Becoming the Bear

"He's so cute when he gets embarrassed." Rusty said and took his love's hand.

"Speaking of shocking the children," Walt said through a mouthful of creamed something, "I guess you know about these guys being married and all, so I it will have to be you and me when the dancing starts." Walt waited with a sly grin on his face.

Mitch turned ashen and fumbled with his fork and started to stutter a kidding response, but Walt laughed and stopped him. "Easy, there buddy, easy. My gaydar might be rusty, but it ain't broke. And don't look like that; you aren't 'obvious', not at all."

Now it was Mitch's turn to blush.

"But, but how did..." Mitch tried to interject.

"Let's just say I always know; always." Walt smiled again. "It's a... a 'talent' I have, I guess. We're all family here, so don't worry about it."

"Oh, man, if you could see your face!" Moose chuckled at Mitch. "You look kinda like I must have when I found out about Walt at the first reunion. I had no idea. Hell, one year I had a locker next to him and I never knew. I only had suspicions about you back then, but I already told you that I'd been checking you out; but even so up until we talked outside and I hugged you again, I didn't know for sure. I guess my gaydar is broke!"

Rusty interjected, "Well yours might be, Norman, but mine's not." He looked at Mitch kindly and said, "You're a handsome Bear and so straight acting you would probably score a 'Bruce Willis' on the online 'Butch Test'. But I can read the subtle signs; I can spot a Bear in a crowd of 'Regular Joes' as easily as picking a white bean out of a bag of pintos and trust me, you're a glowing white bean to me. I could tell by looking at you when you first saw my big brute here." Moose let out a soft pleasing growl at being called 'Brute'. "Norman just doesn't really pay much attention, but I love him in spite of his minor faults." He gently squeezed Moose's hand and they exchanged a smoldering look that said, "Later."

"We're all Bears here; we're 'tuned in' to other bears." Walt explained, "Most people look at us and never think 'gay' or 'bi' and those that do are probably other Bears, so don't worry about it, you're high on the Willis/Fierstein scale."

Mitch gave them all a 'Huh?" look and Rusty explained.

"It's one of those silly online 'how gay are you' scales. You fill out the questionnaire and it rates you from one, which is Harvey Fierstein or 'sissy', to five, which is Bruce Willis or 'macho'; personally, I'd rather they had used Sean Connery for a five. Wesley Snipes or Patrick Swayze are a three, probably because of that 'Wong Foo' movie; you know, straight but can play being gay and so gives desperate gay men hope. Nevertheless, you're a five, I'm probably a four, Walt's a five and my Norman is a five until you get him in the bedroom and then he drops all the way down to a two." Rusty's evil grin returned.

"You are definitely getting that swatting for that." Moose said.

"Made me earn it, didn't you dear?" Rusty said. Moose growled slowly and the smoldering look between them reappeared.

"Well, I had no idea, especially about you, Walt." Mitch muttered, still trying to find his bearings. He'd just been outed and found out that two of the most masculine guys in high school had been gay like him; all in about thirty-five minutes.

"Listen. This place is about to get all dark and soggy with prom-like nostalgia. They're moving chairs and tables already; why don't we cut out? There's a bar and grill back at the hotel. It's quiet; we can have a couple of beers there and chat comfortably." Rusty looked at the other three. "What do you say?"

"Sounds good to me," Walt said, "is the 'pub grub' any good? I'm still a bit hungry."

"After that meal, I think we all are." Moose said eagerly.

"It's better than what we just attempted to consume here." Rusty said.

"You up for it, Mitch?" Walt said and though it wasn't in his voice, Mitch could see the 'Please say yes' in his eyes.

"Umm... yeah, I guess so." Mitch agreed. "How far is it? I walked over here from the motel."

"Not far. Walt, do you have your bike? Or we can all go in my car." Rusty said.

"The bike's outside, but thanks for the offer. Mitch, why don't you ride with me?" Walt turned to Mitch and waited. Mitch nodded, secretly pleased that one of his long-nursed high school fantasies was about to come true, riding double with Walt. He remembered in their senior year Walt had ridden to school the first day and all through the year, on the bike his dad rode. It was an old WWII 'surplus' Harley like the one his dad had ridden in Europe during the war; still had the olive green matte paint job on it. He inherited it when his dad bought a new one for himself. Walt never did go for the 'Bad Boy Biker' image; he was far too independent to join a club, though looking at him now, Mitch could tell the 'biker life' had left a mark on Walt.

Rusty smiled slyly, "Right, well I'll lead the way then."

Outside, Rusty and Moose pulled out ahead of Walt and waited. Walt dug in his saddlebags and pulled out a helmet. It was a flat black half helmet design with yellow-orange flames. Mitch looked and saw it was the "A Bucket of Brains" helmet, rather reminiscent of the WWII German helmets which were popular with bikers in the 50s and 60s. He handed the helmet to Mitch and sat on the bike while putting his on. While Mitch was figuring out how to strap his helmet on, Walt took off his suit coat, folded it and pulled out a rather worn black leather jacket with pins all over it. There wasn't a club logo on the back, but the pins had the names and years of different runs on them and there were many going back a couple of decades or more. Walt put the suit coat back in the saddlebag from where he'd taken the worn leather jacket.

Walt's helmet, taken from the chromed 'ape hanger' handlebars of his chopper was of the same design but had a custom air brushed graphic on it. The same graphic was on the gas tank. It was a roaring grizzly bear in metallic silver, black, white and gray on a black background with glowing fluorescent green eyes on the left side. A claw mark that had bright crimson blood dripping from the silver gashes was on the right side and unlike Mitch's helmet, it was clear coat finished so it was high gloss shiny.

Walt laughed, "It's a portrait of me." He said pointing to the bear after he put it on. Mitch thought it was a very appropriate symbol for Walt that hinted at his sexuality. Walt adjusted his seating so Mitch could sit comfortably behind him. He checked Mitch's helmet and muttered something about 'damned helmet laws'.

"Hop on, buddy." He said to Mitch and signaled to Rusty who pulled forward and out of the parking lot. He revved the motor, a sound that thrilled Mitch. With that, Walt signaled to Rusty and they pulled out of the parking lot.

"It's safer if you put your arms around me." He growled to Mitch over the deep, throaty, burbling rumble of the powerful motorcycle. Mitch gladly did so and sighed.

"What's the sigh for?" Walt turned his head a bit so Mitch could hear him.

"I've wanted to do that for a long time," Mitch confessed. "I was just so bottled up in myself; too afraid I guess, to even try to open up to you. You were the only guy I felt I had any chance of being friends with and I've always wanted to thank you for how you stood up for me in the locker room that one time. You have no idea how much that meant to me."

'Oh, I think I do,' Walt thought to himself and smiled. "It's nothing, buddy," he said aloud to Mitch. He reached down and back to pat Mitch's leg.

"Nothing to you, maybe; but it was a whole lot of something special to me." Mitch gave Walt a tentative hug.

They arrived at the hotel a few minutes after Rusty and Moose. They entered the dark bar and grill together and took a corner booth.

"What's your poison, gentlemen?" Rusty asked and ordered beers all round. The group ordered appetizers, sandwiches and burgers to go with the drinks.

The conversation once again flowed easily, from what each had done after graduating high school, to jobs and college and relationships, to politics to current work to sex to plans for the upcoming holidays. Mitch felt Walt's paw on his thigh and surprised himself a bit by resting his own on Walt's.

'Hell, he thought, what does it matter, anyway? I guess I really DON'T care what the rest of the world thinks.' He gave Walt's hand a squeeze and was rewarded with a warm smile that split Walt's iron-gray beard.

More beers and more talk eventually led to closing time for the barkeep. "Sorry, guys... gotta close." The men all headed out to the hotel lobby.

Rusty looked at Moose, "Time for bed, big guy?"

Moose grinned and said, "And more, I hope!"

Rusty turned to the others, chuckled and said, "This man has one of two things on his mind most of the time; food or sex. Little wonder they call us bears, eh?"

They all joined the chuckle and then there came that awkward moment when no one knows just how to break what was on at least several minds.

Moose glanced at Walt, then Mitch, then back to his lover. "Well... do we or don't we?"

Rusty spoke up. "Spoken like a true romantic!" He kissed Moose and turned to Walt and Mitch. "I never quite know how to word this, but if you're interested, you're very welcome to come up. Norman and I occasional play with other couples if the chemistry is right. We discussed it in the car and we think the chemistry is right between the four of us."

Rusty paused and cleared his throat; Mitch could tell he felt a bit awkward, as he was somewhat less glib than usual.

"Mitch, I know we've all just met... well, sort of just met; anyway, what I'm trying to say is that we would enjoy your company if you'd care to join us. We've played with Walt several times before and we all enjoyed it, but it's your call. I'm just very glad we finally got to meet you after all these years and I know Norman here is happy you came."

Mitch was dumbfounded. There was a long pause as his brain worked out the possibilities of all three of these handsome bearish men in bed with him. His erection began to tent his pants, but went unnoticed amid the visions of furry sex filling his brain.

Walt nudged Mitch. "You're supposed to say something here, buddy." Mitch actually blushed.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't get out all that much. I didn't mean to be that slow-witted. I AM glad we all got to meet, too. If you are asking what I think you are, well... it's been a long time and I could sure use some R and R. That is, if Walt is interested?" He looked at the big bear standing next to him.

Walt put an arm around Mitch. "With you? Of course I am! I've waited a real long time for you to ask."

"Well then, it's agreed!" Rusty said rubbing his hands together somewhat excitedly. "Next stop room 808!"

The four entered the empty elevator and as the doors were closing Moose said, "Damn Mitch! Are you pitching the big top in those pants?" Roaring laughter could be heard fading away as the elevator climbed up the shaft.

They got out on the eighth floor and Moose led the way to the room. Once inside, Rusty gave Walt a hug and they began to deep kiss and as easily as that, the married couple had wordlessly decided the paring for the first round.

Moose hugged Mitch, lifting him off the floor. Bones in Mitch's spine popped and he gave a sigh. "Oh, that felt good!" Mitch said.

"You think that was good? I'm a licensed physical therapist. I can massage you in ways you never dreamed possible all while we're making love. I like to give pleasure as much as receive it." Moose said with a lustful grin.

Rusty turned to the pair; his shirt was off by now his torso front covered in strawberry blond fur that had a substantial silver patch on his upper chest. Walt was working on opening his pants, kissing his way down from the chest to his belly.

"You're in for a treat Mitch, my Norman gives me a full massage while he's fucking me from behind." Rusty said.

There were two king sized beds, one with a couple of suitcases on it. Moose put Mitch back on the floor and moved the cases off the second bed. "Plenty of room for bears!" Moose said and began undressing Mitch.

Rusty stood completely naked in front of Walt. Rusty didn't seem to have much hair on him except his beard and on his chest and belly, his groin being the only other place and that was covered in a thick bush of flaming red-gold curly fur of a slightly darker hue than that on his face. His body and crotch fur had silver strands scattered through the strawberry blond. His cock and balls were a compact set; a thick tip nestled above his nuts, with no shaft showing yet.

Walt stood and Rusty began to undress him. Walt looked over at Mitch who was being undressed by Moose. "Now see how much fun this is, Mitch? If you'd bother to come to these events, we could have been doing this all along!" Walt said and winked at him.

Moose interjected, "Well, let's make up for lost time, shall we?" He paused in his undressing, having just removed Mitch's shirt and looked at Mitch's furry torso. He ran his hands over Mitch's chest and let out a sigh of pleasure followed by a soft growl of lust. Moose pulled the shorter man into a sloppy French kiss. Mitch's tongue wrestled with the bigger man and Moose's hands ran all over Mitch's back, feeling the thick salt and pepper fur. Moose broke the kiss.

"I realized some years back that I've wanted to do that since I saw you naked in the showers in high school. I've wanted to run my hands over your hairy body for decades. Am I forgiven?" His bright blue eyes looked down into Mitch's from his six-foot plus height.

"Of course you're forgiven." Mitch said, reaching up with both hands to pet Moose's thick silver and red beard, running his fingers through the soft silken strands. Mitch felt deep in his heart a final release, a healing he never thought possible. Warmth grew and radiated from that area in his soul where he'd nursed the hurt for so long, melting and obliterating any last trace of resentment he ever felt for Moose.

A single tear ran from Moose's left eye and Mitch wiped it away. They kissed, squeezing tightly against each other. Then Moose pulled away and opened Mitch's pants. Mitch kicked off his shoes and his pants dropped to the floor. Mitch sat on the bed to remove his briefs and socks and Moose almost tore his clothes as he hurriedly removed them. By the time Mitch had finished, Moose was standing only in his tighty whities, an obscenely huge bulge stretching the fabric out.

"Fuck me running if you haven't gotten even hairier, Mitch." Moose said in a low appreciative growl while looking Mitch over.

Mitch let out a gasp as he touched the front of Moose's briefs, rubbing the moist area that covered the tip. Rusty, who was now getting head from Walt, moaned, looked over at an astonished Mitch and said, "Did I forget to mention that Norman is hung like a Bear as well as being one?" There was an impish grin on the stocky man's face.

Mitch pulled Moose's pelvis to his face and buried his groin in his beard. Mitch snuffled deeply, drinking in the manly scent. Moose closed his eyes, tilted back his head and let out a low satisfied moan as he rubbed the back of Mitch's head, pushing it softly against his groin. Mitch was sucking on Moose's shaft through the fabric, licking and sucking the precum out of the underwear.

Moose looked down and said huskily, "You're going to make me nut if you don't let go."

Mitch pulled away, he gently squeezed the hefty balls in their cotton sack and kissed them and then he moved back further onto the bed. Moose dropped his briefs and bent over to remove them from around his ankles. He stood naked, covered in dark red body fur with silvery strands distributed throughout his pelt from neck to toes, not as hairy as Mitch, but he was definitely a furry critter. Mitch could see when he bent over that his back wasn't covered like his chest and belly, but it had a goodly amount all the same. His cock was huge, at least nine inches long and even with it still slightly flaccid it was meaty and thick. It emerged from a dense bush of deep red pubic hair that covered a substantial portion of his groin. Mitch guessed that Moose probably would take just a bit more stimulation to get full on hard, probably growing an extra inch at full mast.

Moose grinned. "Don't remember it being this big, do ya?" he said to Mitch.

"Well, given our relationship back then, I didn't really dare look." Mitch said. "But damn, when did you get so furry? You were really smooth in high school."

"Well, surprise then! I got my fur in my twenties so I experienced first hand what it felt like to be stared at, and sometimes made fun of, too. Made me feel really bad about how I'd teased you. I was about this well hung then but grew a little more as I moved into my late teens." Moose said and the pride in his voice was evident. Mitch didn't begrudge him that pride; a man that well endowed had every right to be proud. "My ex used to complain about my size. She said that it hurt when I'd put it in her so, if I'm too big, we don't have to fuck; we can do other things."

"Your ex was a fool." Rusty said. "But her loss is my gain." He let out a passionate grunt; Walt was sucking his balls and licking his cock. He had a couple of fingers up in him, playing with his prostate. "It just takes a little know how to accommodate such a wonderfully big cock, almost anyone can do it with the proper technique and preparation."

Rusty petted Walt's head and smiled down at him, "Oh what a jewel you are."

Walt came off Rusty's cock and balls and spoke up then, "Well, I can sympathize with Moose." He said with that same tone of pride in his voice Moose had. "He and I are twins separated at birth." He stood and showed off a cock at least as large as Moose's. "I'm glad Rusty here has the experience to take me."

"My pleasure, believe me." Rusty said with a grin as he fondled Walt's stiffening member.

"I need to put a condom on." Walt said and fished around in the leather jacket he'd dropped on the floor, found a condom, opened it and rolled it on.

Mitch looked at the thick iron-gray fur covering Walt; Walt was easily as furry as he was. Walt had tattoos on his arms, chest and back. They wouldn't have been so easy to discern were it not that Mitch was only a few feet away and a lot of the fur on Walt was silver. Mitch noticed an ursine theme: bear paw prints, roaring bear faces and bears in profile or clawing their way out of Walt's skin. Mitch understood now why Walt had said the grizzly on his helmet was a 'portrait'. Walt was a silver and black grizzly.

Moose moved to the bed, Mitch scooted over and the two lay together, face to face. Rusty and Walt moved to their bed and into the classic all-fours position.

"What would you like to do first, buddy?" Moose asked, caressing Mitch's furry arms. Mitch, of course, was running his fingers through Moose's thick chest fur.

"I'd like to be in you." Mitch said. "I want to fuck you and then I want you to fuck me, but you're going to have to take it easy. I've never had anyone in me as big as you before and it's been a few years since I've had anyone at all."

Moose smiled, "You got it buddy. I'll take it slow and be gentle. How do you want it, face to face or belly to back?"

"I'd like to do it facing you." Mitch reached up and traced a finger along the vertical scar on Moose's forehead that had once stretched into his hairline but was now completely revealed by his baldness. It was the scar he'd gotten from slipping and hitting the shower pedestal so many years ago. The gash that had to have thirty stitches. "You're a handsome man."

"Who, me? I'm a homely, grumpy ol' grizzly bear with scars all over me from years of playin' sports and damned lucky to have a cute little pocket bear who's willing to overlook my imperfections." Moose smiled warmly, "Thanks, though, I think you're pretty damned handsome too."