“Pete! Hey, Petey! What’re you doing?” Michael called, and crossed the street to join the puma in front of the site where a new office building was being erected. Human workmen drilled, hammered, and shoveled dutifully, and Pete had been watching them with equal dutifulness. His almost perpetual smile brightened as the dragon approached.

“You said we were looking for work” Pete replied in his usual warble of a voice and indicated the construction. “And this looks like a looot of work.”

Michael said nothing, and when he realized that he was staring at Pete in disbelief, he too directed his gaze at the site and pretended to watch while he marshaled his thoughts, the first of which had been relief that Pete was probably talking about literally looking at work and not suggesting that he seek employment in a hard hat area. I can’t be responsible for that many obituaries, Michael thought to himself, considering the possible consequences of such an endeavor, and a moment later hated himself for it. He was already in a bad mood, but Pete wasn’t the cause of it. Not directly.

They had gone to the Employment Development Office. Both were jobless, but Michael only recently so and he had both prospects and savings to fall back on, whereas Pete didn’t even have a high school diploma. The trip was supposed to be for the puma’s benefit, but Pete had apparently left the interview at some point, realizing pragmatically that no work was to be found there. It was just as well: the final ten minutes had deteriorated into an argument between the dragon and the EDO worker so heated that the former hadn’t even realized when his friend had left. Pete’s history of going through jobs at record speed was working against him, and even though Michael had launched into a spirited defense of his friend - (“Who the heck gives a brand new employee such a big job on the first day?!” he had fumed over Pete’s disastrous tenure with the zoo that resulted in the escape of the Tasmanian Devil) – the man behind the desk wasn’t sympathetic. It hadn’t been until the worker had begun dropping phrases like “insufficient intellectual capacity” and suggesting the most menial jobs that Michael had completely lost his temper.

“Never heard anything so stupid!” he had shouted, standing up and breathing sparks. “Pete’s not going to sort buttons for forty cents an hour! If that’s what you bozos would use all his energy and enthusiasm for, then I hope this entire building burns down!”

He was still hoping that the man wouldn’t call the police as he put a clawed hand on Pete’s furry shoulder. This simple action made him feel better, and he felt even better than that when Pete acknowledged the gesture with another warm smile. Looking at that face, it was easy to remember why he had attached himself to the puma, and why he was ready to fight at the thought of the cat receiving any disrespect or less than a fair chance from anyone underestimating him.

“Petey, what do you say we don’t worry about work for the weekend? Let’s just hang.”

“From what?”

I’m in love, that’s why, Michael thought. As his heart melted for his generous and adorable friend, the dragon stepped behind Pete and hugged him. The mountain lion placed a paw over Michael’s right hand, and as he glanced over his shoulder and their eyes met, the dragon realized that the depth of his affection was still unmatched. Pete - who he didn’t think had even been kissed before - still didn’t get it.

But that’s okay, he told himself, as he cuddled the puma on the open street to the sound of heavy machinery and breaking rocks. I can wait. I have all the time in the world for you, baby.

---

 Kamechuu inspired me to a short story with this wonderful commission. Your work is never not beautiful, Kame.