Looks Like Kitty Got Wet
This piece was yet another YCH that I purchased off Marsel-Defender back in December of 2022. I’m fond of writing slice-of-life pieces for these fantastical, magical characters, because I want them to feel like real people. Although he is a splendid mage, Edmund is also a college student, so I wanted him to have some normal college experiences.
And naturally, if he’s going to have a college life, he needs classmates and peers to bounce off of. I remembered that I had already created a friend for him in another story I wrote, so I made sense to callback to that for the sake of continuity.
Thus, Mortimer was molded from a one-off into a character all his own. And what was originally intended to be a two paragraph short-description ballooned into its own short story.
It was a long day, and Edmund had just returned home to his dorm from an intense session in the training hall after classes. In order to clean off the sweat and relax his muscles, he undressed, drew a warm bath, and started soaking in it.
Not long after, his study buddy and roommate, a small rabbitkin about the same age named Mortimer, returned after spending the afternoon tending to his botany project in the campus greenhouses. Setting his pack down on their living room table, he realized Ed was nowhere to be seen. Thinking nothing of it, the young hare went to the bathroom to rinse the dirt off his fingers.
Opening the door, he finally saw his roommate, Edmund, soaking in their tub. At first, the tigerkin didn’t notice the disturbance, too engrossed in relaxing and loosening up. And yet, without thinking about what he was doing or why, Morty just… kept looking, eyes trained on his friend’s physique. With each passing moment, his odds of passing undetected lowered, until Ed looked up. The rabbitkin realized he had tempted fate too much when a bewildered and disapproving expression crossed his roommate’s face.
“Morty? Whatcha doin’ over there?”
Even though beastkin couldn’t blush, Mortimer could swear he felt the skin underneath his fur turn bright red. “Oh… umm… I just. I…”
“Y’know, I don’t mind showin’ off, especially nah for a frien’. But… maybe when I’ve dried off?”
“I’m so sorry!” Acting without thinking, Morty closed the door and rushed to his bed, covering his face in order to shield himself from the embarrassment. Having gotten mostly clean by now, Edmund hopped out of the bath a started draining it, drying himself off before putting on a fresh pair of breaches. Morty needed his help, and he was never one to turn someone away.
Stepping out of the bathroom, he noticed that the dirt on Mortimer’s hands had gotten all over his face in his emotional turmoil. Sitting next to the little guy on the mattress, he wrapped his muscular arm around him.
“I don’t know what I was thinking, Ed.”
“C’mon, man. You’re not the first guy tah stare at my muscles, and ya won’t be the last. It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s not?”
“Nah. And if I’m bein’ honest, I kinda like the attention.”
“You do?”
Bringing his free hand up, curling in inward to make his bicep bulge, puffing out his pecs, the tigerkin smirked. “You bet. Just give me a heads-up next time. I don’t mind puttin’ on a show.”
Despite himself, a smile appeared on Mortimer’s features. “Thanks, Ed. You’re a good friend.”
Pulling his friend toward him in a makeshift hug, Edmund gave him a wink. “Anytime, bud. Now it’s your turn to wash yourself up.”
“Y… Yeah.”
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