Coco rarely needed to go shopping, but lately she'd been neglecting her necessary duty. She was preparing for the Vytal Festival after a week off hanging with her teammates and their friends from the first year, and then she decided to try and be a responsible leader and whip CFVY into fighting shape. She was rarely so serious, but after Team JNPR came close to matching Yatsuhashi's level of focused determination, Coco decided to take things a bit more seriously than she had. But just a bit.

Shopping, on the other hand… well, she could hardly rush into battle without something trendy to wear. Or attend a social function without a suitable fall dress. Or watch her friends compete in nothing but combat gear. A quick look through her closet left Coco horrified at her lack of options and her many out-of-season garbs rendered useless until spring at the earliest. This had to be remedied, and quickly.

She'd need to replace a lot of her wardrobe, so she'd need a lot of outfits. Thus she'd need someone to carry around a lot of bags, possibly even a second opinion to crush beneath her own expertise and reaffirm her certainty in outfit selection. Unfortunately, Yatsu was off training as he almost always was, Velvet was hanging out with Ruby, and Coco was left with one option… the guy waiting quietly in the dorm room just as he always was, who only had any fashion sense at all because he wore whatever Coco bought for him.

Her partner… someone she could entrust with the task and could always be counted on to help her. This wasn't his area of expertise at all, but he'd be there in her time of need to contribute in whatever way he could.

Sometimes Coco worried she relied on that too much, or took it for granted. But now wouldn't be the time she stopped to think about that. Now she had a fashion emergency and would fight the battle with the soldiers she had.

He knew what she was going to ask before she approached. He heard every possible emotion in each breath and the flutter of her heartbeat. "Heeeey, Fox…"

He sighed, climbing out of bed. "Let's go."

He also heard her gratitude, because even if Coco hadn't ever intended to take 'no' for an answer, she could still be appreciative of him being willing to suffer on her behalf. And fashion-conscious or not, Fox would be there to keep her company… and carry her stuff. Maybe not as satisfying as arguing about style, but something Coco could be thankful for nonetheless.

Fox was patient with her, but Coco suspected she was pushing him a bit hard after the fifth store and the seventh bag. She knew he wasn't having any fun and was just doing his part to help her, but at times Coco would forget that and get caught up in trying on a stylish new outfit or just taking the time to play dress up and take a selfie with her Scroll for consideration in later trends. Every time she spotted Fox sitting idle nearby –out of the corner of her eye or reflected in a mirror- he was quiet and unresponsive. If Coco were charitable she'd say he was watching over her. If she were honest she'd say he was bored out of his mind and so far out of his element he was probably more uncomfortable with each store they went to.

He probably just wanted to go back to the dorm and get away from the city. It was bad enough Coco was using him as a pack mule, but constantly leading him through the hustle and bustle of Vale citizens and hundreds, maybe thousands of unfamiliar sounds and scents throwing off his senses probably left him feeling vulnerable. And there were only a few days left for Coco to get use out of these outfits; it wasn't like she needed the second dozen she'd picked out.

But the longer she looked at Fox the longer she felt discontent with his red shirt and brown slacks and thought she should find him something new to wear. He was probably fine wearing that –probably fine wearing that every single day- but Coco couldn't help but think on what else she could get him into, especially since he'd offer no input and just go along with whatever she asked.

She'd get him home soon, after… "One more stop," Coco promised as she took her latest acquisitions to the counter. "I think I should find something for you to wear too."

Fox knew she was feeling guilty; he could clearly hear the slight flutter in her heart. But he also heard the lilt in Coco's voice and the way her heart sped up with excitement. And once again he indulged her with a patient nod.

Once they stepped outside, Coco extended her arm. Fox didn't strictly need her help to lead him around, but with all the people about and excess noise it helped if he had somewhere to anchor himself. It also helped Coco avoid any unwanted attention from out-of-towners to have a gentleman on her arm… though with him so close he could hear every emotion Coco experienced, as he focused his senses on her and followed her guiding hand.

That was another perk to taking him out like this. She so rarely felt able to do this now… she'd still slip up occasionally, and her team was quite used to Coco's rather brazen disregard for personal space, but she tried to avoid showing much outward affection now that Fox and Velvet were together. Even holding a blind man's hand to help him cross the street seemed odd to her now… and she thought nothing of hugging him almost every day before he and Velvet made the change.

It shouldn't have changed anything. It wasn't like Velvet was bothered by Coco periodically slapping her boyfriend's bum. She knew they'd been close before and logically only become closer when they were reassigned as each other's partners. Instead she'd only grown more distant, trying to give the happy couple space… and trying not to let Fox hear her heart when she looked at them too long.

He could probably tell something was on her mind, but he'd become patient enough to let her volunteer the information. He knew not all her thoughts were meant to be shared; and he tried not to be curious when she was quiet. Fortunately, this meant no one outside her team knew there were moments Coco didn't speak her mind. Unfortunately this meant someone still knew what really waited beneath the layers of confidence.

Still, once they were inside the shop they were both far more comfortable and Coco set to work picking out seven new outfits. She wanted to get fourteen, then a dozen, then finally decided not to torture Fox too much.

Unfortunately this left Coco to torture herself instead, as she asked him to try something on. Passive and indifferent as always, Fox disrobed before her without a second thought and took on and took off the various options she wanted him to wear. She kept a good distance away and kept her mouth moving with commentary to draw as much attention as she could away from the way her heart abruptly sped up during certain… motions.

He knew she stared at him. He was blind – not stupid. He probably knew the errant thoughts crossing her mind, but never once called her out. Coco's mouth told one story and her pulse told another, and Fox chose to believe the one connected to her brain.

When Coco finally settled on the new wardrobe and entertained thoughts about how she might dress Fox up all day, she found herself stung by unexpected guilt: Velvet would've probably liked to have a say in her boyfriend's appearance, even if she did let Coco pick out the majority. Coco was caught up with her eye candy and hadn't even thought to text one of her closest friends and… for what? So she could enjoy leering at a man she knew would never be hers'?

At last Fox interceded, reaching to find Coco's hand before she headed for the counter. Doubts he could politely ignore; pain he would not allow her to feel. He knew it too well.

He waited for her to speak, but it was little more than a courtesy. He knew something was wrong and wouldn't let her pretend otherwise, even if she may have wanted to.

Coco thought on a few different things to tell him, but there was no point in composing a lie. She couldn't lie to him. And the longer she pretended…

She could just stop fighting what she wanted to do. She could just say what she wanted to say. She could just squeeze his hand and lean in closer and do what she wanted to do. She wouldn't feel guilty in that moment, she wouldn't be afraid… he knew what she wanted; he might've heard her heart flutter and knew it before Coco did.

Fox didn't want to break her heart. He'd hear it shatter and never get the sound from his head. But hearing it tear away little by little must've been agony for him too… he didn't have to feel it himself to know it hurt.

And the worst part was he wanted to help her. He just couldn't give her what she wanted.

Fox's grip lessened, and she thought he might let her go and not force her to talk about this. It'd mean a long and awkward journey back, and it wouldn't help Coco deal, but at least they wouldn't have to suffer through saying what they didn't feel.

But then Fox reaffirmed his grip. Whatever he couldn't do, it didn't hurt to keep holding a hand. And among the things he couldn't do, he certainly couldn't leave Coco to face her problems alone.

Was it any wonder she felt what she felt? Knowing that he'd be there even when it hurt him to take that hand in his own?

He indulged her just a fleeting instant as Coco drew over to hug him tightly, to know what it'd feel like for a brief, wonderful moment.

She then turned her attention back to the counter and the clothes she'd bought for him, taking a moment to wipe her right eye. To the cashier it looked like Coco adjusting her sunglasses.

Her other hand never left Fox's own, as she'd want to guide him through the crowd outside. He hadn't once let go of his partner, and neither would she.

Not when he took the time to listen to her heart.