Molly stared at the door, trying to figure out who it could be. Very rarely did anyone knock on her door without prior warning such as a phone call or text saying they were coming by. She stood and approached the door, the banging coming harder now. She peeked through the peephole but it was covered by a hand it appeared. Hesitating, Molly stared at the door and waited to see if whoever it was would leave.
"Who the hell is that?" mumbled Jason, rubbing his eyes and shuffling into the living room.
"I don't know. I can't see. Whoever it is, they're covering the peephole," Molly said.
"Just open it so they'll shut up," Jason groaned.
Molly looked uncertainly at Jason. Letting out an exasperated sigh, Jason yanked the door open. Someone stumbled into the room upon the door opening and before either Molly or Jason could react, the person collapsed onto the couch.
"So tired," the person sighed.
"Foxy!" shrieked Molly.
The pirate looked up at Molly and gave her a weary smile.
"What the fuck? How are you operating without your chip?!" Jason said.
"They put some new chip in me. Don't ask me how, but I was able to keep some of the upgrades you gave me. But… Someone… I don't know who… Is after me. I was scared you wouldn't open the door if you saw it was me because your chip was missing and I figured you might have had something to do with it. They discovered I wouldn't turn on so they gave me the new one. First chance I got, I left," Foxy explained, panting.
He had run from the pizzeria all the way to the apartment, all four miles, without looking back. He'd heard footsteps behind him but was terrified to see who it was. Instead, he bolted into the apartment building. He was able to grab the door as someone else left the building and run up the flights of stairs to Molly's apartment.
Molly pushed back the curtain and looked at the street below but didn't see anyone she would consider dangerous or suspicious outside. Only someone from a few floors below her.
"You don't know who it was?" asked Molly, straining her neck to see down the street.
"No," said Foxy, accepting a glass of water Jason offered him.
"You must have downloaded some of your abilities into your system somehow… And when you got turned on they were activated again," Jason said.
Foxy gulped down the water and set the glass on the coffee table before joining Molly at the window to look outside.
"Keep the door locked," he advised.
"Already locked it," Jason replied.
Foxy sank down onto the couch, sighing wearily, "If anyone you don't know knocks on the door, please don't answer. I don't know who was chasing me. It could be anyone. And I don't know what they want."
Molly sat down beside the pirate who hugged her immediately.
"Sorry I didn't hug you right away. But I was more focused on not dying," Foxy said.
"It's okay," smiled Molly, nuzzling Foxy.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too."
Foxy yawned and pressed his face into Molly's neck. Molly smiled and let him relax against her as Jason walked back towards the bedroom to lay on the bed. The woman allowed Jason to sleep in her bed so long as she wasn't in it. When she was in it, he had to sleep on the couch during his stay.
Soon, Foxy was snoring, leaning against Molly who was unsure of what to do. She shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable, but it only resulted in Foxy sliding down her chest until his head was in her lap. Blushing, Molly lifted his head slightly and slipped a pillow under him and then pulled a blanket off the back of the couch to cover him. Molly smiled and closed her own eyes, relaxing, while Foxy continued to snore in her lap. The calm was suddenly interrupted by Molly's phone blaring its ringtone, waking both Foxy and Jason, despite how far Jason was from the living room.
Foxy groaned and dug his hook into the pillow, pulling it over his head. Jason came into the room yawning and glared at the cellphone as Molly scrambled to answer it.
"Hello?" she finally managed.
Jason stared at her while Foxy pulled the pillow down slightly and looked up at her. Both were curious who had interrupted their naps.
"I am. But I have some company…" Molly said.
She paused, listening to the other person talk.
"But I have company. I really don't have the time or space," Molly said.
Jason and Foxy exchanged glances.
"But, I-" Molly stopped talking and pulled the phone away from her ear, "He hung up…"
"Who was it?" asked Jason and Foxy unanimously.
"My dad. He's coming to visit apparently," Molly sighed, "He's coming tonight…"
"How are you going to explain a man with an eye patch, torn clothes, and a hook for a hand?" Jason asked, nodding in Foxy's direction.
"Well, I guess we'll have to take him shopping," Molly shrugged.
She stood, causing Foxy to fall to the floor in the process. He grumbled angrily, rubbing the back of his head where it hit the ground, as Molly apologized. She grabbed her messenger bag and instructed Foxy and Jason to follow her to the truck.
"But… What if the person that chased me is out there?" Foxy asked.
"My dad thinking I have a psycho living with me will be worse, I'm sure," Molly said, heading out to her truck.
Foxy followed hesitantly with Jason behind him, still yawning. They all piled into the truck and Molly drove to the mall.
"Come on," she said, pulling Foxy by the arm into the mall.
They left Jason in the truck, due to him falling asleep on the way. Molly led Foxy into the first store they came across, not even looking at which one it was.
"I-I think this may not be the store for me," Foxy said slowly, "This is all a little… Small. And pink."
He picked up a dress on a hanger with his hook and stared at Molly.
"Sorry…" Molly apologized, "Come on."
She led him into a Pacsun next.
"Pick out some shirts and pants you like," she instructed, "Don't worry about paying. I have money saved up and worst case scenario, I also have my credit card. But we have to get you some normal clothes. And can you lose the eye patch…? I don't know what to do about your hook but at least without the eye patch you'll look a little less pirate-y. My dad may be a pretty understanding guy but the pirate look may be a bit much."
Foxy nodded, peeling it off, and looked around the store for something he could wear. He finally found a few shirts that he liked and some pairs of pants as well.
"Go try them on," Molly said.
Foxy went into the dressing room at the back of the store while Molly waited outside to see how they looked on him. Several minutes passed but the pirate fox didn't make an appearance.
"Everything okay?" she finally asked.
"I may need some help…" Foxy mumbled, "Would you mind giving me a hand? My hook is making this impossible."
Molly blushed and entered the changing room. She helped Foxy pull a shirt over his head, glad to find it fit him well. She looked uncertainly at his torn pants, hoping he could handle them himself.
"Do you mind…?" Foxy asked her, his cheeks turning red.
Looking away, Molly helped him unbutton his pants. Foxy pushed them down himself and Molly helped him pull on a different pair. Foxy refused to look at her, embarrassed by his lack of ability to dress himself because of his hook.
"They fit nicely," he said once they were buttoned.
"What sizes are your other shirts and pants you picked?" Molly asked.
"The same size."
"Good. They should fit too then."
She helped him change back into his own clothes and they left the changing room to be greeted by stares when others saw them exit together. Molly ignored them and paid for the clothes. As soon as they were handed the bags, Molly grabbed them and led Foxy to a shoe store. He quickly picked out a pair of gym shoes that he liked and Molly bought them as well.
"There. A new wardrobe. Now you won't look like a pirate and make my dad freak out," Molly said with a laugh.
Foxy smiled and kissed her cheek before taking her hand in his own, "Can we get something to eat? I'm kind of hungry…"
Molly smiled and nodded. She took him into the food court where they both ended up with Cinnabon's and a Pepsi each.
"Should we get Jason something to eat?" Foxy asked as he finished his own food.
"We probably should," Molly said.
She went back and ordered one to go and met Foxy back at the table.
"Ready to go?" she asked.
Foxy smiled, "Yes I am."
They left the mall and walked through the parking lot hand in hand towards the truck.
"Oh, shit!" Molly yelled when she saw it.
The windows were all smashed and the passenger side door was open. The truck was completely empty and Jason was nowhere in sight.