I don't want to play with that right now.

Henry stared at Fox, his injured leg crossed over the other as he leaned back into the couch.

"You've been licking your balls for the past hour."

And you've been watching me, you creep.

The look on Henry's face had Fox snickering internally. He'd been trying to get him to mess with the tablet he'd bought for two days while he hasn't been allowed to go back to work. Granted, he was the boss of his own veterinary practice, so he technically could go back whenever he wanted, but Noah had laid down the law the other day. He'd cooled off after sleeping that night, but still had had enough bite in him in the morning to get Henry to agree not to go into work for at least a few days so that his injury could heal.

I'm going to go out.

Henry grunted and started tapping away at the tablet, intent on playing with it by himself, it seemed.

By all means. If I have to mess with it, I'll do it with Noah.

Granted, he was still wary of running into his brother again, but his animal side refused to sit around all day. Especially when Henry was the only one home until late and he was in a pissy mood.

It had thankfully warmed up decently well the past few days, so when he slipped out the doggy door, there was barely any snow on the ground and the sun was peaking through some clouds overhead.

Time for a hunt, finally.

With a little skip to his step, Fox hopped the few fences between himself and the sidewalk, then started heading toward the park. He looked relaxed, but his senses were on high alert. There were definitely more people out and about, so he wasn't as worried that his brother might try something, but that didn't mean a whole lot in the end. He remembered what him and their sister had done to him many times. He might have forgotten how to be human to some extent, but he never forgot what those two had done to him.

I don't want to be human, or around other ones, if that's how they all behave.

Well, he couldn't really lump them all together anymore. Noah had shown him that not all people were bad. Even Henry wasn't terrible. His parents hadn't been outright mean, either, but they had known about some of the abuse towards the end. There was no overlooking the missing patches of fur or tiny blood spots around the house... but eventually, they just shrugged things off or cleaned them up without a word.

"You look deep in thought, my naked friend."

Fox growled automatically, but when he looked up at the man looming over him, he realized who it was.

Cigarette man. Wait. Did you just call me naked friend?

Puffing up his fur, Fox pinned his ears back and sat down with indignation.

How dare you call me your friend. I'm also not naked right now, for your information. I have quite a nice coat on. Much better than yours, if I do think so myself. Which I do.

"I swear you have some sort of sarcastic monologue going on in your head every time I see you. I can feel your eyes rolling, even if they aren't on the outside," the man commented before promptly walking past Fox.

Wait.

Fox stood up and turned around, watching with annoyance as the man hurried away, the back of his long coat blowing slightly in the crisp morning wind. After a moment's hesitation, Fox followed after him.

I wasn't done thinking to you yet, you rude human.

"I promise that I can save myself from random scrawny guys that decide to chase me, kiddo. No need to repay the favor," the guy said as he glanced back at Fox for a brief second before returning his attention to where he was going.

I'm not a kid!

Annoyed, Fox ran ahead of the man, then stopped right in his path. He expected the guy to stop walking and glare down at him, but instead, he just stepped over him and continued on his way.

You!

Fox ran after him again, swiping at his too-big shoes, then biting at one of the laces until he finally managed to get a decent hold and tug it undone. He didn't get any time to be satisfied with his little trick, however, because gloved hands had him off his feet in seconds. Being lifted, by a stranger made Fox's entire body stiffen abruptly as he pulled his lips back and bared his teeth.

"Alright, let's hear it, kid. What's your problem at home? I'm not interested in babysitting a troublemaker who doesn't want to deal with their own issues. Was that guy who was chasing you a relative you pissed off? Just shift and I will force myself to listen to you vent so that you can leave me alone," the man said as he turned and dropped down onto a bench and set Fox down in his lap.

He had one-hundred percent intended to just flat-out bite the dude as he leaned forward with his stupid raised eyebrows, but Fox felt that something else was in order for the smug bastard.

Well, don't tell me I didn't warn you... because I didn't.

Without hesitating Fox let a massive fart go, then darted from the guy's lap right before he could shove him off.

"You little shit!" he heard the guy shout as footsteps started after him.

Okay, that probably wasn't my best idea.

Thankfully, all the snow had melted from the sidewalks making it much easier to put distance between himself and his new pursuer. When he heard the man slow to a stop, Fox ran another thirty feet or so before turning around and sitting down with a taunting nod for good measure.

That's right, who's faster? Me.

"You're lucky I'm a terrible smoker, kid," the man panted with his hands on his knees.

You're lucky I felt like running away instead of biting you. We'll call it even. You and your debilitating habit and me and my rare bit of niceness.

Fox watched as the man finally straightened up, giving a few quick coughs before his eyes finally landed back on him.

"Wait a second. Why do you have a collar on if you're a shifter?" he asked as his phone chimed in his pocket, making him reach down to fish it out and then answer.

It didn't take long for Fox to lose interest in the man's conversation and start walking away. When he heard footsteps starting to follow him a few moments later he pinned his ears back in annoyance but refused to look behind him. The guy had wanted him to leave him alone, yet now he was the one following? Yeah, not going to pay him anymore attention.

Fox walked for nearly three blocks, the opposite direction from the park, when he heard the sound of fighting start up behind him. Confused, he turned, only to see the cigarette man holding his brother down against the cold sidewalk, one knee on his back with his arm bent in a very uncomfortable-looking position.

Oh, damn.

"You two really need a counselor or something, because stalking your little brother, or whatever he is to you, is very disturbing and I feel like I should be calling the cops right now, buddy. The only reason I haven't yet is because you two look very similar, so I'm hoping, yet not hoping, that you're his brother."

Fox's brother squirmed under the guy, but there was no way that he would be able to get up without permission.

"I just want to talk to him but he keeps running off and the dudes he's living with won't let me near him!"

Cigarette man looked up at Fox through dark bangs and replied, "you want to talk to him, fox?"

Fox promptly stuck his tongue out, then shook his head.

The gesture had the guy rolling his eyes and getting up, yanking Fox's brother up with him.

"He doesn't want to talk to you. Do I need to translate that into any other languages, or do you understand? I can also do sign language if you need it, though I only know one gesture."

The look on his brother's face was utterly priceless. His cheeks were turning red from anger, but when cigarette man stepped between them and flipped him off, then said something in a language Fox didn't understand, his brother seemed to get the idea and backed away, then took off with a few choice cuss words.

Once he was out of sight Fox slowly walked over to the man and sat down near his feet.

I guess I owe you a thank you, but since you can't hear my thoughts and I don't feel like sh—His thoughts were cut off abruptly as his body suddenly lost all of its fur and left him completely naked, sitting on the cold concrete sidewalk looking up at the guy returning his stare with an amused one of his own.

"Hello again, my naked friend."

Shit.

Fox felt his body stiffen as he readied himself to bite. When he didn't speak, however, the man tilted his head and walked around him. Confused, Fox watched him walk to the end of the street, then look back at him. The guy stood there for a while, just staring at him.

I'm not sure what you want me to do, but my legs don't work all that well so I'm perfectly fine sitting here until my true form decides to come back... though my butt is getting pretty cold.

Cigarette man ended up making a phone call while watching him, but even after completing it, he didn't turn away. Several people passed Fox on the sidewalk during that time but while he got several odd stares, none offered any kind of help. Not that he'd take it, anyways.

Come on fox, come back, please.

After twenty minutes or so Fox decided to at least try to get himself out of the middle of the sidewalk. It was much harder to physically do, though. His legs shook as he tried to get his weight balanced on them correctly. Without his pads and fur, his feet were already starting to get uncomfortably cold and he was honestly afraid of letting either of his hands leave the ground once he finally had his feet under him, in fear of falling. He'd done it quite a bit when Henry or Noah had helped him walk and he'd tried it for himself a few times when they weren't around to catch him, but he knew that there would definitely be a difference between falling on carpet and falling on concrete. There was also the fur and no fur issue as cushion, and, of course, the height difference.

I should just sit back down and wait. I'm sure my fox will be back soon.

He was just settling back down onto the cold ground when a familiar car pulled up beside him and Henry hopped out.

Oh, thank god. For once, I'm happy to see you!

"You actually look happy to see me, too" Henry copied his thoughts as he settled a warm blanket over Fox's shoulders and carefully helped him up, then into the car.

How did you know I was here?

Henry got Fox situated in the back seat, then slid into the front one as he replied. "A man called after seeing the phone number on your collar. I'm glad I put my name on it, too, because Noah is in meetings all day and wouldn't have been able to answer."

Wait, there was only one person close enough to me to even see it.

As the car got moving Fox quickly looked out the window toward the street corner.

He's gone...