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Dakota speed walks out of the chemisty building, holding their bag close to their chest as they stop at the top of the stairs to look out at the courtyard for their boyfriend and friends. They huff softly when they fail to spot even a singlure pair of antlers peeking out from the crouwd below. They throw their bag onto their back and rush down the stairs and into the courtyard that sat perfectly between all of the science buildings, and acted as the central hub of student activity.
The noise and smells were nauseating as they always were for Dakota. But they could not hide away in a spare classroom today. They had to find their boyfriend quickly, or else those friend's of his will make plans for this evening before Dakota could. Even if Dakota text Cedar about these plans, Cedar was not the best with checking his phone and may not even see their messages until later anyways. Besides, it was much better to see Cedar's face light up at date night plans in person rather than after the fact.
So that left Dakota speed walking through the courtyard, their fluffy ears twitching at every sound, and nose permanently lifted in the air to catch even the smallest whiff of their deer boyfriend. It quickly becomes apparent though that their efforts were futile though, no matter where they looked Cedar was not going to suddenly pop out in front of them. In fact, none of Cedar's friends were here, even though they always came to this courtyard before their eleven o'clock class.
Dakota swallows down the whine in their throat as they plop ontop of a nearby rock. It was clearly meant to be a part of the stone statue instillation a few steps behind them, but was so close to the walkway that it had become a convient, if uncomfortable, bench for students and staff alike.
Dakota pulls out their phone first checking the group chat to see if there had been a change of plans. Alas, the last message sent in there was from Kyle who was ranting about his roommate stealing his breakfast again. Uninterested in getting dragged into that conversation or having other people asking questions, Dakota goes to their private messages to try and contact him instead.
Their last messages were the goodnight messages from the night before, and Dakota can't help but smile at the icon he has set for Cedar. It was a picture of the deer-hybrid that Dakota managed to sneak while he was just waking up from a nap. His red hair was a beautiful mess between those magestic antlers, and his green eyes were just barely peeking out past his thick eyelashes. In contrast, his name in their contacts was just his last name Willow, a remnant from when Dakota first added him to his contacts and they were just classmates working on a small project together. Dakota sighs fondly before shaking their head, remembering what it was they were here for.
"Cedar, where are you?" Dakota laughs to theirself, remembering how Cedar complains about their gramar perfect texts when Cedar can barely type out a singular word properly. "I cannot find you or your friends anywhere. Did you all change plans?"
Dakota stares at their phone for a minute, that felt like five before finally closing it and flipping it upside down. They knew Cedar was slow to respond. They just had to be patient for a few minutes. Just a few minutes. So they tried to distract theirself, people watching the other students as they rushed to and fro, and the groups that idled together in the most inconvient of spots. Dakota even let his ears stop tuning out the loud cries of the birds that never sounded like songs in their humble opinion.
But patience was not Dakota's strong suite. At first it was just their tail, swishing behind them in a erradict pattern. Then it was their leg bouncing, slowly gaining speed and intensity. Then their finger, tapping against the phone, trying to urge the device to buzz with a new message. Then the urge to look down at the phone finally takes hold, Dakota shaking their head and trying to find something, anything else to focus on. But neither the students or birds can drown out the urge to look, because surely Cedar has responded by now.
Dakota clicks their tongue in frustration as they give in and check their phone. Unsurprisingly, there were no new messages, and much to their dissapointment, they had not lasted even two full minutes of waiting. Dakota sighs, instead choosing to call Cedar instead. Even if he did not answer this would at least get the man to check his phone. The phone goes through the full ring cycle before telling them that Cedar was not available. Dakota hangs up before they can even hear Cedar's pre-recorded message on calling him back later.
Now that they tried everything else, Dakota felt no shame in opening the up the maps app. They go to their shared locations section and click on Cedar's icon. The map immediately updates zooming directly to Cedar's last known location, one of the nearby dorms. Dakota double checks when it lasted updated and jumps to their feet when they see it is in fact accurate to this very second. Taking just a second to brush the stone dust from their butt and the underside of their tail, Dakota takes off at a light jog to the dorm.
It wasn't Cedar's dorm for the year, so he wouldn't be hiding up in his room. But it was one of the dorms with a cafeteria and dining hall inside so he could be in there. If he was it should be easy to spot his red hair and large antlers, especially since he was on the tall side in comparison to the rest of the student body. Not obnoxiously so but enough that Dakota usually can spot him in a crowd pretty easily. And if the deer-hybrid was not in the dining hall, there were a few private rooms that remained unlock for public use that Dakota could check.
Of course Dakota hopes it will be an easy search, but they are immediately proven wrong when they don't see Cedar in the dining hall. With a small groan Dakota makes their way to the private rooms, taking a quick glance inside the ones with windows, and knocking softly on the ones without. All the while they never stop sniffing in the hopes of catching a hint of their boyfriends scent, which they finally do about halfway down the hall.
It is not a strong smell, at least an hour old, and nearly covered up by all the newer and fresher scents that have passed through. But it was enough for Dakota to follow all the way down the hall towards the exit door. The scent turns sharply, revealing a hidden corner with a door tucked away out of sight. With their sense fully tuned in to the door, Dakota knocks.
First there was nothing, then a low soft grumble in a oh so familiar voice, "Occupied."
Dakota knows their tail is wagging at just the sound of Cedar but he ignores it. "It is me Cedar." And Cedar must find it just as easy to tell their voice apart because a loud thud behind the door makes Dakota jump. Cedar mutters something that Dakota cannot make out, but the door swings open before they can think on it too long. Dakota immedeatly looks up to see their boyfriends face and their heart sinks into their stomach immediately.
Cedar’s vibrant red hair was not in its usual intentionally messy style that the man was so proud of, instead looking like a birds nest haphazardly built between the branches of his antlers. Worse yet, there were massive bags under his eyes paired with a puffy redness at the corners that made it hard to see his stunningly green eyes. Cedar tries to pull his face into a forced smile but gives up when Dakota craddles his face with a sigh. “I’m sorry love, I lost track of the time and didn't hear my phone go off.”
Dakota shakes their head as they gently rub at the corners of Cedars eyes, where he hastily rubbed away the tear tracks. "Do not apologize to me, just tell me what is wrong. How can I help you?"
Cedar grunts, turning his head away from Dakota as he glares at the wall as if it was the problem, "It's nothing serious love."
"Cedar," Dakota growls but their voice stays soft and gentle, even as they forces the taller man to look at them. "I hate liars. You know this. And it clearly is not nothing if you are not even napping out in the sun." They gentle go back to rubbing Cedar's cheek as they pull Cedar closer, "I am here for you, no matter what it is."
Cedar sighs, leaning in to press their foreheads together, his face pinching in a attempt to hold something back. "I know, I'm sorry. It just some of the guys are being annoying and I-" he groans again finally wrapping his arms around Dakota to pull them into a hug. Dakota moves their arms to hug him back, squeezing the deers large shoulders tightly.
"It is okay," Dakota reassures. They glance into the tiny room, dark with barely enough room for the couch and small table inside. Their eyes adjust quickly and they spot Cedar's phone left on the table buzzing away with more and more messages while his backpack was carelessly thrown on the floor. "Lets sit down for now, there is still some time before your nezt class and we can talk here."
Cedar nods his head, but refuses to let go of Dakota as the two of them awkwardly shuffle to the couch. He only lets go just enough for Dakota to take off their own backpack before wrapping his arms around the wolf-hybrid all over again. Dakota initially just wanted to sit on the couch but they were forced to lay down when Cedar crawls into their lap using all of his weight to push them down. Dakota sighs patting his boyfriends back and the two sit in silence for a moment.
Patience comes much easier to Dakota this time around, with both Cedar's heavy weight and steady heartbeat grounding them in the moment. Dakota was able to let themself relax, steadily rubbing soothing circles all across Cedar's back.
The silence between the two only breaks when Cedar mutters, "I am sorry."
Dakota frowns, asking softly, "What for?"
"For making you worry," Cedar answers softly, "I didn't even realize it was you calling. And I didn't mean to lose track of time so badly."
Dakota sighs, pressing a kiss to the top of Cedar's head, easily dodging his antlers after so much practice. "I believe you, and I forgive you. I just want to know what is going on so I can help you."
Cedar tenses up, biting at his bottom lip. Dakota waits, though their patience is much thinner, and Cedar must have sensed it as he gives up on whatever he was thinking about with a sigh. "It is complicated."
"Try me," Dakota answers easily, though it does not get the laugh out of Cedar that they wanted.
Cedar sighs again. "The guys are trying to convince me to go to another party."
Dakota resists clicking his tongue, Those annoying pricks. Can they not leave any of his time to me!
"I tried telling them I wasn't up for it, wanted to stay in with you and all," Cedar continues. Dakota wants to cheer but settles for letting their tail thump happily against the couch. "But then they started complaining saying that I was a simp or whatever. One of them said I could get lucky again like that night."
Dakota's tail stopped thumping immediately as an ice cold realization washed over him. Surely they would not say that...
Cedar presses his face into Dakota's neck as his voice trembled, "And I- all of sudden I was remembering that night. How her hands felt- and I felt sick. I couldn't hear what else they said, I just had to get away." His voice chokes up with sobs, his grip on Dakota tightening as his whole body trembles with overwhelming emotions.
Dakota fights back a growl, as they tighten their grip on Cedar. They glares at the phone that lights up all over again with another call. Even Dakota could not handle them memories from that horrible night, the rage and grief nearly consuming them whole everytime. Even the occassional glimpses of other tiger-hybrids could send them over the edge despite the woman who had dared to hurt Cedar was long gone from the campus.
While Cedar was not as obvious with his reactions, it is not like Dakota did not notice the small changes since then. The way he flinched at sudden or unexpected touches. The way he avoided crowds even more. Even the way he glued himself to Dakota's side, especially at parties. Dakota didn’t comment on it then because, well it was nice having their boyfriend stay by theirside instead of having to follow him around through the party. But to think that his so called friends were trying to downplay that night, to even imply that it was something to be proud of!
Dakota cannot hold back the growl that bubbles up in their throat, "I am so sorry those bastards said that to you Cedar. You had every right to remove yourself from that shit situation." They presses a fierce kiss to the top of Cedar's head desperately holding him close.
Cedar sobs, his shoulders trembling, "I- I thought if I just- If I acted like everything was okay then it would be! But it hurts to much!!" The sobs choke out his voice and Dakota can only shake their head. "I don't think they meant it but I can't do it Kota."
Dakota lifts Cedar's head from their neck so he can look into Dakota's red rimmed blue eyes, "Do not defend them Cedar." Cedar opens his mouth but Dakota shakes their head and continues. "Even if it was only one or two of them making those comments. Even if they didn't mean it the way it came out. The way they are talking is hurting you, and as your partner I refuse to let anyone talk to you that way!” Cedar chokes out a few hiccups, and Dakota can feel their anger wash away as the need to comfort overtakes them. “I know they have been your friends for ages, but they need to be more sensative to how you feel now. And if there is anything I have done-”
"No," Cedar gets out through his sobs, "you have done nothing to make me feel like that night is anything less than a horrible situation." Cedar presses their head together, "You are the only one I can talk about it like this. So don't you dare try to put any blame on yourself."
Dakota feels a small sob make its way out of them, but they nods their head all the same. "Good. But I will be having a word with those bastards."
Cedar frowns a little, "But that will make things even more tense between you all. They already think you are too controlling and you just barely tolerate them."
Dakota huffs softly, caressing their boyfriends cheek. "I don't care if they hate me. I would not be so controlling if they were not so reckless. Besides, Lola and your sister have my back so why should I care about what those jackasses think?"
Cedar chuckles weakly leaning into Dakota's hand with a heavy sigh, "I know you don't but I do. They have been my friends for forever. I don't want you to only see their bad side."
Dakota sighs fondly, "Listen Cedar, I know they are not all shitheads, but I will not tolerate them hurting you. Ignorance be danmed. So we will be talking to them, and I’ll be there for you. And if they apologize then everything will work itself out.”
Cedar hesitates, “And if they don’t?”
“Then they are not your friend,” Dakota insists. “And then you don’t need to worry about whether I like them, or they like me.”
Cedar nods his head, before laying back against Dakota’s chest. Dakota sighs and goes back to rubbing his back in slow soothing circles. “We do not have to do it today," they promise in a soft voice, "Maybe tomorrow, after a goodnights rest and some more time for you and I talk about it?”
Cedar nods his head, “That sounds good.” The two sit in compainable silence, listening to each others heartbeats for a long while before Cedar asks again, “What time is it?”
Dakota tilts his head to look through Cedar’s antlers to look at his wrist watch only to groan at the time. “Five past eleven, you might be able to get away with a tardy if you rush now.”
Cedar shakes his head with a tiny laugh, “Too tired. I’d rather take the absence and stay with you.”
Dakota snorts and scratches their boyfriends head, “Alright. But we only have another thirty minutes. I have a class to get to after that. I am not as in favor of getting a uneccessary absence.”
“More than enough time for a nap,” Cedar jokes before settling against Dakota to be even more comfortable. The silence between them soothing and Dakota starts to drift off despite his intentions. But just before their awareness drifts off Cedar softly whispers, “Thank you my love.”
Dakota smiles and sleepily kisses the top of Cedar’s head again, “I am always here for you me deer.”