The next day Henry got home early, but Fox was already impatiently waiting for Noah. He'd been practicing shifting, and so far, he'd managed to change twice. It wasn't exactly a huge step, at least to him, but to actually be able to call his human side forth had taken a lot of effort that he'd previously rather have put into anything else. Literally, anything.

"Hey there, I'm sure you're not waiting for me, but Noah is going to be pretty late tonight," Henry said as he hung his coat up, then tossed something at Fox. He caught it easily, then perked up and bolted for his eating mat to dig into the fried chicken leg.

They had bought him the small placemat so that he didn't get crumbs all over his sleeping area. Not that he really minded. A sleeping area that smelled like pancakes and fried chicken was preferred, but when Noah explained that it was easier for him if he would eat on the mat, well, of course he'd eat on the mat.

"Thought you might not mind that snack," Henry said with a chuckle as he headed for Noah's room, tugging off his shirt as he went.

Fox glanced up as he chewed at his treat, not the least bit interested in the man.

Why does Noah like staring at you so much.

Sure, he was in good shape, but there wasn't anything else that really attracted him. Not like Owen and his beautiful f—Shaking his head, Fox sat up abruptly and scowled around the chicken bone in his mouth.

I meant Noah!

"Did you now?" Henry mused as he walked out of Noah's room in just a pair of boxers with a set of clean clothing draped over his arm.

"Does someone have a crush on a certain little fox?" he asked, grinning before turning toward the bathroom for a shower.

Fox scowled at him and flicked his ears twice.

He's not a little fox! He's bigger than me!

He paused for a moment, then realized the actual question.

I do not! I like Noah.

When Henry just chuckled again, Fox followed after him and hopped up onto the bathroom counter.

I'm going to win over Noah, he thought to Henry as he began cleaning his paw.

"Do you honestly want to do that?" Henry asked, making Fox glance over toward the man who had already gotten into the shower.

Of course I do. What kind of stupid question is that?

"Well, if you honestly wanted to win him over, you would have been trying to get him away from me."

I don't want to be rude to him. If he wants your attention over mine sometimes, I'll wait my turn, then prove that my attention will be better.

Henry was quiet for a moment, then replied; "Interesting point of view. So, you basically are waiting for Noah to get sick of me? Then realize that you're a more favorable choice?"

That's the gentlemanly thing to do.

The shower stopped after a few minutes of silence, then Henry grabbed a towel hanging nearby, dried off, and stepped out with it wrapped around his waist.

"Do you want to go back over to Amos' house?" he asked, instead of questioning him further about Noah.

Fox perked up immediately, surprised but delighted with the question.

Yes! But isn't it late? Owen might not even be there, either.

"You don't like hanging around Amos?" Henry asked as he grabbed the deodorant he left there, with quite a few other items, and began applying it.

He's okay, but he's not a fox.

Henry chuckled at that and set the deodorant down, then picked up his toothbrush.

"He's willing to help you work on your human side, though. Maybe you can impress Noah... and Owen, with his help?"

Fox contemplated the man's words as he brushed his teeth, then rinsed his mouth out.

I suppose that makes sense.

"I can take you over there right now, if you'd like?" Henry offered, making Fox pin his ears in suspicion.

I feel like you're trying to get rid of me so that you can do pervy stuff with Noah.

The look on Henry's face definitely proved his thoughts correct. He leaned down and smirked before speaking.

"I definitely plan to do things with him tonight, with or without you here. I'm giving you an out, and a chance to make yourself even more appealing when Noah gets sick of me. It's a win-win. But, if you'd like any details I'm sure I can provide so—" Fox growled quietly as he pressed his paws over Henry's mouth, drawing another quiet laugh from the man.

I'll go to Amos' home. Enjoy Noah's attention while it lasts, because he'll be mine soon enough.

Henry took a step to the side, making Fox's paws fall back down to the countertop.

"I'll go get ready then," he said before disappearing back into Noah's room.

A few minutes later and he was back out with a pair of black basketball shorts and a white T-shirt. In his arms were what looked to be an extra set of clothing, drawing Fox's curiosity as he hopped off the counter.

"In case you shift and can't change back again," Henry told him before Fox could question why he was carrying the clothing.

The idea was unsettling, but if Owen ended up coming over, he'd probably feel okay with it.

Okay. Let's go.

Fox beat him to the door, tapping at it with his paw a few times as Henry slid on a pair of shoes.

"Someone's excited all of a sudden. I already called Amos on my way here, so he's expecting you."

I feel like you're sending your kid off to a babysitter...

One of Henry's eyebrows went up for a moment as he opened the door.

"My kid would be a tad less... fluffy."

Fox bolted out the door and ran over to the mailbox to pee, then hurried back to the car as Henry shook is head and opened the back door. He preferred the front seat, but since his harness was in Noah's car, Fox relented and lied down in the back, tucking his tail up against himself for added comfort.

The ride wasn't too long, which honestly made the nerves that had been creeping up on him multiply exponentially. When they pulled into the driveway, Fox sat up, pinning his ears back as he looked at the small house.

He remembered the car that had been in the driveway after Owen had left. It was still there, but there wasn't another.

He's not here.

"Getting cold feet?" Henry questioned as he looked into the backseat.

Fox twitched his nose and hopped onto Henry's lap, then abruptly out his half-down window.

Paws. And no, they aren't cold.

Fox even stalked up to the door and gave a determined squeak as he ruffled his fur slightly and looked up.

He didn't really expect it to open with such a quiet sound, but before he even had a chance to glance back at Henry, who was simply leaning against his shut car door, the front door to the house opened up and Amos was standing there, looking down at him with an excited grin.

"There's my friend! Ready to work a bit on your shifting?"

This was totally a trap.

Grunting, Fox trudged inside, glaring back at Henry before the door closed and cut off his view.

"Don't worry, I know that you're not here for me. I told Owen you might be showing up tonight, so he's going to stop by after his class. It runs a bit late, but I'm sure that you'll stay awake for him, right?"

Fox perked up immediately, swishing his tail twice as he looked up at Amos.

"That's what I thought. Henry mentioned that you were working on your shifting, and while I'm jealous that it's probably for Owen and not me, I'd be more than happy to help."

You probably just want to see me naked.

"I feel like you're calling me a pervert, but I can't argue. But, I am a pervert with morals. I'm not just going to grope you like some horny frat boy."

Fox wasn't too sure, but he did remember all of his other interactions with the man had been purely appropriate. Even when he'd carried him naked. He was skeptical, because he honestly didn't trust easily, but the man hadn't done anything bad, even when he'd had plenty of chances, so he decided to try and trust him.

Without any further thought, his body suddenly became a lot colder as his fur disappeared, leaving him naked staring up at Amos.

"Oh, well. I thought that would be a bit harder to do, but cool! Congratulations, you shifted," the man said as he squatted down and patted Fox's head, then helped him into the pair of shorts.

He had definitely not meant to shift so abruptly, but he decided not to waste the chance to practice using his human body. He also appreciate the item of clothing and was glad that he didn't try to add the shirt. The shorts were more than enough. Pursing his lips several times, Fox sifted through his vocabulary, thinking about what he wanted to try and say. It took him a few minutes, but Amos was very patient and just kept on an encouraging smile as he waited.

When Fox finally looked back up at him from staring at his hands, he thought he had the right words. Now if he could just get his mouth to say them correctly.

"I wan' to stant," he mumbled, clearly trying hard to make himself comprehendible.

Amos seemed to figure it out quickly, because he reached forward and offered his arm. He wasn't wearing his coat, which made sense since he was at home. Instead, he had on a dark red sweater and black pajama pants.

Fox didn't hesitate to reach out and grasp his arm with both hands, then gingerly work on both lifting himself and getting his wobbly feet beneath himself. It was definitely a work out, but even after failing several times, he persevered and managed to stand after about ten minutes.

"There you go. Darn good job, Fox," Amos said in encouragement as he made sure to keep his arm out and rigid, supporting his weight with a quiet grunt every so often.

Fox was putting all of his focus into staying balanced, and even managed to take a few steps with Amos' help, before he felt his left leg miss-step and buckle. He expected to hit the carpet, but when arms quickly but carefully encircled his waist, then gently lowered him to the floor, he gave a quiet sigh of relief. He knew that the fall wouldn't have hurt much, but he still appreciated not having to go through it.

"Em okay," he said as he stared down at his hands splayed out over the newer tan carpet beneath them.

The thought crossed his mind to stop there and rest, because it really did take a lot out of him being in his human form, trying something so new, and working with a human that wasn't Henry or Noah, but the idea that Owen might be home soon and be impressed with his progress drove him to try and get up again.

Fox worked for two more hours, with a lot of help from Amos, before finally collapsing onto the sofa, exhausted. His eyes were trying to shut of their own accord, but he was still a little too wary of the other man around him, at least while in his human form, to be comfortable enough to sleep.

I wonder where his dad is, too.

"I made some boxed mac and cheese earlier if you want something before you pass out," Amos offered as he walked back into the room with a big blanket in his arms and a pillow.

Fox yawned but sat up, refusing to fall asleep before Owen got there.

"Okay."

The bowl of pasta was soon in his hands, but the fork that was offered took some effort to use. Amos sat down beside him after getting them both glasses of water. After taking a sip, the glasses were set on the coffee table, leaving Amos to lean back and relax as Fox did his best to stab at the little noodles, then get most of them to his mouth.

After a few misses Amos's hand appeared every time he dropped a noodle again, catching each piece of pasta before tossing it into his own mouth. It was odd at first, seeing his hand abruptly snap the fleeing noodles out of the air so close to him, but Fox got used to it quickly, and it meant less to clean up on himself later.

He finished the bowl a short while later, then let Amos take it to set on the table in front of them before receiving the cup of water again. Fox was grateful when the man didn't release it as he carefully helped tilt it upward, letting Fox drink his fill before returning it to the table for him.

"Owen will probably be home in another hour or so. I'm just going to work on some school stuff until then," Amos said as he grabbed his laptop from the other arm of the couch and got busy typing up something.

Fox did his best to stay awake, but with a full belly and being extremely tired from working so hard in his human form, he found himself dozing off and on. The armrest of the sofa wasn't the most comfortable, so he continuously moved about beneath the blanket and eventually knocked the pillow completely off the furniture. He was only half coherent when he felt a warm hand gently guide him over the blanket until his head finally settled on something firm but soft. It didn't take long for him to cuddle up closer, even though the hand hadn't left after helping him move. It had settled on his upper arm, but the faint scent of cigarette's coming in and out of his nose beneath the blanket soothed him enough to remain where he was.

Just stay awake

Little longer...

Just a...

Bit more...

Just...