"What are you doing?"

Noah's sudden words startled Fox, making him slip from his precarious perch halfway up the open spice cabinet. Luckily, he was caught right before he hit the hard kitchen floor. Unlike a cat, he knew that he did not normally land on his feet.

Once set down, Fox twitched his whiskers and flicked his left ear with a paw before licking said paw. To answer your question... causing trouble. It seems to be the one thing I'm good at.

"One day I'll know exactly what you're saying," Noah said as he walked over to the cabinet Fox had worked so hard to open. He was just about to close it when his attention drifted upward, to the top shelf Fox had been trying to reach.

"Okay. I know exactly what you were thinking... you brat," he chastised.

You say this in a negative tone, yet you're still reaching up there to give me what I was going for.

Noah grabbed the container of cocoa down from the top shelf and turned, looking down at him for a brief moment before nodding to the container in his hand.

"You do realize that this isn't chocolate, right?" he asked, as if Fox didn't know that cocoa was the main ingredient for the treat.

It's close enough. I just want something sweet, so give me.

He walked up to Noah's leg and pawed at it as he sniffed the air and licked his lips. When the man knelt down, he put his front paws on his bent knee and tried to grab the container with his mouth.

"Calm down. If you really want it, I'll let you have it, but first you need to try it. I'm pretty sure you don't understand what this stuff tastes like," Noah said as he carefully popped the lid off and took out a pinch of the dark brown dust with his fingers.

The moment they were close enough to his mouth Fox leaned forward and licked the cocoa off. When he was done, he sat back on his haunches and opened and closed his mouth several times, then looked up into Noah's eyes, then back down as he stuck his tongue out a few times.

Why is this so bitter!

Running over to the water bowl, Fox downed the remaining half that was left, then shook his head with his mouth open, squeaking out a hissing grumble in disgust.

"I had a feeling. Good thing I didn't let you dig in right away."

The humor in his tone had Fox's fur bristling. It wasn't his fault that he didn't know cocoa was bitter. He'd never had it by itself and just figured that because it was in chocolate, that it was sweet. He was just getting up to walk out of the room, intent on finding somewhere away from Noah to pout, when he felt something nudge at his mouth.

"Here. This is what you want, right?"

Leaning back slightly, Fox looked down at the little piece of chocolate Noah was offering. His mood immediately brightened as he snapped it up carefully and began chomping it up. To his surprise, it was still a bit bitter, but there was definitely more sweet flavor than anything.

"I hope you don't mind that kind. I like it a bit more bitter than most kid's chocolate. You might be used to the milk kind. This is about seventy percent dark," Noah explained as he broke off another piece and lifted it to his own lips.

Fox watched him intently, unsure if he wanted another or not. It wasn't bad... but it wasn't what he'd initially wanted. After watching Noah eat two more pieces he'd broken off of the chocolate bar he was holding, Fox relented and took a step forward, then sat down and flicked an ear.

"You want another piece?" Noah asked, even as he broke off a small part and offered it to him. "This will be the last one for now, though. I'll give you more when I get home from work."

Work?

He'd assumed that Noah was simply put on the Earth to tend to him, but it did make sense that the man had to work for a living. Things didn't just pay for themselves.

While Fox contemplated what Noah had said, the man had already put the chocolate bar back in the freezer and was tugging on a dark blue suit-coat.

What exactly do you do?

Noah gave him a small smile and leaned down to pat his head, earning himself a swat, though Fox didn't use his claws.

"I know, I know. You don't like attention very much, but if someone hadn't killed my cat, I would have an animal to pet and love on," he said with a raised eyebrow and a grin, making Fox roll his eyes.

You keep bringing that meal up.

He watched as Noah grabbed his keys from the counter and headed for the door. Instead of sit and wait for him to come back like a good not-pet fox, he hurried after him silently. Shockingly, Noah didn't even bother checking behind himself as he turned off the light and opened the door. Granted, he was messing with his phone, but Fox thought that he'd be more careful since he'd freaked out the last time he'd managed to slip out of the house.

Stepping outside, he sniffed the air and actually gave a light shiver. It wasn't too cold, but after being inside with a heated blanket all night, he was actually a tiny bit uncomfortable with the temperature.

"Oh hey, how did you get out here?" Noah asked as he leaned over, reaching for him.

Flicking his left ear, Fox hopped off of the doorstep and meandered his way down the small walkway that lead toward the street.

"Oh come on, Fox. Not today. I'm going to be late. Please, just go back inside and I promise I'll bring you home some good chocolate after work," he said, the hope in his voice making Fox stop next to the car parked on the street with a thin layer of snow on top of it.

When he refused to move after several moments, Noah sighed and turned around, locking his door and pocketing his phone before walking down the path.

"You really worried me when you ran off the other day. I don't suppose that you could stay close to the house, at least?" he asked as he quickly wiped the snow from the windshield of the car, then unlocked the door and slid into the driver's seat.

Fox wasn't sure why he did it, but before Noah could look back over at him and continue talking, he hopped up into the man's lap. Of course, since he'd been standing on the snowy sidewalk, Noah jumped from the sudden chill of icy water soaking through his dress pants.

To keep from getting smacked out of the car, unintentionally or not, Fox quickly hopped over into the passenger side seat and sat down.

Noah swatted at his pants while quietly grumbling, but after a few moments he just sighed and shut his door so that the heater wasn't going to waste.

"You're lucky I have a bit of a drive," he grumbled as he got the car out onto the road.

Fox licked his paw before having to hunch over in order to keep his balance.

"I need to get you one of the those seat-belt harnesses," Noah mentioned as he took a right turn, then merged up onto the freeway.

If you think that I'm going to let you put me in one of those stupid pet har—His face abruptly hit the dashboard as Noah hit the brakes hard, then he fumbled to the floor with a pained groan.

That was unpleasant.

"You know what, I can be a few minutes late," Noah said as he switched lanes.

A few minutes later and they were parked. Fox hesitantly climbed back up onto the seat and looked out the window.

Fred's Furry, Feathery and Fishy Friends? I want none of whatever is in that degenerate store.

Noah was already opening the passenger's side door and lifting him into his arms before Fox had even registered that he'd moved.

"Come on, buddy. Let's go get you a harness really quick so that you don't hit your head again."

You're asking to get bitten if you try to shove me into one of those stupid things.

Noah lifted him up higher and leaned in, making Fox give a warning growl. He was not a fan of the close proximity, and being held was already pushing his buttons.

"Aw, crap. You're bleeding, buddy," he said as he quickly hugged Fox to his chest and sprinted for the store.

The guy was surprisingly strong and didn't allow him to wiggle free until they were at the back of the store in the isle with bandages, antiseptics, and other unwanted things were.

It's just from hitting my face in the car. I swear, I won't bleed to death.

He could feel the injury, too. Just a busted lip and a bump on his forehead. They would both heal within a day or two.

Wait, what are you doing?

Noah was already pacing the isle, grabbing as much as he could carry as Fox glared at him from the entrance of it.

I don't need any of that stuff. Just buy me some decent chocolate with all the money you're about to waste!

To try and push his point across, Fox walked over and quickly climbed the man's expensive-looking suit. Startled, Noah dropped half of the items, then Fox swatted the remaining group from his hands before hopping back down to the ground and sneezing.

This is ridiculous.

Grunting, he turned on his paws and ran out of the isle and around the corner. Noah, of course, ran after him, leaving behind a decent pile of items to be restocked by the poor employees who were working at that moment.

"Fox, come on!" he yelled as Fox slid into the isle he'd been searching for.

Let's just get this torment over with.

He walked over to a huge display of harnesses, and, after a few seconds browsing for colors that weren't vomit-pink, because he refused to wear that chihuahua garbage, he settled on a black one with a seat-belt attachment. Grabbing it down from its hook with a bit of effort and the perfect jump, he turned and began dragging it toward the cash register at the front of the store.

"Okay, good. You got one you wanted. Now let me just go back and grab the other stuff I was getting," Noah said right before Fox bristled and bolted toward the front. Of course, as he knew he would, Noah gave chase.

Thankfully, he seemed to figure out, finally, that he didn't want any treatment for his tiny injury. Hell, he didn't even want the harness, but if it would get them both out of the store he'd just let the guy have that one small victory.

"Oh my, what an adorable little guy you have there. What's his name?" the cashier asked as she rung up the purchase and took Noah's cash.

Fox flattened his ears to the sides of his head and twitched his whiskers as he stared up at the woman who looked to be fresh out of high school.

Give you one freaking guess.

Frustrated, he stomped out the door as Noah hurried to get his change, the harness, and run after him, having not even bothered to answer the woman's question.

"You upset about something, bud? I'm sorry if I did anything to make you mad."

Fox sat when they got to the car and looked down at the dirty asphalt beneath his paws. Was he upset? A little. It wasn't really Noah's fault, though. He'd been the one who had gotten into his car when he could have just walked away... and never come back.

"Fox?" Noah questioned, drawing him back to reality as he noticed that the man had opened up the passenger door for him to get in.

When he didn't move, however, Noah frowned and squatted down in front of him, his brow furrowed with worry.

"I'll pick you up some of the chocolate you like on the way home from work if you'd like?"

But why though? I've given you nothing in return but sass and bites. I even ate your cat, so why do you care?

Even though he knew that Noah couldn't have heard him, the guy still seemed to understand and offered him a big, reassuring grin.

"You're not as bad as you seem, you little punk. I've noticed that you've stopped biting me after seeing that scar I'd gotten as a kid from the neighbor's dog when it got out," Noah said as he reached forward and poked the tip of Fox's nose. He twitched his ear, but of course, didn't bite. "And," Noah continued, "you don't have to feel bad about getting spoiled a little bit. You only live once, and I like you, for some strange reason. I know that you're not a pet, though, and I don't intend to ever treat you like one. So... why not just hang out with me for a bit and enjoy a slightly less stressful life?"

Cocking his head to one side, Fox nodded toward the harness Noah still held, making the man lift the item up in between them.

"You're not a pet, but if you can't safely wear a seat-belt, then this is the next best thing I can think of to keep you safe in case I have to hit the brakes hard again. Is it really that bad to not have to worry about getting hurt?" he asked, making Fox suddenly feel slightly embarrassed. Of course he couldn't wear a seat-belt as a fox.

Biting back his misplaced pride, Fox nudged his head into the top of the harness and huffed. Getting the hint, Noah quickly fastened it snugly around Fox's body, then gently lifted him up and buckled him into the passenger's seat.

"There we go. All set."

Straightening up in the seat, Fox shifted his body here and there, trying to get used to the restriction. It had been so many years since he'd worn clothing, and no one had ever dared put anything on his fox besides a similar harness when his mother would take him out somewhere.

Once the car was started and they were back on their way, Fox chanced a peak over at Noah. He was focused on the road, as he should be. He silently watched him the entire drive to work. Took in his simple features. His calm demeanor and sure attentiveness.

You're a person who is doing what they want with their life and seem sure of your actions.

As the car came to a stop in a large parking lot in front of a massive building, Fox slowly looked down at his paws on the seat.

I'm a fox with an attitude problem and I don't know how to be a person anymore.

"Hey bud?"

Looking up, Fox met Noah's eyes right before he felt the man's large, warm hand settle atop his head.

"It'll all be okay. You'll see."

Okay, huh?

Without another word Noah removed the harness and slipped out of the car. Simply because he had no reason to remain inside or wander around the unfamiliar area, Fox followed.