Mike wakes the next morning to loud banging on his door. He groans and rolls over. He just wants to sleep. A small hand gently touches his back and all the memories of the last day flood his mind.
'Right, I have an anthromon now. I managed to get into the school of my dreams but with a lot of restrictions...and I am going to kill whoever is banging on the door,' Mike's thoughts turn dark.
He drags himself out of bed and picks Freddy up as he leaves, it still unnerves him how unnaturally light she is. Well, she is still pale, injured and Mike suspected sick. Mike realizes he forgot to give Freddy her pills last night before bed. He hurries down the stairs, digs through his bag for the prescription and yells at whoever is banging on his door to go away. Mike finds it and sighs in relief.
BANG!
Mike jumps and Freddy grips his shirt tightly as the front door slams open. In walks Savannah and Horace, who both do a quick sweep of the cabin. Trailing in behind them is Angel, an amused smile on her face.
"Alright, Mike, I am going to pretend that I don't know that you just woke up. Now, we need to get to work!" Savannah declares. Mike's brain doesn't process her words fast enough and before he knows it he is being dragged into the kitchen by Horace while clutching Freddy to his chest as Savannah leads the way. Mike looks at Angel in confusion, she only giggles in response.
Angel makes them eggs and toast, there aren't many ingredients for her to work with. Mike starts to feel better and his mind can focus now that he's eaten something. Freddy takes her medicine and eats the food but doesn't look happy about it. As they eat Savannah starts to tell him the first thing she has on her agenda for the day but Mike interrupts her.
"Wait, I know you're a student here and all but, classes don't start for a few more days and shouldn't you be in police custody or something?" Mike asks. Savannah grins.
"Actually, we were let off with a warning and, because I am part of the planning committee, I get to be here a week early to prepare for the incoming freshmen," Savannah says proudly.
"Uh-huh," Mike comments as he takes a sip of water. 'I need to make a list of groceries and stuff for Freddy, like clothes and shoes…' Mike thinks while he looks at Freddy who has been wearing one of his shirts ever since she was released from the hospital. The grey shirt is big enough to be a dress and it droops to the left so her shoulder is exposed.
"Don't sass me Schmidt! I am here to help because you are my friend and if I don't help, I fear little Freddy might suffer," Savannah says as she smiles at the young bear. Freddy blinks and gives a small, tentative smile in return.
"Oh! You are sooooo cute!" Savannah cries as she reaches for a hug. Freddy instantly backs away from her and towards Mike. Savannah's face falls at the clear rejection. Horace, who was watching silently up until that point scoffs. At that moment his amber eyes meet Freddy's sapphire and he gasps as he jerkily falls into a bow identical to the one Angel did yesterday at the hospital. "Horace!" Savannah gasps. She kneels beside him and grasps his arm. The air in the room seems to vibrate, Freddy's hair stands on end, moving as if wind is blowing through it, and her eyes seem brighter. Angel puts a calming hand on Savannah's shoulder before sitting on a stool next to Freddy.
"Miss Freddy, please, calm down. We are all your friends here. Just relax and picture Horace standing up, ok?" Angel says calmly, her head bowing as Freddy's gaze focuses on her but her voice is still strong. Freddy's hands clench Mike's shirt tighter, he didn't even realize she put grabbed his shirt. He puts down his glass and uses both hands to frame her face.
"Freddy," Mike says calmly, he can feel her anxiety and tries to make it disappear. Freddy's bright sapphire orbs gaze into his green. After a moment Freddy inhales before letting out a breath and the other two anthromons relax. Angel sits up with a sigh of relief but Horace bolts upright and glares at Freddy.
"This is why I told you we shouldn't have come! She's too dangerous to be wandering around especially with that power. I lost control of my body!" Horace snarls. His feathers ruffle and his eyes narrow.
"Horace…" Savannah warns. He ignores her and looks at Mike.
"That...royal is dangerous. You should have unbonded at the hospital. Get rid of her before it's too late," he warns Mike before turning and leaving the kitchen. Savannah apologizes to Mike before bolting after Horace. Mike's hands tighten into fists.
"Do forgive him, Mr. Schmidt. He's just scared," Angel says quietly.
"He didn't sound scared," Mike snaps. He feels more angry for Freddy than himself. Angel puts a hand lightly on his arm.
"Mr. Schmidt, I think there is more explaining to do before anything else," she pauses, waiting for Mike to calm down. When she knows he is calmer Angel continues, "Mr. Schmidt, a royal anthromon has more than just power, there are many things they possess other anthromons do not. For now, I will just explain their auras. Well, not exactly an aura but that's the best example I can come up with to describe it to you. Anyway, this aura can only be sensed by anthromons. The brighter the aura the more powerful the magic the anthromon has. Now, royals are called that because their auras are so bright any anthromon, such as myself and Mr. Horace, can't bear to look Freddy in the eyes. If eye contact is made the weaker anthromon will bow. I was prepared for her power this time so I didn't do a full bow, but I assume you noticed my head lowered?"
Mike nods.
"Well, our auras respond to our emotions, the stronger the emotion the more the aura shimmers. Freddy was scared and anxious just now so when her eyes met Mr. Horace's her aura was too powerful and his body bowed without his consent. This loss of control scared him, and honestly, it scared me too back in the hospital. For our bodies to be under someone else's power is frightening and to feel so distant from our guardians is even more so," Angel finishes. Mike's brain processes what Angel told him.
"If Freddy is that powerful, she will learn to control it, right?"
"Of course, Mr. Vanheim and I hope Freddy will train with us so she can catch up with other anthromons and gain control of her abilities. Most likely she will learn more as she gains control,' Angel replies.
"Will you start training her soon?"
"Well, originally we thought to wait until the second week of classes to mention this so you both can get accustomed to life here and so she could grow bigger and healthier. These should minimize her abilities until she can control them," Angel says as she takes a pair of black gloves and a gold chain from her purse. Angel offers them to Freddy who, after looking at Mike, hesitantly reaches out and takes them. Mike helps her put on the gloves and to Freddy's amazement the gloves shrink and mold themselves to fit around her hands perfectly. The gold chain is long and Mike ends up wrapping it around Freddy's neck a few times just so it won't fall off.
"Now, if you and Miss Freddy are finished, I think it's time for us to start the day," Angel declares.
Horace is sitting in a parked golf cart in front of the cabin when they come out. His arms are crossed and he slouches in the back seat. Savannah sits beside him and gives Mike a wave when they come out. Angel walks around and takes the driver's seat so Mike sits in the passenger, ignoring Horace and maneuvering Freddy in his lap so she is out of Horace's line of sight. Mike feels calmer after having Angel explain why Freddy was so special and why the usually calm Horace freaked out. His mind wants to speculate what other abilities Freddy has. He doesn't though, instead he puts it in the back of his mind. Mike's gaze snaps to Horace and away as the cart starts moving, just because Mike feels calmer doesn't mean he is ok with Horace yelling at Freddy.
"So,what exactly is on this list of yours?" Mike asks as the tension in the golf cart builds. Savannah is more than happy to answer.
"Well, first we are going shopping because Freddy cannot go around wearing your shirts and you need more than just t-shirts and jeans in your wardrobe Mike. After clothes will be toiletries, then decor, that cabin is extremely blah, and finally food shopping," Savannah says happily. Mike has discovered over the year he's known Savannah that no matter how much of a tomboy she is, when it comes to shopping for someone else she completely transforms.
Thus starts Mike's long day of shopping in Endoville, the city Night Academy is in. They stay mostly in the city mall, visiting clothing stores. Mike plans on just getting some dress pants and a nice shirt, then buy Freddy a few outfits and shoes. Then buy food and call it a day. Savannah refuses to let that happen. She tries to convince Mike to buy four shirts and three pairs of dress pants and two khakis. Mike knows that would be way more than he can afford so he buys one pair of dress pants, khakis and a dress shirt. Even that much is more than he is comfortable with, but Angel says khakis would be a good idea for the job he has at the academy and Freddy smiled when Mike came out of the dressing room wearing the dark blue dress shirt. Savannah also gets some khakis and polos for Horace, much to his embarrassment.
Next, they go to a children's store, Freddy looks around in awe at all the colors and other kids, human and anthromon. Savannah leads them to a section filled with pink. Mike stealthily leads Freddy away from the horrific section when Savannah gets distracted and to the front so she can see all the colors. He watches Savannah storm over with Horace on her heels. Angel reaches Mike and Freddy first, she steps back to give Freddy some space and makes Savannah and Horace do the same when they catch up.
"Ok, Freddy find a color you like first. Any color will do, 'Please no pink!', then aunt Angel and Savannah will help you," Mike says as he crouches down to Freddy's level. Mike carried her for a while but soon his arms tired, and although he didn't say anything, Freddy jumped down and shakily began limping with them. Unfortunately, she gets tired quickly so they would have to stop every few feet. Now, she gnaws her bottom lip between her teeth as she looks around the store. In his mind Mike thinks she will go to blue or white so it surprises him when she walks to the black section. No one says a word as Freddy grabs a black t-shirt but then wanders towards the blue jeans and grabs a pair. She continues to go back and forth around the store collecting all kinds of clothes into a rather nice-sized pile. Mike helps her carry it to the dressing rooms, hoping she doesn't plan on getting all of them because his wallet is stressed enough as is.
"Oh, do you need a dressing room, sweetheart?" a human teenager asks from behind the counter. She leans over the counter to see Freddy better. Freddy nods and gives Counter Girl the biggest smile he's ever seen on her face. Counter Girl blinks, then-Mike did not know people do this in real life- gushes. Counter Girl takes the clothes from Freddy and keeps asking if she needs anything and will be nearby if she does. If anything is wrong just find her and Counter Girl can give a discount- Savannah has to practically drag Counter Girl out of the dressing room hallway. Angel follows them as Counter Girl asks her how old Freddy is and saying she is such a wonderful girl.
Mike hangs the clothes he's carrying on the hooks in the room. Mike stands there awkwardly for a moment before deciding to leave. Freddy reaches out and snags his jeans. Mike stops and looks down. Freddy's head is low and the inside of her little round ears look red instead of their usual pink.
"Don't...go...please," her small timid voice floats up to Mike. He blinks, his brain slowly processing the fact Freddy spoke out loud for the first time. Once his brain finishes processing Freddy already let go and is sniffling. Mike crouches down and swoops her into a hug. He's so happy she spoke, it has to mean she's healing!
Mike refuses to let go of Freddy for a solid minute, thirty seconds into the hug she relaxes and tentatively starts to hug him back. When Mike does put her down he feels energized, ready to run a hundred laps around the mall just to hear Freddy talk again.
Mike is so lost in thought he doesn't realize he is still in the dressing room with Freddy when she starts changing. Unfortunately, all she has on is Mike's oversized shirt and is naked underneath it. Mike realizes he either has to act like a mature adult and help her or run for it and get Angel or Savannah…
….
...Yeah, he is going to get Angel for this part.
"I'm going to get Angel, ok? I'll only be a few steps away," Mike says to Freddy as he dashes out of the dressing room. He makes to the end of the hallway before he is jerked backwards. Mike stumbles and manages to catch himself just before falling onto his rear. Mike manages two steps before he is pulled back again. Frustrated, Mike calls Angel, who sounds surprised to hear him.
"Mr. Schmidt? Do you need something?" Angel asks.
"Well, now I need two things. Mainly can you come help Freddy change and two, why do I keep getting pulled backwards?"
"...You are being pulled backwards? And you don't know why?"
"Yes!" Mike snaps. He doesn't mean to but he's frustrated at the moment. In the background Mike hears Savannah talk in a low voice so he won't hear.
"Mike has never bonded with an anthromon before, and from what I gather he grew up in a mostly human community," Savannah says quietly.
"Not even the basics of a bond?" Angel asks, her voice is quiet too but a hint of shock runs through it.
"Afraid not, I would have said something earlier but I thought you knew," Savannah replies. Angle responds but Mike can't quite make out what she says.
"I am coming, Mr. Schmidt," Angel suddenly says into the phone. Mike responds, then Angel hangs up. A few seconds later she turns the corner and almost runs into Mike.
"I will help Freddy but you are going to have to come as well," Angel says calmly as she walks past him and towards Freddy's room. Angel stops in front of it and lightly knocks on the door.
"Miss Freddy, can I come in?"
Silence.
"I only want to help you Miss Freddy. Don't worry Mike is right here beside me," at this Angel gently taps his arm.
"I'm here too," Mike blurts. Mike hears a little bit of sniffling behind the door and immediately feels guilty. He shouldn't have bolted. He has to start getting his act together and be a...father? No, he isn't mature enough for that. A brother! Yes, he needs to start acting like an older brother to Freddy. Mike kneels down in front of the door and talks quietly through the fake wood.
"Freddy, I shouldn't have run out on you like that. I did because I'm stupid. I won't do it again. I know you're scared and I caused that. So please open the door and let me apologize to you," Mike says. He is purposely ignoring Angel's stare.
A moment passes before Freddy opens the door, one shiny eye peers up at him. Mike can't help the sigh of relief that comes out.
"Thank you, Freddy. I'm so sorry I left you like that, please forgive me," Mike says s he opens his arms for a hug. The shiny sapphire eyes starts to glisten as Freddy jumps into the hug. They stay like that until Angel clears her throat.
"I don't mean to interrupt but someone still needs clothes and we are not in the safety of privacy here. Mike looks down the hall to see a mother and son walking towards them.
"Oops," Mike says as he enters the room with Freddy, and Angel follows close behind. Even though Mike knows Counter Girl gave them the biggest of the dressing rooms, it was not comfortable enough for three people. Angel casually starts sorting the clothes and Freddy gets distracted. She squeezes Mike one more time before hopping down and even though Mike's resolve to act like an older brother was there, he was not comfortable seeing Freddy naked. Mostly because his parents ran a very traditional and strict household. Any and all nudity was not allowed at their home. Even now he still can't do some things others find normal, but he's going to try and overcome this problem. Mostly because Angel will probably not come give Freddy baths for him.
"There!" Angel says.
Mike focuses back in on Freddy and Angel who are both looking in the mirror. Freddy hs on a white summer dress decorated with blue roses. Freddy spins and looks at Mike, who doesn't realize he needs to say something until Angel glares at him.
"I-it looks great on you Freddy," he says quickly. Freddy shoots him a big smile.
"Let's try on another one," Angel declares. For the next ten minutes Freddy tries on dress after dress. Mike is asked for an opinion about all of them and even if he gives a positive response, Freddy shakes her ahead at a few of them, clearly dismissing it. He realizes all they seem to be trying on are dresses and decides he needs to say something.
"Um, didn't you grab a t-shirt and jeans earlier? We should try on warmer clothes for the fall and winter while we're here," Mike says cautiously. He's seen classmates of his get ripped into by girlfriends when trying to rush. Angel shoots him a warning look but to both their surprise Freddy nods. She sorts the clothes until neat piles are formed. Motions to the dresses and pauses.
"D-dress...es?" she whispers hesitantly. She looks at Mike while biting her lip.
"That's right!" Mike smiles. Freddy mutters dress again before pointing at a pile of shirts.
"Dresses?"
"Not quite, those are shirts," Mike replies. Freddy and Mike continue this cycle until there aren't any piles of clothes left to name. Freddy goes through naming all of the piles again. She starts to throws on different colored articles together, most of which she puts on the hanger on the door. Once there are too many clothes there Angel takes them out before coming back to help Freddy put on the clothes. Even if it takes a while Mike is glad to see that the large piles of clothes they brought in were filtered to just a few. He could still feel his wallet shrinking when he mentally adds up a few of the price tags he can see.
"Ok, are you ready to pay for these?" Angel asks Freddy. She nods, excited. Angel takes the clothes she decided on before Mike can.
"W-wait! What are you doing?" Mike calls after Angel who is almost out of the hallway. He picks up Freddy who is wearing his grey shirt again and bolts after the dove anthomon. When he finally catches up a teenage anthromon is bagging up the outfits.
"There you go! Please let us know how did with our online survey for a coupon!" Bag Girl says. Angel nods to her with a smile before giving Mike a sly smile.
"Why did you pay for those?" Mike asks, he is honestly stumped.
"Don't worry Mr. Schmidt,the government has given you an allowance to use for Freddy," Angel replies calmly.
"What!? Why didn't I know abou this?"
"Well...technically you still need to go to court and sign a few papers and such before you can get the allowance. So I paid for the clothes just now. Don't worry, you can work it off later."
Mike numbly exits the store behind Angel, Freddy starts poking him in the cheek worriedly. Mike starts mentally chewing on this during the rest of the trip. He would comment once in awhile when Freddy would ask what a certain food was called. The only thing that did distract him id when Freddy let out a happy squeal when she saw the piles of different colored apples. She grabs Mike's pant leg and starts dragging him in that direction. Freddy's antics make him smile and buy way more apples than the two of them could possibly need.
Somewhere far away two people are arguing.
"You can't tell me you didn't feel that!"
"I didn't feel anything!" came the curt reply.
"I know you felt something! I saw your face when it happened! I know that look, it has to be h-"
"SHUT UP! She's dead and I've moved on. I have a fiancee, a younger brother and a happy life. Let her stay at peace!" The owner of one of the voices storms out of the room. The other sighs, and gazes out the window.
Unbeknownst to either of them someone was listening in.
"Her?"
YAY! The second chapter is done! Not a lot happened in this one huh? Anywho, I think I will post a new chapter for this story every Friday night.
Let me know what you think and thanks for reading!