Art Pack Preview-Axel

Strictly speaking, you really shouldn't be behind the bar. But then again, the bartender should also be wearing pants when he mixes your drink.

Ambient music floats through the air as you make yourself comfortable at your booth. Under normal circumstances, the bar would either bustling with visitors or closed on account of the owners other obligations. But it seems tonight is a rare case of everybody simply having other places to be during an even rarer moment of peace. You don’t really mind, simply humming along to the song as you look out through the window to take in the deep violet sky.

“Lovely night, isn’t it?” Axel asks from behind the bar counter, wiping down the drink glasses for the third time to keep himself busy. From any other bartender you’d take it as a sign to hurry up and actually order something or get out, but not Axel. The big tiger was far too much of a softie to do something like that, giving you the confidence to answer truthfully.

“It is indeed.” You say, nodding as you appreciate the stars for another moment before turning your gaze back to the tiger. He’s wearing that cute uniform that he always does when working the bar, a purple dress shirt under a vest that somehow only makes his round feline face even cuter. “Not as nice as the view in here though.”

“Aw, shucks!” The tiger chuckles, waving you off in a display of faux bashfulness. “What a charmer.”

Finding it a bit odd to continue the conversation from across the room, you decide to get up from your booth to find a new seat at the bar. Sitting directly across from Axel, the tiger looks down at you with an amused chuckle.

“Hi.”

“Hello.”

“Does this mean you’re actually going to order something now?” He asks with raised brow, his smile never dropping from his face.

“Perhaps,” You say, tapping the tip of your chin as you consider it. “Though I’d hate to take away this rare bit of free time from you.”

“Bah, don’t think of it like that. I enjoy mixing drinks to start with, especially when it’s for friends on a night like this.”

“Just friends?” You ask, earning an amused chuff from the tiger.

“You know what I mean, smartass.” Knowing your usual, Axel goes on to start preparing your drink, pulling out some of this and that to pour into the shaker glass before sealing the top off with an expert twist. The man does it so casually, only adding to the sense of watching a master work his artform with how fluidly he dances through the steps. You take a moment to appreciate the fitting irony there, seeing as the bartenders job has to do almost entirely with drinks to start with.

You also take the opportunity to watch the tigers body react to the burst of motion as he begins shaking the metal container in his hands, eyes never leaving the tigers middle as it bounces up and down. Of course, there are plenty of other things to admire about him, but you can’t deny the sway Axels bit of belly has over you. You can’t help but wonder if it’s as soft as it looks under that uniform. You’ve had the chance to see him in casual dress before, getting that cheeky little bit of a belly peak that started off your curious fixation.

You’ve apparently been staring long enough for Axel to notice by now, still shaking your drink as he whistles to get your attention.

“Hey, you know it’s rude to start at a mans belly while he mixes you a drink, right?”

“Right,” You admit with a sigh, as apologetic as you are embarrassed after being caught red handed. “My bad. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“No? Guess I was mistaken then.” Axel says with a shrug as he pours your drink out into a glass, sliding it over the counter with a challenging smirk. “Here I was thinking you’d like to get a feel of it.”

You blink in surprise, needing a moment to actually register what the tiger just said before asking.

“May I?”

“I don’t see why not. Business has been dead for hours now, I’m sure nobody will mind if I…” The tiger trails off, his words hanging in the air as he unbuttons his vest. Stretching his back, Axel pushes his belly out onto the bar counter before giving it a pat of appraisal. “Let this all air out for a moment.”

Patiently, you watch as the tiger slowly unbuttons his shirt, slowly freeing the expanse of white tiger pudge until it all comes spilling out before you. Reaching over, you rest your palm against its surface, as plush and soft as a pillow as you press against it lightly. Hearing a purr of approval, you begin rubbing circles into his belly, watching the fur ruffle between your fingers as you do. 

“Enjoying yourself?” Axel asks, to which you nod.

“Very much. You?”

“Just as much…You’re very good at this.”

“Are you talking from experience when you say that?”

“Perhaps. People certainly do seem to like this bit of tiger tubb.”

“I can see why,” You sigh as you give his supple paunch a little bounce. “May I come back over there to feel it up a little better?”

You ask, testing your luck as you start to fel the strain of having to stretch over a bar counter to reach him.

“The gate’s open.”

Walking over, you wait until Axel turns to face you before continuing, able fully lean into your belly rubs with the two of you now standing face to face. A bit of blush starts to creep on your faces as you lean in, closer and closer until you can feel each others breaths on the tips of your lips.

…

You’re sitting in your booth gain as you watch Axel prepare the last drink of the night. Having been meeting semi regularly for a while now, the tigers belly has only grown bigger and softer, reaching the point where his vest is now forced to be left undone. Despite having bought a larger shirt just a little while ago, you can already see diamonds of white poking out between the buttons, visibly straining to hold back the sea of tiger fat.

Following the last of Axels guests to the door, you reach for the sign hanging in the bar window, turning it to read “Closed” from the outside. The lights go dim as you do, undoubtedly Axels work as you look back to the bar. The rotund tiger smirks as he beckons you over with a wiggle of his finger, earning an amused scoff as you then lean against the counter.

“Well good evening to you too, Garfield. Customers been paying you in treats instead of money again?”

“Oh, just the one.” Axel responds with a huff, kneading the ball of dough hanging off his waist as he does. “Persistent as hell though. I’m blowing up like a balloon at this rate.”

“Certainly looks like it,” You say, playfully poking the pockets of pudge that spill out from the gaps in Axels shirt. “Walking around more would probably help with that, getting your steps in and all.”

“Oh, yes, I’d be making so many rounds coming over to serve you your hourly belly rubs, wouldn’t I?”

“Very funny. I’m serious though, how come you never came over to say hi?”

“Well…” Axel says, looking away for a moment before pointing to the gate with his thumb. “Come back behind the bar and see for yourself.”