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By The Ocean’s Side

Chapter Two

By Roofles

With his stuff secured and locked away with Robert’s help, Bryan made his way out towards the sandy shores. He’d have been lying if he wasn’t looking forward to this. It was still early in the day and the two had a lots to do!

The salty breeze blew by, rustling the otters’ fur and the human’s hair. It was warm and smelled of the ocean and of the aquatic life out an about. It was the perfect day. It wasn’t even noon, yet the harsh sunlight beating down on them from above was intense. Beads of sweat formed on the nape of his neck and trickled down his brow, forcing him to wipe them away before they stung his eyes as he surveyed the beach before them.

“It’s so beautiful out.” Bryan muttered to himself, stopping at the edge of the sand to look out at the beach. If he had a cold drink, or a popsicle, this would be the best day of the year so far.

He’d been so busy with work, locked up in the office due to weather that he’d forgotten what it was like to just go outside without a care in the world. Just soaking it all in and appreciate life. Unable to even step out for lunch.

All Bryan had known for the past year was work, work, work. A never-ending pile of work that waited for him every morning on his desk. No matter how much he toiled away at it, he couldn’t seem to reduce the amount. A single man working on a mountain of work and all he had was a small pickaxe to chip away at it.

The very thought was souring his mood and Bryan shook the worrying thoughts away. It was why he’d gone on this vacation. To escape that harsh reality and enjoy a sun-soaked couple of weeks. All to recuperate after…

Golden grains of sand covered the beach and slipped between his toes. They were warm to the touch, but underneath was cool, and he let his feet sink into it. Bryan wasn’t looking at anything in particular. Just staying out over the beach and towards the sea. The waves were so large and blue, crashing down against the shore before retreating and building up once more. An endless cycle that comforting to watch. No matter what, these waves would be here repeating their endless routine. Somedays they’d be low and quiet, others they’d be crashing against the rocky cliffsides. It was a constant and stable thing that helped ground Bryan in the moment.

There were others out, a lot of other people out even this early on a Friday morning.

Tourist season was in full bloom.

It was that time of year, and the tourists were trickling in. Bryan hadn’t planned for it but that was when he’d shown up. Some of these tourists were only planning on dropping by for the day, or a weekend, while others would rent a place for a couple of weeks to months. Planning to spend the entire summer here. Some even stayed until the first drop of rain announced fall was coming. It was the best time of the year for The Cove and the shopkeepers were more than happy to take advantage of it.

Strangely, he was looking forward to that. To see these people, the natives of the island, taking advantage of the tourists that came by during the busy season. To milk them dry for all their worth while giving them fake smiles and empty compliments, trying to butter them up to open their wallets further.

He was glad Robert was here. A native with him would help the locals keep their peace around the human. There were plenty of other fish in the sea for them to target.

Bryan spotted at least a half dozen surfers taking on the relentless waves. They were mostly otters and seals, locals competing with each other or just enjoying the “killer waves” as one shouted out next to him. The large sea lion jogged past, trying to keep up with his friend as he waddled after with flippered feet. He was forced to pull up his swim trunks several times, his booty unable to be contained as the trunks sagged in the back giving the two a perfect view.

Many of the locals would come out in force during this season. What he and Robert used to call “mating season” due to the fresh meat coming in. Tourists loved meeting up with a local and experience all sides The Cove had to offer them. Every smell, every flavor and every taste… And many of the locals were more than happy to pick them up for entertainment throughout the day or weekend, scoring some by the end of it before moving on.

There was no commitment here. Everyone knew that by the end of the summer the tourists would leave, and the locals would stay. It was a relief for both. They could pretend to have the time of their lives and a “Fantasy island” experience before safely returning to the known. To their daily lives without worry.

What happened at The Cove, stayed at The Cove. Wives and husbands alike would come here, by themselves, or even together, to hook up with a local. Wanting to taste the local cuisine. Or to simply vent and complain to them as they lounged by the pool side, drinking pina coladas in their swim suits while their island lover rubbed coco butter lotion and sunscreen over their practically naked bodies.

Most the locals loved these type of woman, or men. Rich business individuals who had more money than they knew what to do with. It was easy to be the attractive, exotic date to keep them company during their stay while in turn they’d be showered with gifts and taken care of by their sugar mama or daddy during their stay here on the island.

Several of the seniors back in college had even kept a tally and Bryan was sure, to this day, that their teacher had been one as well. She was a hungry predator and, say what you will about orcas, she was ravenous. A real man eater that went out hunting during the Summer break.

He couldn’t blame her, coming back after these past couple years and seeing the locals again. A tear came to his eye as Bryan said a silent prayer of thanks as hunky men covered the beach before them. Everyone was shirtless, some had even forgone swim trunks or shorts altogether. Wearing only the barest of clothing to cover up with. Flippers slapped the sandy shores; feet stomped the ground and bodies covered every inch of it as they mingled together in the best kind of mixer as Bryan saw it.

Manly, meaty, big bodies bumping into each other and laughing as their skin glistened with sea water and sweat as the sun shined down on them from above.

It was glorious. Enough to bring a single tear to Bryan’s eye.

A couple of guys were jumping into the air to hit a volleyball, a court set up off to the side. A puma knocking it up for his cougar friend to jump up and spike towards the other side. The sun shined behind his back, sweat glistening on his muscular chest and arms as he they scored a point. His muscles were on display, and he showed no sign of having an issue with the attention he was getting from the gathered crowd watching.

A mountain lion joined them from their team. Everyone lifting up their arms and clapping hands in high fives. Furry sweaty pits, large muscular man pillows, asses bouncing in the thin strings trying to contain them, flossing between full plump cheeks as the guys shared their victory cheers…

Bryan was sure the bus had crashed on the way here, and this was heaven.

“See something you like,” Robert’s warm breath tickled the back of Bryan’s ear causing the human to jump, the otter sneaking up on him easily enough.

Robert squeaked several times, giggled before clearing his throat in embarrassment from the sound.

“It’s just a n-nice day! Is all…” Bryan tried to quickly explain, pointing up at the sky. “Sun for days!” The otter wasn’t buying it.

“Yes, lots of things to see, huh?” The otter nodded, looking around. “I’m just glad I took this weekend off! I need time to just relax,” he added with a stretch of one arm that was quickly followed up by the other. The elongated otter stretched his back and rested on his tail, the thing practically keeping him up as he stretched out one leg at a time in full display of his friend.

Robert wasn’t looking at Bryan, but the human was definitely checking his friend out.

When had Robert gotten taller than him? The broad shoulder sea otter was so much larger than he’d been during high school, he might as well have been a different person. His scruffy fur worked well out here on the beach, fitting right in with the other otters. His white furred, whiskered face wiggled, and his cute button nose sniffed at the air before letting out a cavernous yawn, scratching between the plump pillows he called a chest with a dull clawed, webbed hand.

“Perfect day. Perfect weather. Perfect company.” Robert muttered, stretching his arms up. Bryan’s eyes roamed over his friend, respectfully, before drifting lower, disrespectfully, as he checked out the large bulge in the front of the otter’s swim trunks.

Robert always did have a thick rudder for a tail. Bryan couldn’t help but think if the saying was true about big tails and otters…?

“You work here, don’t you?” Bryan frowned at what Robert had said, eyes shooting back up to his face as the otter turned to look at him. “Why do you want to come to the place you work at? I figured you’d want to check out the tourist traps.”

Bryan and Robert usually did when they were kids. The island really went all out this time of the year. All for that sweet, sweet profit.

“Dude, it’s the freaking sea!” The sea otter said, throwing a webbed hand towards the sea as if Bryan hadn’t noticed the gigantic body of water. “Why wouldn’t I want to come here on my day off?”

That got a good laugh from the human who couldn’t help it. Robert meant every word he said. The sea otter lived by the bay, worked at the beach, and visited just as often. It wasn’t strange to someone like him.

Just like the rest of the locals, it was strange for them to be on land instead of in the sea.

It was their home.

“You just make it sound like you’ve never been here.” Bryan teased.

“You make it sound like you’ve never seen a half-naked dude before.” Robert said just as a manta ray went past them. His massive open flippers nearly knocking the otter over before running towards the sea as if it were calling to them.

The two watched them, and several others, head towards the water and dive in without surfacing. Most the aquatic species could stay underneath the water, unlike the human or even otter could. Bryan was almost jealous of gills.

“I only work the beach during the summer.” Robert pointed out with a clawed finger, slapping the other hand on the human’s back and forcing Bryan to take the first couple steps onto the beach from where they’d been standing this entire time. “Come on, burning daylight hours here! Get that ass of yours moving.”

“I’ll move my ass for you,” Bryan grumbled back, and the otter let out a series of squeaking laughter. “I just don’t get these kind of opportunities often.” Bryan explained and with a look, he continued to do so. “Look. Up north? It’s freezing. Ball freezingly cold. Everyone bundles up underneath layers, LAYERS,” he repeated the word loudly with disgust. “You can’t check anyone out!” Bryan didn’t care if anyone heard them.

Everyone here unabashedly were checking out the guys playing volleyball, or the surfers coming in for a cool drink before hitting the waves again. It was something left unsaid. Bryan needed to say it. To explain to his friend the frozen hell he’d been dealing with.

“And the guys who aren’t wearing three different kinds of coats? They’re so damn fluffy you can’t see anything! I had half a mind to toss water on them. Just to see if they were thin or fat or hunky underneath all that… fluff.” Bryan sighed, shaking his head.

“Hey. I’m fluffy too!” Robert scratched at his fuzzy face.

“You are more… scruffy than fluffy.” Bryan would have to show Robert his roommate. The newfoundland dog was so damn fluffy that Bryan was tempted to shave the canine and wear the extra fur as a coat to ward off the below zero temperatures.

At least he wouldn’t have to worry about freezing here. He forgot what it was like to sweat.

The sand was warm and the bits that snuck between his toes felt nostalgic, bringing back so many warm memories of his childhood. Bryan knew it’d get old fast, but he was on vacation, might as well live it up a little! Ignoring how long it’d take to wash up after, he marched straight out onto the beach. Bryan took his flip flops off, tying a small band around them before connecting them to the side of his swim trunks as they used to do in high school.

This wasn’t the first time he walked barefoot on the beach.

“That’s the spirit!” Robert giddily jumped in, taking off his own and mimicked what Bryan had done. The two had done this so often it might as well have been a ritual. “Really get your toes into the sand! You can’t say you’ve been to the beach unless you got sand in your crack by the end of it!” The otter merrily squeaked as Brayn rolled his eyes.

Robert practically jumped forward, digging his webbed toes into the sand. A groan escaped his lips, the otter letting out a far more sexual sound than he should’ve given the situation they were in. Some of the others on the beach even blushed at the noise, glancing at the otter before looking him over.

Bryan might need to get an ice-cold spray bottle to keep some of them off his friend.

“Ah, fuck, yes. That’s the spot. Right there…” The otter moaned, wiggling his toes. With a heavy step, the otter moved forward. His webbed paws acting like miniature shovels to scoop up and carry sand with him. “Join me. This is the best.”

Bryan, laughing, did. Joining him. He carefully took one step forward, sliding his foot beneath the warm grains and felt a shiver run up his leg at the wetness tickling his toes after. It was hot on the surface, cool just underneath and wet below that. The sole of his foot was wet, his foot was cold, and his ankles were hot. It made him laugh.

“How far does the tide come up?” He asked taking another step as he looked around. The rocks nearby gave him some kind of idea. The coloration of the stone walls having eroded away over time showing the different colors within.

It was like straight out of a painting. Nature’s painting. A perfect scene that no picture could ever fully capture. The magnitude of such a thing before their very eyes as seagulls squawked, the warm breeze blew, and the smell of salt water and French fries filled the air. A strange mixture of nature and civilization meeting together.

“Don’t have to be such a sissy about it.” Robert gave him another playful shove forward. “These beaches are clean! We sweep through them in the early morning, throughout the day as we can and then again at night. We keep a close eye on everyone who comes in and out. If we even begin to smell something fishy,” the sea otter said in all seriousness even if Bryan laughed at it. “We kick them out! Hell. We’ve had to call the cops a few time. For their sake.”

Bryan turned back towards the stretch of city behind the two. The central road ran alongside the beach and was the main focal point of the city. Many visitors came by for “the strip,” a series of shops that stretched one side of the road and down the other for nearly a mile. They’d come and park at the end of one side, walk down its length, cut across the street and then return from the other side before heading back to their hotel.

It’d take the entire day and you still wouldn’t be able to see everything. It was worth it. The small little stores were like nowhere else Bryan had ever been and he wanted to see the driftwood carvings of Uncle Bo’s place or try the clam chowder from Moe’s. Bryan would make sure to do the strip at least once while he was visiting.

“No, no.” Robert laughed, turning Bryan back around, away from the stores and towards the ocean. “Those police officers.” He pointed towards two shorter fish-men. One was an angler fish and the other a large blue marlin. They had a different uniforms on than the one Bryan was used to seeing. “Those are the fish police,” Robert still wasn’t joking, and Bryan had to do everything he could not to laugh. “They patrol the beach areas and anywhere connected to the sea. They are strict fuckers. They won’t even answer questions. Their entire job is to make sure the ocean and beaches stay clean and aren’t afraid of dragging someone into the sea if it comes to that…”

Bryan laugh faded as he glanced at the sea otter. Robert had placed a hand on his shoulder, keeping him close by as the two officers walked past them without even giving them a single look.

“Really…?” Bryan frowned a bit, his spirits beginning to dampen.

“Relax, you’re with me. Don’t worry about them. You’ve lived here forever. You know the dos and don’ts of the island. You’d just be surprised what some of these tourists try to get away with! They’re messy fuckers. Once, I caught a group sneaking out here to shoot up! Needles and all! I didn’t even get a chance to call it in before the fish police were there. Dragged them out and cleaned up the entire area with a fine-tooth comb. Combing the beach!”

“Are you being literal or…?” Bryan had to ask.

“No, you fool. They were following orders. They were told to comb the beach, so they comb the beach.” Robert just shrugged. “Treat them like you would the TSA screeners at an airport. Very strict but necessary. Always some sketchy fucks trying to ruin everyone else’s good time. They either come from wealth or drink too much or… whatever. Entitled pricks… The lot of them. Don’t deserve any better than what they get. ”

The sea otter thumped his tail angrily just thinking about it. Robert whole family were locals and had to put up with a lot of shit because of it. Tourists might be their main source of revenue here, but it didn’t make it any easier dealing with them. Forced to play nice to scam them out of as much money as possible while they messed the place up. Leaving the locals to clean up after they finally left.

“Messy, filthy, disgusting…” The otter just grumbled thinking it over. “Don’t even wash before getting into the ocean!” Robert shook his head as if it was a normal thing to do. Bryan recalled the lecture Robert’s dad had given the two for getting dirty then jumping into the sea after to wash off.

The human would never understand why that had been a bad thing to do.

“They’re not going to give me a cavity search, right?” Bryan rubbed his ass.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you.” Robert nudged him, lightening up finally.

“Fuck you!” Bryan laughed.

“I think you want me to do the fucking.” Robert wiggled his eyebrows at the human looking as if a caterpillar were crawling across his face and Bryan laughed even harder at it.

“Just shut up.” Bryan pushed past him and headed onto the beach. It was good to know he could walk barefoot without worrying about stepping on anything. Getting cut by broken glass was no joke.

“I didn’t hear a no!” Robert squeaked behind him, easily catching up despite having webbed feet. They were made for swimming, not running around.

Bryan would often tease the otter about it, trying to get Robert to join the track team or just run ahead of him on the street and watch the otter struggle to catch up. The “plap, plap, plap” of his feet on the hot sidewalk, dragging his anchor of a tail behind it trying to catch up. It still got a laugh from the human who’d end up buying Robert ice cream after as if in apology without ever saying the words.

There was some delights the human would take to the grave.

“I didn’t bring my board.” Robert frowned, watching the waves and those surfing on them. It must be an otter thing as the majority of the surfers were otters.

“What, going to leave me on the beach? All alone and defenseless?” Bryan feigned hurt, looking away. “I’ll be ravaged by sharks without you.”

Robert snorted at that, squeaking as he nearly pushed Bryan over.

“Shut up!” The otter scratched his cheek, looking away from Bryan. The human was sure he was blushing, and it took him longer than he was proud of to realize the otter had wanted to surf for the human. Wanting to show off while Bryan was here.

Robert had been terrible on the waves before. Texting for the past couple of months, the sea otter had insisted he’d been practicing, and that Bryan should look forward to “the otter show,” whatever the fuck that meant.

“You always were an amazing surfer.” Bryan decided to stroke the otter’s ego a bit as he said the words. “I could never keep up with you. Was amazing, seeing you out there, on the waves. You were so incredible, Robert. Could watch you all day. Would fantasize about it during class.” The human nudged Robert’s side and he was sure the otter was rebooting after that despite the obvious lie it was.

His tail stuck out, arms going stiff as the elongated body of the otter went rigid, whiskers sticking out at the compliment. Sometimes it was too easy-to-get underneath Robert’s fur and Bryan laughed at that, cheeks blushing a bit as he smiled at his close friend.

Robert might’ve physically changed over the years but mentally he still was that squeaky otter trying to catch up to the human. Easily embarrassed, with the silliest overreactions about it. Everyone up north were, ironically, cold. It was hard for Bryan to get a laugh out of his roommate. At least Robert’s reactions were priceless.

“W-well I’ll just have to show you another time. I did just get off work a-and,” Robert stammered out trying to explain himself. Bryan decided to throw him a life preserver and changed the subject.

“I’m looking forward to the saltwater ice cream. I had half a mind to ditch you and go down The Strand by myself for some.” Bryan thought, recalling the time the two had gotten ice cream cones and sat on the edge of the pier looking out over the vast, seemingly endless ocean as the sun set.

Robert had been picked on, again, that day. Some bullies in school weren’t able to forgive Robert’s accidental blunder about reminding the teacher about homework for the weekend. With his spirit sinking to the bottom of the ocean, Bryan decided to ditch the last class with Robert and go get some ice cream.

The two kids had wandered around for the rest of the day. Ending up at the end of the pier, watching the sun set as they enjoyed the sweet treat. It had been their third ice cream cone and they’d both been sick the next day after only eating ice cream the previous one.

It was a memory Bryan would never forget.

“Yeah… Me to.” Robert nodded. His tail brushed the side of Bryan’s leg, and the human didn’t mind. It was common for the otter to do so. A touch here, a tail bump there. It was just something Robert did. Bryan thought nothing of it as he took Robert’s hand and dragged him further onto the beach.

Everyone on the island were far more touch friendly than those up north. Even if that had, in itself, been a cultural shock for the human after being forced to move with his family, it wasn’t something he’d forget. Everyone hugged and wrapped their arms around each other. Holding hands in public, even for friends? Was normal here.

“I didn’t plan to hit up the beach so early, but we might as well enjoy it while we’re here.” Bryan felt Robert’s fingers curl around his hand, the webbing rubbing against the human’s skin as the otter followed after.

It had a strange texture to it. Bryan had spent an entire afternoon as a kid comparing his fingers and toes with the sea otter in his room. The two exploring each other’s “oddities” in the safety of Robert’s parents’ home.

As a kid, it was the strangest thing meeting someone that didn’t look like you at all. One without fur, the other with whiskers and a tail! Bryan mind had been blown when their family moved to the island’s military base during his father’s stay.

The two hadn’t gotten along at first, teasing each other endlessly about these differences. Bryan teasing Robert about his musky smell and the sea otter mocking the human for being so “Flat faced.” The two were at each other’s throats until their parents had locked them in a room together until they could “Get along.” It had worked far better than they could’ve hoped and after then, and a full body exploration of each other, that the two had a steadfast friendship. You couldn’t lift someone’s tail up to smell their unique musky odor without forming some kind of bond there.

After then, it was uncommon to see the two apart. A human dragging out an otter pup by a paw to go harass those working down at the pier for snacks and “just a bite” of fried cheesecake balls or try their hand at one of the fair games set up. They were rigged and Robert had to hold Bryan back after losing for the tenth time.

Each day had been their very own rollercoaster of a ride. The two would crash hard, falling asleep on the sofa together or curled up on the floor. Snoozing the night away so they could wreck more havoc in the morning. Sharing a bed, sharing a morning shower, shower breakfast and clothes and…

They used to share everything until Bryan’s “dumbass” of a father had them move after being reassigned somewhere else.

Robert was watching Bryan as the human looked out around them, pulling him along as ever. Somethings never changed. No matter how many years passed them by. The otter was just happy his friend was back as the two made their way across the beach, paw in hand, as ever before. Wandering what kind of mischief, they’d get up to this time and what else they could share together.

“Sunscreen?” Robert squeaked at that, this time the one laughing at the human’s misfortune.

“Hey! I want to get a tan, not get a burn.” Bryan rolled his eyes. It wasn’t the first time, or the last, the otter teased him about it. “I saw a stand that might sell some near the road.” He pointed towards the wooden building ahead of them. “I’m going over to look.”

“Do you even have the money?” Robert asked and, much to the otter’s embarrassment, Bryan open the front of his swim trunks and pulled out a waterproof wallet from inside. It had been nestled safely against his junk and still felt warm to the touch, let alone the smell…

“I got my back up.” Bryan chuckled. Seeing the look on the otters face, he just hit Robert in the arm with the wallet. “Dude! There’s a pocket in the swim trunks to keep your keys and wallet in, relax. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

“Get your junk wallet out of my face,” the otter just turned away as Bryan waved it in front of his snout. Robert glared at that human who just laughed at his expense.

“You got a pocket to, don’t you?” Bryan asked, eying the front of the otter’s swim trunks. Robert covered himself.

“Stop!” He squeaked as Bryan attempted to search him. “This is sexual harassment.”

“And yes, you have to take it!” Bryan countered with quickly.

“I don’t have a pocket there,” Robert ears wiggled before lifting up one arm as Bryan gave him some space. Using his fingers, the otter brushed over his armpit a few times before moving a flap of skin around. “Sea otters have pouches. We can keep our keys and such inside here.”

“Don’t you use that for, like, clamming?” Bryan had to think that over.

“We can use it for more than one thing!” Robert squeaked and the human just laughed, heading over to the stand.

The weather worn house was no larger than a shed. The paint had peeled off over the years and the wood had turned white from the constant salty wind, bleaching it. The roof looked rickety, and it was a miracle the thing was still standing. It looked like a strong breeze could blow it over.

“What are you boys buyin’?” The manta ray on the other side asked. He had a very large smile on the underside of his flat face and Bryan wasn’t sure how he was able to see the two standing there.

“He needs human oil.” Robert just said and Bryan gagged.

“Ew! Don’t say it like that.” He nudged his friends side before turning back to the clerk who still had that dopey, if cute, smile on the underside of his face. “Sunscreen. He means sunscreen. Do you sell any?”

“Twenty bucks.” The guy said that smile curling a bit as Bryan cursed. Of course, the prices would be jacked up during the busiest time of the year.

“Figures.” Bryan was already fishing out his wallet when a rather broad, furry chest pushed against the back of his head.

“Here.” Robert said, handing over his card. He put his wallet back in the pouch under his arm and draped his arms over the human’s shoulders. “I get a discount,” he explained looking down at the blushing human. “It pays to be a local.”

Robert’s fur was so warm. It was making Bryan sweat. The otter’s fur was so dense and thick, a double coat and it was soft. So very soft. Robert rested his weight against the human’s back as he waited for the clerk to get the sunscreen. The sea otter’s bulk rested over Bryan, who was trying to think of something to say or do as, with a squeak, Robert took the bottle offered to them.

“Twenty bucks for that?” Bryan managed to say as Robert took a step back, stashing his card away as he looked at the sunscreen as if it were a strange object they’d dug up on the beach. Buried treasure that needed to be put on display from an ancient, furless, civilization that needed to be studied.

“The hell, how do you open this…?” The otter turned it over, ignoring the human as he fiddled with the device. He looked like an otter with a rock, about to smash it.

“I swear, if you start bashing it with a rock.” Bryan laughed.

Robert frowned at that, turning to look down at the human. Turning the bottle around, he squirted a dose out on the human’s chest who jumped at the cold liquid spraying against him.

“Hey!” Bryan glared at the otter, half a mind to punch him in his cute fuzzy, whiskered face.

“Oops, it slipped.” Robert grinned wickedly as he lowered the bottle down. “Whoops, there it goes again. And again! You know how I get.” The otter just shook the bottle all around in front of his groin, pointing at the human who squirmed before him. “Get you nice and covered…”

“Fuck, buy me dinner first before you get me wet.” Bryan groaned as he tried to wipe the cream off.

“That can be arranged.” Robert wiggled his eyebrow again and got a laugh from the human.

“Shut up, fucker.” Bryan flipped him off. Before he got a chance to say anything else the beach shack clerk behind them cleared his throat loudly.

“I got a business to run here!” The manta ray flipped them the flipper and the two quickly scooted out of the way not wanting to get pricked by that tail of his. Several of the locals around them just laughed, shaking their heads while the tourists were the ones gawking at the two being idiots in public.

The locals had seen it all and were far more relaxed about their sexuality, even to the point it bothered Bryan at times. And he’d grown up here! It was the tourists that would throw a hissy fit.

“Right, right.” Bryan was blushing. “Don’t say a word.” He glared at the squeaking, giggling otter who was walking next to him.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that.” Robert just sighed, shaking his head. “You get all worked up and embarrassed. Your flat furless face turns all red and-,” the otter wiggled his nose as another squeaky fit filled the air as he laughed.

“Even after the time your dad walked in on you doing that to me?” Bryan laughed, his face darkening even further at the embarrassing memory of Robert’s father walking in on Robert standing over a half-naked Bryan, squirting sunscreen onto his back before they went out for a day.

The two had been wrestling, arguing about something or other and it had gotten physical. Robert had been “helping” by doing the dirty deed and it was just poor timing on his father’s point who saw the scene and instantly shut the door on them. He flatly refused to look at either of the two boys for the rest of the week.

“He thought it was lube!” The otter couldn’t contain himself and burst out into squeaking laughter, slapping a knee as he bent over. “He didn’t even know what sunscreen was! He was very supportive, just wanted to make sure we were safe.”

“Oh, shut up.” Byran rolled his eyes before it dawned on him. “Wait… Don’t you guys use it for your noses?” Bryan chuckled, rubbing the otters back as Robert nearly fell over from laughter.

“I-it was getting everywhere and running down your legs and h-he walked in when I was in position over you,” Robert had to take several gulping breaths of air before he could relax.

“You’re going to choke on your own spit. Ease up.” Bryan blushed. “It wasn’t that funny.”

“It was. And he. Then you!” Robert wiped a tear away, looking at the human. “You didn’t come over for weeks after that!”

“I couldn’t face your father!” Bryan covered his face with a hand, looking away as he groaned. “He bought me a freaking bottle of sunscreen in apologize after you explained it to him. Even offered to help me next time. Awkward! So. Very. Awkward.” Bryan shuddered just recalling it.

Robert groaned at that, easing up after that disturbing news.

“Don’t start.” Robert warned, but the human already was.

“Speaking of which, you are beginning to look like your father…” Bryan brought up, a smirk pulling on the corner of his face as the otter squirmed at the news.

“No! Don’t start!” Robert growled, covering his ears quickly.

“What? Your dad’s hot.” Bryan shrugged. “I should’ve let him rub me down. Call him daddy and-,”

“Stop!” Robert squeaked, pulling on his round ears now.

“Let him lube me up and everything,” Bryan licked along his bottom lip and the otter turned sharply, slapping the human in the ass with his tail. Bryan jumped at that, laughing as he rubbed his sore rear end. “Ow, fucker, that hurt!”

“It’s what you get after that.” Robert shuddered.

“Sorry, sorry. No more teasing about your hot dad.” Bryan winked. “I wouldn’t mind getting slapped by him. Have him turn me over one knee and,” he couldn’t help himself, falling back into their old routine of tormenting each other.

“I will slap you again!” Robert picked up his tail, pointing the tip at the human. “I’m not afraid to whip it out.”

“Kinky,” Bryan snorted, trying to hold back a laugh. “Ah, damn. It’s good to be back.” Bryan could feel the tension from his shoulders melting away as he let out a heavy breath. “You have no idea how rough it’s been…” He muttered but didn’t elaborate further. Choosing instead to roll one arm, then the other. Trying to work out the kink between his shoulder blades.

Bryan had been hoping to leave all that stress behind. He could pick up that baggage when he got back to the mainland.

Robert’s ears wiggled at that, looking away from his friend. Scratching his cheek with a finger, the otter had to ask. “So, you think I’m looking like my dad now…?”

“Teasing, teasing.” Bryan held up his hands in defense. “But yes. I’ll have to call you sir from now on. Or just old man.”

At first the human thought Robert would get on him again for the jest, but the mustelid didn’t. Robert stopped walking, standing there as he blushed slightly underneath his fur as he thought it over. Bryan not following along with why that would get such a reaction from the sea otter who’d usually just slap him with his tail again.

“It’s been a couple years, I guess?” Robert muttered to himself, thinking it over.

“What?” Bryan asked but was promptly ignored.

“We should find a spot to lay out.” Robert paused, looking around the crowded beach as he ignored his friend. “Oh, I know a place!” He said, not even giving a chance for Bryan to refused. Grabbing his hand, the human was pulled along by the larger otter who trudged forward as fast as his flipper webbed feet would allow.

It was always funny following the otter over the beach. He left a set of webbed paw prints behind with a long line drawn in the sand between them thanks to his tail. It made it easy to find wherever Robert went. Looking down, Bryan just followed in Robert’s paw steps until he saw the tip of the otter’s tail come into view and came to a stop.

Before the two was a small white shed next to one of the lifeguard stations. The towering station was only a couple floors tall with a staircase leading up to the box at the top. Everything had a fresh coat of white paint over it. The red markings on the door and the sign hanging from the first floor read “lifeguard booth.”

“Oh! Right, that makes sense.” Bryan said once the gears in his head continued to turn. He’d been getting lost a lot lately in these nostalgic memories. Following after the otter, walking his paw steps. Sometimes Bryan would even drag a stick behind him, leaving a trail like the otter did with his tail. “Lifeguards always used to have extra shit back there, right?”

Bryan would know. They ended up taking half their stuff after the two careless kids left them behind on the beach.

“Mostly confiscated stuff, yeah. Or things left behind on the beach.” The otter’s ears wiggled reading Bryan’s mind on that. “Don’t worry, we wash them. Usually…” Robert waved up at the lobster keeping watch above. “Hey there, Larry, come on down! I need something from the lost and found.”

The lobster looked over the edge before clicking his claws in answer.

“Yeah dude, he’s the guy I told you about.” Robert’s white furry cheeks darkened again.

The crustacean clicked once more down at the otter.

“No dude, fuck off.” Robert laughed, blushing as he looked away from the lobster. Bryan never got it.

Certain sea creatures didn’t talk as a human did. They’d make strange sounds or clicks or bubbles. Things that seemed to be amplified underneath the water’s surface but was rather useless above it on dry land. Bryan made sure not to laugh when a lobster or crab began foaming at the mouth, not wanting to get pinched for being rude.

The lobster came around, clicking his claws again. Some sort of morse code? Bryan wasn’t sure as he gave the large crustacean plenty of space to come around. The bright red lobster was very skilled with his claws and undid the lock on the shed before letting it swing open. He clicked his claws a few more times at the otter who just shook his head.

“Nah man, I’m off all weekend. I don’t need the extra hours. I got company,” Robert gestured towards Bryan who gave a meek wave in return. The lobster’s black beady eyes turned to look at the human. He gave a few more clicks. “No!” Robert squeaked again, covering his face. “Dude, no!”

Lobster Larry just clicked his claws one more time.

“Fine. I’ll tell you if… if anything happens, yeah.” Robert looked away as the lobster clicked his claws in what Bryan could only guess was a laugh before he moved back up the lifeguard station to go back to his duty.

Robert ducked inside the open utility shed and began rummaging around for something inside.

“So… what was that about?” Bryan asked as he rested against the door, looking past the otter to what was in the shed. It was mostly beach supplies from toy buckets, missing sandals, several folded parasols stuffed against one wall and several deflated innertubes wrapped around their poles to keep them from falling over.

Bryan wondered if they could borrow some of those. It was always fun when the sea otter would pull him around, the human able to relax as the otter burned off his overabundance of energy in the water. Where Bryan would drag Robert around on land, the sea otter would happily return the favor in the water.

“N-nothing! Nothing to worry about.” Robert lifted his head and smacked the back of it on a shelf. Cursing, he turned around rubbing his skull. “Fuck, that’s smart… Nothing to worry about, Bryan. Just letting my coworker know what I’ll be up to this weekend. Is all.” The otter gave a forced smile.

“Good.” Bryan smiled back, showing his teeth. “I don’t want anyone else stealing you away… I know how much you like shellfish.”

“They’d need a rather big fish net to catch this otter!” Robert squeaked as he came back out. Under one arm was a beach blanket rolled up like a log and one of the spare parasols.

“You can just… take that?” Bryan cocked an eyebrow looking at it. “What else can you get me?”

Robert laughed at that. “We usually have to clear these out by the week. People leave so much shit on the beach! It’s insane! We end up hoarding it until the shed gets full. If people come by before then, we can return the goods. Otherwise, we drop them off at the local shops who repair and resell them.”

That sounded about right. It was like collecting the trash on the beach or The Strand. The shop owners would clean them up, decorate them with sea shells and some netting before putting it back on their shelves. They’d claim it was some native decoration the islanders used in their own homes, pulling a story out of their ass to sell the trash. The tourists would buy them up, at severely marked up prices, and end up with their own trash.

“Vicious cycle.” Bryan had to laugh. That was just cruel. The locals really did hate the tourists, only using them for their money and trying to get every dime out of them in the process.

Bryan got it. Most the locals had grown up here all their lives. Their families lived here; their culture was here. The ocean was their home, this place was just where they had to live for work or go to use public schools. Seeing a bunch of strangers come to your home and mess it up, dump trash in it and cause a fuss over the smallest of things would leave anyone jaded towards outsiders.

“Free stuff.” Robert shrugged. He motioned for Bryan to follow. “I also found an extra tube of sunscreen.”

“Why did we need to…” Bryan just waved it off.

“You’re the one who needs it, skin bag.” The otter squeaked.

“Ew, don’t call me that!” Bryan just blushed. It was a derogatory word for those without furs or scales or feathers. Most furry species, like Robert, found it very odd and even disturbing that someone like Bryan didn’t have fur down below. The small fuzz on Bryan’s balls weren’t enough for the otter who had stumbled on the human once in the shower.

Robert had teased the human about it constantly, even offering to show him some “real furry balls.” The human had threatened a good crotch punch to get the otter to lay off the joke.

“I’m just worried!” The sea otter laughed. “Will I need to rub sunscreen on them to? I don’t want them getting burned.” He snickered, covering his mouth finding the whole thing hilarious at the human’s expense.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Bryan rolled his eyes.

“No homo.” Robert lifted a paw up as if taking some kind of bro oath.

“Fuck off.” Bryan laughed. “And who’s to say you’ll be the one rubbing lotion on me? I can do it myself.”

Robert rolled his eyes as he laid out the towel. He set up the parasol to block the sun out before slapping a hand down on top of the beach towel, seductively rubbing it back and forth to wordlessly proposition Bryan to lay out on it for him. The pattern and colors of the towel was that of the beach with several seashells on it. Bryan got the suspicion that this towel belonged to a certain otter who wasn’t making eye contact as if worried he’d been caught.

Robert wasn’t exactly subtle at times and the fact the otter had grabbed a prepared cooler from the shed told him that this had all been planned out long in advanced. At least they had fresh, cold drinks on this hot day.

“Who’s going to get your back, if not me?” Robert squeaked, his round ears splaying out. He coughed into a closed fist, deepening his voice after the sound. “If not me.” He corrected in a far deeper voice.

“I swear you planned all this.” Bryan shook his head.

“No homo.” Robert repeated as if it were the magic words to get away with feeling up his friend.

“I swear…” Bryan rolled his eyes before lying on his stomach. “If I so much as feel your hand go below my hips-,” the human couldn’t even finish before his ass had gotten slapped. “Dude!” Bryan bolted upright as Robert wheezed with laughter.

“Sorry, I just saw a, uh, fuck,” the otter snapped his fingers several times before thinking of the word. “A flying bug thing and had to swat it. You just make for such an easy target.” Before Bryan could object further, the human was forced to lay back down. He wasn’t expecting Robert to be as strong as he was.

The otter practically lounging out over the human’s back as he rubbed and worked the lotion in. Rubbing it in large semi-circles along Bryan’s upper back, over his shoulders, before really working it in along the clavicle and the side of his neck. Bryan groaned and those paws faltered, hesitating before continuing with a soft plea from the human.

“Don’t stop,” and Robert didn’t.

Those paws were strong, the webbing between each finger made Bryan shiver from the strange texture, but it was those thick paw pads that felt heavenly against his body. Rubbing and kneading and working Bryan’s muscles like a ball of dough until he melted against the blanket.

It had been so long since he had this done. Maybe he really was touch-starved… but it was more than just that. Not just the physical touch, but the feel of his muscles being worked out by the strong male sitting beside him. Robert’s very presence was a relief.

The familiarity of the otter. Of his friend. Even if he looked a bit different, it still was him. Bryan hadn’t realized just how worked up he’d been until now. The entire trip here had been one filled with stress and worry. What if things changed? What if Robbie had changed? What if the beach wasn’t the same…?

All those concerns were for naught. Everything was the same. The smell, the sound of the waves, the laughter in the air and the sun up above. It was exactly how he remembered it being. For good or for bad, the fact that The Cove was still just that, meant the world to the human.

Taking a slow, drawn-out breath in… Bryan released it and with it, everything else.

Able to relax. To let all the stress go from work. To let the tension bleed away that had built up during school. To let it all… go. Bryan finally letting out the breath he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding in this whole time.

“No coworkers, no boss, no roommate, no family, no work…. No drama… No more of that… shit…” Bryan mumbled into the blanket that smelled of the otter behind him. Robert was working on Bryan’s legs, focusing on the calves. It hurt. In the best way possible. All those twist knots and tight muscles being worked loose as the otter practically chopped his hands up and down them.

“Yeah?” Robert asked, speaking up as Bryan spoke. The human ignored him for the most part as he felt one of his legs lifted by those strong fingers. The leg bent inwards at the knee, calf pressing against his thigh before being lowered back down.

“I should be paying you for this.” Bryan muttered, resting on his arms as a makeshift pillow.

He could smell it. The salty breeze, the sand tickling his nose, the smell of the beach towel and that of the otter sitting by his side. The warmth of the sun tickled his toes as Robert eased his leg back down and moved to his other side. Working along his arms.

“Oh, you will be.” Robert squeaked. Bryan didn’t even bother to look at him he felt so comfortable. “Tonight, the next day, your entire stay here. You can buy the beer. Pay for taking me out to a couple of restaurants… go see the pier we used to sit on,” Robert’s round ears wiggled at the warm thought. “Least you can do for me giving you a ride and shelter for your stay.”

“Whatever you want…” Robert mumbled into his arms, eyes closed as he felt the otter’s webbed paw move up under his swim trunks. Bryan didn’t even stop him and Robert, hesitantly, continued to rub the lotion over his entire body. “I’m here for.”

“Good.” Robert tried to playfully say, to go off of but Bryan was already dozing off.

“Just… stay like this… forever.” Bryan’s breath eased and he soon began to snore lightly as the otter laid down next to him, looking over at his friend on the beach towel. The two sharing it, as they shared everything growing up.

Taking Bryan’s hand softly in his own, Robert rested back on an arm, looking up at the beautiful blue sky above.

“You should.” Robert said, knowing Bryan couldn’t hear him. The human twitched slightly. “You should move back here. It hasn’t been the same without you here.”

The sea otter sighed, his chest deflating at the admission. Not wanting to ruin what little time Bryan had to stay, Robert was already planning out things to do for the entire month. From food, to trips, to seeing the aquarium. Whatever he wanted to do, Robert had five more things to add onto.

“We got a whole month to go. An entire month.” Robert said aloud, the gears in his head turning along with his thoughts.

He could smell the sea. More than that, he could smell the man lying next to him and turned to face him. Looking at his sleeping form, Robert ran a hand through Bryan’s hair. Letting the sandy brown waves of it slip between his fingers.

It was nice just to see him again. Even sleeping like this, it was a long overdue comfort.

“If I can’t convince you to stay in a month? What hope do we have?” He squeaked softly, wiggling his large nose as he laid back, planning to catch a power nap with Bryan before they spent the rest of the day on the beach.

Even sleeping through it, it was still better than being here alone. On this same beach, by this same shore, with the same crowd around them. In this stagnant town that refused to change or grow with the times.

Robert was just glad to have his friend back as his hand tightened it’s grip, not planning to let the chance to let Bryan go again.