Chapter 4:

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Pedaling hard, Ash hit the brakes of his bike as his house came into view. Wheels locking and sliding on the loose soil, he hoisted one leg over the seat, riding side saddle until he was slow enough to do a running leap onto the ground.

He slowed down, looking around, before he parked his bike into its shed, making sure it was locked up properly. Doing so, he couldn't help but look around. This was the mechanics' shop, containing his father's motorcycle and sidecar, along with all sorts of other equipment. Farming stuff to help his mother's allotments, basic air rifles to help with his father's pest control, and some big freezers to store produce in. There was a distinctive tang of petrol in the air, while, looking down, he had to avoid a few splotches of motor oil.

Outside again, he walked right up to the door to the kitchen, peeling his socks off before he stepped in and threw them into a bucket of soapy water, a rule set by his mother. It was all about keeping her house clean and tidy, even though every other mammal would walk straight in with dirty pads. Even after they'd cleaned them, his pads were cleaner, thanks to those socks.

Warmer and cosier throughout the day too, yet he was the weird one.

Some things never really made sense, something that Ash mulled on as his stepped through the door. No-one was downstairs, so he walked up the staircase, approaching the lounge above. As he did so, he couldn't help but hear his parents talking about something.

"-I know, it's not the most opportune time," his mother was saying, just a bit tense. There was a pause, as she breathed out to calm herself. "But what's happened has happened, hasn't it? And didn't we just agree?"

"We did, dear," his father said back. "And we'll get through this."

"You're now making it sound like an ordeal," she snarked.

"And it isn't! I'm excited for the future and all, I couldn't be happier in fact! Just now, with everything, and Ash too…"

"We'll have to keep a close eye on him," she said sadly.

"He'll probably understand. He'll probably be great! Just like us."

"But you know what both those times did too…" she began, before pausing.

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"Ash?"

His ears perked up, and he entered the room. His parents sat on a couch, turned to face each other, and his mother walked up and over. A paw went on his shoulder, and one around his back, and, though it was a bit sudden, he didn't feel like batting her away this time. It felt like something to just let be. "Is this about the night howlers?" he asked. "I feel nervous but prepared. I can live through this."

There was a warm chuckle from Mr Fox. "There you go," he said, relaxing a bit. "I told you he'd be able to take it well."

"It was just a good idea to check," Mrs Fox reminded him, before her eyes narrowed. "Besides… Things might get worse before they get better."

Ash's ears dropped back down slightly on hearing that, and he looked up at her. "You think that more mammals than last time might be turned?"

"I… -We don't know yet. Is your school doing anything about it?"

"We had a brief, we might be practicing some drills."

She sighed sadly. "Better than nothing. But if you ever need help, or a pick me up, say an ice-cream. Just ask. Promise me that?"

"I…" he began, before pausing, a little smile coming on his muzzle. "If they do sorbet, then that sounds good. I'll ask."

"Thanks," she said, before swooping down for a proper hug. Ash hugged her back, finding much more comfort and happiness in it than he expected. Maybe he'd grown out of these things by and large, maybe the number of times he'd get them in the future was limited, but for now he was enjoying this one. He sniffed in his mothers' scent hard and he hugged her just a bit tighter, something in the smell wanting to make him hold and comfort her far more than usual. His tail wagged a little, before he let go.

"Anyway, Ash…" she began again, looking down into his eyes while a paw went over her stomach. "Your father and I have been talking."

"Discussing things…"

"About a whole lot of stuff…"

"-Important stuff!"

"And…" she continued, before trailing off. She took a breath in and out, trying to speak but the words hanging on her mouth, before she gave a glance over to her husband.

"I think what your mother is trying to say, Ash," he began, "is that you need one of those big sorbets! Bad things might be going on, and it might hit you hard, so we thought we'd lift you up beforehand!" He walked over, looking over his son with a confident smile on his face. "How about you help Kylie and I with a goose issue we've been contacted about."

"Freddy…" Mrs Fox began, only to be cut off by Ash.

"Really!?"

"Yup."

"I get to go on one of your missions," he said. "You're taking me on…"

"Exactly as I said! Big testing the waters and finding your feet thing, which should really perk those ears up!"

Ash looked on, his paws shaking ever so slightly with the sudden news. He took a breath in, composed himself, before speaking out sincerely. "That sounds very good, and I'd love to join you. Thanks," he said, as he raised a finger. "Could you also spare me a minute or two?"

"Well how about three?" he asked, before giving his son a nod and watching him exit the lounge, walking upstairs. His wife immediately turned to face him, a slight glare on her face.

"I know we discussed that little matter, but I still don't like how you pulled it on me," she said, a bit harshly.

"He'll be fine. He'll be better than fine. You saw the look on his face. Do you know how happy he is?"

She opened her mouth to retort, only to be cut off from a shout from two floors above. "YAHOOO! YEHHAAAAA! YES! YES! YES! YEEEEESSSSSSSS! HA HAAAAAA!"

…

Mr Fox gave a quick double whistle, a wink, and two clicks of his tongue as his wife looked at him, her tail giving a few sassy flicks behind her as she did so.

"-Besides," he continued. "You were dancing around the real issue, weren't you?"

She sighed. "Sure. Fine. However, on this mission of yours, promise to keep him safe, and not to waste the chance either."

"I won't," he said confidently, pausing as Ash returned down, a new pair of thick and cosy socks on his feet, and a White-Cape comic under his arm. "But for now, I think we've all had a hard day, so let's relax."

Mrs Fox, after a few seconds, did just that. "That actually sounds like a good idea of yours," she said with a smile, as she joined her husband on a sofa.

"Honey, I'm happy to say it's one of my all-time bests."

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Returning home, Kris entered his flat and took off Ash's jumper, stashing it in his bag so he wouldn't forget it the next day. His father wasn't home yet, he wouldn't be for a while, so instead the younger fox set about getting things done. Though there was a lush warmth in the building, thanks to its location, he put on a larger jumper just for a little bit, letting him warm up. Then, opening his bag, he began scanning through the homework he had to do. Piece after piece after piece was then completed. From quick math's work, to more complex essays that he planned, researched, and typed. In the science lessons, they'd just been asked to start including references, in most cases straight up links at the bottom which led to the site in question. However, his father had taught him how to properly cite sources a few years back. As a result, he saved his sources of information in a little bibliography on his word processor and dropped in the relevant links when he included the borrowed information. He didn't need anything to help him focus; he just let what few distracting thoughts he had slip away to the side and sailed on regardless.

After an hour and a bit, everything was done, all up to the highest standard. Away it went in his bag and, checking the time, he saw that he had some time to work on the comics too. Out came Ash's storyboards, along with a professional drawing kit, and Kris soon had the borders spaced out and done in with thick ink. Then came what was inside of them. Placing Ash's work next to his own blank canvas, the silver fox soon had all the rough sketches transferred neatly across, a few corrections made here and there. Then came the embellishing. Using just his paw and a pencil, he let the world that had previously been held within their shared imagination come to life on paper. He was halfway done through the first sheet when a key rattled in the lock, his ears standing rigidly to attention as they heard it.

The door opened, and in came his father. "Afternoon!"

"Afternoon Dad," he replied, standing up and walking over, and the two shared a loving hug. After all, for both of them, it felt so good to be back together again.

Breaking off, the older fox looked down at his son, his ears drooping just a little. "I presume you've heard the news."

Kris nodded. "It didn't bother me much, but everyone at school who lived through the first one was distressed and emotional, in one way or another."

Dr Silverfox sighed, walking past his son and to a waiting electric steamer. "I feared as much, given what I saw at the University," he said, as he put down a bag full of shopping, a distinctly fishy smell coming from it. "How is Ash?"

"Angry, annoyed, and a bit tetchy. I think he'll be okay. But we all need to keep an eye on him."

"Yes," his father noted sadly, as he filled the bottom of the steamer with water and turned it on, starting the warm up. He then got out a plate, unwrapped a red mullet, and placed it on. "It reminds me of a conversation I had with your aunt. About him."

"Oh, okay. That sounds interesting."

"It was," he agreed, as he got out some slices of pickled ginger and a mix of herbs, placing them on the fish or in its gutted belly. He then turned to wash his paws. "She ended up comparing you two to ice and fire."

"I see where that comes from."

He nodded in agreement before sighing. "He burns bright and thick and strong, but he flickers and can be put out. You're solid, things slide off of you, you're firm and steady. It's also an apt way of describing your personalities."

Kris smiled. "Sounds fairly accurate."

"Mmmm-Hmmm," his father hummed in agreement as he dried his paws, before getting out some baby potatoes and a few other vegetables. He began washing, peeling and cutting them. "But fire flickers, and it can be snuffed out, while it takes a lot of heat and effort to melt ice." He paused, looking back at Kris. "It's good that you two came to be friends, in the end… He needs them."

"I'll be there for him," Kris said, smiling.

"I knew you always would be," his father replied proudly. The vegetables ready, he fried them in a pan with butter and garlic for just a little bit before transferring them onto the same plate as the fish. The steamer was boiling away nicely now, so he put the plate in the top and set a timer for ten minutes while Kris began setting the table.

Soon, they enjoyed a meal together. Dipping bits of fish and vegetables into some sauces they'd got out on the side, savouring the taste. The father and son talked about what they'd worked on and what they'd learned, each one finding entertainment and education in the other's stories.

It was a good time for both of them.

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Mrs Fox set about reheating half of a thick meaty pie that they'd last had two nights ago. It was a cheap one, lots of vegetables such as peas and leeks along with some of their own chicken, all in a light sauce made from stock from the carcass and some cream. She'd seasoned it well, with plenty of salt, pepper, tarragon and even some horseradish, and it still tasted good when reheated. The crust, though made with margarine, was thick, soft, and buttery. Plentiful too, as she always made enough to go down the sides and under the bottom, rather than just doing a lid.

She'd also asked her son to help out, though tonight it was just peeling potatoes to make mash. He did so, then when told he cut them up and put them in boiling water. Then came draining them, putting in more of the margarine along with some mustard, before he mashed it all up.

Finally, all foxes agreed that a tin of baked beans would be a nice side dish. Opening it up, Mrs Fox turned on the gas and got the stove going. The tin open, she poured them in, stirring it all about as it heated up. Ash, on request, set out the table, Mr Fox arriving there and sitting down. She looked back at it all, smiling as she saw that her son seemed okay. The idea of him going out on his father's 'missions' did raise her nerves a bit, they always did slightly when he was just going out by himself. She'd wish that he could just quit them, though, ultimately, she did know that they'd struggle without the meat and money it brought in. To quote her nephew, she had deeply mixed feelings about it all.

Not helped by the fact that she was once like him, wanting to live and hunt, only for it to come crashing down when she became responsible for another life. That, and on hearing that an ordinary day for an old friend had turned out to be his last. Those things had changed her. They hadn't changed him though.

As she watched, her paw slowly relaxed and, before she knew it, it slipped. She hissed in pain as it glanced the flames, before she shook it clean.

"You okay dear?" he asked.

"Fine," she replied, before frowning. A little ember still glowed on her fur. She touched it, to snuff it out, but it started glowing again. A second time, the same result. Her finger, still hurting just a bit from the slight burn, needed a bit of attention. So, as she asked Ask to get everything to the table, she went to the freezer and pulled out an ice cube. Touching it against the burn, it went damp and finally died, even if she had to use overkill to do so. She then tossed the bit of ice into the sink, where it smashed, and walked over to the meal. Everything was plated up and the family eagerly tore in.

Afterwards, after a bit of nagging, Ash went upstairs to do some homework. He had some stuff due tomorrow, some stuff in for the day after that, so he cleared those. There was an essay question for science, requiring some referencing, which he pushed through despite the boredom. Some music was on in the background, something that made it all easier for him, the tunes stopping his mind from wandering too far.

Eventually, all was done, and it was time to do something fun. He briefly went down to a little cupboard beneath his bed, fixed closed with a padlock. He thought about indulging in the stuff in there, but though he wanted to, he pushed himself away. He was trying to get away from it.

Instead, he went over to his comic notes, deciding to have a look through and storyboard where it was going next. He had some funky ideas, for instance doing a lot of chopping up of the timeline in a big fight scene, making things a bit different to build up to the giant reveal at the end.

He liked the idea of surprising the readers.

The whole set up of their comic was that the two main characters, Sech the Sage and Wessly Wiggler, were underappreciated workers at the Hero's Association. The organisation ran many investigations similar to the police, had a military wing and took in super-powered children who had problems with their powers. They were beloved by the populace, and the readers, but they were secretly rotten to the core.

That had been Ash's idea, that they'd slowly been expanding their power, building out, and the Association's leader was corrupt. Kris had agreed that the bait-and-switch would be fun to do and had spent a week researching various real-life facist regimes. Noting down their speeches, their moves to gain power, and building up a powerful narrative where they took control.

Ash had liked it, but he also didn't. It was well-done, well-worn, well-executed… It was a brilliant layout that hit all the high notes, there was no denying it. But he'd seen the story ten-thousand times and more and, on a guess, suggested they do a taking of power 'like in China, or that doomsday cult near Bunnyburrow, or something...'

It had only been a shot in the dark, but Kris suggested that Ash could research it, and that he did. He poked around, read a book or two, and came up with his own plot. Kris enjoyed it, so he took it and embellished it, helping to fill in the gaps and really polishing it up to the highest standard. Pointing out new opportunities for symbolism, ways to improve character arcs, or set up foreshadowing, all turning a great idea into a brilliant one.

The public might say that they love the hero association, but how much of that was because they were scared of being turned against by everyone else for saying otherwise? Older heroes regularly had verbal abuse hurled at them, that they weren't 'good enough' guys. They were often dragged in front of crowds, made to confess as to how they weren't more of a hero, and how they'd used their powers for personal gain. Just wanting to use your powers for innocent self-benefit was something the leader, in his public speeches, had made almost as much of a social taboo as outright villainy. Many times, the mammals being harassed would confess to things they didn't do to placate the mob, sometimes they'd end up believing it. Those that tried to argue were shut out, shouted down and discredited.

It would all be blowing into the open soon, when the heroes discovered the extent of the corruption. The fact that the Hero Association's policies were making things such as the economy so much worse than it was in other places, the fact that innocent mammals had been framed for 'the greater good', and how some of the young students were blackmailed and manipulated with fear. Then, the whole cast that was built up would start splitting into sides, and the big show down would begin in earnest.

Ash had been looking forwards to getting that down for ages.

Music on, pencil in paw, his mind deep in thought.

He began in eagerly.

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After finishing off the last of his comic work, Kris settled down with his father to watch a film. He'd been warming up to the point of feeling a pant coming on, so he stripped off his jumper and was back in a shirt. Together with his father, they watched the movie they'd picked out, a well renowned foreign language feature (as usual) which had been subtitled.

Together they enjoyed it. Afterwards, they talked about it.

Things were getting late.

Kris went into his own bathroom and turned the shower on, quickly washing himself in nice hot water. Then into the fur dryer, standing in it as it dried him out. Out again, in his pajamas, he sat with his father on the warm balcony as they practiced yoga and meditated.

Together they calmed down, reflected on the day behind them and exercised themselves.

Their muscles feeling well tested afterwards, they stood up. Kris gave his father one last hug, always a nice thing after their long time apart, before he retired to his bedroom. Slipping under his thin sheet, something he'd only recently gotten used to as compared to thicker duvets, he lay his head on a smaller pillow and wrapped his arms and legs around a larger one. The feeling was a perfect replacement for the normal thick and heavy weight that he'd previously slept under.

The lights were out.

The efforts and trials of the day caught up to him.

He drifted off to sleep.

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In his house, after cleaning his teeth, Ash said goodnight to his parents, giving both a quick wave. He then hugged his mother for some unknown reason. Maybe he was growing out of his thick teenage angst? Whatever it was, he said goodnight to his parents and headed up into his room. Stripping down to his boxers, he turned off the light and, guided by his night vision, climbed up into his bed.

Things had happened that day.

Good things.

Bad things.

But things were good.

Bar the morning, he was looking forward to tomorrow. He was looking forward to the future.

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A flashlight turned on and Ash, sitting himself up in his bed, pulled out his copy of White Cape. He still had a chapter to finish after all.

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AN: And there we go. A full day in the life of Ash Fox and Kristofferson Silverfox. It was certainly a very fun and gentle thing to write, and I hope you all enjoyed it. Dropping a comment (even a little one) is always super appreciated and puts a big smile on my face.

As for next time…

We finally get around to properly introducing some characters who I'm certain you've all been looking forwards to. Subscribe to the series on Fanfic or here on A03, so you don't miss out on FFoZ series 1, episode 4…

AGGRETOPIA (RAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRR!)