Jason leaned back in his chair, absently swirling the last sip of lukewarm coffee in his mug as he waited. Zoe was perched on the armrest of the sofa nearest him, her legs crossed casually and her hands flicking through her phone. She hadn’t made a sound since she padded down the stairs earlier that morning, but the occasional flick of her ears or the subtle twitch of her whiskers said enough about her mood—content, if a little bored.
Freddie and Eden sat across from Jason, quietly debating over an old map of hiking trails they’d found in the lobby. Freddie’s thick glasses slipped down the bridge of his nose every time he leaned forward to point something out, and Eden—his freshly transformed younger sister—was half paying attention, half scrolling through her own phone, her bright hoodie clashing slightly with her messy brown hair. Though she chimed in with the occasional word or question, it was clear she still felt awkward and out of place with this group of old friends, having only met them yesterday.
Jason stretched lazily, his sundress fluttering around his knees, and glanced at the clock on the wall. “What the hell is taking those two so long? They’re gonna miss lunch at this rate.”
Freddie didn’t even look up. “It’s Fiona and Ryan. Fiona’s probably picking out an outfit she doesn’t hate, and Ryan’s doing… whatever Ryan does. Brooding, maybe.”
Zoe glanced up from her phone and meowed softly, the sound inquisitive. Jason chuckled, already knowing what she was getting at. “Yeah, you’re probably right,” he said, even though she hadn’t spoken a word. Zoe held up her phone and typed something quickly before spinning it around to show him: ‘Fiona’s just being a drama queen. She’s always the last one ready.’
Jason laughed. “Dead on, Zoe. Maybe I should go up there and drag her down myself.”
It wasn’t long before the sound of footsteps on the stairs caught everyone’s attention. Ryan appeared first, his tall frame slightly stooped as he made his way down. His hoodie hung loosely over his body, though the swell of his chest was evident even through the baggy fabric. He tugged absently at the hem, adjusting the fit like he always did, and ran a hand through his messy blond hair as he reached the bottom step.
Jason rose from his chair with a grin, crossing the room to meet him. “Finally! Thought you’d never make it down here,” he teased, his voice warm. Without waiting for a response, he cupped Ryan’s face and leaned in, their lips meeting in a deep, familiar kiss. Ryan let out a small hum of surprise but relaxed into it, his hands resting lightly on Jason’s waist.
When they finally parted, Ryan’s cheeks were faintly pink, though whether from the kiss or the warmth of the room, it was hard to say. “Morning,” he muttered, his lips quirking into a half-smile.
Jason smirked. “Morning. Hungry?”
“Starving,” Ryan admitted, though his eyes flicked toward the stairs. “Let me guess—Fiona’s still not ready?”
“Not yet,” Jason replied, stepping aside just as Fiona’s voice rang out from the top of the staircase.
“Don’t start without me, you jerks!”
She descended quickly, her dark hair bouncing with each step, and Jason had to admit she looked stunning despite her casual outfit. Her snug white tank top hugged her curves, and her denim shorts showed off her toned legs. There was a faint rustling sound as she moved, the soft crinkle of her diaper audible to anyone paying attention, though no one gave it a second thought. It was as natural as her boots or the sunglasses perched atop her head.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Fiona strode confidently toward Jason, grabbing him by the waist and pulling him in for a kiss. Her lips were warm and eager, and she grinned against his mouth before finally pulling away. “Morning, gorgeous,” she teased, winking.
Jason rolled his eyes affectionately. “Took you long enough.”
Fiona shrugged. “Fashionably late, as always.” She turned to Ryan, her grin widening. “Your turn, big guy.”
Ryan sighed but stepped forward, allowing Fiona to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him. She always took her time with her greetings, her lips lingering just long enough to make him squirm slightly. When they finally parted, Ryan shook his head with a small laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you love me for it,” Fiona shot back.
Before joining the table, Fiona and Ryan greeted Freddie and Eden, each exchanging the same lingering kisses with them, though Eden’s shyness was evident as she blushed furiously during her turn. Fiona ruffled Eden’s hair afterward with a teasing grin, earning a shy but warm smile in return.
Fiona finally flopped into the chair next to Zoe, the rustling of her diaper faint but audible as she adjusted her shorts and reached for a slice of bread. Zoe meowed softly in greeting, her golden eyes blinking slowly at Fiona. Fiona leaned over to scratch behind her ears, smiling. “Morning, Zoe. You’re looking cute as ever.”
Zoe’s ears flicked in response, and she tapped something into her phone before holding it up for Fiona to read: ‘Took you long enough. What were you doing, a fashion show?’
“Ha! Something like that,” Fiona replied, grabbing the jar of peanut butter and slathering it onto a piece of bread. “You know me—gotta look good for the big day.”
Jason sat back down, watching with amusement as the group settled into their usual rhythm. Ryan reached for an apple, his hoodie stretching slightly as he leaned forward, the familiar weight of his chest shifting with the motion. Fiona dug into her sandwich with gusto, her legs bouncing slightly under the table, the subtle crinkle of her diaper blending into the background noise of the room.
Zoe meowed again, holding up another message on her phone: ‘So, what’s the plan for today?’
Jason considered for a moment. “We were talking about hitting the hiking trails, maybe checking out that old lake. Sound good to everyone?”
Fiona nodded enthusiastically. “Hell yeah. I could use some fresh air after being cooped up in that room all night.”
Ryan shrugged. “Sounds fine to me. Just don’t make me carry anything heavy.”
Eden, still unsure of her place in the group, hesitated before speaking. “Oh, uh… I mean, I’m okay with whatever you guys want to do,” she said softly, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her hoodie.
Freddie gave her a reassuring nudge. “Don’t worry, Eden. We’ll go easy on you.”
Eden smiled faintly but stayed quiet after that, listening as the others continued to plan the day.
The room filled with laughter, the easy camaraderie of old friends filling the space as they finished their meal and prepared for the day ahead. No one gave a second thought to Zoe’s feline head, Ryan’s full chest, Ethan (Eden) swapping gender, or Fiona’s diapers. These were simply facts of life, unremarkable and entirely ordinary, as much a part of their reality as the sun shining outside.
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