Carrying Her Home (Patreon)

It was late at night when clicking, excited breaths, and the occasional groan echoed through the apartment. Different from many other occasions, the origins of those sounds were completely innocent this time. The tigress and her stallion boyfriend were in the room that served as the horse’s office during the day. Tashi was sitting on his big chair, using the PC he also used for work. Alex had joined him with her laptop on the other desk. They were playing match after match of Rainbow Six: Siege and completely lost track of time. But after all, they were on a winning streak and making their enemies bite into their keyboards with frustration. No wall remained in one piece, no objective stayed safe, unless it was them protecting it. How could they just stop?

“You’re my amazing killer tigress!” The stallion took his headphones off and turned around to look at Alex to give her a proud smile and wink. She just chuckled in return and then pointed at his screen. “Quick, next round is starting, pick your operator, Tashi!” Swiftly, her boyfriend put his headset back on and they went on into the next battle. Keys were mashed, mouse buttons pressed, the couple called out their enemies to each other. Time kept ticking down and their teammates were being picked off left and right. “We got to do something!” Tashi said as he explored room after room carefully. “Argh! Damn it!” He yelled when it was his turn to bite the dust. He didn’t stay on his screen; he didn’t even stay on his chair. Without hesitation, he took off his headset and instead observed the game live from behind his girlfriend’s shoulder. He cheered her on as she faced a superior number of enemies and quickly cut them down one by one. “Amazing! Just one more left, quick!” He crossed his fingers and moved left and right, from hoof to hoof.

The fur on his neck was standing on edge when Alex pushed into the room with their objective. Then they both cursed as her virtual character bit the dust because the last enemy was just waiting for her with the crosshairs pointed right at the door she walked in on. She cursed. “Damn” – “Shit… well played, though!” Tashi chimed in and rubbed her shoulders playfully. He looked up at the clock on the wall. “Argh! It’s 3 am, Alex. We got to work tomorrow!” He blinked a few times and raised an eyebrow. “Ahh… why didn’t you say anything?” She asked and turned to her boyfriend. “Oof... going to be one of those zombie days. Good thing you work right at the source of the good bean juice!” Tashi responded. “You know I’m not just allowed to have some for myself.” Alex said and looked at him. “I keep telling you your boss is the cruelest of them all.” The stallion chuckled, kissed her cheek, and returned to his computer. “Let’s shut down our PCs. Still 5 hours of sleep or so, we can manage.” A few clicks and the fans inside the big tower stopped spinning, then he turned around once more. “Well, you don’t have to put a smile on for every customer!” The tigress replied. “But yes, we’ll manage.” She shut off her laptop, closed it down, and picked it up before they both walked to the bathroom to get ready for bed.

After changing their clothes and brushing their teeth, they turned in for the night. A peaceful silence fell over their apartment after they went to bed to make the best out of those few short hours they had to rest.

***

‘Beep-beep-beep-beep’

Barely five hours later, the alarm clock woke them up from their slumber. “Oof… five more minutes, please. Hit the snooze button, Tashi!” The tigress requested from her sleepy boyfriend after stretching out. “I can’t. You said your boss needs you around all day. And he’s going to let it out on you again if you come too late!” He replied, rolled around, and turned off the alarm. He returned to put his arms around her and hug her tightly. The stallion kissed her shoulder and neck, and then whispered into her ear. “Go take a shower. That will help. I’ll make breakfast for us. The day will be over sooner than you know it.” He playfully spanked her rear and rubbed her belly before letting her go. The tigress purred in return as she opened her eyes. “Fine, fine. Big cup of coffee for me?” She asked. “The really big one. Not only can you have it at home, I’ll even make it fresh and hot and perfect for you.” He replied and kissed her nose. In return, she caressed his chest and kissed his chin. “You’re the best.” She praised him. “Hold off with your compliments until I managed not to burn the toast.” He said and chuckled. The bed was so nice and comfortable. Lying on the soft sheets, arm in arm, it was just trying to get them to go back to sleep. 

‘Beep-beep-beep-beep’

Luckily, the alarm clock strongly disagreed with the comfort and relaxation the bed promised. “Alright… we’ve had our five more minutes.” Tashi said as he rolled out of bed. His hooves clopped on the ground as he got up, and he turned around to pull Alex up, too. “Shower, yes, yes.” She said and jumped up to kiss his chin. “And breakfast. Strawberry jam for you?” He asked her. “You know it!” She replied before strutting off to the bathroom. “One of those days…” The stallion whispered to himself. “… I have to tell her how gorgeous she is with her sleepy eyes.” He stretched his arms and legs out, then marched off towards the kitchen.

***

Despite having taken a shower and eating breakfast together, with the biggest mug of coffee they had, and toast that was roasted just perfectly, the tigress still looked sleepy. Tashi hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead and nose. “You can do this, make me proud!” He said as he rubbed her back. “Of course!” She replied confidently as she turned around to walk to work. “Text me when I can come pick you up. No games tonight. Just early bedtime.” The stallion told her as she walked off. “Yess… that sounds good.” She replied and blew him one last kiss before she disappeared in the lift that took her down to the ground floor. For the stallion, it was time to return to his office, to down another big cup of coffee, and do what coders do: convert that caffeine to code without creating too many bugs.

The rest of the morning flew by for both Alex and Tashi. The tigress had to run back and forth to get everyone else their refills of coffee and fresh pastries or sandwiches. The coding horse had to endure a few boring meetings and finish one task after another, each of which should have been completed yesterday even though his boss only came up with them that day. While he was waiting for the software to be built, he squeezed in a few pushups and other exercises to make up for the workout he had to skip that morning. Noon came all too soon. Time for a break for the stallion and the busiest time for the tigress working at the diner. As per usual, her boyfriend couldn’t stop from sending one text message after another to her while he was having his lunch. “Couldn’t stop thinking of you earlier. Was writing some code, named one of the test variables after you. Also made it count stripes!” – “The clouds outside look so stripy today. Hope the day treats you well!” Just two of the cheesy notes that made the phone in her pocket buzz. But she couldn’t reply to them until her horse was already back at work and in a meeting in the early afternoon. Still, they made her smile for a moment, and made her forget just how tired she was. Too little sleep and having to be a waitress was just not very compatible.

By the time the day was nearing its end, the coffee machine at home had already been working overtime. Most of the stallion’s colleagues had already called it a day and he was just writing a few reports and summaries. “Can I pick you up soon?” He texted to Alex. “Soon, yes!” – “Wait, a group of people just came in. I’ll text you when you can leave to pick me up!” She replied swiftly. Tashi nervously tapped his desk. “Aww… Okay. You should have already called it a day! We can get takeout on the way home. Then straight to bed with you.” He sent a final message and waited for the notification that the tigress had read it. But he waited in vain. He put his phone down and searched for some more stuff to do for work to make time pass faster. A few more hours went by. Still no further message from his tigress. The e-mail filters were tuned exactly right. Each and every one of his colleagues had a detailed status update for the next day. He was just about to start playing some ancient Flash games. He was definitely out of things that he could write down on his timesheet.

***

The tigress meanwhile was almost falling asleep standing up. It was the late afternoon and she was already working overtime for a few hours. Too little sleep and a long day of work, the perfect recipe for disaster. At least she was able to negotiate two cups of coffee and a small pot of green tea in return for her staying late and saving her boss’s ass for the millionth time. She didn’t know that the group she wrote to her boyfriend about wasn’t just there for a coffee, but also for dinner. And she certainly didn’t want to give up the tips of 16 people to another waitress after putting on her best smile for them! She rubbed her temples, stretched her sore arms and legs, and sighed softly. “Alright! They’re ordering dessert. After that I’m slipping out. Jennifer can do the cleanup today.” She whispered to herself as she walked out from behind the counter carrying out a tablet full of drinks.

***

Tashi had signed out of work and he just looked at his own personal e-mails. Many of them were stupid newsletters that he was too lazy to unsubscribe from. Some updates about stuff they ordered. Then there was one e-mail that did catch his attention. An e-mail from his stepdad. He was surprised that the old business buffalo bull even had his address. Scratching his neck as he read it, he concluded that his mother must have given it to her spouse. “Huh… looks like Alex really left an impression on him.” He mumbled as he read on. “Didn’t even know he owned a bakery in town. Hope it wasn’t just her smile that won the old lecher over.” The stallion smiled as he picked up his phone. “She might like to hear this.” He quickly opened the messaging app again and sighed when he saw that his girlfriend had not even read his latest message, yet. “This is an intervention!” He wrote. “Ready or not. I’m coming to pick you up.” He turned off his computer, got up from his chair that had somewhat taken on the form of his ass after such a long day, and put his phone into his pocket.

***

Out in the diner, Alex was leaning against the counter. She had a hard time even keeping her eyes open. Those espresso shots she had served a few minutes ago were looking very tempting. She was just holding onto the big round tablet with one hand and rubbing her head with the other. Even the carpet on the floor was starting to look like a comfortable bed to her tired eyes. Finally, one person from the large group raised his arm and waved at the tigress. She put on her best smile and quickly walked to the table, holding her tablet up. They asked for the bill and the tigress nodded happily. “Of course, just a moment.” She replied and picked up some empty glasses and plates before she walked back to the cash register to ring them up and print their bill. When she looked up after double checking the numbers, she saw someone familiar standing outside and waving at her.

Tashi chuckled when he saw his tired girlfriend finishing up her day. He held up his phone and pointed at it. The tigress inside quickly pulled out hers and gasped when she saw that she had completely missed his last few messages. “Darn… I should have known. Well I hope they at least tip her well to make it all worthwhile!” He mumbled to himself and kept waiting patiently. Alex meanwhile brought the large bill to the table and divided it according to the wishes of her last customers for the day. The smile on her face widened when they all chipped in to tip her. The takeout the couple had planned to get on their way home would be on her today, she wouldn’t even let her boyfriend argue against it! After the guests waved at her and left the diner, she cleaned up the table and signed out. No matter how exhausted she was, she didn’t want to leave the place in a bad state. Then she rushed out as fast as her tired and sore paws would carry her, into the arms of her waiting stallion.

“You just had to overdo it again, didn’t you, my little tiger?” He asked her cheerfully, happy to finally hold her in his arms again. “Shh… They tipped well… dinner is on me.” She responded and looked up at him with a proud grin on her lips. The stallion pouted playfully as he looked at her, but he couldn’t resist kissing her again when she was giving him that wonderful grin. “Alright… but then I’ll carry you home! After all, you carried us in the games last night.” He leaned in to sniff her hair and sighed happily when he picked up that wonderful scent of fresh coffee from her. “Fiine…” The tigress replied and chuckled when her boyfriend turned around and kneeled in front of her, ready to have her jump on his back.

She took the red band out of her hair and wore it openly, leaving it around her wrist like a bracelet. Then she climbed on Tashi’s back and held onto him. He held onto her legs as he got up and started walking. He took slow, careful steps to avoid shaking his girlfriend on his back too much. “I’ve got some exciting news for you, Alex.” He said as she put her arms around his neck and her head on his shoulder. Trusting her boyfriend, she just closed her eyes and listened to him. “What news?” She asked with a tired, happy smile on her face. “I’ll tell you when we get home. Got to show you some pictures and all!” He replied. “Oh? Okay, then.” The tigress answered calmly.

The fresh cool air outside felt good to them both. Tashi enjoyed being able to move around after that long day at home. His tigress enjoyed just resting on his strong back. After ten minutes, they were halfway home. It was already dark, and the stallion walked past street lanterns on their way. “So… Since you want to be the big spender and pay for takeout… what should we get, love?” Tashi asked and turned his head to look at her. After waiting a bit and walking past a Japanese restaurant, he asked again. “Alex?” But he got no response other than hearing his girlfriend breathing calmly on his back. “Heh… I say we skip dinner and get you to bed as fast as possible.” He kissed her arms carefully and held on to her legs extra tightly to make sure she wouldn’t slip off his back. “Still got some leftovers in the fridge… In case you need a midnight snack.”

***

The tigress must have gotten used to the clip-clopping of her boyfriend’s hooves on the pavement. She didn’t wake up until they got home. It was the beeping of the elevator that finally pulled her out of her little cat nap. Tashi felt her moving on his back after he pushed the button. “Hey, little sleepy head. We’re home. Want to just fall into bed?” He asked her. Alex rubbed her cheek against his neck and yawned softly. She opened her eyes and nodded. A moment later she remembered that he couldn’t see her, and she said. “Yess… Sleep.”

‘Ding’

The elevator door opened when they arrived at their floor and the stallion walked out. A few more steps and they were at their door. “Can you give me your keycard, Alex?” He asked her and the tigress quickly reached into her pocket to hand it to him. “Of course.” Another beep and the door unlocked and let the tired couple inside. The stallion cleaned his hooves on the doormat and then quickly took them to the bedroom without any detours. He turned around so his back was facing the bed and Alex just let herself fall into the sheets. He pulled his shirt over his head, unzipped his pants and took them off. When he turned around, Alex had also taken off her clothes and she was just waiting there in bed for him to join her.

Two piles of clothes next to the bed, two tired lovers in the sheets. After yawning softly, the stallion put his arms around her and spooned his girlfriend.

“Good night, Alex.” He whispered. “Good night, Tashi.” She replied.

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Art by Jailbird 

Tashi by TashiGibson