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The Big Things

Chapter Four

By Roofles

It was still early morning as Pedro walked through the classroom door.

With a coffee in paw, the drowsy tiger made his way towards the back of the room with heavy lumbering steps. The room was empty. Pedro made sure to arrive earlier than any of his classmates did and the teacher was usually late. It made things easier for the large sleepy feline who needed a full cup of coffee and an extra hour to wake up in the morning as it was.

Waking up had been a refreshing delight that turned into abject terror at seeing Theo missing from his home on the night stand. The nightmare of Theo being blended up into a batter of cookie dough and baked hadn’t helped matters any.

Pedro had reached out for the empty space muttering and mumbling to himself before slipping off the bed, looking around the floor and calling out in a worried hushed tone for the rodent. Practically fainting at the idea of something horrifying happening to rat.

Pedro went through the five stages of grief within the span of a minute from denial to depression, refusing to accept anything as fat crocodile tears form in his eyes.

His fears were soon elevated as the side door in the wall swung open and a very drowsy and equally confused Theo stood there. Within the hole in the wall, Theo asked what all the fuss was about.

Pedro practically lunged to pick Theo up, kissing him all over as he sobbed about the nightmare he’d had in such heavy Spanish that whatever the hell had just happened went straight over the small rodent’s tiny head.

“Pedro. Pedro!” Theo had to yell to get him to calm down. Patting the fingers threatening to squeeze the life out of him, Theo spent the next five minutes calming him down. “We got a very big day today. Got to do the trail run, right?”

Pedro nodded silently, still rubbing, and bumping his forehead against Theo’s body, refusing to let him go. It took an extra ten minutes to calm him down before Theo could get dressed for their outing. Excitement filled Theo’s body, threatening to burst at any second as he skipped around in anticipation for the day.

The tiger stayed nearby, dressing in front of Theo the entire time. Pedro kept glancing over at the brightly white furred rodent oblivious to the naked tiger man standing next to him. It was both cute and somewhat annoying how little Theo noticed these things.

A wicked thought Pedro blamed Riz for came to mind. He wanted plop his groin down on the desk and see if Theo would notice him then! The idea came as quickly as it left and, with a chuff, Pedro bent over to pull up his underwear giving Theo a full moon review as the rodent turned around to ask the tiger something.

Theo wasn’t expecting to get flashed like that and ended up a bashful mess by the time the tiger had his tight form underwear on. It only helped outline the luscious curves of his ass and thighs, a hefty bulge in the front wasn’t helping matters as Pedro looked at him questioningly.

“What was that?” Pedro asked and Theo had to wave the oblivious tiger away. Pedro reached over Theo’s body to turn the nearby coffee pot on. His bulge pressed against the desk, the tiger’s body blocking out the light above as the simple gesture was staggering for Theo’s point of view.

Theo, at times, forgot just how large Pedro was. A simple motion like that shook Theo’s entire world. The very desk he stood on shaking as Pedro accidentally shoved it forward against the wall from the gesture.

With a full body stretch, Pedro reached up towards the ceiling. His fingers brushed it, making Theo gawk a bit. Maybe it had been the close proximity from the shower the other evening, but Theo was beginning to focus more on every move the tiger made around him.

Turning to the side, Pedro rummaged through the sock drawer. Setting the socks on the desk next to Theo, the tiger went back to looking. Theo hated how Pedro’s socks were bigger than he was. He could’ve easily used one of Pedro’s socks as a sleeping bag.

“Would his paw fit in it with me, or would it be more beneficial to cut an opening at the end to breathe?” Theo was lost in the thought, trying to figure out how to convert the sock into such a thing. Pedro had several thicker padded wool socks for the winter. That would be perfect material for a rat to use for a nest.

“What deodorant should I use today?” Pedro asked, snapping Theo out of the strange thought. “The body spray might be a bit much if you’re going to be on me,” the tiger’s ears splayed out at the thought as a heat filled them, making it hard to focus.

It was too early in the morning to think about Theo crawling all over him.

“Deodorant?” Theo asked, a bit confused. Pedro didn’t often use it. Unless it was a test day or he had to talk to one of his teachers, the tiger usually went all natural. Showering daily kept things in check and Pedro was very aware of his hygiene now that he had a roommate to be concerned with.

“I got some scentless stuff in here. Or juniper berry. That might be a little strong for you,” Pedro toes curled.

He hated that Riz the hyena had told him about how well rat’s could smell, pushing things even further by reminding the tiger that Theo often would be able to smell anything Pedro did. It was why Pedro fapped in the shower to hide his shame.

“Oh,” Theo rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought you were going to go all natural, again.”

Pedro blinked at that, turning to look down at the rodent. He hadn’t expected to hear disappointment at the idea. Pedro had only bothered to put deodorant on for others. He never minded his own musky smell.

“Well, I just thought, with you being… on me, it would be polite not to smell all… me.” Pedro offered, trying to keep the conversation light and friendly between the two despite the turmoil he was feeling inside. A mixture of fear and lust that was giving the tiger tight forming underwear a tent.

Turning away from Theo, Pedro quickly slipped on his shorts. Making sure the belt buckle was tight, he turned back around to the waiting rodent.

Theo usually didn’t get up in the morning with him. The rat would wave him off with a tired yawn before curling back up for another hour or two of sleep. Theo didn’t have much to do when Pedro was in class and often just toiled the time away until he was back.

To have him awake right now was a strange experience neither of the two were sure how to manage.

“I just thought,” Theo cleared his throat before speaking louder. “I thought that it would be best not to use any. My nose can be extremely sensitive,” he felt the need to remind the feline.

“Well, what about me then? It’s going to be a warm day and I’ll be wearing a sweater,” Pedro motioned at the thick, double layered hoodie sweater. A mixture of cotton blend, it was going to be hot. The sweater took up the inside layer while the hoodie form the outer, allowing a safe zone for Theo to remain in between the two.

“Oh!” Theo jumped up, running over to the edge to look at the sweater. Tilting his head to the side, he answered after a moment’s thought. “Well, it basically already has a shirt stitched into the inside. I’d figure you could just wear that. Without a shirt. Allow some more breathing room for your fur during our travels today.”

It was clear to Pedro just how thrilled Theo was by this idea.

Taking a seat in the chair, Pedro scooted closer. “Theo,” he said the rat’s name to get his attention. “Are you sure about this?” Theo’s ears perked, eyes focusing on the tiger’s face as Pedro continued. “It’s going to be a long, hot day. I won’t be able to directly help out if something happens…” Pedro bit the side of his lip. “I just want to make sure you are comfortable with this.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Theo asked, needing to think over why Pedro was concerned. “I mean, sure, I come from an underground rat society, but I’ve been outside several times before. I’ve visited Squirrel Hovel and Badger Sett a couple of times before in the past while discussing trade. Going outside is dangerous,” he nodded understandably. “Trust me. As a Small, I’m far more aware of that than you are,” he giggled. “But I’m not worried about any of that.”

“Why?”

“Because I have you.” Theo said, looking at the tiger with absolute trust. Pedro’s ears folded back as he looked away.

“Oh, well… It’ll still be a warm day. I’m going to get all hot and sweaty…” Pedro mumbled a bit now, unsure how to explain his discomfort.

“So?” Theo asked, still not following the issue here. “You’re a man. I’m a man. We get hot and sweaty when it is a hot, sweaty day.” The rodent chuckled.

“Deodorant would help?” Pedro offered.

“I hate the smell,” Theo’s nose wrinkled, whiskers twitching. “I rather smell you any day other than those chemicals.”

Pedro felt the heat rise to his face as his blood rush lower. Needing a moment, Pedro held the side of the desk and ducked down the side of it, trying not to let his embarrassment show as steam threatening to whistle out his ears.

“I rather nose you all day than end up getting covered in that stuff.” Theo shrugged, speaking truthfully about it as the tiger nearly fell out of his chair. “I have to put up with your stink anyways.”

“What?” Pedro needed a breather before looking up from his hiding place. Eying the rat wearily.

“The entire room smells of you, Pedro.” Theo rolled his eyes, tapping his foot on the desk. “I can smell your sneakers from here,” he motioned over the side of the desk. “You’re lucky your stinky toes don’t bother me.” Theo stuck his tongue out. “I’ve smell far worse trash. Then again, I did live in a sewer for over a year.”

“I’m glad I smell superior to a sewer…” Pedro frowned at the tiny rodent, letting out a heavy sigh. “Theo, if I start getting all warm and sweaty… I can’t do anything about that until we get back.”

“Okay.” Theo nodded, giving him a look. “What? Stop making it seem like I’m the odd one here!” He angrily squeaked. “The entire point of the experiment is to test the parameters of us going out together.” The rodent tossed his tiny hands into the air, pacing back and forth. “You getting all uncomfortable about this is getting me all uncomfortable.”

“Really?” Pedro asked and Theo paused.

“Uh, no. Not really,” Theo sighed, tapping his foot quickly against the desk. “I have no issue doing these kind of things with you.” Theo scratched at his neck, then under his chin, thinking it all over. “I mean, hell, I think everyone to an extent want’s something like this.”

“Uh, like this specifically?” Pedro chuffed in amusement, resting on an arm, watching Theo’s thought process take form.

“No, no. Not this, this. I mean like this,” he motioned between himself and Pedro. “Everyone wants to experiment.” He laid out. “Will this work between us? Do I like this or that? Even when it comes to food,” Theo paced back and forth, looking between his two hands as he thought it all out. “People want things but are too scared to ask to try them. It doesn’t mean you’ll like them! That’s not how life works,” Theo laughed, blushing. “You don’t know you won’t try something unless you try it.” He nodded.

“I know I don’t want to be with a woman, and I don’t need to try that to know.” Pedro lifted an eyebrow, challenging Theo’s statement. The rodent rolled his eyes.

“You are always trying to play devil’s advocate for my ideas.” Theo wanted to punch the tiger in the face. Pedro leaned down and the rat punched his chin. It hurt Theo far more than it hurt Pedro. “Jerk.” Pedro stuck out his tongue. “My point is! Obviously, we know we don’t want to go try jumping into a pool of lava. However, we know not too by prior experience. We know fire is hot by getting burned, we know lava is hotter than fire. Thus, no.” Theo laughed. “I’m getting off point here.”

“What was your point again?”

“My point is,” Theo walked over and rested an arm over Pedro’s hand, looking at the tiger. “Not everyone has a chance to try these things out with someone that they trust as much as I trust you.” Pedro’s ears splayed out at that. “Able to be open, vulnerable, questioning, and, I don’t know… curious about it? People don’t get the opportunity to try all the things that we’re able to.”

Theo quickly lifted his other hand, silencing the snarky remark Pedro was about to make.

“For example,” Theo brought up a situation to help explain it. “If two people want to date? They don’t really know if they want too or not. Sure, looks, horniness and desire play a part. Until they take that plunge, they won’t know if dating that other person is the right thing or not. They can use outside information to deduce how it’d go, sure, but until you dip your toes in, you won’t know that water is wet.”

“Water is wet.” Pedro smirked and Theo rolled his eyes.

“Oh, my freaking trash king, never mind.” Theo huffed, walking away. Pedro followed after him with two fingers. Lifting his paw up, Pedro walked those two fingers behind the grumpy rodent. Theo refused to look back at the teasing tiger.

“What you’re saying is, you won’t know if my musky body will be too much until you experience it first hand?” Pedro said, knowing where Theo was going with this from the start. It was still fun to tease the rodent. Cutting Theo off, Pedro turned his hand over.

The rodent glared up at him, crossing his arms and turning away sharply.

“Ah, mi rata. Don’t be sore, this big kitty was only teasing.” Pedro kept the back of his hand flat on the desk but rubbed his thumb over Theo’s back. “I need my copilot to test the sweater out.”

“This isn’t exactly easy for me,” Theo blurted out, blushing as he turned away again.

“Oh?”

“I just mean,” Theo chewed at his gums, tail flopping to one side. Then the other. “I’m the Small one here. I’m very aware of the risks involved,” Theo turned and took a seat on Pedro’s hand. The tiger carefully lifted it up. Allowing Theo to rest against the front of his snout. Pedro could smell Theo even this early in the morning, breathing in his Small body.

“You’re still wanting to do this, Sí?” Pedro asked.

“Of course I want to do this. No matter how much a part of me wants to back out. To hide in a hole and just waste the rest of my life away disassembling trash for the base materials to be used in the colony.” Theo rested against Pedro’s nose, not minding the texture or cold feel of it as he thought he would. The tiger’s nostrils flared, and he felt he rush of air around him as Pedro breathed him in. “I hate that I’m the odd one out. Every other rat wants to hide away from it all. To just accept things as they are and not try to better themselves or our society as a whole. I can do so much more than this life!” Theo gritted his teeth, toes curling with his tail. He exhaled, letting it out. “I just don’t fear to dictate what I can and can’t do… without being stupid about it, mind you.”

“I never once, have ever thought, you were stupid.” Pedro’s understanding eyes made the rodent blush even further. “It’s divertido, uh, I mean funny how I am on the other spectrum of things. I am able to do whatever I wish or want and yet have no desire to do anything.”

Pedro stood up slowly, walking over to the sweater. He set Theo down on the nearby shelf, making sure the rodent was stable before putting on the garment. It fit tightly around his wrists and waistline, preventing any chance of Theo accidentally falling out.

Reaching up, Pedro picked Theo up, gave him another nuzzle, then placed him next to his neck. The rolls of fabric worked perfect to hide the rodent’s small form. The drawstrings had been removed and the opening to each increase. It would allow Theo to crawl through the tunnels of the hoodie to the inner chamber, closer to Pedro’s chest.

“What changed?” Theo asked, wanting to know so that, maybe, he could learn from that experience.

“I met you,” the tiger turned his snout, rubbing the side of it against the rodent. “Now then, you need to make sure all the tunnels aren’t blocked now that I’m wearing it.”

Opening up his arms, Pedro spent the next fifteen minutes trying not to squirm, giggle or break out into laughter as the Small crawled over his chest, along his sides, against his lower back and finally to nestle up against his stomach.

In the front pouch of the hoodie, Pedro reached inside to feel Theo there. They might not be able to talk like this but just a finger touch, feeling the rodent close by, was enough to put a smile on the tired tiger’s face as he made his way to class.

Forced to sit in the back of the room, Pedro had his own space at least. Ironic, seeing as how the Small was so close to his personal space. Pedro could feel Theo’s weight in the fabric, fill his warmth and hot breath against his finger tip. It was oddly… enjoyable. Having that kind of company for a change.

No one else in class was as Big as Pedro was and, as such, no one else would be back here. It gave them plenty of privacy. Something that had originally bothered the tiger was now a blessing in disguise. He was the first one into the room and would be the last one out as the minutes ticked by slowly and people drifted into class in the same lethargic state as Pedro found himself in.

“This class is way too early,” Pedro mumbled in his native tongue, slumping over on an arm trying to keep his head propped up. It was threatening to slip off and fall against the wooden table desk that lined the back of the room.

Blinking with heavy eyelids, Pedro looked around the room from his perch up above.

Divided into sections, the classroom had strips of curved tables facing towards the front of the room where a podium was set up. The teacher would drone on during his lecture behind it for the next two and a half hours. Talking about theoretical this and imaginary numbers that.

Half of it went over the tiger’s head. He did his best to keep notes so that Theo could help him later with it all. There was a reason why the tiger had the rat double check all his work before turning it in. One misplaced number here or forgetting to divide that was all it would take for a bridge to collapse in on itself.

Pedro’s desk table was far larger than those at the front of the room. From Small to Big the desks went, increasing in size as they went further back. It was both a safety feature as well as standard practice in mixed size schools and work places like this one was. The back was made for those larger than the front was. Some rooms even had special doors that Pedro had to enter and exit through. Unable to crouch down and use the others.

Pedro knew it was so that his large body wouldn’t obscure the view for any of his classmates sitting behind him, amongst other things. He knew this as a safety feature. A part of their society to work in harmony together. It still bothered him. Being told where to sit, what door to enter and exit through. It made him feel like some kind of naive child. He’d naturally gravitate towards the top anyways. He just wish it was his choice and not something forced onto him due to his birth size.

“Should’ve stayed in bed.” He grumbled with a large yawn; fangs bared. Everyone else in the classroom turned away from the fearsome sight. “Barely got any sleep after that horrible nightmare.” Pedro would refuse to admit that he wanted to taste a Theo cookie.

“I was too excited to sleep!” Theo squeaked.

Pedro’s frustrations left him with a chuff of hot air as he glanced down. From within his sleeve, there was a squirming mound. It went up and down his wrist find the exit. Unlike the main body, the sleeves were open on the inside, and it allowed Theo to crawl up and down Pedro’s arm to the end and back. A oddly enticing feeling, knowing it was Theo scaling his body like some mountain climber.

Pedro could feel Theo working on the opening to the wrist, undoing the strings binding the exit before his tight sleeve loosened up. Out slipped the albino rodent, squeezing through the opening and “popping” out onto the desk with a small roll. It was impressive to see Theo squeeze through such a small opening, a rat able to squeeze through a hole the size of a half dollar.

Theo kept the momentum up and rolled into a standing position, lifting up his hands like a world class athlete. He even took a bow.

“Perfectly planned,” he giggled.

The amusing sight brought a smile to Pedro’s otherwise disgruntled face. His annoyance fading from even the tiniest interactions with his roommate. With a finger, Pedro gently patted the top of Theo’s head. Rubbing the rodent between his large, round ears.

“Well done. Ten out of ten. Would recommend.” Pedro chuffed.

“I can’t believe This!” Theo tried to keep his voice down as he looked around the room. Not that it mattered. His small squeaks were long lost before anyone else could hear him as the class chattered away noisily, waiting for their teacher. Standing in the middle of the curved table, Theo ran from one side to the other looking around. “I’m in a classroom. A Big’s classroom! I never thought I would be here.” He squeed excitedly, looking as if he might burst from the sensory overload.

There were so many other Bigs here, just a few rows down. They talked insistently with each other, noisily yammering on. It always gave Pedro a morning headache from the noise. Theo on the other hand had stars in his eyes hearing them all.

“What’s this, what’s this? There’s color everywhere! I can’t believe my eyes, I must be dreaming, this isn’t fair.” Theo could smell so many things, see so many different species in the room. Each bigger or smaller than another. Some covered in feathers, others scales or fur.

“This is just my first class,” the tiger reminded him, keeping Theo from accidentally walking off the desk. Turning the rat around, the rodent kept marching forward with closed eyes, sniffing the air.

Pedro brought a finger up to his lips to shush the tiny rodent. Not that it was needed. The closest row of seats to Pedro were empty and would remain that way. There weren’t many others in the class as large as the tiger. He also suspected people just didn’t want to sit next to him. Using that as the perfect excuse to keep their distance.

“You’re so lucky!” Theo turned to face towards the tiger looming above him. With his head still propped up on a hand, Pedro’s eyebrow lifted. “I always wanted to go to an actual school. Like a school school. Not the trade schools we had. The stuff we had back at home wasn’t like this at all. It was more… hm, how can I describe it.” Theo tapped his chin, crossing an arm over his chest as he was lost in deep thought for a moment. “Oh!” The rodent jumped. “It’s like an apprenticeship. We go to the job we are going to do in the future and learn directly from them. Eventually to join up and work there… for the rest of our lives,” Theo shuddered at the idea.

“What job did you have?” Pedro kept his voice to a soft growl, knowing the rodent’s perked ears would hear him. With a hand slightly hiding his muzzle, Pedro hoped he didn’t look too crazy talking to himself like this.

It was just nice to have someone to talk with during class that didn’t have any ulterior motives.

“Me? I took a lot of onsite jobs but wasn’t assigned anything yet. I was just reaching that age by the time I met you,” Theo’s smile filled his tiny face. “My job now is to take care of this big kitty.” He winked and Pedro’s ears splayed out as they burned with embarrassment at several lewd implications.

“That’s a full-time job.” Pedro said, poking Theo’s chest with a sheathed clawed finger. “Think you can handle this big… kitty?” The word rumbled from his lips and, again, Pedro hoped no one was paying him any attention as usual.

“Oh, please. I could do the job blindfolded with a hand tied behind my back.” Theo squeaked, covering his mouth with both his furless pink hands. The white fur of his arms ran over the top of them, making him look as if he were wearing white fingerless gloves at all times.

Pedro loved how cute that looked.

“What’s this class about anyways?” Theo practically shook with excitement. A small little vibrator. Pedro tried not to blush at the thought of that.

“It’s,” Pedro cleared his throat with a nasty growl, coughing to the side before turning his muzzle back down towards Theo. He could see a nearby student stand up and move further away from the tiger after he cleared his throat. Pedro tried not to pay her any mind. “It’s a history class.”

“History? A Big’s history?” Theo blinked and Pedro gave a slight nod with his snout. “That. Is. Amazing!” Theo’s eyes widened as he stood on his tip toes. “I can’t wait!”

Pedro let out a soft laugh at that.

That was the first time he’d ever seen anyone excited for this class. The teacher was an older, aging owl that would drone on for the next couple of hours, dropping names and dates here and there throughout with such a monotone to his voice that he’d normally fall asleep by the end. There was just too many random names and dates and countries. Pedro was never sure if he should remember them all, or just the dates, for the up-and-coming test.

“Well,” Pedro started up, but stopped. The tiger glanced upwards, and Theo was moving before the tiger needed to say anything.

In a flash, the rodent had vanished up Pedro’s sleeve. The tiger could feel the weight of the rodent weighing down his sleeve as Theo tied up the entrance behind him, vanishing from sight. Pedro tried not to shiver as he felt Theo climb up his arm, pulling and tugging softly on his fur as he went.

Theo was an excellent climber and at times like this, Pedro could tell. The rodent made his way up Pedro’s arm, over his shoulder and into the inner chambers of the sweater they had worked on and made the previous night.

It was one of Pedro’s nice sports hoodies with the symbol of the team on the front. A red, black lined bull with golden tipped horns. The Minotaur’s were a basketball team that Pedro enjoyed watching during the season and had even helped encourage the tiger to try out for a team himself.

It hadn’t gone well… The gazelles on the team hated the idea of having a tiger around, in their changing room, and Pedro didn’t want to deal with the hassle of that each and every practice.

Taking the sports hoodie as the base, the two had turned it inside out to work on the soft fuzzy inside. Tearing apart a second sweater for the parts, the two had sown and stitched it on the inside. Creating small chambers and tunnels for Theo to safely traverse through. Pedro didn’t point out that the inside of the sweater now looked like a fuzzy rat’s nest, even with the bridging tunnels connecting to it.

Theo was happy with his work and Pedro was able to keep his roomie close at all times now.

“The belly part you can reach into, in case something happens.” Theo explained, showing that the front pocket of the sweater could be used as an entryway into the otherwise sealed hoodie. “The sleeves and bottom of the sweater will be tightened with strings to keep me from accidentally falling out.” The rat nodded at his work. “It’s a bit quick but should serve as a perfect test run that we can edit in the future as needed.”

“I can reach in to feel you…?” Pedro asked, fingering the pocket. Sure enough, there was a hole inside that Pedro could slip his hand into. The chamber was soft and fuzzy, filled with bits of cotton and leftover scraps of the previous sweater. Theo had made an actual rat nest in Pedro’s pocket.

“Yeah! I even set up a small night light in there and brought a few things to read, downloaded of course. The cellphone is securely strapped in. That way I won’t get bored during my stay with you.” Theo’s pink ears glowed with his positivity as his pink nose wiggled. “N-not to say I could ever g-get bored being with you.” He fumbled his words, pressing his fingers together.

Pedro decided it was about time to leave just then and there that morning, scooping Theo up and stuffing him into the pocket.

“Yeah. I could get used to this.” The tiger purred as he left the room, now not having to worry about whether his roommate was safe or not during his absence.

Even being the end of September with the fall weather coming in, Pedro didn’t need a t-shirt. This oversized sweater kept him warm enough. Theo didn’t seem to mind, and Pedro refused to admit he liked the feel of the rodent crawling around on his body, using his fur as anchors to hold onto.

Theo was always so curious and within the first minute of leaving the safety of the room, Pedro felt the rodent slip out of the center pocket from the inside and crawl up his chest. The tiger had nearly frozen on the spot as that small whiskered face rubbed over his pecs, scaling the tiger’s body quickly before poking out next to Pedro’s neck.

The top of the sweater had been lifted and several rolls added, giving it a much more baggier appearance than the original design had been going for. The idea here was simple. It was a place Theo could hide within, like the bundles of a blanket. Poking his face out just enough to see where they were going and to explore the world with Pedro in control.

“It’s like riding on a train,” Theo sighed happily. “I always wanted to go on a train. Able to sit back, relax and just… enjoy the view, as the world goes by.”

“I don’t serve beverages or snacks on this ride.” Pedro glanced over at the rodent. Theo wasn’t looking at him. The rodent was lost in the view before him.

It was heartwarming, to see the world through Theo’s eyes. Even walking down, the hallway of his dorm, taking the stairs down to the bottom level, and making his way across the courtyard to class was an entirely new experience from Theo’s perspective.

“Everything is just so… Big.” Theo swallowed.

“You’ve been outside before.” Pedro pointed out. Talking about when the two had gone out to the field in hopes of fixing the chute to the rat colony below.

“Yes, well, I was focused on the task at hand.” Theo admitted embarrassedly. “I don’t… have any responsibilities now. I can just enjoy it. Without fear of being stepped on.” The rodent closed his eyes, letting a fresh breeze wash over their faces as he tilted his muzzle up towards the rising sun above. “It’s so blue…” Theo opened his eyes, staring at the sky.

“The sky?” Pedro asked, confused.

“I practically lived my entire life underground, Pedro. We even used tunnels to go to the other cities,” Theo chuckled softly. A bittersweet sound. “Only the expedition groups venture above ground. It isn’t safe to venture outside the colony or tunnels. Being stuck inside Squirrel Hovel isn’t the same as being outside, like this.”

“Because of people?” Pedro asked.

“Yes, and no… most people don’t give a fuck about us Smalls, believe it or not.” Theo shrugged his tiny shoulders. “People always make this huge, big deal about it,” he teased. “But it isn’t really like that… we’re warned about Bigs because of their carelessness or the fact their unaware of our presence. Most Bigs are sloppy and careless, present company definitely included in that.” Theo stuck his tongue out at the look Pedro gave him. “Just that…” Theo motioned towards the side.

Pedro followed the gesture, turning his muzzle slightly to get a better view.

Across the courtyard were several dogs. A golden retriever was leading the group. Barking loudly, the group moved across the slightly wet pavement towards the far building. They were talking amongst each other, and it took Pedro a second, needing to view things from Theo’s point of view, to understand where the rodent was coming from.

It wasn’t that they were careless. It was the simple fact that their attention were on each other, what was directly in front of their faces and nothing else. They weren’t watching where they stepped. Five dogs walking like that, feet stomping against the ground as they barked and laughed with each other. One shoved another and the smaller corgi was knocked off his feet, falling into the grass. The others laughed about it, helping them up and moving on. Ignoring the large imprint left behind in the muddy grass from where the canine had fallen.

“Fifty percent of Smalls that end up dying are stepped on. Or fallen on. Or sat on,” Theo rolled his tiny wrist. “Most of those back at Rathole blame the Big for being so rude and careless, doing it on purpose or something… but that isn’t the case, is it?”

“No…” Pedro frowned, seeing where Theo was going with this.

“You guys aren’t responsible for our safety. That’s normal. It’s not like you look out for every stranger you come across. You wouldn’t even notice if, say, a family of hedgehogs were crossing the pavement.” Theo said and Pedro instantly looked down, not wanting to step on something like that. “It’s fine, Pedro.” Theo squeaked. “We’re so focused on looking in front of us that we don’t focus on where our steps go.”

Pedro frown only grew as he watched his heavy, lumbering paw steps. Each paw padded foot lifted with a bulky weight to it. Leg swinging forward before falling with that weight. Thudding against the ground, making the pebbles bounce, leaving a wet paw print behind after from the damp grass. Pedro had never needed to watch where he stepped before. Never needed to care. The idea of his pink paw padded foot coming down on top of a Small was a very real fear. The idea of feeling anything crunch or squish under it sent a violent shiver through his very being.

The tiger would need to keep that in mind for the rest of his life.

“Relax.” Theo said, seeing Pedro fears building up. “That’s not why I mentioned that,” he rolled his eyes. “Look. We Smalls grow up, live with and are the ones who need to worry about these things. We need to be mindful of your step, not the other way around. Even if a community would blame you for it, I never would.”

“You expect me to be able to live with the idea of accidentally hurting you?” Pedro glanced at the rodent and Theo’s ears drooped down. Letting out a heavy breath, Pedro turned towards the side path and began crossing down a separate sidewalk. “This conversation is too heavy for this early in the morning. I need a drink.”

“Tequila?” Theo asked, confused. Pedro let out a snort.

“It’s too early for that… and I also have class.” Pedro chuffed out before reaching up. With a single finger, he pushed the rodent back down, into the sweater. “Stay hidden for a moment, mi niño.” Pedro teased as he walked into the college coffee shop and got the two something sweet to drink and eat. “Rabbit size,” Pedro told them when he ordered Theo’s drink.

“That’s still too big…” Theo said next to Pedro’s ear. The tiger’s ear flicked, feeling that warm breath breathe into it. Pedro tried not to get flustered over it.

“It’s the smallest size they have.” Pedro told Theo only after stepping aside. It was so early in the morning that only the early birds were awake.

“Why are we,” Theo yawned. “Awake?”

“It’s easier.” Pedro said without explaining. Not wanting to tell Theo about his difficult school life. Theo was finally able to get out of his dorm room. Pedro didn’t want to ruin that experience for him. Eventually, over time, the tiger would explain to Theo about the difficulties it came with being so Big.

For starts, even in the school café, Pedro had a designated spot he needed to stand in. It might’ve been one reason why the tiger was so mindful around the rat. Pedro had spent his entire life being shepherd around. Told where he could stand, what pathway he needed to take. The fact Pedro wasn’t allowed to use the elevators in school was, in itself, a dead giveaway for the difficulties it was for being so Big.

The mainland school was built with every size in mind. However, Pedro was part of the minority. The smaller species were far more predominate here than the larger ones were. There were less than a half-million tigers left in the world. Compared to the billion rabbits? It wasn’t financially sound to accommodate a tiger, or bear, compared to a smaller species.

“What is this heavenly delight?” Pedro could see tears in Theo’s eyes as the rodent munched away on the hazelnut biscotti Pedro had ordered for them to share. Breaking a large chunk off, Pedro had handed it over to him.

Gnawing on it voraciously, Theo devoured the chunk in under a minute.

“It’s a biscotti.” Pedro chuckled.

“More.” Theo said. “More!” Theo demanded. “More!” He shook the scruff of the tiger’s neck with both his tiny hands.

“Here,” Pedro said placing another chunk down on a napkin. Theo glared at the smirking tiger.

With skilled practice, Theo jumped out of the sweater, startling the tiger. Sliding down Pedro’s arm, Theo made quick work of the descent. Even adding an unnecessary flip at the end before landing. Standing upright, he stuck his hands out.

“Praise the biscotti!” The rodent said, grabbing the piece.

“Theo-,” Pedro began but the rodent had already taken the piece and, in a swift motion, had slipped inside Pedro’s sleeve. It all happened so fast that Pedro was left flabbergasted by the action as Theo retreated with the sinful delight to the front pocket of Pedro’s sweater. “Little ratta…” The tiger sighed, resting back in the chair as he sipped his drink with one hand, being mindful of his cat tongue with the hot beverage, while keeping his other hand within the pocket.

He could feel Theo. Feel the rodent munching on his sweet treat with the tip of his fingers. Petting and rubbing Theo’s side and back as the rodent rested within the safety of the hoodie’s pocket. It was a comfort Pedro didn’t know he needed until he had it. Just a simple touch. The feel of the Small body in his hoodie as the tiger stood back up and made his way to class.

Even now, a half hour later, as Theo hid within his sweater, Pedro found comfort within it. Keenly aware of Theo’s presence, Pedro looked up to see who was coming over to his seat. It was a familiar face that had been bugging Pedro ever since he met Theo.

There was one person in his classes that wanted to talk to the tiger. Someone Pedro tried to ignore or hide away from as the conversation always looped back around to one thing, and one Small thing in particular.

“Pedro!” Riz the hyena waved as he climbed the ever-increasing steps towards him. Due to his size, Riz would normally be in the middle of the room. Now he was up here at the top, next to Pedro.

While his presence was annoying enough, Pedro hated the fact that Riz was able to choose to sit up here. Unlike the tiger. If you were smaller, you just got more advantage and rights than those bigger did. Riz couldn’t sit closer to the front of the room, but you could sit in a place made for someone larger than you were. It was okay to go up, not down for the fear and risks that would bring.

Pedro doubted he could fit his fat ass into one of the front desk seats anyways.

“There you are.” Riz said as if anyone could miss the tiger. “You moved your seat again.”

“I wonder why…” Pedro grumbled, frowning at the hyena who insisted on hanging out with him. It was painfully obvious why Riz did. Pedro only had the hyena to talk with about their mutual tiny friend. He just wished Riz would talk about it like a normal person would.

Riz was not a normal person.

Pedro hadn’t been lying to Theo that he didn’t have friends visit him in the dorm room. Even though at times Riz would come over to hang out, it wasn’t for Pedro. It was for the rodent. Riz was Theo’s friend, not Pedro’s. The hyena was clearly biased when it came to their interactions and, whenever the hyena showed up like this, it was clear what he was after.

“SO,” Riz dropped the stuffed notebook onto the desk in front of him. Sticky notes and random papers were sticking out of the sides of the poor thing. Several fell onto the desk and Pedro frowned, seeing what was written on some of them. “How are things going with Theo? Did you try anything of the things I recommended?”

“Riz…” Pedro warned with a low growl.

“I know, I know. He’s a small cute dense micro, that’s what the community calls them. Micro. Because their small.” Riz grinned as he took a seat in one of the larger chairs. The hyena struggled with pulling it forward and Pedro refused to help him with it, leaving the hyena flustered about it. “I-I mean Small works too. I think it’s cute how they call themselves that. They’re just so dang cute. I told them what Theo call themselves, and us. It makes sense. As Macro would mean bigger than we are, even if we are that to them! It doesn’t make sense if we were to use it, though. That would be like Godzilla or King Kong or-,” Riz continued to list of Kaiju monsters, ticking each one off his fingers as he went. “Behemoths work, then theirs the one in Shadows of Colossus, and some people argue online that Hunter Monster monsties are in fact Kaiju. I guess they kind of are but-,”

“Riz.” Pedro rubbed one of his temples, feeling that headache coming on.

“Oh! Right, sorry,” the hyena laughed loudly getting a couple of looks from the others in the classroom. It was illegal to discriminate against a hyena for laughing, though. “Doesn’t mean we would be that to them. Macro, I mean. It would be cool. I thought about it, but I’d be more of the God type, you know? Like have all the little people worship me as I help them with their society.” Riz’s smile grew, and Pedro covered his face with that hand now.

“For fuck sake,” Pedro muttered in his native tongue. Riz missed the underlining threat if he continued.

“You know what I mean?” The hyena wiggled in his seat, getting worked up for all the wrong reasons. “I’d of course be cool with you guys. It would be strange to hang out with Theo, though, if I was so big. Maybe he could be a flea on my body?”

Pedro gave him a blank look without offering a word to it. Usually that worked on people. With Riz? It only seemed to encourage the hyena to continue further. Riz had even texted him several links to these online chats. Pedro refused to click any of these worrying links.

The hyena had even tried to assure him that it came with artwork, so the tiger wouldn’t need to read. Pedro wanted to gauge out his eyes after seeing some of it. It had been out of morbid curiosity, and it had nearly killed the cat.

“Anyways! I was looking into it, your guy’s situation I mean specifically, and you were talking about creating a transportation device for him so he could go places with you?” Riz somewhat got back onto topic. “A fanny pack might work. You could cut a slit in the inner part so Theo could crawl out…” Riz’s mind went elsewhere, most liking into the dirty dark web. Thinking of lewder and lewder thoughts of what he could do with that.

“Riz,” Pedro tried to get his attention again. Needing to warn them that they weren’t alone.

“I know, I know. These are just fun, silly, kinky thoughts and ideas to talk about. Not things we’d actually do…” Riz’s ears folded back as a red blush took his cheeks. His light gray, dark spotted fur made it hard to see it but the look on his face told Pedro everything. Scooting closer, Riz let out a nervous chuckle. “I mean… maybe… someday? If someone was willing and was cool with it, with me. I’d be good to them. It’d be liking dating! Just, you know, size dating.” Riz said, bringing up the topic of when Bigs dated outside their species. “I read a lot of stuff. And I mean a lot. Not just fanfictions… I mean Theo might-,”

Pedro’s growl grew in volume and the hyena quickly dropped that topic as if it were a scolding hot plate.

“A-anyways!” Riz said loudly before lowering his volume. Pedro winced and a few of the others students rolled their eyes. There was something about hyenas and volume that just went hand and hand. As if someone were taking the dial on Riz’s voice box and cranking it up before twisting it down throughout his conversation. It was why Pedro hated meeting Riz in public. “I was thinking that the underwear carriage is the best.”

“Riz, I’m going to strangle you if you keep talking.” Pedro covered his face with both hands, feeling second hand embarrassment for the hyena who opened up his notebook. Pedro wanted to scream. The other man was just not getting it.

The hyena quickly flipped through the pages before landing on one with a picture taped to the front. Something he’d printed out from online. It was that of a pair of seafoam blue boxer briefs with a very noticeable front pouch created in the front. It was as if it were designed for men with extremely large bulges like a horse.

“I know the sock idea was bad. It would be too dangerous. Those online made sure to tell me this… I don’t get off on hurting them, really. I promise, I’d never hurt Theo. The very thought of it, ew, that’s so fucked up.” Riz whined, shaking his hands off as if he’d touched something disgusting. Just as quickly, he perked back up as he tapped the journal with a finger. “That’s why I came up with this! Oh, well, we did late last night. We have here, the under-carriage.” Riz began his spiel as if he were a used car salesman desperate for someone to buy. “Silky cotton blend with an extended front ‘pocket.’ Allowing for individuals to be carried safely within while the driver,” Riz giggled at this for nearly a full minute before wiping the drool from his lips as he scooted even closer. “The driver wears them around.”

“Riz, seriously, I have to tell you-,” Pedro tried to keep his volume in check, unlike the hyena who was getting noticeably worked up.

“No, no! Listen. Just listen. I know you wanted to do something practical, like a coat, but this! This is where the money maker is at.” Riz jabbed a finger against the picture again, scrunching up the picture that already looked used and… sticky. “It’s form fitting with just enough give. The sides are design for ventilation and airflow. Not that it’d help too much,” Riz ears perked up as he stared at the picture. Staring longer than anyone rightly should. He wiped the drool away again. “I-I looked it up, last night. Rats have an extremely strong sense of smell. Just imagine Theo being stuff down there while you wear these and go play, like, basketball or something. Sweaty and hot and musky and-,”

“I’m going to punch you.” Pedro didn’t even have the time to wind up his fist before he felt an object move inside his hoodie.

“Surprise!” A small voice squeaked, bursting out the top of Pedro’s hoodie. Riz gave a startled, gulping yelp and fell out of his chair as Theo popped out from the top of Pedro’s sweater like a rat-in-the-box. Scaring the hyena half to death.

Riz held his heart comically as his other hand tried to grip the desk for support, landing on his tail at a painful angle.

“You deserve that.” Pedro chuffed as he quickly closed the notebook with a single finger and slid it away from Theo, trying to do it subtly so the rodent didn’t notice Riz’s perverted interests.

“T-Theo!” Riz scrambled to get back to his seat, nails scratching over the desk top as he tried to hide his embarrassment. “What are you d-doing here? How are you here? Is it safe? Oh my god, he didn’t do anything did he? You can totally stay with me if-,” Riz wasn’t even able to finish before a hand closed around his muzzle.

Pedro gave him another warning look and, with ears splayed out, the hyena bowed his head.

“I’ll be good…” Riz whined, and Pedro let go. “How did you get here?” Riz asked, curiously looking Pedro over as if he were about to open his coat and ask Riz what he was buying.

“Well,” Theo swung down from Pedro’s sweater and landed on the desk. He ran on over and gave Riz’s hand a big hug. The hyena curled his fingers around the small body, blushing brighter than ever as he felt that small face rubbing at his slightly sweaty palm. His toes curled as that small, tiny snout slip between his fingers.

Riz gave Theo’s muzzle a soft squeeze, holding him a little tighter before, with a clear of his throat, Pedro told him to stop without a word. The hyena could get very handsy with the rodent. It was why Pedro refused to let Riz visit when he wasn’t around.

Not trusting the hyena or the naïve rat alone together.

“Uh, right, sorry…” Riz let go but Theo stayed nearby, and the hyena felt that warm bubbly feeling in his chest as the rodent did. Theo trusted Riz and that alone meant the world to the hyena. Pedro still wanted to strangle the guy for what he had done earlier. “How did you get here?” He asked again. “You didn’t,” Riz’s eyes widened as he stuttered out, “u-se the under-carriage did you?”

“No.” Pedro huffed, feeling exhausted as he took another drink of his coffee. It was still hot and scolded his tongue, making the large feline fan it with a hand.

“Sock stowaway?” Riz went on.

“No.” Pedro glared at him.

“Maw express?”

“Stop.” Pedro growled.

“Fanny pack surprise?”

“I’m going to kill you.” Pedro wasn’t joking.

“What about undertail-,” Riz’s snout was grabbed again and squeezed tightly by the tiger.

“Shut. Up.” Pedro gritted his teeth.

“Uh, not sure what you guys are talking about.” Theo spoke up and Riz jumped as if forgetting about the rodent next to them. Pedro sighed, letting the hyena go and, with a finger looped around Theo’s front, dragged the rodent away.

“Just asking how you got here.” Riz was sweating profusely and here Pedro had been wondering if he smelled bad.

“I came in the sweater,” the rodent pointed at it and Riz’s eyes widened.

“You came in his sweater?” Riz licked his suddenly dry lips, eyes darting to Pedro. “Kinky.”

“Not like that, you pervert.” Pedro sighed, rubbing his temple with a hand. “This is exactly why I refuse to leave you alone with Theo.”

“I’m harmless.” Riz grinned down at the rodent. “Right, my little buddy?” Riz moved his snout closer and pushed his nose against Theo’s chest, who giggled at the action and pet the top of it. “See. He loves it.”

“Theo’s painfully innocent.” Pedro reminded the hyena.

“You are such a goober, Riz.” Theo squeaked and even the hyena felt guilty for Theo’s innocence as the rodent pet the top of his snout, down the dark line of his fur and up towards his eyes. “I’m so glad to see you outside the room.”

“Me too,” Riz’s ears wiggled as he glanced over at Pedro. “May I?” He asked the tiger, instead of the rodent.

“I’m watching you.” Pedro warned as Riz offered his hand and Theo jumped up onto it. “Don’t try anything-,” before he could even finish, Riz was stuffing Theo into his shirt. “Bastardo!” Pedro had jumped up from his seat, fuming at Riz’s action.

The hyena giggled, blushing as his arms remained frozen at his side.

“I can feel him crawling around,” Riz admitted sheepishly as Pedro’s eye twitched and the vein in his neck increased. “T-Theo, you need to get out before-,” the hyena yelped. “A-ah, not there. Not in public,” the hyena squirmed until Pedro’s large hand enclosed around his neck. Pedro lifted Riz off his seat.

“Let. Him. Out.” Pedro gave only one warning and Riz’s eyes widen… then he squirmed even more.

“Ah, he’s, not there, oh… that felt good… ah!” The front of Riz’s shirt pushed outwards and the two watched in feigned horror as the rodent burst out of his shirt, between the buttons, like a chest burster. Theo was holding up his prize.

A cheesy poof.

“Found it!” Theo jumped out of the shirt onto the desk, holding up his prize as if it were a long-lost relic. “I could smell it on you,” the rodent giggled before chewing on it. “You eat cheesy poofs for breakfast? Lucky.”

Pedro took the thing away before the rat could finish it, tossing it over his shoulder with a huff. Letting go of Riz in the process, the tiger pulled Theo away from the mischievous hyena before he could try something else. Riz slumped down onto his chair, breathing heavily, and looking as if he needed a smoke after whatever that had been.

“Amazing…” Riz’s eyes were half-closed as he drooped over the chair, melting down to the floor. “I don’t mind if he treats my body like an amusement park.”

“What have I told you about eating things off Riz?” Pedro already was getting on Theo about it. “You don’t know where he has been.”

“I was just helping out,” the rodent huffed, turning his back on the tiger. “Not my fault you Bigs are such slops… covered in delicious crumbs.” The rodent licked the cheese dust off his fingers and Pedro gagged at the sight. “Oh, shut up. I’ve put far worse things in my mouth.” The rat giggled. With a heavy sigh, a roll of his eyes, Pedro took a seat again.

“Qué voy a hacer contigo?” Pedro grumbled, wanting to start singing the very song. “Now then, behave.” Pedro turned his hand over and like a shovel scooped Theo up. Quickly, he pushed Theo into his pocket. Giving Riz a warning look, Pedro turned back to the front of the room as the teacher walked in.

“I’d sell my first born for what you have.” Riz said and Pedro chose to forget the hyena was even there.

“Pay attention class.” The owl began, withdrawing a pointer rod. He tapped the board several times before starting up. “Today’s lesson will be about the last major war between the so dubbed Smalls and the Bigs.”

“Fun,” Pedro huffed as he felt Theo squirmed in the pocket. The tiger guiltily held onto him with a hand, holding the squirming rodent, preventing his escape. Pedro’s lips curled with his tail, smirking at the feeling of the small rodent play biting him, unable to break free of his drink.

Pedro knew how painful Theo’s real bite was. Something that had only happened once between the two. He did not want to get bitten by those incisors again.

Riz, meanwhile, enviously watched as the front of Pedro’s sweater squirmed and bulged and moved around. Rubbing his stomach, Riz wished that was him.

“Over a hundred years ago, Smalls were seen as nothing more than pests or a bothersome invasion.” The owl turned on the projector with a click of a button.

“They aren’t bothersome!” Riz shouted from the back and no one in the room paid him any mind. Even the teacher ignored him.

“It had become common practice to wipe out any infestation of them. From old homes, to fields, to waterways.” The owl adjusted his bifocals with a feathered hand. Most night species needed glasses during the day to see. “Things were growing increasingly worrisome for the Small nations around the world… that is until the Plague Rats appeared.”

Flipping to the next slide, Pedro’s and Riz’s jaw dropped open slightly.

A white rodent stood there on the screen. An old tintype picture was shown of an adult rodent male wearing equally old clothes. He had a lab coat over his clothes and, in one hand, a beaked mask. It wasn’t that, though, that caught their attention. It was the fact the rodent looked like a distant relative to the very rat that popped up next to Pedro’s face to look at the screen.

“Oh, hey, the plague doctors.” Theo said cheerfully. The two Bigs looked over at the Small.

“Doctor Plag, dubbed, Doctor Plague was the turning point for the war. He, along with his colony, developed biological weapons and warfare to be used against the invading Bigs.” The owl flipped to the next slide and several students looked away from the graphic pictures being shown. “Despite their smaller statue, there was something that they could withstand that we couldn’t. Yersinia pestis. The bacteria that caused the plague.

“Along with this, Doctor Plague developed and concocted several different kinds of poisons and diseases that he used on his people to spread amongst the invading Big armies.” The owl adjusted his glasses again as he flipped to the next slide. Even Pedro had to look away. “For you see, even the smallest microorganism can be lethal to even the largest of species.”

The elephant soldier on screen had flies buzzing around his corpse.

“The rodents would dip themselves into vats of this substance and then would go out to spread it. Rubbing their tiny bodies on our food and produce, while some would even weigh themselves down with weights and jump into the boiling potato stew that our soldiers were most famous for eating. Infecting the food and spreading the sickness far before the body was ever found.” The owl continued to ramble on as Riz and Pedro gawked at Theo.

“Oh, please, that’s such an overexaggeration. Doctor Luis Von Plaque was a dentist, not some mad scientist. When you guys invaded and destroyed his people’s colony, of course they’d be pissed off!” Theo rolled his eyes at how dramatic they were being. “We’ve done far worse things than that.”

“Do you guys, uh, still use plagues?” Riz had to ask. He thought it’d be cool to see Theo dressed up in a plague doctor outfit though. Then again, Riz just wanted to dress Theo up as if he were a doll, or rather, an action figure.

The hyena had even purchased several things for Theo to try on. It was just convincing Pedro to let him do it for it to happen.

“What? No, no.” Theo laughed. “Just spider venom and, at times, scorpion.” Theo shrugged as the two stared at him. “What? We just tip our spears or needles in them and then,” Theo stopped. “Oh. I see what the issue is now.” The rodent blushed. “I don’t see the problem.”

“Bigs aren’t allowed to use biological warfare.” Riz explained.

“True, but you are also like ten to hundred times our size.” Theo squeaked a laugh, not seeing an issue with it. Growing up being the underdog, he had always had to fight creatively. There were thousands of stories from Martin the archer to David and the Big. “That’s why I always tell Pedro not to mess with any Small colony. They might look tiny and cute to you guys, but one prick of their weapon could leave you losing a toe or foot.”

Riz shuddered and Pedro had a newfound fear for Theo’s family.

“Squirrels are far worse though.” Theo shook his head. The other two gave him a questioning look. “Bees.” Theo said and the three of them shuddered. “They keep beehives near their homes and train the hornets using pheromones or something. With slingshots, they can coat a Big in the stuff and the hornets will attack. They do make the best honey this side of the continent,” Theo murred at the thought, pushing up his chubby cheeks. “Just want to jump into a pot of that warm, gooey honey.”

“Slather you in honey.” Riz mumbled.

“What?” Theo asked as Pedro’s fur stood up at the thought.

“Nothing,” Riz grinned. The hyena laid his snout on the table, hiding their conversation further from the teacher who continued to drone on about the war and how the invading nations soon turned on each other.

“It’s the major reason why it’s illegal to eat a Small.” The owl adjusted his glasses. “For you see class if you were to do so? You wouldn’t know if that Small was infected with something or not. It would even encourage them to go back to the biological warfare. The Republic of United Countries have decreed it to be a war crime to do so, out of fear of the ramifications if ever found out.”

Theo rolled his eyes.

“That’s not the problem with eating one of us,” Theo said and the two gave him another look. “It’s been agreed on that if any, and I mean any Small is eaten? Then all the other groups will band together to hunt them down, cut open their belly, pull out the small, fill that belly with rocks, stitch it up and dump them in the river.” Theo shrugged. “You think rats or squirrels are bad? Dude, you have never met one of Don Raccona’s people before.” Theo shuddered. “Those guys are crazy.”

“Terrifying. How are you so Small, so cute, and yet so terrifying?” Riz continued to stare at Theo as their teacher carried on.

“When the land had been won, the Big nations turned on each other for the spoils. Unable to divide it up evenly, the war started up all over again. The plague rats didn’t care who they attacked during this time and all sides suffered heavy losses.”

“Oh, don’t blame rats for your greed!” Theo wanted to yell but Riz quickly hushed him. “What, it’s true. You Bigs can never be happy with what you have.”

“We can be rather greedy.” Riz said as he pushed his snout against the rodent’s front again, lifting his butt a bit off the chair to reach Pedro’s shoulder where Theo was. “Want to just keep you all for ourselves.”

“If Theo goes missing? I’m going coming to you first.” Pedro glared.

“What if I don’t have him?” Riz pulled back, wide eyed in fear.

“I’ll rip open your stomach to make sure you didn’t help yourself to a snack and, if I still don’t find Theo, I’ll apologize. After sewing rocks in your stomach as a warning.” Pedro shrugged, not concerned with the outcome as much as Riz was.

“What you can have a taste, but I can’t?” Riz grumbled, sitting back in the chair as he crossed his arms. “You’re just friends, right?” Riz sneered a bit at the tiger who rolled his eyes.

“You are so childish,” Pedro hated how often the two had these kind of conversations. The two had little to nothing else in common and when Riz did bother to show up, it was usual for him to talk about this. Pedro, who had no one else to talk about this with, ended up humoring Riz for the most part.

“Tasting what?” Theo asked and the two jolted, forgetting the rodent with them.

“Uh, nothing, nothing.” Pedro turned away as Riz watched the show.

“This is why you’re still single.” Riz rolled his eyes before leaning closer. “Theo,” he asked, but kept his eyes on the tiger. “Would you like to go out with me sometime?” Pedro’s head snapped back around; fang bared.

“Go where?” Theo asked, oblivious.

“To a movie or maybe get a coffee.” Riz smirked seeing Pedro getting frustrated now with the hyena.

“We already got coffee this morning,” Theo motioned at Pedro. “And don’t we watch movies all the time together? Why would we need to go somewhere to do so? Do you not like our room?”

“Oh, I mean, well, you see.” Riz said getting flustered. “You and me together. Not with Pedro.”

The tiger lifted an eyebrow as he crossed his arms and a leg, watching the pitiful show.

“Without Pedro? What is he doing? Is Pedro going somewhere?” Theo asked innocently as ever. Riz’s jaw hung open for a few seconds before he could collect himself.

“I mean as a date. Between you and me. Just us. No one else.” The flustered hyena tried to push further, being more direct. “A date. Together.”

“Why can’t Pedro come?” Theo tried to think of a logical reason why the tiger wouldn’t be there.

“Because it’s just between us.” Riz pressed.

“What’s between us?”

“A date.”

“What are we doing?”

“A movie or coffee or!” Riz covered his face, slumping over in defeat. “How does he not get it.” The defeated hyena asked the tiger.

“I think it’s different between Smalls and Bigs…” Pedro shrugged a shoulder.

“Are you two going to go on a date?” Theo asked them and the two exchanged a look.

“No,” Riz said.

“Fuck no.” Pedro said.

“Hey! What’s wrong with me?” Riz turned on the tiger who just gave him that condescending look again. “Well, I mean, I don’t go out with guys bigger than me.” Riz sneered, trying to one up the tiger. Pedro quirked an eyebrow.

“Where would I even start to list all the things wrong with this…? Oh, wait, I don’t have to.” Pedro reached out and tapped the top of the notebook Riz had brought. “This. Right here. For starts. Everything wrong with this is right here. Written down and pictured,” Pedro rolled his eyes at that.

“What? It’s just some, uh, theories I’ve been working on.” Riz mumbled.

“Theories? Oh, I would love to see your academic studies!” Theo bounced and the hyena quickly stuffed away the fetish material as fast as he physically could.

“N-no, they aren’t finished yet. I have to, uh, work on things…” Riz swallowed.

“If you ever need a partner to work on those theories with,” Theo offered himself. He was promptly scooped up by the tiger and stuffed into the pocket once more with a startled squeak.

“Enough out of you,” Pedro’s ears splayed out as he refused to look at Riz.

“Are you sure you two aren’t…?” Riz asked pushing two fingers together.

“Unfortunately, no.” Pedro sighed, not about to deny something Riz already suspected to be the truth. It was painfully obvious to everyone other than the very rodent Pedro wanted to do things with.

“Huh,” Riz tapped his chin, thinking it over. There was a reason why Pedro put up with Riz’s antics. The hyena was far more familiar and knowledgeable about these kind of things. Pedro had never even heard of a Small and Big being together until he met Riz. The hyena, unfortunately, always took it to the next level. “You could always just put him in your underwear. There is no possible way he wouldn’t be able to understand your intentions then.”

“Riz,” Pedro had so many things to say about that. “This is Theo we’re talking about.” The tiger sighed and Riz patted his back.

“That sucks dude,” Riz shook his head side to side. “I mean, I’m still super fucking jelly about it. If I had a Small roomie?” Riz’s eyes lit up at the thought, just thinking of all the things they could do together. “We’d watch anime every night. I’d make him Udon. We’d wear matching outfits,” Pedro was impressed with how tame Riz was being about this. “Then when my actual roomie went to bed, I’d pull him out and just stuff him into my-,”

“Stop!” Pedro held up a hand, stopping that conversation before he could get any more graphic about it. He already hated the fact that Riz blew up his phone with this kind of thing. The tiger looking at the content he was sent only out of morbid feline curiosity. Not that he was thinking of doing of these things with Theo, maybe, some day in the future.

“What? Come on, we’re not kids here. We’re fucking adults.” Riz nudged the tiger. “We like to fuck. Don’t be such a prude. How are you getting your needs met if it’s not with…?” Riz’s eyes slowly traced down the tiger’s front to the pocket.

“Shower.” Pedro frowned, knowing now that Theo would be joining him in the shower things were going to get even more uncomfortably embarrassing between the two. There was already enough misunderstandings as it was.

“Why don’t you just be more direct?” Riz asked and Pedro gave him a look. The hyena quickly explained. “Theo is a very literal person. If you say exactly what you mean and intend to do with him… get him to read out a contract or something?” Riz shrugged.

“Can you look Theo in the face and tell him you want to… do all those things with him?” Pedro asked. Riz’s mouth opened as if to say something, but then his ears folded back and it closed. “Exactly. I’ll just have to continue going at this snail’s pace.”

“Do you think Small’s ride snails?” Riz asked and Pedro ignored him as the lecture continued on, breaking away from the Small and Big war to the last world war between the different Big nations.

“…Even Smalls were recruited to take care of things Bigs couldn’t do during these times. Several nations even began incorporating them into their ranks as spies. Able to use them in ways a Big couldn’t do…” The owl droned on and on.

Pedro’s mind began to wander, thinking about all the ways he could use Theo and all the needs the rat could satisfy that no one else could. An itch that the tiger couldn’t scratch, but one that the rodent could.

“Maybe, uh, send me pictures of it.” Pedro said, glancing at where Riz had hid his notebook. It took the hyena to realize what he was getting at.

“Deal.” Riz grinned, his short tail wagging as he already planned to blow Pedro’s phone up tonight of pictures, text, articles, and forum discussions about this kind of stuff.

The tiger had no idea what he was about to get into.