Ethan smiled at Trish as he jogged to the elevator.
"Where are you headed?" She sat up in her seat, looking confused and a little pleased.
"I'm taking Carey to a support group for people who deal with phobias," Ethan smiled.
"What? You convinced him to leave?" Trisha stood up, shocked.
"Yeah, why?" Ethan stopped as she ran up to him, her heels tapping on the tile floor.
"You don't understand. He hasn't left this place since he was released from the labs he was kept in," she said, jaw nearly touching the floor. "All the doctor visits, groceries, everything is delivered to him," she said.
"So he really hasn't been outside in-"
"2 years!" Trish giggled and jumped up and down. "This is a huge breakthrough! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" She giggled as her blonde hair bounced around her shoulders.
"Wow... well, wish me luck!" Ethan smiled, and pushed the button to call the elevator. He jogged down the hall and nearly laughed at how happy he was to spend the day with Carey, outside. He knocked quickly and waited, when he heard no reply, he frowned for the first time that day. "Carey? You there?" Of course he was there, Carey was always there. He poked his head inside and saw that the apartment was dark, as usual. "Carey?" he called out in a sing song voice, searching the dark living room with his eyes. When there was still no response, Ethan stepped inside.
Everything was silent and empty as Ethan searched through the apartment. After searching every room and finding them all empty, he was beginning to get worried. He was about to head back downstairs when he heard a faint sound from somewhere within the apartment. He paused and listened. The sound floated to his ears, a sob. He looked around again, stopping in each room until he finally reached the bedroom where the sound was loudest.
"Carey?" he whispered. There was another sob, a little louder this time. He rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall next to the closet door. He stood there for a second before knocking softly. "Carey... come on out," he said. There was no response other than another sob. Finally Ethan opened the door. Carey looked up, his wide black eyes reflecting the bedside light Ethan had turned on. Shirts and pants dangled above his head, brushing his large round white ears. His knees were tucked up against his chest, with his arms wrapped around them defensively. He sniffed again, his small nose twitching as he wiped away the tears that had matted the fur under his eyes. "Carey, come on, you can't be that scared," Ethan said, in a soft voice.
"I'm sorry," Carey whispered.
"Don't be sorry." Ethan sat down in the closet with him. "You just need to face your fears. If you don't, then you'll never be in control of your own life. Out of all the people I know, I would think you would want that control more than anyone else," Ethan said.
"I do," Carey whispered. "But it's not that easy." He let out a big sigh as he cleaned up the rest of his tears.
"Yes, it is," Ethan stated. "If you want something, you have to reach out and take it. If you feel something, act on it," Ethan urged, and was surprised when Carey let out a laugh. "What?" he frowned.
"I think we could both use a lesson from each other. I need to do more taking and acting, and you should probably do a little less," he blushed and smiled a small smile. Ethan laughed.
"Yeah, I suppose I should. Come on." He stood up, and pulled Carey up by his hands. Carey brushed himself off and played with his tail nervously. "Uh, you should probably put a shirt on," Ethan said. "And shoes," he added.
"I don't like shirts... they feel weird on my fur." He brushed a small delicate hand across his lightly furred chest. Ethan felt his cock jump in his pants as Carey absentmindedly brushed his nipple.
"Alright, I'm sure they'll be understanding about that," Ethan mumbled, looking Carey up and down again. "But what about shoes?" he asked.
"I don't own any," Carey replied.
"What? No shoes at all?" he asked. Carey shook his head.
"They hurt my feet," he whined. "Plus I never leave the house, so..." he shrugged. Ethan sighed.
"Okay, well I don't want you to hurt your feet, here." Ethan sat down on Carey's bed and tugged off the brown work boots he had on. He tossed them at Carey who slipped them on. They were way too big and he looked like a child playing in his father's shoes
"Thanks," Carey muttered. Ethan smiled as he watched Carey clomp around in his shoes.
"No problem," he held back the laugh. "We can go buy you some on the way," he suggested.
"I don't have any money," Carey whispered. "The program pays for just enough food for me to get by and not much else," he clarified.
"That's okay, I have some cash. If you don't mind wearing something from a thrift store," Ethan shrugged. Carey smiled.
"No, that's okay... thank you," he whispered shyly. Ethan nodded and took his hand, leading him to the living room. He was already out the door and into the hallway and when he looked back. He saw a very pale Carey standing in the doorway, staring at the green carpeted floor of the apartment hallway.
"Come on, Carey. I'm right here, you'll be fine," Ethan smiled. Carey bit his lip, and stepped out into the hallway. He kept his head down and walked with Ethan in silence as they headed for the elevator. By the time the large metal doors closed, Carey was an inch away from hyperventilating. "Carey, you gotta calm down. I know it's been a long time since you've been out of your apartment, but things have changed. Infected don't have to hide as much as they used to. People have gotten used to seeing them around, most don't even care about it anymore," Ethan said.
"You care," Carey whispered.
"Yeah, well... I'm a jerk. We're working on that tomorrow, right?" Ethan asked. They had agreed that Carey would go to his support group, and if he did as he was told, Ethan would see someone too.
"If I survive the day," Carey mumbled.
"You'll be okay." Ethan smiled, as the doors opened and they stepped out. Carey slid his hand into Ethan's for comfort as they walked across the tiled floor of the front room. Ethan's boots dangled from Carey's feet, making his steps echo loudly.
"Oh my gosh! Carey, I'm so happy for you!" Trish greeted him and gave him a kiss on each cheek. Carey smiled queasily and refused to release Ethan's hand. The grip and the soft fur on his hand made Ethan's heart pound. He couldn't understand why he was feeling this way with Carey. He had loved Chris, he really had. But this was different. This was something else. Not lust and not love. He didn't know.
"Ethan?" Carey tugged at his hand. Ethan blinked out of his thoughts, and smiled.
"Come on, lets go." Ethan smiled wider and pulled Carey to the door. Carey took a deep breath, as if he was getting ready to dive into the ocean, and stepped outside. The bustling city around them made him dizzy at first, but he got his bearings quickly. In a few minutes, he was clinging to Ethan's side as they headed into an empty thrift store. Ethan helped him find a pair of shoes that fit, and that were relatively comfortable. Once he paid for the four dollar shoes, they headed to the community center where the support group was being held.
"I don't know if I can do this," Carey hugged his tail tightly in his arms. Ethan smiled and Turned Carey to face him. He pushed his arms away so that his tail fell behind him, curving around his left side onto the ground. He forced Carey's arms to rest at his side, and before he could do anything about it, mused his hair so that it fell in a lazy fashion around his head. His ears were hidden in the unevenly cut mop of white hair on his head, but they still poked out. The round pink ears, covered in white fur, moved uneasily as Ethan bent to tie Carey's shoe as if he was a helpless child.
"There, you look fine. You'll be fine. Just remember that no one is here to judge you," Ethan smiled.
