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The Big Things

Chapter Three

By Roofles

Theo was used to the public showers back home. Back at the Rathole there were plenty of communal showers. With a population as large as theirs, it was more uncommon to have a private shower than to use the public ones. A private shower was something that would’ve been seen as a waste of resources. Siphoning off their resources for the individual instead of a group? That was something a Big did, not a Small. Even the mayor of their city didn’t have one, or if he did he kept that information safely guarded.

Being put into a small cubby-hole in the shower by his roommate wasn’t that strange for Theo. Being openly naked around the other guy didn’t even fully cross the rodent’s mind as he gathered up his clothes and handed them out to the tiger waiting for him.

This was just like back at home. Open shower stalls and a public bathing area. Perfectly normal.

That was until he saw Pedro.

In the buff, the tiger stood there before him in the shower, offering a hand for Theo to place his clothes within the palm of. Pedro had to step aside, letting some of the light spill past his shoulder so Theo could see. Allowing the rodent to work. Theo folded the clothes up before handing them over, eliciting a throaty chuckle from the tiger watching the rodent work even now.

“Really?” Pedro cocked an eyebrow as the rodent looked up at the tiger’s face. Theo needed to squint when Pedro was standing over him like this. Even on the nightstand, it was hard to see what expression was on the tiger’s face from the vast distance. “I’m just going to toss them in the hamper.” Pedro continued on.

“Still,” Theo fidgeted a bit before squeaking up at him. “Make sure it’s my hamper this time! I don’t want to have to go rooting around in your hamper, again, for my stuff.”

“Yes, yes.” Pedro rolled his eyes. It had only happened once when he mixed their loads of laundry together. It had been an accident. After a long day, the tiger hadn’t been paying attention. Pedro was still finding the tiny fabrics of Theo’s shirts and socks in his pockets weeks later. “That was a percance, I mean an accident.”

“Sure, it was.” Theo grumbled as his eyes trailed down over Pedro’s muscular form. The tiger’s fur was fluffy even this time of year, but it did little to hide the curves of his biceps or the firmness of his chest. Or the size of those glutes as Pedro turned to deposit the smaller cloths on top of his own, most likely forgetting they were mixed together before dumping them off in the hamper later that night. Theo would have to go clothes diving again for his stuff it seemed.

Other thoughts were distracting the rodent at the moment.

Pedro often went to the gym after class. It helped the tiger burn off some of the frustration built up during the day. He hadn’t been going as often but still tried to at least go a couple times a week instead of daily as before. He’d pop in to check on Theo, make sure he was doing okay before heading out for a good solid thirty minutes to an hour of work out.

One nice thing about having one of the larger, fancier rooms was the private shower. Pedro rarely used any form of public transportation, let alone showers. Finding them disgusting by nature. For a Big, it was far more familiar to shower alone. Even couples didn’t often shower together, needing the extra space to work with.

This was a different scenario than Pedro had thought of.

The tiger was used to being told to “wait his turn” or to “go to the back of the line” due to his size. Most lines were sorted by size, not alphabetically. The larger you were, the further back you went. In class photos, Pedro was in the back. The lunch line? The back. If he bothered to use the public showers the school provided? He’d end up last, after all the hot water was used up.

Theo had never asked any of this of Pedro. Never telling the tiger to “wait” on something. Instead, wanting to go together. Their size difference allowing the two to share such things without cramping the other persons space.

Pedro hated to admit it, but he did love his personal space. Being able to stretch out was something every feline was covetous of.

Pedro had, many times before, thought about inviting Theo along with him to shower. Just a casual shower with a bro. Nothing more. At least that’s what he always told himself as he scrubbed down. Trying to both think about and not think about his Small roommate waiting for him in the adjacent room.

The tiger, for the first couple of weeks, had dried off and put on his evening clothing before stepping out to join Theo. It hadn’t been until a month after Theo had moved in that Pedro began easing up about this. Theo didn’t seem to have an issue with it. Pedro did.

Pedro had spent an afternoon building the small makeshift dock for Theo to use over the sink. It was like a lake house. The lake being the open sink. The tiger had crafted the house and dock out of spare wood from the woodshop to give the illusion he’d been going for. Sanding each piece down, he’d tinkered and worked on it with Theo’s help. If they filled up the sink, it would be Theo’s own personal lake! Theo would wear swim trunks as he dove off the dock and into the water, swimming around before surfacing.

It wasn’t strange that Theo swam where Pedro brushed his teeth at. The tiger choosing not to bring up or mention this and often made sure to thoroughly wash the sink off after using it. Ending up using the shower instead most the time to brush his teeth.

It wasn’t strange that the rodent was with him now, naked, in the shower together in the small cubby-hole Pedro had painstakingly built into.

This wasn’t that strange to try out at all… The tiger had to keep telling himself this as he felt, more than saw, a pair of beady red eyes watching his every move in the bathroom.

Pedro didn’t comment on it but his tail refused to stop moving.

As a Small, it was normal for Theo to stare at the Big in the room. To keep track of Pedro’s movements and make sure he wasn’t about to accidentally get in the path of such a titanic being. It was something to do out of concern for one’s safety.

It was a different story when the one you was watching was naked. Theo felt like a voyeur and knew several other Smalls were into that. He was not. Theo ended up turning away, waiting for Pedro to hurry up.

This wasn’t strange at all…

Pedro cleaned up the area, taking excessive amount of time to get ready for the simple shower. With an audience present, the tiger felt like he was in the spotlight and wanted to make sure everything was perfect for whatever this was.

“You don’t need to clean right now, do you?” Theo sighed, watching the tiger stomp around the room from the guard railing of the shower cubby.

It was clear that this had been a last-minute job done. The tiger most likely taking time to work on the cubby-hole whenever he took a shower or in his off time. Theo hadn’t even been aware of the work until Pedro had shown him. It wasn’t like he had any reason to climb into the shower. Now he sort of did.

There was a railing around the edge of the cubby-hole with a locked swinging door that Theo or Pedro could open up. The tiger had even thought about creating a ladder for Theo to use to get down in case of an emergency. There were suction cups on one side of the ladder and Theo hypothesized that Pedro’s goal here was that the ladder would stick to the shower wall, providing stability for when Theo climbed up or down it. It wasn’t finished yet but that was why Pedro was here.

Theo just couldn’t figure out why the tiger was so bothered by this. Or why he was taking so long to take a simple shower. They were burning what little daylight they had left.

Pedro’s tail continued to flicker and squirm like a headless snake as the tiger walked around the bathroom, looking everything over and, licking his thumb, tried to wash off another smudge left behind on a tile.

“The hell are you doing?” Theo had to cup a hand around the end of his snout to project his voice so the tiger could hear him. On his hands and knees, Pedro glanced back at the sound. Twin round ears perked up at the noise and the feline looked back at him. His ass still up in the air, getting a chuckle from Theo.

Walking over, Pedro asked if he needed anything.

“No. I’m good, Pedro.” Theo chuckled looking around the shower-hole Pedro had made him. There was tile floor, tiled walls and even a miniaturized shower head and handles installed into the wall. “Everything looks great. I still can’t believe you made this,” Theo beamed happily looking back up at the tiger watching him intently.

“Well,” Pedro fidgeted. “It was just a passing thought,” the tiger mumbling something in Spanish that Theo missed. “I was hoping to finish things up before showing you.”

“Finish?” Theo looked around. He reached out to touch one of the tiles. “Everything looks done.”

“It hasn’t been, eh, tested, yet.” Pedro shrugged a large shoulder at the look Theo gave him. “What? It should, theoretically, work.”

“It just needs a stress test!” Theo squeaked and before Pedro could stop him, the rodent jumped over to turn the water on maximum pressure. Usually when you stress tested something, you had safety equipment on.

“Theo! Dios Mio, you are going to give mi a heart attack!” Pedro slapped a large hand against his forehead, watching Theo’s reckless behavior.

“See. Everything is fine…” There was a churning in the wall, something rumbled and the shower spout shook violently. “Uh, is it supposed to do that?” Theo asked before letting out a startled squeak as a stream of water shot out into his face. Sputtering and coughing, Theo walked over to the railing, wiping his face off.

With a snort, Pedro asked if he was alright.

“I’m fine,” Theo spat and shook his wet whiskered face off. “Just wasn’t expecting the pressure.”

Pedro’s tail curled at a dirty thought but didn’t say anything after seeing Theo get sprayed in the face like that. The rodent had practically been knocked onto his ass.

“It’s good to know you can take it like a champ.” Pedro winked and Theo flipped him off.

“Oh, go fuck yourself.” Theo laughed as he glanced back at the running water. “I should turn that off.” Walking over, Theo fiddled with it as Pedro began his own shower in the adjacent room. Area. In the place directly next to where Theo was using.

It was like being in the stall next to someone else taking a shower. There was a divider between the two and despite certain glaring differences, like the wall of golden blonde tiger body in his peripheral vision, Theo was enjoying himself. Pedro had installed a small soap dispenser, with nothing in it. That made Theo laugh as he turned the nozzles down again. The tiger had forgotten the basics. Clearly this wasn’t ready yet making him wonder why Pedro had asked him to try it out.

Water still gushed from the spout and Theo was finding it difficult to keep his footing as the small cubby quickly became flooded. Water ran out the opening and down the side of the shower wall. At least the tiles were well installed, the rough surface of the floor gave Theo plenty of traction to make his way over to the railing to get Pedro’s attention.

The tiger was currently washing his face. Water cascaded down his body like a waterfall, running through his plush pelt of fur, making it hug and contort to his sides and body. The wet fur formed nicely around the tiger’s body, sculpting him out to be viewed. Theo began to understand why some of the other guys back at Rathole liked to people watch Bigs. He could see some appeal in that…

Pedro had gained some weight since Theo’s first visit. The tiger had eased up on going to the gym to spend more time with his roomie. It did little to deter Theo’s eye from wandering, only out of pure scientific curiosity, of course. Looking the tiger from head to toe before roaming back up again.

“Pedro!” Theo called when he thought the tiger might have a chance of hearing him. The roar of the shower was deafening, and it was hard for his tiny voice to project enough to get noticed.

Theo quickly thought of something else as he felt the water reach up to his knees now. Taking his furless pink tail in hand, he tossed it out over the railing and began spinning the end of it like a helicopter blade. The bright pink tail with the fast movement was easy to notice. It quickly caught the feline’s attention.

Pedro turned his shower off and looked at Theo, before at the flooding cubby-hole he was currently trying not to drown within..

“Uh, I think the stress test worked too well.” Theo had to shout as water pushed from behind.

Pedro gave him a look and Theo shrugged an apology for breaking his thing.

“Better to figure out now than when we truly need it.” Theo squeaked as he unlocked the door and swung it open, making Pedro jump. Theo stepped onto the open doorway and swung out into the open with it making the tiger moved over and placed a hand down for Theo to climb onto.

“Going to give my heart an attack. I swear,” Pedro grumbled as Theo made a train motion, as if pulling a horn.

“Welcome aboard the Pedro express, first stop. Getting me out of that water hell.” Theo squeaked.

Leaning closer, Pedro peered inside the hole to see what the issue was. Keeping Theo on one palm, the tiger placed the other on the wall as he practically pushed his snout into the cubby hole, getting a face full of water much to Theo’s amused delight.

“The water isn’t stopping, genius.” Theo stuck his tongue out when Pedro glared over at him. Before the tiger could stop him, the rat leapt up onto his snout.

Pedro’s entire body froze as the rodent’s weight landed on his broad muzzle. He could feel Theo’s bare paws press against the top of his snout as the rodent quickly crawled on all fours down his muzzle, between his eyes and made his home up in Pedro’s hair. Creating a rat nest, to Pedro’s chagrin.

“Thanks… I can see that,” Pedro spat water. “Hold on.” The rodent grabbed hold of a tuft of the tiger’s short mane of hair. Wrapping it around his wrists, Theo pretended to pilot the tiger like a robot.

“Use tiger punch!” Theo squeaked and Pedro rolled his eyes. “Ah, come on, Riz loves when I do that!”

“Riz is a freaking weeb. Of course he loves the mecha.” Pedro chuffed as he began to work. Theo watched as Pedro fussed around with the wall.

With a good solid fist bang against the wall, a hidden panel popped open. Pedro pulled it open to look at the working guts inside that he’d been tinkering with. Theo leaned closer, watching as the tiger used two clawed fingers to twist a section of the piping and the water ceased pouring from the cubby-hole.

“A temporary fix,” Pedro frowned as he rubbed a hand on his chin thinking about it. “I could’ve sworn I did this. I’m no plumber, though.” Pedro frown grew. “If you make an Italian brothers joke, I swear I’m dropping you in the toilet.”

“I’m sorry, your Theo is on another tiger.” Theo squeaked and Pedro’s ears splayed out when the rodent referred to him as “his.”

Pedro refused to comment on that and ended up fiddling with the pipes instead. Making sure they weren’t going to burst until he could get back to them.

“Do you want me to hop inside?” Theo offered and Pedro pulled away from the hole as if afraid the rat was going to make a leap of faith to try and get inside. Much like how Theo had leapt onto his muzzle. The rodent could jump, Pedro did admit to. It was still far too stressful for Pedro’s heart.

He did not want to have that stress tested.

“No, no. I can handle that later.” Pedro waved it off as he shut the panel. It sealed back against the wall. Leaving the two standing there, Theo on Pedro’s head, trying to figure out what the next step was. Theo could practically feel the gears in Pedro’s head turning.

“I need to rinse.” Theo said, turning his snout up to talk into Pedro’s ear.

“I haven’t even started,” Pedro let out a chuff of breath, closing his eyes and rubbed a hand over them. “I knew this was too quick… I just wanted to try and see if…”

“Pedro, it’s cool. This stuff happens all the time.” Theo made sure to keep his voice jovial and relaxed, not wanting any possible concern seeping into the words as he pet the side of Pedro’s neck with a hand. Theo had to crouch down to reach. “I’m just glad we can do more stuff together in the future.”

“I thought it would be convenient!” Pedro said, motioning towards the cubby-hole that was still dribbling water. “We could shower together, then go to class together and just…” He sighed, chest deflating with the breath. “It can never just be easy. Always something coming up.”

“That’s life.” Theo held onto Pedro’s mane with a hand as he leaned forward to try and look into Pedro’s eyes. The tiger glanced over at him.

“Be careful,” Pedro growled as he reached up to take Theo in hand again. “I don’t want to risk something happening… I can handle it.” The tiger’s ears splayed out as he looked away from the rodent dangling in his hand. “It’s different when something happens to me. I’m Big. I can deal with anything that comes up.”

“How is it any different,” Theo rolled his eyes at that. “Sure, I’m Small, but I can still do whole hell of a lot!”

“Theo,” Pedro sighed. “I’m not denying your capabilities, just there are certain… limitations present here.” Pedro quickly added on, “just as there are limitations for me!” Theo gave him a look as the tiger chuffed. “I cannot fit inside the wall.” Pedro motioned towards the panel with his free hand. “If you were to go in? I would need to get an axe to break down the wall to reach you if something happened. I cannot just reach in to grab you. That is something physically impossible for someone as large as I.”

“You are getting fat.” Theo agreed and the tiger growled down at him, tightening his grip ever so slightly at the rodent’s teasing. “I give, I give!” Theo squeaked as the fingers rubbed over his chest and belly, giving him a warning squeeze. “You’ve just been snacking a lot lately.” Theo shrugged with both arms and a shake of his head.

“Keep that up and I’ll be having another little snack,” Pedro bared his fangs and got a squeaky laugh from Theo. If Pedro had done that to anyone else, even someone roughly similar size, they would’ve backed down instantly. Here Theo was laughing at him.

Pedro had half a mind to push things further and licked his lips at the thought.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Pedro said more to himself than to Theo.

“You are harmless,” Theo waved a hand at Pedro’s face. “I never have to worry about such things when you’re around.”

Pedro’s ears folded back at that.

“Well, how do you want to do this? Want to use the sink?” Pedro looked over at the makeshift dock built over the thing. It was a pain to brush his teeth, but worth it seeing Theo being able to use it.

“Why? We’re both in the shower already.” Theo asked, seemingly confused about the issue with their situation. It took Pedro a second to realize that Theo had been serious about that.

“Theo,” Pedro had to say his name just to get his attention. “What do you plan to do? Stand between my feet while I shower?”

“Well… yeah. Why?” Theo grinned and Pedro’s tail curled at the thought. “I’m joking!” Theo squeaked seeing Pedro’s face. “I just meant, like, you can shower, then I…” Theo thought that over with a loud “hm” sound. “Maybe if you were to hold me? Then how would you wash yourself? If we… no, doing a bath would be the same as using the sink. Though, you could join me then, heh, but…”

“Wait,” Pedro had to take a second. “You want to bathe with me?” The tiger’s eyes sprung open as Theo gave a single nod.

“Well, duh. We used to do this all the time back home,” Theo rested against Pedro’s index finger looking up at him. “We have these large Roman style baths that we all could just use at the same time. It was strange, and a bit uncomfortable, actually, to bathe alone. Even since I was a small rat pup, I bathed with family. It’s odd how you Bigs don’t. I suppose it’s a matter of, well, size. You need a lot more space than we ever did!” Theo squeaked at the thought, giggling about it. “You could have fifteen rats use that sink,” he motioned over at it. “And still have room for a squirrel or two.”

“Why didn’t you mention something sooner?” Pedro asked and Theo shook his head.

“I didn’t want to step on your toes.” Pedro gave him a look. “I mean metaphorically, of course. Just as I don’t want you stepping on my toes… or me!” Theo laughed. “I just meant, like, when in Rome. Being here with a Big meant that I’ve had to adapt, a lot, to the way you guys do things. It’s odd at times, but if it’s easier for you.” Theo just grinned, no issue or concern about it. “You bathe alone. You sleep alone. You guys just like to do everything alone. It’s strange but I accept you for who you are after all. As you accept me!” Theo grinned, showing off his buck rat teeth. They were pearly white. Pedro did not underestimate how sharp they were. He’d seen Theo bite through wire before for one of their other projects.

Pedro fidgeted again.

“I haven’t been preventing you from doing stuff, have I?” Pedro thought that over, trying to think about all the things they did together. Whatever Pedro did, he always tried to include Theo in. It was one reason why he had spent the past couple of weeks trying to build the shower-cubby.

“Of course not. Other than being here,” Theo motioned all around them. “A Bigs home isn’t exactly design for a Small. I do understand that, Pedro. Maybe when we, uh, get our own place.” Theo blushed, tail curling around his small plump body being held and supported by Pedro’s hand. “Until then, I was just… not wanting to make things more difficult or complicated for you. To be the best roomie! So you… wouldn’t abandon me too,” Theo voice grew as small as he was about that. Unable but to think about his family when he said that. “I don’t want to be a bother to you, Pedro.”

“Ah, mi little ratita.” Pedro nosed Theo who squirmed as the large snout rubbed against his body. Pedro’s nose took up half of Theo’s torso. “You tell me from now on. If there is any concern or thought or issue. Even the smallest of things,” Pedro teased. “We’ll work it all out together.”

“Right.” Theo pushed against Pedro’s muzzle. “What about, uh, this?” Theo asked and Pedro looked down at Theo’s naked body and a deep blush filled his pale orange cheeks. “I guess you could shower, and I could just use the sink?” The rat said, missing the look Pedro gave him.

The tiger had misread Theo’s attention for a second there.

“Oh. No!” Pedro nearly shouted before adjusting the volume of his voice. Clearing his throat, Pedro tried again. “How about we try this… together?” The tiger asked. “It’ll be like an experiment!” He quickly added onto catching the rat’s interest. “See, I said you could use me… and I could use you,” Pedro swallowed the lump in his throat and practically felt the weight of it land in the growing pit in his stomach. “A-and then we can see if this is a v-viable solution to the p-problem we’re having!”

Pedro quickly tried to turn this into one of their many science experiments, knowing that Theo would be more likely to go along with it.

“You want to propose an experiment?” Theo thought that over in a far more rational mind than Pedro was currently having.

“Ye-Yes! I would like to propose of a biosocial exploration with a neurochemical overlay.” The tiger nodded.

“I think I see what you are getting at… And would you agree that the primary way we would evaluate either the success or failure of the shower would be the biochemical reaction after?”

“Uh, well, yes?” Pedro was the one getting confused now as the rat thought it over.

“Okay…?” Theo gave a single nod. “What are the parameters for success of this experiment you wish to propose?”

“Cleanliness…?” Pedro was an engineer and usually when the experiment didn’t blow up in his face, he deemed it a success.

“Smell factor, surface covered, et cetera?” Theo added on. Pedro felt like he needed to write this down and keep tabs on each of these things as they did them. How did a simple shower turn into this?

“Let’s just go with… yes. I accept the terms and conditions of the proposed experiment.” Pedro nodded and Theo could agree to that with a tiny handshake. Theo using both hands, while Pedro only needed to use a single finger.

“Okay, where do we start?” Theo asked and, Pedro holding the rodent, just looked down at him. “Me?”

“Well, you do need a rinse.” Pedro swallowed again as he fiddled with the knobs of the shower blindly with a hand, refusing to take his eyes off the albino rat in hand. The water was cold and hit Pedro in the back as the tiger leaned forward, shielding Theo from the spray. “Sorry. These showers aren’t that good.” Pedro said and Theo knew the tiger was going to use that as an excuse why the cubby-hole shower had exploded.

“The force might be much.” Theo noted and Pedro gave a single nod.

“I’ll just, uh, spritz you with it.” Pedro said, waiting for the shower to warm up to an acceptably safe temperature. He fiddled with the dials several times, adjusting it accordingly before letting Theo test it against his arm. It took almost five minutes before the tiger was comfortable with trying it out. “How’s this?”

Where Pedro would’ve used a hand, Theo had to use half his body to get a feel for the water spraying down over the two.

“Is it good? Not too hot or cold?” Pedro asked after the third try.

“It’s just right.” Theo nodded and Pedro stepped back under the spray. He let it hit his head and back, running over his neck and shoulders, watching as it dripped from his fur over the rodent sheltered against his sodden chest.

“How’s this?” The tiger asked, holding his Small friend with both hands securely. Afraid the rodent mind slip out between his fingers somehow.

“I’m not getting much water.” Theo had to call up to him. Looking straight up from the wall of wet fur and muscle in front of his face, Theo could see Pedro looking down at him. Their noses practically touched.

“Is that a problem?” Pedro asked and, without a thought, Theo shook his head. “It might be my, uh, runoff, but it is still from the shower.”

“Better than a sewer,” Theo stuck his tongue out and Pedro cracked a grin. A smile that spread across his face that made Theo shiver slightly as the water continued to drip down from above onto his body. Theo just wished it didn’t smell like the tiger.

“I hope I’m better than a sewer.” Pedro stuck the very tip of his tongue out after saying that.

“Do you think your interference will affect the result of the experiment?” Theo crossed his arms, looking up at him still.

“…No.” Pedro ended up smiling after that, looking down at the rodent standing on both his hands close to his body. “I think this is the perfect way to figure out if this will work or not.”

Theo gave a soft chuckle and ended up washing his body off from the sparse amount of water dripping off Pedro’s furry body and onto, over his open palms that Theo was standing on. Scrubbing his furry head off, Theo wiped down his arms and over his legs. Turning around he began to work on his tail just as the water turned off.

One hand let go, catching Theo’s full attention. Glancing up, he watched as Pedro reached over to pump a decent dose of body fur shampoo onto his fingers from a colorful bottle.

“Now then, this stuff is expensive. It’s scentless, which I prefer.” Pedro offered his fingers and Theo took a scoop of the expunged soap and began using it to lather his body up. “It’s a mix of shampoo with flea prevention.”

“Do you guys get bad fleas?” Theo teased as he rubbed over his chest and body before coming up with excess amount of soap. Doing the first thing that came to mind, Theo reached over and began rubbing the excess amount onto Pedro’s exposed chest.

The tiger felt a shiver run up his spine, tail sticking straight out as Theo rubbed over his chest with those tiny furless pink paw hands of his. They ran underneath his thick pelt of fur and against his skin, working small circles around it before going left and right. Theo doing his best to cover as much space as possible. It was when one of those hands brushed a nipple that the tiger had to speak up.

“I think I can manage better,” Pedro purred down at him making the rodent take a step back.

Where Theo thought Pedro meant himself, the tiger in fact meant Theo. Using one hand, Pedro reached down to rub and massage the soapy substance into Theo’s fur. Easily scooping the rodent off his feet to be man handled by his gigantic friend. Along and over his arms and legs, Pedro kneaded the soapy suds along Theo’s chest and stomach and finally, with a finger turning him over, onto his back. It only took one of the tiger’s fingers to run up and down Theo’s back to cover the surface area.

“See. Much better. It’s like using a paint brush compared to a paint roller.” Pedro felt his toes curl as he looked down at the soap covered rodent with his back to him. Theo was round and plump in all the right places. “Heh, you look like a soapy luffa.”

Theo stood up slowly, carefully before rubbing the suds over his neck and head and underneath his jaw. He had to use one of Pedro’s fingers for balance.

“Yeah, well, I’m far more thorough than you are. I see why you are such a stinky feline now,” Theo teased, sticking his tongue out at Pedro who frowned down at the tiny rodent in the palm of his hand. Theo was busy working the suds in along his sides and legs. “You just can’t spray a wall with paint and expect to get it done nicely.” The rodent flicked his tail at the tiger’s face.

A dallop of soap slapped Pedro in the face as he frowned down at Theo. The rodent couldn’t help but laugh at that, giggling from it.

“I should apologize, but that was damn perfect.” Theo wiggled his nose.

“You do realize you are literally standing in the palm of my hand, right?” Pedro asked and Theo squeaked a laughed.

“Yeah, well, what are you going to do about it stinky?” Theo continued to push. With a heavy sigh, the tiger shook his head.

“Do not say I did not at least try to warn you,” Pedro added a low growl at the end before curling his fingers around Theo’s body. The very hand he was standing on grabbed the rodent, holding him securely. Hoisting Theo up to his face, Pedro snorted over Theo’s body. “You know, up close like this, you really do look like the perfect little luffa. Fuzzy and white and everything.” The tiger grinned.

“Pedro!” Theo tried to say but soon found his face pressed firmly against the tiger’s chest. It was solid as a rock, with just enough give for Theo not to be crushed against it. It compressed with his body as Pedro’s flat palm pushed Theo against him.

Pedro’s fur smelled. It had that strong, potent musk of the male tiger. The fur was surprisingly soft and fluffy still, only slightly damp from the shower. Theo easily lost his arms within it’s curls as he was pressed closer to Pedro’s chest in a forceful, full body, hug as the tiger’s warm paw pads squished against his back.

Fingers curling around the rodent once more, leisurely, Pedro dragged Theo back and forth over his chest. Using the soapy, sudsy rodent like a wash cloth to coat himself in a nice coat of shampoo. Theo’s whiskered face was dragged back and forth, muzzle turning with the motion as he was used like this. It was slow, methodically done with great care as Pedro pulled Theo away to check on him.

“I’m good.” Theo said with a thumbs up, not refuting what Pedro had done to him. “You can keep going.” The rodent wiped his face off with both hands, shaking his whiskers off before looking up into the tiger’s face. “Use me.” He said and Pedro curled his toes.

Wordlessly, Pedro brought Theo’s body over, underneath the spout of the shampoo bottle, and squirted out another dose to be used to lather the rodent up with. Pedro was careful, slow and taciturn as he maneuvered Theo around. His warm eyes watching every movement as his brain worked out the next steps in advance, to make sure this was as safe as possible for his friend.

Despite this, Pedro couldn’t overlook the fact that the sodden, soapy rodent really did resemble a luffa. It was like using a wash cloth in the shower. A small, furry, squirming washcloth that assisted in cleaning up. Pedro was slower than he’d normally be, being mindful of every single move or breath he took.

Theo squirmed, he wiggled, and his tail swayed back and forth but Pedro, keenly listening for it, never heard Theo tell him directly to stop. Instead, the rodent went along with it as Pedro rubbed him over his arms, over his stomach and then along his sides.

When Pedro got to his armpits, after lathering Theo up once more, the rodent was even helping. Using those small hands to rub and scrub the shampoo into Pedro’s fur. All the tiger had to do was stand there, patiently, as he felt more than saw Theo work it over and onto his body.

The rodent nearly vanishing underneath his arm as that small snout pressed against the tiger’s armpit, really getting in there to clean him up.

Pedro’s ears wiggled and his tail tip curled inwards like a striped cinnamon roll.

It was hard to see how Theo was taking this. Pedro’s entire face felt like it was on fire near the end as he dropped Theo off onto his head. The rodent got to work, scrubbing and rubbing the shampoo into his curly pale golden fur as the tiger stood there, muzzle slightly dipped down. Staring at his heavy, large paws as the rodent diligently worked. Theo even went so far as to clean out his ears before flicking his hands off and signaling for Pedro to rinse.

“Okay, I got the upper part done.” Theo said into his ear and Pedro had to resist the shiver that was threatening to consume his entire being. The sound of that soft voice in his ear was not what he needed right now.

Theo had the same tone of voice he always did when he was working on a project. Intently focused on the job, instead of the task. Even cleaning up a big musky tiger didn’t seem to phase the rodent when he was like this.

“I can do the lower part by myself…” Pedro muttered. Blindly he reached up to grab Theo and didn’t need to search long for the rodent to offer himself up into the tiger’s waiting hand. It was become natural for the rodent to run towards Pedro’s reach, instead of running away from it.

“A rat running towards a tiger, who’d have ever thunk,” Pedro said the words aloud in his native tongue. Rolling the words in his muzzle as he practically tasted how good that felt. To be trusted so much.

Bringing Theo down so they were at muzzle level, Pedro was unable to meet Theo’s eyes. Pedro didn’t say anything else and Theo began to fidget.

“What?” Theo asked, worried now enough for his tail to curl around his body. It curled around the fingers still holding him and Pedro felt it slip between his pinky and ring finger. Tightening as it fought to circle around the rodent held in his hand. “Did I do something wrong? Was I too rough?” Theo was both confused and worried now, wondering how he, someone this small, could effect the massive titanic force that was the tiger.

“N-no, just, wow…” Pedro wasn’t even sure where to begin with this. What started off as some playful teasing had led to… this. “I-,” the tiger was interrupted.

“If we don’t finish, how are we to get the results for the experiment?” Theo asked and Pedro was stunned, unsure how to answer that either.

“Uh…” Pedro clumsily said, jaw dropping open. “Theo.” He swallowed. “You don’t expect me to rub you over my…” The tiger’s pale gold face turned a shade darker as his cheeks flooded with embarrassment. “Do you?”

“Over your what?” Theo seemed confused and the gears in Pedro’s head were still slowly turning, trying to grasp how Theo was not getting this. “We have your legs and paws to do. I was trying to mentally think how to work over your beans,” the rodent giggled a bit, missing the point Pedro was trying to bring up.

“Do you… still think this is just an experiment between us? Like when we built the sink dock.” Pedro motioned over towards the sink.

“I, well, yeah!” Theo squeaked, smiling brightly. Pedro looked at him and Theo’s face faltered. “W-what…? Is that not… correct? I thought. I mean…” Theo was the one to fidget now, getting uncomfortable as he squirmed in the tiger’s hand. “I thought you, we, I mean and now… I’m sorry.” Theo fumbled some more. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I thought this was – and now…” Theo sniffled, sneezing the suds off his face before rubbing his nose with the back of his wet furred arm. “I need to wash off…”

“R-right, sure, one second.” Pedro turned the water back on and quickly rinsed himself, then Theo off. Neither spoke as Pedro watched the soapy water run between his toes and down the drain. A swirl of water washing away as the two stood there after the shower was washed away.

“I’m sorry, Pedro, I thought-,” Theo tried to start but felt the reassuring grip of the tiger around his body. A soft squeeze around his form that made Theo squeak like a toy.

“Um,” Pedro’s toes curled. “I’m clean now…” The tiger’s tail flicked. “Shall we…?”

“Sure.” Theo nodded and expected Pedro to grab a towel.

Instead, the tiger reached outside the shower and pushed a rather large metallic button on the wall. It took a bit of force, even for Pedro. The tiger quickly covered Theo with both hands, covering the small rodent as jets of hot air shot out from above. A rush of swirling air filled the shower as the fur dryers kicked on warming them both up.

Theo covered his sensitive ears as Pedro kept both hands firmly sealed around the rodent to protect him from the majority of the hot air. Even after the jets turned off, Pedro didn’t let Theo go. The tiger simply stepped out of the shower and out into their bedroom without even getting dressed.

Placing Theo down on the bed, Pedro grabbed a nearby towel to finish drying off with. He placed another, much much smaller towel, next to Theo on the bed letting the rodent dry off with him. The two didn’t say a word as they cleaned up, dried off and then laid out together on the same bed.

Pedro had scooped Theo up onto the pillow next to the wall on the bed and climbed up into it with him. Resting on the bed, Pedro looked up at the top bunk above. Reflecting on all that had just happened between the two. Theo fidgeted next to him. Still naked, the rodent had grabbed his tail and was twisting it back and forth in his tiny hands nervously, afraid he’d done something wrong. Again.

“I’m sorry,” Theo blurted out when Pedro looked over at him. “It’s just that I always get l-like this, when I’m focusing and concentrating on something, and I stop paying attention to how it affects others around me and their emotions or feelings about what I’m doing. Those back at home used to get on me about it and I forget, and I just-,” Theo rambled on and on as he looked down at his tail, twisting it further.

With a heavy roll, that shifted the very bed they laid on, Pedro turned to face him. Turning his entire body to look at Theo. The small rodent looked even smaller there, pressed against the wall with the large tiger on the other side. Pedro was like a golden furred wall himself and Theo was trapped between a soft hunk and the bedroom wall.

“Theo,” Pedro reached out a hand. Only needing to use a single finger, Pedro stopped Theo from twisting his tail off. The rodent flinched at the touch as if surprised by it. The idea that Theo didn’t see Pedro coming was amusing in itself. “Look at me,” and Theo did. “You weren’t hurt, were you?”

“No.” Theo swallowed. “Did I hurt you?”

“Hurt me?” Pedro blinked several times before his face cracked into a smug grin. “You, a little tiny itty bitty rata hurting the big tigre?” Pedro chuffed a hot breath and shook his head once. “No. No, Theo, you did not hurt me.”

“Did I upset you?” Theo fidgeted. “Sometimes I struggle to see from others perspectives when I do that. When I, uh, upset others… Like, if I go too far. With teasing or talking or… being myself. With Oliver, he’s the badger I told you about from before. Sometimes we would joke and tease each other but then I’d… go too far and he’d get uncomfortable and then I wouldn’t know what to do or… what I did wrong. There aren’t books about this kind of stuff.”

“Did no one help you when that happened?” Pedro asked, raising an eyebrow at the thought.

“Well, things are different back home than here… Our entire way of life is similar but different. Back home, there are hundreds of us. Thousands, really. People coming and going. If I did something to upset someone, well, it was easy to just avoid them… Or for them to avoid me.” Theo wasn’t proud of it, but he had. “With so many of us, it’s easier to just find someone else. Everyone knew me as the intelligent, if slightly odd, rat. That was the label I was given. I was… odd. Different. The smart albino, yet odd, rodent. It’s easier than names, at times with so many of us there… here? It’s different. All I have is you and it’s… different.” He said again.

Theo wanted to pick up his tail, not to cover his naked body with, but to twist in his agitated state. Theo stood there naked before the tiger and didn’t show the slightest of signs of noticing.

Pedro frowned at that, tail thumping anxiously against the bed.

“If I had continued to, uh, use you… what do you expect me to do?” Pedro asked, trying to figure out how Theo thought about this kind of thing. Up until now, Theo had little to no reaction to what Pedro did about such things.

How could someone so intelligent, also be so clueless and dense?

“Well, I assume you’d do your legs… and paws,” Theo’s ears wiggled. “Then,” now that he had a chance to think about it, it was very… odd what they were doing to begin with. Outside the task, Theo was able to begin to grasp what the two had been doing with one another. “Then it would’ve been… oh,” he said in a soft voice, eyes widening. “I see. Y-you of course wouldn’t have wanted to do that.”

One of Pedro’s ears flicked.

“I wouldn’t…?” The much larger tiger asked. “How about you? If I took this tiny rata on my bed and just began rubbing him all over my body…? Wouldn’t that be an issue?” Pedro’s tail refused to remain still.

“Well, if you just randomly did it, sure!” Theo said, getting a bit worked up. “It wasn’t random though!” He stated as a fact. Pedro blinked at that. “We had set up grounds for the experiment, both agreed to the terms and conditions of the proposed exercise before putting it to practice, and we are both under the clause of using each other as need be… and we both still have our safe word, in case things go too far.” Theo hesitated at the end. “R-right? Or am I misunderstanding something, again?”

“No…” Pedro said the word slowly. “You’re right. We did have all that. What did you make of the… experiment, then? You did propose the experiment first. It is only fair you show your findings… first.”

“Oh, uh…” Theo took a second before lying down and looking up at the ceiling with Pedro. “Well, it wasn’t as rough as I thought it would be. You were very gentle. Your fur took longer to soap up than I had hypothesized, and it took me helping to get into the very furry parts… You’re terrible at cleaning yourself. Stinky tigre,” Theo couldn’t help but tease.

Pedro snorted at that, wanting to tease back but knowing they needed to talk about this.

“Okay, so, you are talking about the results… what about the methods? Or, uh, feelings of the experiment?” The tiger pressed further.

“Feelings?” Theo asked, confused, as he looked over at the tiger now facing him. “How I felt?”

“About the experiment.” Pedro nodded.

“It was… interesting. I never thought I’d ever do something like that before.” Theo placed a finger on his chin, thinking it over. “I mean, I’ve felt your body before. We’ve slept in the same bed a couple of times and you do like to give big hugs,” the rodent squeaked a laugh. “The difference was mostly how close we got to one another. I haven’t really felt under your fur, like that, or seen you wet.” Theo rambled on, talking about the physical changes.

“Nothing else?” Pedro asked, feeling crestfallen at the thought by the end.

“What else is there? I mean, it probably doesn’t compare to an actual luffa.” Theo squeaked, thinking it over. “IF you were to do the same experiment even with a used sock, I’d imagine it would be far faster and more efficient than it was with me. You could be far rougher than you were with a living creature.”

“Right.” Pedro frowned.

“I’m glad we still did it,” Theo said truthfully as he placed his arms behind his head, smiling at the thought.

“…Really?” Pedro glanced over at him, and Theo met his eyes with a cheek splitting smile.

“Of course. I got to do it with you!” Theo said and Pedro could feel his heartbeat thump against his chest painfully as if it were trying to break free.

“Did it… did it feel good?” Pedro swallowed, his mouth feeling suddenly very dry.

“Good? I’m not sure if I follow. Elaborate.” Theo said and Pedro did.

“I mean, did you feel good while I… used… you?” Pedro asked, sitting up on an arm now to look down at Theo.

“It always feels good, when it’s with you…?” Theo asked, confused about that. He sat up with Pedro. “Does it bother you when I use you? Does it not feel good to be useful?” The rodent asked from a society that valued value to the whole than anything else.

In a way, Theo still saw himself back there in that rat society. His worth was dependent on his value and what he could contribute to the whole. The whole being himself and Pedro in this case.

“Uh, well, yes… I suppose it does” Pedro said stupidly, blinking several times as he thought about all the times Theo had asked for his help. “It’s nice… when you ask for my help. It makes me feel… needed?” Pedro said the word as if trying to figure out if it best described the turbulent, mixed emotions inside.

“See. It’s the same for me.” Theo shrugged, falling onto his back with a good stretch. His tiny legs kicking out as his arms lifted high before collapsing back. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to finish the experiment. With the results we got, though, I’m sure you buying an actual luffa would be far more efficient than I ever could be.”

The tiger had to snort at that.

“Yeah… That’s why I did that.” Pedro slowly laid back down, not wanting to make any abrupt movement around his Small roomie. Especially when Theo was lying so close to him on the bed. Pedro could inadvertently change Theo’s entire world with the slightest of movements. “I enjoyed this more.” Pedro said and Theo glanced over at him. “Using you.”

“I suppose enjoyment would be part of the end result,” Theo thought that over. “If you enjoyed it more, even if a luffa would be far more efficient…” The rodent was thinking that over and Pedro knew that, by the morning, Theo would have a full paper work written out going over several different things that Pedro could use, along with Theo, for a washrag.

Theo would find a problem and spend the rest of the week trying to solve it. Even if the problem wasn’t really a problem.

Pedro chuffed at that, before he finally cracked and a smile blossomed on his face, bursting into laughter at Theo’s antics. A loud sound that Pedro had to cover with a hand.

“Sorry,” he apologized several times. “I just was not expecting that kind of answer. Or, well, any of this… You are truly one of a kind, mi rata.” Pedro sighed heavily, lazing back down with an equally large stretch. He hadn’t bothered to put anything on and was currently lying in his bed with his best friend naked. No other lewd thoughts came to mind as he turned over to face Theo. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Theo said, giving him a look. “What’s up?”

“I’m not… I was never mad or upset with you.” Pedro said and Theo turned to face him. The two lying on their sides, facing each other. It was amusing with their size difference, but Pedro didn’t point that out. “I just… worry. About you… is all.”

Theo groaned loudly at that, turning his back on Pedro making the tiger’s ears perk up as the rodent covered his face, tail curling around his body.

“Not you too!” Theo grumbled, pouting now as he tossed his arms up in frustration. “Everyone back home has said that to me. Their concerned about me. That they worry. That I was different and it’s strange and, well, I know I’m different!” Theo turned back on Pedro sharply making the tiger pull back as Theo pointed an accusing finger at him. “If I wasn’t like this then I wouldn’t even be here!”

Pedro couldn’t argue with that.

“If I was normal and average and boring, I’d still be in Rathole with the rest of the colony! Sure, I’d be able to see my family and hang out with my brother…” Theo sniffled at that thought, still missing his family despite it all. He turned a harsh gaze towards Pedro, making the tiger’s ears fold back. “IF I was, then I’d never have met you! Or be here now or get the chance to meet one of the coolest, most awesome people in the entire world! If I had blindly accepted our different circumstances, I’d never have been used as your wash rag!”

Pedro felt the creeping blush fill his powdery furred cheeks and burn the inside of his ears as Theo continued.

“If I was,” Theo stood up now. “Then maybe I would have an issue standing here naked in front of you, in the same bed with you, a Big!” He felt the need to remind Pedro about. “I’m the Small here. I SHOULD be worried and concerned and bothered standing here, naked, in front of a giant of a man like you. But I’m not! Or be bothered by the fact you are naked,” he motioned down to Pedro’s nakedness and the tiger covered himself with the blanket. “But I’m not. I’m not bothered by any of that and I’m, well…” Theo grumbled, folding his arms over his chest and turned away. “Happy…”

“What?” Pedro’s ears perked up and he leaned forward.

“I’m happy, okay!” Theo shouted back, turning away to sulk against the wall. “I’m frustrated, sure. I know I’m a… freak. I’m different and odd and not normal like everyone else. That I want to hang out with a Big and talk to him, and introduce him to my family and, and, and…”

“Theo,” Pedro reached out a hand but wasn’t sure how to comfort the much smaller male. One of Pedro’s hand could easily engulf all that was Theo under it. “You’re not-,”

“I know I am!” Theo squeaked angrily, stomping his foot on the soft pillow that smelled like the tiger. “I’ve always been different and thought different… I wanted us to be more part of society. As a whole. Not divided. I’m not an idiot! I wasn’t planning on, like, introducing the entire school to us, I just… know that if we had at least one or two Bigs in our corner things would just be so much better. We could accomplish so much more than being nomadic people. We could maybe, for once, settle and have a true home…” Theo sighed, shaking his head as he let it all out. He felt drained and sunk against the pillow. Curling up into a small ball that nearly vanished. His white fur blending in with the pillow. “I can cover up if it’s bothering you...” He finished with.

“Huh?” Pedro asked before seeing what Theo meant. He snorted, covering his snout.

“Hey!” Theo squeaked at him. “It’s not that small.” The rodent’s entire body might as well have flushed in embarrassment at that.

“I didn’t say anything,” Pedro pretended to be an innocent bystander as he held up a hand in apology. “It is very…. Impressive.” The tiger snickered.

“It’s not my fault your so freaking… Big!” Theo said as he covered his hot ears with his hands. “I can’t compete with that.”

Pedro let out a snort of a laugh and eased closer to Theo until his soft pink nose bumped up against Theo’s back. The rodent let out a sigh, resting back against Pedro’s snout and looked upwards.

“You know how long it would’ve taken to clean your junk?” Theo asked and Pedro’s eyes widened at that. The rodent looked down his muzzle into those eyes. “What? Of course, I thought about it. I also knew I could hold my breath for up to five minutes and forty-three seconds. Best record,” he shrugged before lazing back against the tiger’s whiskered snout. “Approximately six minutes…”

“Wha?” Pedro tried to say but didn’t want to move his muzzle too much for fear of knocking Theo over. The sound rumbled against the rodent’s spine and Theo tried to ignore the shiver that ran through him from the feeling of Pedro’s hot, moist breath washing against his naked body from behind.

“It would taken at least six minutes to wash your junk using me.” Theo blushed a bit, scratching the side of his neck with his fingers. “That’s assuming you don’t let me catch my breath.”

“You’d have suffocated… smothered by my junk?” Pedro grinned and Theo slapped the top of his snout.

“Don’t be proud of that, pervert!” Theo squeaked.

“You’re the one thinking about my junk.” The tiger offered with a simple shrug of his heavy shoulders.

“It’s hard not too when it’s there swinging in front of my face every morning.” Theo argued back and Pedro chuckled as the rodent let him have it. Getting mad at him, even though Theo didn’t really seem to mind. “It just isn’t polite. Not good etiquette to have. What happens when you get another roommate?”

“What if I don’t?” Pedro countered with and Theo came to an abrupt halt as if the gears in his brain came to a screeching stop. Sometimes, Theo thought of so many unnecessary scenarios and not the ones that mattered.

Blinking several times, Theo rebooted and tried to argue further.

“Well, when you have a wife and kittens…” Theo tried to bring up again.

“And if I don’t plan on having either?” A feline’s grin spread over the tiger’s snout at seeing the rodent get stopped like this multiple times in one night.

“Parents?”

“Moved out already.”

“Brother?”

“He only visits, and I don’t plan on having him stay in the guest room,” Pedro rolled his eyes. That was an issue for another time.

“Friends?”

“The only one I actually care about already lives with me.” Pedro smirked as Theo faltered a bit more.

“Well… what if…”

“Does it bother you if I sleep naked?” Pedro interrupted and Theo looked at him. “During the summer time, I enjoy sleeping nude. It’s just easier for the boys,” the tiger said as he adjusted himself with a hand. “I like to shower at night, as you know, and it helps to air out my fur if I don’t wear anything. They tend to stick to my inner thigh otherwise.”

“Oh…” Theo blinked, then thought about it. “I suppose that make sense. Especially during summer. You are a male. Oliver would say-,” Theo brought up the badger again and the tiger let out a snort. “What?”

“You don’t have to keep bringing up your ex…” Pedro mumbled, picking at the sheets with a clawed finger.

“My ex…? Oh, Oliver was just a friend.” Theo said cheerfully.

“Yeah, but you wanted more.” Pedro pointed out and Theo let out an embarrassed laugh at that.

“Well, that’s ship sailed a long time ago…” Theo sighed, resting back. “I don’t exactly have many options now… maybe Thistle, if I could get a hold of that squirrel.” Theo thought it over.

“Thistle and Oliver aren’t the ones you were willing to become to the luffa for,” Pedro growled a grumbling noise that vibrated in his lower throat.

“What?” Theo asked, unable to understand over the low rumbling growl.

“Nothing,” Pedro sighed, resting back. “I’d probably eat them anyways if I saw them.” The tiger showed off his fangs. “The little rata belongs to me! Nom nom nom.” He snapped his teeth at the end and let out a chuffing laugh.

“You’re terrible.” Theo swatted at the tiger. “Do not eat my friends!”

“I promised not to eat you,” Pedro winked at him. “Friends are still on the menu.”

“Don’t go changing the rules.” Theo argued back and was soon scooped up in Pedro’s hand, nuzzled by the tiger despite the rat’s best efforts to hit his muzzle. The tiny fists did very little to deter Pedro’s affections.

“You better stick close, so I don’t accident have myself a midnight snack.” Pedro purred softly, a deep rumbling sound that built up in his core and traveled upwards out his muzzle making his lips vibrate.

“Not too close, or I’d be the snack!” Theo jokingly said. Pedro was glad they could joke about this. “And hey,” the rodent said changing the subject, “speaking of close, soon enough we’ll be taking that for a spin!”

Pedro followed Theo’s pointing hand and saw the sweater they’d been working on together. Pedro had forgotten all about it after what had happened between the two.

“You’re still comfortable going out in public with me?” Pedro asked, blinking down at the small rodent resting in the palm of his hand. Theo laid on his back, curled up enough to kick his feet off the side, tail drooping down between them, as he stared up at Pedro with those bright, red eyes.

“You used me as your luffa,” Theo rolled his eyes. “I mean, can’t get much closer than that, right?” He squeaked, blushing more.

“True…” Pedro licked his dry lips. “Theo,” he hesitated. “I enjoyed the shower, with you.” Theo nodded recalling what he said earlier. “I like hanging out with you, watching shows… doing projects together.”

“I do as well.” Theo simply smiled at him, and Pedro faltered again, slumping against the pillow as he held his Small friend in the palm of his hands.

“That’s just not fair,” Pedro whined low. He didn’t want to take advantage of his friend, even knowing that Theo had agreed to be used by the tiger. It wouldn’t be that hard now that Pedro knew how to approach Theo about this in the future.

“What?” Theo asked. “You can tell me, Pedro, I won’t judge you… like you judged me earlier.” The albino rat teased, and the tiger let out a huff.

“I just… want to try more experiments with you in the future, is all.” Pedro’s ears splayed out as a red tint filled his cheeks.

“I do too!” Theo squeaked, happily agreeing. It only made Pedro feel more guilty about it, feeling like he was taking advantage of the rodent. “I really enjoy doing things with you.”

Pedro’s toes curled. “Me too…” The tiger swallowed nervously, glancing over at Theo. “I like to try a lot more things. Together. A lot of things. I’m just worried it might be too much, too soon.”

“Like…?” Theo tilted his head, thinking about that. “Oh! You mean when I asked you to put me into the wall earlier. I understand, I wasn’t familiar with the blueprints and so it could’ve been dangerous.”

“Yes… dangerous…” Pedro sighed in relief; somewhat glad Theo could be so dense at times like these and hadn’t picked up on what the tiger had been going for.

“One experiment at a time.” Theo let out a loud yawn, covering the end of his muzzle with the back of his hand. “We’ll just check them off the list.”

“Yeah,” Pedro agreed following suit with a far greater yawn of his own. The tiger didn’t bother covering his mouth and Theo rolled his eyes at the rude display in front of his face. He was sure Pedro had done that on purpose.

Smacking his lips, Pedro offered for Theo to stay here with him tonight.

“On the bed? Isn’t that dangerous…?” Theo had to think that over. “Don’t get me wrong. I do love snuggling with you,” Theo unabashedly said as Pedro blushed. “We used to do it all the time back home. Snuggle up together. Me and my brother, family, or just close friends. Snuggle bundles we jokingly called them. With you? I’d need no one else though.” Theo smiled and Pedro felt his heart race. “Though, with you, it might be dangerous… I heard of mother’s accidentally rolling over on their babies before…”

Pedro laughed at the dark thought with his wicked sense of humor. “Yes, be afraid of getting suffocated underneath all this man.” He flexed in front of Theo who looked thoroughly unimpressed by the gesture. “No, not that, as much as I’d enjoy it, you silly rata.” Pedro reached past him and fiddled with the wall. There was a latch and he opened it up to reveal another panel. Opening it wide for Theo to peer inside.

Inside was another bedroom. Another “god honest” bedroom.

It was like Pedro had miniaturized someone else’s room and placed it in the wall. There was a small bed, a small desk and even a lamp for Theo to turn on and use if need be. The adjacent room, Pedro described, was a small bathroom the rodent could use in the middle of the night.

“So, you don’t have to keep waking me.” Pedro winked.

“Are you a mole?” Theo jaw dropped. “How many holes have you dug in this place?” Theo looked around the room as if expecting the posters on the wall to slip off to reveal more, hidden holes that the tiger had dug out.

“You don’t need to know that,” the easily bored and curious tiger said. “I made you a little sleep hole for you. Next to me.” Pedro rubbed the back of his neck. “This way my body blocks the doorway,” he motioned towards the entrance of the room. “In case someone tries to come in… they’ll have to go through me.” And the tiger menacingly snarled, baring his teeth and claws.

Theo was thoroughly unimpressed. He had never once seen Pedro truly angry or upset, let alone at another person and couldn’t picture the gentle giant to hurt anyone.

“Yes, I feel oh so safe in your care, Pedro. Along with the dozen locks you had installed on the door.” Theo laughed, covering his muzzle as he giggled. “I suppose it’s closer and safer.” He thought about it logically and Pedro knew he had him the second the rodent was thinking about this with his brain and not his heart, intelligence over emotional response.

“It’s either that or you sleep in my underwear.” Pedro mumbled behind him.

“What?” Theo asked.

“What?” Pedro answered with an innocent smile on his face.

Theo watched him wearily as the tiger continued to go over all the small, neat little things he had added to room. Like the wardrobe Theo could use for his clothes, or the side desk where he could keep his snacks in.

“You don’t have to worry about rats sneaking into your room to steal your treats.” Pedro stuck the tip of his tongue out at the rodent who flipped him off from the room.

“How do I close this?” Theo grumbled, trying to figure out the panel for the wall.

“Well,” Pedro took hold of it. He didn’t close it, instead kept it wide open. “I rather you didn’t.” The tiger’s ears folded back. “That way I can see you…”

“Make sure I’m still here? Not stealing your snacks?” Theo crossed his arms, turning away before sticking his tongue out at him. Pedro rolled his eyes, hoping that’d register as sweet instead of snarky.

“Don’t tempt me to use this bedroom as an extra hamper. Stuff my dirty socks in here with you,” Pedro warned, and Theo snickered.

“I doubt more than three could fit.” Theo said and Pedro was willing to test that.

For the rest of the night, to two laughed and joked with one another as Pedro jokingly reached down for one of his discarded, used socks to stuff into Theo’s new bedroom. The rodent squirmed, pressing his small hands against the stinky fabric as Pedro threatened him with it.

“Not your fap socks!” Theo squeaked and Pedro’s face lit up again with embarrassment.

“I would never.” Pedro said.

“Too bad,” Theo winked at him, and the tiger’s brain faltered to a halt. “Uh, Pedro? Buddy? That was a joke.” The rodent snapped his fingers in front of the tiger’s face as Pedro came to a crashing halt. “Oh shit, I really broke him.”