Answer Me, Spotty!

“I heard you didn’t want a Birthday Party.”  

“I thought the money for the supplies could go to something else.” Felix fisted a handful of his shoulder hair and glanced down. His ears kept swiveling at the slightest sound, and his scowl told the interviewer how irritated he was at it all.  

How his senses could get in the way of living a normal life.   

It was common knowledge that beast men struggled as kids to become selective in hearing and must be taught how to block out noises to not be inconvenienced. Boys like Felix, however, have never gained such lessons, and struggled to relax as a result. His wandering eyes and twitching tail were par for the course.  

It shamed Felix how obviously twitchy he seemed to everyone else; it’s already bad enough to be jumpy around other beast men, but around humans? Those creatures are known to be more destructive than monsters!  

They would pounce sooner than an actual pack of wolves!  

“Like what?”   

The interviewer looked at him with such innocence, Felix found himself relaxing, if only a little. No wonder Floyd calls them “Shrimpy”. He thought. They look every part of a prey animal, with their big eyes and short height, they’d just need the bunny ears to look like a rabbit. “More money for the water bill.” His lip quirked, but he felt a warm and wet substance slide down his forehead.  Damn, conversations aren’t my forte. “Vil says I use too much water that it makes Crowley complain.”   

“So, you want to repay Crowley on your Birthday?” The interviewer gaped as Felix stretched his burning muscles. If he acted bored, would it conceal his anxiety, he wondered.   

“Does it really sound that weird? I just don’t need Vil complaining to me how Crowley complains to him . It’s tiring.” The reality of his Dorm Head nagging him at the cafeteria table made his throat dry, and a rock fell onto his shoulders at the sheer idea of Vil repeating his performance with Felix’s water usage. “Vil already complains how I eat like an animal, and he’s very...eloquent about it.”   

The interviewer laughed, and Felix’s rock elevated off his shoulders. Not bad. I guess I’m not as socially dumb as I thought!  

“Ain’t that the truth!” The interviewer rubbed a tear from their eye and held closer their clipboard. “What do you even use all that water for? I can’t believe you’d spend more time than Vil in the bathroom.”  

“Oh,” Felix felt his blood rush to his face, in embarrassment. “I just like long baths, that’s all. I’m a swimmer, and I like to feel like I’m sinking as if I were at the deep end of a pool.” Oh, my spots, I hope I didn’t sound weird! Felix for once gazed at the interviewer, who coughed to hide their befuddlement, he assumed.  

“I didn’t know there are cats that like water...besides tigers, I mean.”   

Felix shrugged; another bead of sweat ran down his face. “Why wouldn’t you? It’s not like leopards are flashy or social like tigers are. We keep our secrets.” If anything, I’m the odd one out. He winced at the thought, but words tumbled out before he stopped them to prove otherwise. “People say if I was any quieter, I’d be invisible!”  

“I guess so.” The interviewer flashed a smile as they looked at Felix, and for now he was sure even the tips of his ears were red with his own faux pas. “Thank you for the interview, Felix, and Happy Birthday.”