“See? What’d I tell ya? Isn’t this place nice?”
“Well, it’s no water park... but yeah! Mild temperature, too...”
Joseph stood at the edge of the Olympic-sized swimming pool, watching Iris wave her hand through the water. He wasn’t sure Iris would come with him, but was happy she had. It was kind of a silly idea he’d had for weeks... bringing Iris to this pool. He knew she liked to swim and figured an in-door pool might appeal to her.
The pool was located in a small building adjacent to a high school and regulated to private use during for nine months of the year with the pool being public for the other three months. Joseph had called ahead weeks ago to rent the pool, but kept it secret from Iris until this very day...
“So what’s the ulterior motive this time, Joey?” she teased with a grin. “Swim date? Sea monster in the deep end to try and save me from? Or something far more sinister...?”
“Swim date, basically,” the other fox replied, disregarding the other two suggestions. “You like swimming, I like swimming... Figured we could swim together for a bit.”
Iris stood up, brushing her wet hand on her pants and smiling. “That’s a pretty boring date, but it’s good exercise. Keep those arms of yours strong.”
“All the better to never let you go, Iris.”
The vixen smirked. “Don’t make me throw you into the pool.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, darlin’... At least not until I’ve gotten ready.”
Iris tilted her head as she watched Joseph reach for the bottom of his shirt. A faint tinge of pink developed on her face as the fox pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his white-furred front to her without hesitation.
“I know it’s just us here, but I didn’t ask for a strip tease!” she warned with a grin, watching as he fiddled with his pants. “I have no problem throwin’ your pervy butt into the drink and leaving with all your clothes!”
“Relax, Iris...” he said as he paused. “I’ve got my trunks on under the pants. See?”
Iris’ head tilted the other way as Joseph tugged the waistband of his colorful trunks up beyond the hem of his pants. She shrugged, slinging a bag over her shoulder and walking away.
“Hey, where ya goin’?” Joseph asked.
“Changing room.”
The fox blinked. “You actually brought something to change into?”
“Don’t get excited, Joey...” she chuckled, continuing to walk away. “But yes. What did you think was in this duffle bag?”
Joseph shrugged as he stepped out of his pants. “Towels? Sandwiches? I dunno.”
“Well, you’ll see what I brought in a minute... Don’t go anywhere!”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, hun.”
As Iris made her way to the dressing room, Joseph gathered his discarded clothes and set them near a beach chair. He set his own duffle bag nearby before sitting down, tail flicking as he patiently waited for Iris to come back. He didn’t have to wait long though, the sound of padded footsteps causing his ears to perk again. He looked in their direction, blinking at what he saw.
Iris had returned in a much different outfit than before. She was still wearing her usual tank top, black and belly-bearing, but rather than her usual gi pants, she was now wearing a pair of swim trunks not too different from his own. Though rather than green stripes up the sides, hers had blue ones.
“Well...?” Iris asked, a faint nervousness to her voice. “What do you think?”
“Huh?” Joseph shook his head. “Sorry, I was busy looking at your legs. I... you have really nice legs.”
Iris blushed, but brightly smiled as she walked over to Joseph. “Okay, but what do you think of the outfit, silly?”
“Uh... You look fine?” Joseph raised an eyebrow as he looked her over. “It’s swim wear. I mean, on you, it looks really cute. But I might be a little biased...”
The vixen leaned down and hugged her boyfriend around the shoulders. “I hope you weren’t expecting me to walk out in a skimpy two-piece of something... But I’m glad you’re not disappointed.”
“What? No, Iris, no...” The fox hugged his girlfriend back, giving her a little nuzzle. “I know you better than that. You wouldn’t wear anything that revealing regardless of circumstance. You prefer your clothes to be cute, but somewhat modest and functional.”
“More or less... though...” Iris widely grinned, whispering into Joseph’s ear. “I am wearing a two-piece under this... But you’ll never see it...”
Joseph furrowed his eyebrows, ears perking. “That’s just evil, Iris...”
“Mmhmm... And you know what else is evil?”
“What?”
Iris’ tail wagged. She leaned in, hugging him tighter. “This...!”
Joseph’s eyes widened as an instant later, he was flying through the air, heading right for the pool! “Holy--!!” was all he could get out before he hit the water face-first, the rest of his body propelling him down into the depths like a javelin.
By the time he surfaced again, Iris was sitting in the chair he’d sat in, legs daintily crossed and hands folded in her lap, a satisfied smile on her face.
“Welcome back!” she chimed, tail wagging. “Enjoy your trip?”
Joseph coughed and sputtered for a moment, trying to catch his breath. “Iris, you crazy--”
“One man’s ‘crazy’ is another woman’s ‘playful’, dear. By the way!” She grinned. “I think those are yours?”
“What are what?” Joseph brushed his oversized and over-saturated bangs out of his face, looking around. His ears perked and he blushed as he noticed something floating a small distance away. His swim trunks...!
“You really should’ve tied those better... or maybe you enjoy going skinny-dipping?”
“W... well, now that you mention it...”
Iris shook her head with a chuckle. “I’m not coming in until those are back on your butt.”
“Fair enough,” Joseph said which a chuckle.
Soon, Joseph retrieved his trunks, putting them back on and showing Iris they were secure. As he did, she hopped up and gracefully leapt into the pool... with a cannonball. This of course started a brief splash fight between the two... which Iris won. The two then proceeded to swim together, challenging each other in a variety of events -- some silly, some productive.
Some time later, the two were on the edge of the pool, both worn out from several hours of swimming.
“Geeze, Iris...” Joseph panted from his laying position. “How did you... hah... get so much... hah... stamina?”
The vixen was sitting nearby, one leg pulled up to her chest and the other foot in the water. She smiled, hugging her leg and resting her head on her knee. “Years and years of training... both intentional and unintentional, I guess!”
“Heh! Unintentional, you say?”
“The whole Werewolf thing doesn’t set well with everyone, ya know... Sometimes, it’s smarter to get the heck outta town rather than fight. But some people are really persistent!”
Joseph smiled. “I’m glad most everyone around this town know us personally. I haven’t had to deal with that yet... but likely some day...”
Iris’ smile faded a little and she quickly changed the topic. “So, there’s something I’ve been curious about for a long time, Joey...”
Joseph turned his head toward Iris. “Yes?”
“I’ve been really curious about... your hair.”
The fox blinked. “My hair?”
“Mmhmm. Like, right now... your bangs are all over your face and hanging on your shoulders. But normally...” she continued, reaching over and taking a handful of hair, “you have these spiky bangs coming off your forehead. Three of ‘em!”
Joseph blushed as she played with his hair. “Oh. Well uh... your hair is all heavy with water, too...”
“Yeah, but my hair doesn’t defy the laws of physics!” she laughed. “Once it dries, it’ll poof right back into place. Your hair though... Tell me, how do you get your hair to do that?”
He grinned. “Rubber cement.”
Iris smirked. “Really though, how do you swing that trick?”
“It’s actually kind of embarrassing...”
Iris wagged her sopping tail. “Ooh! Blackmail material!”
“Iris... C’mon, now.”
“Alright, alright...” Iris laughed. “I can keep a secret!”
“Well, the honest truth... is it’s a combination of hair spray, a little bit of gel, and artificially dirtying my hair.”
“Artificially?”
Joseph gave a nod. “By keeping my bangs just a little dirty, all that hair maintains a natural sort of stiffness. That stiffness is amplified by the spray and gel, causing my bangs to seemingly defy the laws of physics.”
“So you like your bangs hard, is what you’re saying?”
“Actually, my bangs are surprisingly soft.”
“I’ll have to keep that in mind for later...” she said in a suggestive tone.
“What...?” Joseph blinked a couple of times... then blushed hard. Iris was smirking...
“A-a-anyway...!” Joseph stuttered. “Wh-why don’t we head out and pick up some food?”
“Sounds good to me... pervy fox.”
Joseph grunted, shaking his head as he got up. The two then dried off before changing back into their usual outfits and heading out into the evening together.










