New Neighbor

Be you, Anon, just moved to the big city from your all-human hometown. You found an apartment in the middle of an Anthro district. You had heard rumors, of course, but the price was too good to turn down, and it was only a couple subway stations to your new job in the more human part of town. Just as you finished bringing in the last of your boxes up the stairs and into your new apartment, you met your neighbor, waiting for you outside your door. A rat anthro, she was tiny for an anthro, only a little shorter than you, with silky grey fur and a bottom-heavy figure. She smiled once you caught her eye, waving a paw. “I heard they rented out the corner unit! Didn’t know there was a human moving in. Hi, I’m Sammy, I live just next door!” You introduce yourself, trying to seem polite while hauling a box full of books. “Nice to meetcha, Anon.” Quickly you make your way inside to drop your things off, though you can feel the rat’s gaze following you in. “So!” She calls into the apartment. “I can’t imagine you’ve gotten your kitchen all set up yet. Why not come over to my place for dinner?” You feel a little suspicious at first. After all, you knew how the stories go: A human winds up alone with some anthro that takes advantage of him. But Sammy was small, not likely to overpower you, plus she seemed nice. She was right too, you had no plans for dinner other than microwaving cheap ramen. You agree to dinner once you have your apartment in semi-working order. “Great!” Sammy beams. “I’ll see you real soon, just come on in.” The rat disappeared from your doorway, and you heard her enter her own apartment.
            	Some time later, you were outside your new neighbor’s apartment, hesitating to knock on the door. You had considered dressing up a bit, you were still in your shabby button-up and comfortable bluejeans. But Sammy seemed content greeting you at your own door in an oversized t-shirt and pajama pants, so you weren’t overly concerned. Finally, you knock twice in quick succession. The door opens as though she had been waiting for you. “Anon! What a surprise!” It’s not very funny, but you laugh politely while Sammy ushers you in. Something smells amazing, the warm air of her apartment hitting you like a wall. It was spicy and savory, and your stomach started growling the moment you smelled it. “I know that sound! Didja skip lunch?” Sammy reaches around from behind to pat your stomach, but then she gasps and recoils as though stung. “Sorry!” She shuffles around you, and disappears into the kitchen. “Why don’t you just sit down and I’ll bring out dinner!”
	Dinner with Sammy is pleasant, she had made a pasta dish with meatsauce and lots of cheese. It was much better than the cheap pre-packaged meals you had subsisted on the last few weeks. She’s polite, but seems more distant, even as she asks about you. Where you were from, where you were working, whether you had a car. And she told you about life in the city. Most of the anthros were big, bigger than her. You get the feeling you were one of the least threatening friends she could have in town. “Us little folk have to stick together, eh? Could get stepped on!” Once you had started talking with her again, she started to lose the edge again. “So hey, since we’re sticking together, think you’d wanna walk to the station together? Y’know, before work and all? I take the red line too, and it’d be nice to have some company in the morning.” You cock your head at the suggestion. She wasn’t quite hitting on you, but she seemed pretty enthused to be spending time with a stranger. But again, you don’t get a threatening vibe from the shapely rat girl.
	Once dinner is finished, Sammy shows you to the door once you start making your excuses. You were still getting unpacked, after all, and had plenty of work before you had to go to bed for work tomorrow. “Of course, of course, don’t let me keep you. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, right at five-thirty, like you said!” As you’re saying your goodbye, she interrupts you with a hug, nuzzling her head into the hollow of your neck. As quickly as she hugged you, she pulled away, once again seeming abashed at making physical contact. “Sorry. Goodnight Anon.” She shuts the door in your face.

	Just as she said she would, Sammy was waiting for you outside your door in the morning. She was dressed pretty casually for a work day, but you shrug it off. “Mornin’ Anon! Ready to go?” You nod in answer and set out for the subway station. Sammy keeps close to your side, though she doesn’t quite make contact. The sight of you two walking down the sidewalk draws more than a few gazes from other anthros, but besides a dirty look or two, nothing comes of it. Sammy chatters along the way, pointing out restaurants and talking about entertainment you might find around. When you mention plans to try out some of the local food, she looks a little concerned. “Well, don’t go out alone, okay? I mean, it’s much better with company! Let me know and I’ll be happy to go out for dinner.” You ask if she’s making a move. “Oh no!” Hurts your pride that she denied it so quickly. She almost seems scared at the notion. “No, no sorry! Just wanted to be friends, is all. And you’re all small, y’know? And I’m small too!”
	Well ouch. You had to admit she was cute, and her figure definitely caught your eye on more than one occasion, but you weren’t getting bent out of shape over another girl turning you down. Sammy seems to have stiffened up again, even moving away from you as you walk into the station. But she still joins you in the same car, and wishes you a good first day when she gets off the train on the next stop over.
	Work was hardly exciting, but you made a great first impression, and you didn’t manage to start any fires. You’re a little tired, spacing out for most of the ride home, and you don’t even notice when Sammy plops down on the seat next to you. “Anon! Fancy meeting you here!” You blink, not expecting to be greeted by your neighbor on the way home too. You ask why she’s joined you. “Oh, it was just good luck I guess. I take the red line home too. We can walk home together! Lucky us.” Not a problem for you. Sammy was still good company, and her constant cheery attitude made you feel good after a long day’s work.

	Things continued like that for the next week. Every morning Sammy would meet you for the walk to work, and join you on the way back. Even that one time you left work late, she was there at the home station. You thought that was weird, though she dismissed it as more good luck. On the Friday night though, you had some trouble, a big wolfess calling after you as you walked past her. “Hey humie!” You ignore the slur, and Sammy presses against you while the wolf calls after you again. “C’mon over here humie boy!” Sammy fixed her with a glare and wrapped herself around your arm. “Just keep walking Anon. She’s being an asshole.”
	Once you were out of earshot, you opined to Sammy on the event. That wolfess was the first to speak up, but you had noticed the looks and whispers around you. “Oh, well, you know, some folks just aren’t around humans, you know? And some people are just asshats. But you can’t think too badly. Most of us are just trying to get by too.” You assure Sammy that you weren’t going to hate her just because someone else was being rude, and she was relieved. When you finally get home, she wishes you goodnight with another hug, this one much longer than the last. “Goodnight Anon. You stay safe, okay? I’ll see you soon.” You agree to be safe, and wish her the same.

You awake to your phone buzzing. It’s work calling you, and when you answer, it’s work calling you in on a saturday. What a pain in the ass. Quick as you can, you get dressed, down enough caffeine to keep you on the feet, and head out the door. You walk for the station as quick as you can, not noticing that someone was following behind you. What you do notice is when a hand lands on your shoulder, yanking you back. “Hey humie!” You recognize the voice from last night. It’s the wolfess. “No rat girlfriend around to protect you now, huh?” Despite your struggling, she easily drags you around the corner and into an alleyway. “Stupid humie, walking around like you belong in our town.” As if to emphasize her point, the wolfess pins you against the side wall of the alley and raises a fist. “You should be more careful. Dumb little humie like you could get attacked. Like this.” She reaches a hand down to grope your crotch, at the same time dragging her long tongue over your face. You push and struggle with one free hand, and even manage to catch her head with a wild swing. She growls and pulls away. “Stop pretending slut. You want this.”
You want to respond, but a familiar voice shouts from the end of the alleyway. “Anon!” It’s Sammy! She’s launched herself at the wolf, stubby claws bared, mouth open to reveal sharp teeth. She’s a demon of teeth and fur, latching onto the bigger wolfess and dragging her away from you. You catch your breath while you can, and watch as the pair fight. While Sammy had the advantage of surprise, the wolfess was bigger and stronger, and was starting to pry the rat off. You can’t leave Sammy alone to lose the fight, and push off the wall to attack. You slam into the wolfess, wrapping your arms around her waist and heaving with all your strength to try to topple her over. Already off balance, the wolfess loses her footing, and topples, with Sammy leaping away just in time to avoid going down with her.
You try to question Sammy, but she grabs your hand and drags you along. The pair of you flee the alleyway and she runs you back to your apartment building. Once you’re inside, Sammy is all over you, hugging you while crying and even squeaking in sorrow. “Anon! Anon I’m so sorry, are you okay? I’m sorry! I went as fast as I could…” She continues on, almost inconsolable while she clings on to you. Even though you don’t feel like it, you keep telling her that you’re okay. Just trying to calm her down.
Once Sammy’s slowed down enough to catch her breath, she breaks the hug and turns to the stairs. “God Anon. I’m so sorry that happened. You must feel awful. Not even here a week and that bitch assaults you and--and you must hate me!” Hate her? She saved you from being assaulted, and you tell her so! “Anon, it’s not--you don’t get it…” Her outbursts have gotten the attention of a few other neighbors, voices calling down the stairwell if everything’s okay. “Come on. We’ll talk in my apartment.” Sammy takes your hand and you follow along. You’d definitely feel safer.
	Once you and Sammy are inside her apartment, she sits you down on the couch and takes a deep breath. “First, are you really okay, Anon? Did she hurt you?” You tell her the truth, that you’re shaken up, but physically unhurt. “I should have gone with you. I didn’t know you were going out and now…” Wait a minute, had Sammy been going with you all along to protect you? “Yeah, I was. I’m sorry I lied to you Anon. I do like you and everything, but I just didn’t want you getting attacked, and then you hate all anthros forever, and then you hate me.” She starts to tear up again, and this time you hug her, assuring her it will be okay. You weren’t really hurt, after all, and you just had to be a lot more careful out there from now on. She sniffles softly and returns the embrace. “Thank you Anon. Thank you.”
	For a while you and Sammy just hold each other. You don’t want to break away from her first, and she seems more than content staying there. Work calls once, and you ignore it. Then they call again. “You should answer that.” Clearly reluctant, Sammy releases you from her hug and scoots to the other side of the couch. Quick as you can, you answer the phone and explain you’re feeling sick to your boss. Sounds like you’ll be in trouble. You don’t care. Tossing your phone aside, you return your attention to Sammy. She had gone out of her way to protect you, and now you weren’t sure if you’d feel safe out there without her. You thank her for saving you, first, and then ask if she still wants to stick together. “You serious, Anon?” Grinning slightly, she picks her head up. You tell her you are. After all, little folk have to stick together. She squeaks with joy, wrapping you up in a hug so tight you swear you hear ribs creaking. “I promise Anon! I’ll protect you for as long as you’re here! We’ll look after each other and maybe--” She looks you in the eye. “To pay me back for protecting you, you could go out to dinner with me.”