After a good game of catch the two went home. In the car Braixen sat fumbling with his seat belt, another change, and was distracted by a rumbling in his tummy. Perhaps the cone was too much? Rubbing his belly the pokemon concentrates on his master's music instead, something he called "thrash metal". Lost in the viscous strokes of guitar strings and the heavy hammer of drums, the pokemon's thoughts started to wonder to other things.

His thoughts go to his master, and of how he treated him now that he had evolved. At first Braixen had considered that his master cared for him less, but now he knew that this wasn't true. He still loved the pokemon, absolutely, but there was something else to it now. When his master looked down at him, Braixen felt his gaze go deeper than before. What did he see? What was he thinking? Like a jeweler, his eyes went further than the surface of a raw gem, and he saw straight to the heart of his treasure. He could see something in the pokemon that Braixen himself could not, and he knew it changed the way his master felt about his pokemon.

Braixen started to blush, and looked to the window to hide his face. His hands retrieve his branch on their own, and again he starts to fidget with it. Just what exactly changed? Was it simply a new sense of pride, or was it something else? His heart started to beat faster, excited by the possibilities. Could it be that his master felt as the pokemon did?

"We're home"

Braixen snaps back to reality with the suddenness of a balloon pop, jumping a bit. Killing the engine, his master unbuckles both seat belts, saving Braixen the effort. The pokemon throws a glare, but the man merely laughs and ruffles the fox's hair. He can't help but fluster a bit at the touch, dissolving any malcontent within him.

Braixen never could get a leg up on his master. He often tried to get some emotional leverage with a pout or a glare, but every time he tried, all it took was a rub to melt away any belly-aching. The pokemon didn't mind. No amount of spoils he could gain from it could match the feeling of his masters touch. Petting was something his master was simply too good at, his wonderful hands knowing exactly where they needed to be to bring the pokemon to their graceful mercy. He would have to insist on a good scratch when they got inside, but upon getting out of the car Braixen nearly cried out in dismay. The sun was already starting to set, it was almost bedtime! The realization that there would be no time for a petting session almost made him crumble. The man saw this, and for a moment was clinched by the idea of sacrificing a strict bed time for the sake of a rub. He decided to compromise, and would spend an extra moment with Braixen when he tucked him in tonight. Unlocking the deadbolt he steps inside his home with his pokemon.

The house is simple, but comfortable. Sparse yet well placed furniture breaks up the tidy house, and Braixen breathes in the welcoming air. He briefly considers asking master for a rub, but all to soon he is told to go and brush his teeth. Sighing, the pokemon makes his way towards the bathroom. The man knows what the pokemon wants, but refuses to bring it to attention so late. He is a man that believes in a strict recipe in order to raise his pokemon. Love, commitment, and a ten o clock bed time.

Braixen can't help but notice a rumble in his tummy again, but he shoves it off. Reaching the bathroom he globs some toothpaste onto his brush. The pokemon thought of oral hygiene to be one of the more interesting changes he had inherited. He also found it to be really, really hard. Braixen runs the bristled brush along his canines, trying his best not to get it around his maw but failing somewhat miserably. His paws are just not used it. His eyes narrow in concentration, determined to keep tidy during his task. At first his master brushed for him, as he simply made too much of a mess. This embarrassed the pokemon greatly, and he committed himself to fighting for his right to brush his own ivories. Dutifully the brush runs across his teeth, along his gums, around is mouth and over his tongue, just as his master taught him. The pokemon has to stand tiptoed on a stool to be able to see himself in the mirror, but his oral care conviction would not be broken, not when he can still impress his master.

Finally the pokemon, with a spit, declares the ordeal to be over. Using both paws he carefully maneuvers a glass of water to his mouth and gives one final rinse. Opening his maw he examines his handiwork. His tongue works along his teeth, relishing in the accomplishment of a clean mouth. Satisfied he hops down from the stool and heads to the living room to find is master. He's found lounging in a recliner, delving into a thick novel. Braixen taps his master's arm, then puts his hand behind his back and rocks on his heals. He's excited to show his master his success, and waits patiently as the man finishes the paragraph he's on. Finally looking up, the man addresses his pokemon.

"All done?" he asks. Braixen nods intently before opening his mouth wide to show his master. The man cradles his pokemon's jaw in one hand, and scratches his own chin with the other. He gives his pokemon a highly exaggerated examination, as if he was a judge for a pokemon beauty competition. Braixen stifles a laugh at the antic, and is thrilled when his master gives him the all clear. Standing up, the man says that it is time for bed. The pokemon grabs the man's arm with both hands, and with enormous pleading eyes he looks up and begs his master for a rub as best as he can. The man holds face, but inside his heart feels like dry tinder set alight by a Charizard's flamethrower. With a great mustering of will he tells his pokemon that there's not enough time, and that it's time for bed. Braixen frowns, and so his master picks him up in his arms. At the least he could carry his pokemon to bed, though he knew that wouldn't make up for it.

Sad as he is Braixen cannot help but nuzzle into his master's shoulder. In his master's strong arms the day starts to catch up to him, and exhaustion sets on him like a thick fog. By the time they reach the pokemon's room he has almost fallen asleep in his master's hold.

If the man thought leaving Braixen with a sitter while he was at work was difficult, he was blindsided by the near impossible task of having the pokemon sleep in a separate room. Having given Braixen a newly furnished bedroom of his own while he was still a Fennikin did little to help him. Only by sitting next to the pokemon, sometimes reading a story until he fell asleep, was he at first able to get the pokemon to sleep alone.

Of course the man did love having his pokemon sleep with him, it was something he always looked forward to at the end of the day. It was just that the man wanted to build some independence in his pokemon, and Braixen had no idea how much it actually hurt his master that first night they slept apart. Alone, the man hated not having his pokemon there, making sure he was safe from the frights of the night. At times during a storm, or if he was simply feeling lonely, he couldn't help but let Braixen crawl up next to him for the night, holding him tight and protecting him from whatever the dark may bring.

Delicately the man sets his pokemon down on the bed, being careful not to disturb him. Braixen is still awake, if only just barely. Drawing the covers over him the man tells the pokemon that he'll be right back. Confused just enough to stay awake, Braixen doesn't have to wait long until his master returns. Rubbing his eyes he sits up in his bed while his master sits down next to him, hiding something behind his back.

"I'm sorry about tonight" he starts, rustling the pokemon's hair with one hand "I know you wanted to spend some time together, so I figured I would make it up to you."

With one hand he reveals his gift, and the pokemon marvels at it for a moment. He's seen one of these before, it's... it's a kite! Bright red with long white ribbons for tails. It's simple in design, but as the pokemon takes it the sturdiness of it suggests that it was hand made, by none other than his master. Wonder fills the eyes of the pokemon as he examines this new gift. He's never seen anything quite like it, and emotion starts to swell up inside him.

"I figured we could try it out tomorrow" says the man, "that is, if your paws can handle it."

The man's tease goes unremarked as Braixen suddenly embraces his master. The pokemon's arms wrap tightly around the man's neck and for a moment he's too surprised to act. The shock fades and the man wraps his arms around Braixen in return. Holding both the kite and his master Brixen can feel tears start to swell up in his own eyes, and run down his cheek. He's not sad, so he's not too sure why he would cry now. His master knows, but doesn't ruin the moment with words and instead holds the pokemon for all he's worth.

For a few minutes they sit like this, ignoring the rest of the world. Eventually the man is the one to break the hug, gently reminding the pokemon that he should really try to get to sleep. Braixen rubs his eyes and smiles, sensing the emotion that his master is trying to hold back. Putting the kite on the nightstand he carefully lays his pokemon back down. He tucks him in skillfully, using all the care in the world. He tell his pokemon that he loves him, and leans in to place a kiss on his forehead. To this Braixen reaches out and plants a kiss of his own, almost without realizing it, on his master's neck. This time it's the man's turn to blush as the soft lips grace his skin. That was unexpected. Still blushing he wishes his pokemon a good night, before quietly leaving the room. Just before closing the door he peers back at his pokemon. Braixen lies peacefully in his bed, with a smile on his face as he drifts to sleep, dreaming of his master.