
He

expected:

tipped

expected:

his

expected:

ears

expected:

back

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actually:

strictly

actually:

confidential.

actually:

Kind

actually:

of

actually:

like

actually:

your

actually:

frat’s

actually:

rule

actually:

about

actually:

secrecy.

actually:

In

actually:

fact,

actually:

you’re

actually:

far

actually:

from

actually:

the

actually:

first

actually:

jock

actually:

or

actually:

member

actually:

of

actually:

a

actually:

fraternity

actually:

to

actually:

attend

actually:

our

actually:

meetings.”
That

actually:

caught

actually:

his

actually:

attention. “Who?”
“Even

actually:

if

actually:

I

actually:

knew

actually:

them

actually:

before

actually:

becoming

actually:

president,”

actually:

I

actually:

explained, “I

actually:

can’t

actually:

say.

actually:

Confidential,

actually:

remember?
“Ah,

actually:

good

actually:

point.”

actually:

Xavier

actually:

then

actually:

gave

actually:

me

actually:

a

actually:

wry

actually:

grin. “Heh,

actually:

am

actually:

I

actually:

gonna

actually:

need

actually:

to

actually:

start

actually:

wearing

actually:

rainbow

actually:

stuff?”
I

actually:

rolled

actually:

my

actually:

eyes

actually:

at

actually:

the

actually:

coy

actually:

coyote. “If

actually:

you

actually:

want

actually:

to,”

actually:

I

actually:

repeated. “You

actually:

don’t

actually:

need

actually:

to

actually:

change

actually:

yourself.

actually:

You

actually:

can

actually:

be

actually:

gay

actually:

and

actually:

still

actually:

love

actually:

working

actually:

out, and

actually:

you

actually:

can

actually:

still

actually:

drink

actually:

beer

actually:

and

actually:

watch

actually:

sports.

actually:

Just

actually:

be

actually:

who

actually:

you

actually:

feel

actually:

you

actually:

are.”
“I’m…not

actually:

sure

actually:

who

actually:

that

actually:

is,” he murmured.
“There’s

actually:

no

actually:

pressure

actually:

about

actually:

it.

actually:

Not

actually:

all

actually:

gay

actually:

people

actually:

like

actually:

musical

actually:

theater

actually:

and

actually:

fashion.

actually:

We’re

actually:

both

actually:

examples

actually:

of

actually:

that,”

actually:

I

actually:

jested.

actually:

When

actually:

Xavier

actually:

cocked

actually:

an

actually:

eyebrow

actually:

at

actually:

my

actually:

last

actually:

remark,

actually:

I

actually:

added, “I’m

actually:

terrible

actually:

with

actually:

matching

actually:

clothing

actually:

colors,

actually:

and

actually:

you’re

actually:

a

actually:

frat

actually:

house

actually:

jock

actually:

that

actually:

loves

actually:

everything

actually:

about

actually:

being

actually:

in

actually:

a

actually:

frat

actually:

house…Though

actually:

then

actually:

again,

actually:

I

actually:

also

actually:

didn’t

actually:

know

actually:

you’re

actually:

a

actually:

Herald

actually:

of

actually:

Darkness

actually:

II

actually:

fan

actually:

too.”
I

actually:

pointed

actually:

to

actually:

the

actually:

poster

actually:

of

actually:

a

actually:

wolf

actually:

carrying

actually:

a

actually:

flashlight

actually:

as

actually:

shadowy

actually:

monsters

actually:

attacked

actually:

from

actually:

all

actually:

sides,

actually:

hung

actually:

up

actually:

between

actually:

a

actually:

Grand

actually:

Larceny

actually:

poster

actually:

and

actually:

the

actually:

air

actually:

conditioner

actually:

embedded

actually:

into

actually:

the

actually:

angular

actually:

wall.
“You’re a

actually:

fan too?”

actually:

He

actually:

beamed,

actually:

his

actually:

tail

actually:

now

actually:

fiercely

actually:

wagging

actually:

in

actually:

his

actually:

seat. “I

actually:

feel

actually:

like

actually:

I’m

actually:

the

actually:

only

actually:

motherfucker

actually:

who’s

actually:

heard

actually:

of

actually:

the

actually:

first

actually:

game,

actually:

let

actually:

alone

actually:

the

actually:

second.

actually:

They

actually:

both

actually:

kick

actually:

ass!”
“I

actually:

know,

actually:

right?”

actually:

I

actually:

grinned

actually:

back. “Did

actually:

you

actually:

try

actually:

out

actually:

the

actually:

co-op?

actually:

I

actually:

heard

actually:

it’s

actually:

really

actually:

fun

actually:

with

actually:

a

actually:

partner

actually:

to

actually:

watch

actually:

on

actually:

Dark

actually:

Survival

actually:

Mode.”
“Not

actually:

yet,”

actually:

Xavier

actually:

answered. “Most

actually:

of

actually:

the

actually:

guys

actually:

downstairs

actually:

get

actually:

bored

actually:

of

actually:

that

actually:

game

actually:

because

actually:

it’s

actually:

much

actually:

more

actually:

moodier

actually:

at

actually:

times.

actually:

Much

actually:

as

actually:

I

actually:

love

actually:

them,

actually:

it’s

actually:

the

actually:

same

actually:

with

actually:

some

actually:

movies.

actually:

I

actually:

can’t

actually:

get

actually:

Chad

actually:

to

actually:

watch

actually:

films

actually:

without

actually:

turning

actually:

it into

actually:

a

actually:

fucking

actually:

drinking

actually:

game.”
“Next

actually:

time

actually:

you

actually:

play

actually:

Darkness

actually:

II,”

actually:

I

actually:

recommended,

actually:

chuckling, “take

actually:

a

actually:

swig

actually:

of

actually:

beer

actually:

every

actually:

time

actually:

someone

actually:

says ‘light’

actually:

or ‘darkness’.

actually:

Two

actually:

swigs if

actually:

the

actually:

player

actually:

mentions

actually:

being

actually:

a

actually:

writer.”
“I’ll

actually:

be

actually:

hammered

actually:

before

actually:

the

actually:

first

actually:

few

actually:

levels,

actually:

dude!”

actually:

Xavier

actually:

slapped

actually:

his

actually:

knee,

actually:

falling

actually:

yet

actually:

again

actually:

into

actually:

fits

actually:

of

actually:

laughter

actually:

I

actually:

couldn’t

actually:

help

actually:

but

actually:

join

actually:

in

actually:

on.
By

actually:

the

actually:

time

actually:

we

actually:

gathered

actually:

ourselves,

actually:

I

actually:

absentmindedly

actually:

stood

actually:

up

actually:

to

actually:

stretch

actually:

my

actually:

arms.

actually:

I

actually:

didn’t

actually:

expect

actually:

anything

actually:

from

actually:

Xavier,

actually:

least

actually:

of

actually:

all

actually:

the

actually:

big

actually:

coyote

actually:

suddenly

actually:

turning

actually:

me

actually:

around to

actually:

pull

actually:

me

actually:

into

actually:

a

actually:

very

actually:

strong,

actually:

very

actually:

warm

actually:

hug.

actually:

I

actually:

staggered

actually:

back

actually:

an

actually:

inch,

actually:

then

actually:

reciprocated.

actually:

His

actually:

nose

actually:

buried

actually:

into

actually:

my

actually:

shoulder

actually:

while

actually:

mine

actually:

barely

actually:

reached

actually:

his

actually:

shirt’s

actually:

collar.

actually:

His

actually:

warm

actually:

arms

actually:

didn’t

actually:

squeeze

actually:

my

actually:

lithe torso too

actually:

much,

actually:

but

actually:

just

actually:

enough

actually:

to

actually:

make

actually:

me

actually:

feel

actually:

enveloped

actually:

in

actually:

his

actually:

biceps.
“Thank

actually:

you,

actually:

Franklin,”

actually:

he

actually:

murmured. “I…I

actually:

really

actually:

needed

actually:

this.”
I

actually:

smiled

actually:

softly. “No

actually:

problem.”
It

actually:

didn’t

actually:

surprise

actually:

me

actually:

to

actually:

feel

actually:

myself

actually:

begin

actually:

to

actually:

blush

actually:

when

actually:

the

actually:

hug

actually:

lingered

actually:

for

actually:

several

actually:

more

actually:

seconds.

actually:

Frankly,

actually:

it

actually:

also

actually:

shouldn’t

actually:

have

actually:

surprised

actually:

me

actually:

much

actually:

to

actually:

suddenly

actually:

feel

actually:

his

actually:

length

actually:

pressing

actually:

hard

actually:

against

actually:

my

actually:

leg.
“Uh,

actually:

Xavier?”

actually:

I

actually:

spoke

actually:

up.
He

actually:

stiffened,

actually:

then

actually:

pulled

actually:

away

actually:

while

actually:

fiercely

actually:

blushing

actually:

himself.

actually:

When

actually:

the

actually:

coyote

actually:

did

actually:

look

actually:

at

actually:

me,

actually:

his

actually:

awkwardness

actually:

suddenly

actually:

stalled.

actually:

I

actually:

was

actually:

about

actually:

to

actually:

tell

actually:

him

actually:

it

actually:

wasn’t

actually:

to

actually:

be

actually:

embarrassed

actually:

about,

actually:

that

actually:

I

actually:

wasn’t

actually:

offended

actually:

and

actually:

even

actually:

a

actually:

bit

actually:

flattered,

actually:

when

actually:

he

actually:

suddenly

actually:

leaned

actually:

forward.

actually:

My

actually:

posture

actually:

stiffened.
“Xavier,

actually:

wait.”

actually:

I

actually:

turned

actually:

away,

actually:

holding

actually:

up

actually:

a

actually:

paw

actually:

to his

actually:

snout.

actually:

It

actually:

felt

actually:

enticing

actually:

and

actually:

warm,

actually:

which

actually:

didn’t

actually:

help. “I…I

actually:

don’t

actually:

think

actually:

it’s

actually:

a

actually:

good

actually:

idea

actually:

to—”
Xavier

actually:

froze

actually:

against

actually:

my

actually:

paw,

actually:

pulling

actually:

away. “Did…Did

actually:

I

actually:

misread

actually:

things?”

actually:

he

actually:

asked,

actually:

appalled

actually:

and

actually:

blushing

actually:

even

actually:

more

actually:

deeply. “I-I’m

actually:

sorry,

actually:

I

actually:

thought—”
“No,

actually:

no,

actually:

you

actually:

didn’t

actually:

do

actually:

anything

actually:

wrong,”

actually:

I

actually:

clarified

actually:

for

actually:

him,

actually:

pulling

actually:

my

actually:

paw

actually:

down. “I

actually:

just

actually:

think

actually:

that

actually:

you’re

actually:

rushing in

actually:

a

actually:

little

actually:

too

actually:

fast.

actually:

Don’t

actually:

get

actually:

me

wrong:

wrong:

I’m

wrong:

flattered,

wrong:

and

wrong:

I’m

wrong:

glad

wrong:

you’re

wrong:

beginning

wrong:

to

wrong:

figure

wrong:

things

wrong:

out,

wrong:

but…we

wrong:

just

wrong:

met.”
“Oh.

wrong:

Right.”

wrong:

Xavier’s

wrong:

looked

wrong:

away

wrong:

with

wrong:

both

wrong:

ears

wrong:

folded

wrong:

downward. “We

wrong:

did…”
I

wrong:

squeezed

wrong:

one

wrong:

of

wrong:

his

wrong:

paws

wrong:

in

wrong:

mine.
“Tell

wrong:

you

wrong:

what,”

wrong:

I

wrong:

suggested. “Let’s

wrong:

trade

wrong:

numbers,

wrong:

and

wrong:

if

wrong:

you

wrong:

have

wrong:

any

wrong:

questions,

wrong:

I

wrong:

can

wrong:

answer

wrong:

them.

wrong:

Or

wrong:

we

wrong:

can

wrong:

discuss

wrong:

things

wrong:

when

wrong:

neither

wrong:

of

wrong:

us

wrong:

are

wrong:

attending

wrong:

classes.”
The

wrong:

coyote’s

wrong:

tail

wrong:

began

wrong:

to

wrong:

wag

wrong:

again.
“S-Sure!

wrong:

That

wrong:

works

wrong:

for

wrong:

me.”

wrong:

Xavier

wrong:

smiled

wrong:

while

wrong:

scratching

wrong:

the

wrong:

back

wrong:

of

wrong:

his scalp

wrong:

with

wrong:

both

wrong:

ears

wrong:

still

wrong:

bashfully

wrong:

pointed

wrong:

to

wrong:

the

wrong:

floor. “M-Maybe

wrong:

we

wrong:

can

wrong:

do

wrong:

it

wrong:

at

wrong:

my

wrong:

place

wrong:

here. Ah!

wrong:

I

wrong:

mean ‘discuss

wrong:

things’

wrong:

here,

wrong:

not

wrong:

that

wrong:

I’d uh…Fuck,

wrong:

never mind,

wrong:

dude.”
“We

wrong:

can

wrong:

hang

wrong:

out.”

wrong:

I

wrong:

held

wrong:

back

wrong:

some

wrong:

snickering. “On

wrong:

the

wrong:

condition

wrong:

that

wrong:

we

wrong:

play co-op

wrong:

for

wrong:

Herald

wrong:

of

wrong:

Darkness

wrong:

II

wrong:

the

wrong:

next

wrong:

time

wrong:

I

wrong:

come

wrong:

over

wrong:

here.”
Once

wrong:

again,

wrong:

the

wrong:

coyote’s

wrong:

eyes

wrong:

lit

wrong:

up

wrong:

like

wrong:

clear

wrong:

lagoon

wrong:

waters. “It’s

wrong:

a

wrong:

deal!”



This

wrong:

was “Fraternity” by Domus Vocis, read for you by Ta’kom Ironhoof, the Equine Charmer. You can

wrong:

find

wrong:

more

wrong:

stories

wrong:

on

wrong:

the

wrong:

web

wrong:

at

wrong:

thevoice.dog,

wrong:

or

wrong:

find

wrong:

the

wrong:

show

wrong:

wherever

wrong:

you

wrong:

get

wrong:

your

wrong:

podcasts.

wrong:

Happy

wrong:

Pride,

wrong:

and

wrong:

Thank

wrong:

you

wrong:

for

wrong:

listening

wrong:

to

wrong:

The

wrong:

Voice

wrong:

of

wrong:

Dog.

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About the Podcast

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The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

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