(I am still very new to the Animal Crossing series [and writing said series], so this is a bit of a practice drabble on my part.
I blame all the ReddNook writers that have given me so much inspo over the past few days. Y'all made so much good fluff and angst that it pushed me to try out writing this couple. Since I'm someone that works well in and really likes AUs, I figured I'd toss this weird idea into the mix.
Hope you all enjoy!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Animal Crossing, the "New Horizons" game, or any of its characters. I'm taking liberties with the "Gods" idea here, though I hope it turns out enjoyable. Also… *coughs and pulls up other ReddNook fics* HHH, NH is my first AC game I don't know how these two actually interact with each other.
Tricks and Tricksters
All around Tom, the grove thrived with life.
Weeping willows draped the entire oasis in vibrant green, long branches and leaves dripping to the ground like elegantly made curtains. Water sprayed down from the waterfall at the far edge of the hollow, leading into a crystal blue pond full of magical and multicolored fish. A scattering of apple and peach trees, seeds no doubt stolen from when the kitsune traveled, dotted the spaces in between the willows.
It was a serene slice of nature hidden away from civilization.
A lone hammock, also no doubt stolen, lay tied between two apple trees. A large bulge rested in the curl of fabric, and a careless tune lifted from the creature resting in the hammock. To someone that didn't know Redd, it was as if the lazy creature was just wasting the afternoon away and oblivious to outside company.
Tom knew Redd far better than he should have, something that came from too many wrong dealings with said kitsune. Redd was expecting his visit. The kitsune didn't just openly walk onto the Resident Representative's island in broad daylight, weaving ancient magic around the Representative and charming them right in front of the Resident Services square where Tom worked, for no reason.
Even as the tanuki kept his footsteps measured and soft, sparks rose from the dirt-and-stone path leading into the grove.
A fiery orange, triangular-shaped ear flicked in Tom's direction. The smirk tugged at the kitsune's muzzle, pulling up one side of his mouth higher than the other. It was automatic, like Redd already knew who was stomping up the gentle path. A chuckle echoed out of the sharply-pointed mouth, and as bare claws flicked the finished apple core behind him, the leftover fruit barely missing the bark of the tree the light-green hammock was tied to, Redd called out a greeting.
"Hehehe, you must be desperate if you need my help, Nookie! What do I owe this visit?"
"Can it." Sparks and static came from the tanuki as he drew close to the hammock in the trees. A small part of his brain reminded him to keep his breathing level, to use fair diplomacy first before using force. "And I don't need your help. I want you to stop visiting the island."
Redd's response was slow and condescending, as if he was talking to a child. "Is that so…?"
"I mean it, Redd." Another deep breath, and Tom kept his anger from rising. "I don't want you on the island my Resident Representative bought from me. This is their chance and their chance alone to build a thriving community for their fellow mortals and non-gods, and they don't need some criminal kitsune poking around-"
Clawed feet poked at the air as Redd rolled, stretching out his limbs like a cat. His long, fluffy tails, three of them, poked over the opposite side of the hammock. As the chuckle left his mouth, he lifted his head and poked his elbow against the fabric.
Tom's paw clenched at his side.
"'Criminal?!'" Redd gently placed his left paw under his jaw, cradling his head. The roguish glint in his eye flashed, and white canines visibly poked out of his mouth. "Why, Nookie, why would anyone think of lil ole me as a criminal?" he asked, false innocence in his voice.
"You sell fake art and forgeries and you're a known god of mischief and deceit," Tom deadpanned, his eyes narrowing on the kitsune's smile. "You've had, on several separate occasions, town citizens chase you from their towns after you scammed their currencies right out of their pockets."
Redd scoffed and waved a paw. One of his many tails curled and swayed behind him, playful and teasing. "So? A couple villagers are mad because they didn't know the product they were buying. That isn't really my fault!"
Through gritted teeth, Tom forced out his reply. "You've been banned from at least forty towns, ten cities, and that's not including the two separate empires that have a hefty bounty over your head. Though let me guess, those don't count, hm?"
Redd lifted his head and winked at Tom, drawing a low growl from the tanuki. "Aw, glad to know you've been keeping up in my adventures…" He waved a paw, gesturing to the waterfall. "Tell ya what, next time you see anything in my wares that you like, I'll give you the specialty Redd fan discount." Another wink followed, this one more flirty than playful. "Can't let a fan go unrewarded for their devotion, now can I…?"
Sparks flickered on Tom's fur. His green-and-blue robes flowed as magic began to fill them, and the tanuki shook slightly as he glared at the trickster.
"Ah, but enough about my lovely fan discounts!" The kitsune rolled back onto his back, paws settling under his head as he bathed in the afternoon sunlight drifting through the green trees. "The real point of the matter is the numerous, utterly unfair discriminations placed upon me! My customers were given my policies before they bought my art, and it isn't my fault if they disregarded the fact that all purchases are final and that no refunds are given."
A scoff left Redd. "Not to mention that they should know what they're buying before they invest in it. Honestly, it's just bad business." His right paw hovered over his face, and he absentmindedly studied his claws. "What kind of poor sucker would buy art they didn't know was real or fake? Makes one reconsider things, as some nosey customers should…"
For all it was worth, Redd knew exactly how to tick Tom off.
Tom took a slight step forward, his paw already forming a sparking ball of magic, before he froze.
Calm. That was what he needed. Redd was a thorn in his side but losing his cool would result in a fight that would make things far worse. The last fight he had been in with Redd- the night the tanuki had found out about the scam against him- had lasted three full days, almost obliterated a massive landmass on the other side of the world, and drained him of his strength so thoroughly it took him a full century before he was back to his full power.
Diplomacy was the best option, even if the kitsune knew exactly which buttons to push to get Tom to react.
How he gained that knowledge was part of a past that Tom was eager to leave behind.
"Redd."
Said kitsune dropped his right paw and lifted his head above the side of the hammock, just enough for Tom to see his eyes. "Yes, Nookie?"
The magic in his paw faded away. "I believe we're drifting away from the original point I was trying to make."
Tom stepped close to the hammock, just over Redd, to where the kitsune could clearly see the tanuki god's stoic face. His paws linked behind his back, and as Tom looked down at Redd, he took a deep breath to steady himself.
"Do not step foot on the island again, Redd." Eyes narrowed at the kitsune's smug expression. "You are not to sell your fake, illegally acquired goods on the Resident Representative's island. I don't care if our last fight left us drained, if I find out you are on the island, I will spark you out and have you evicted."
At that, Redd lifted himself from the hammock.
Tom took a few quick steps back as the kitsune sat up and shimmied off his hammock.
Nine tails spread out like a peacock's feathers, all the same fiery orange as Redd. White decorated the tip of each tail, a soft cream to the warm tones. All of the tails puffed up behind Redd, making the kitsune look bigger than he was.
As Tom schooled his expression into a blank one, Redd leaned forward into his face, white fangs framed in an evil smirk.
"So, Nookie, you want me to stop trotting all over my favorite cousin's island, or you'll blast me to another continent?"
"That is what I said, Redd, yes."
The kitsune ducked, and in a flash, he was behind Tom. Redd's breath tickled the outside of his right ear, his voice gently filling the tiny space between them.
"What if you don't catch me? What if… I hide a little too well and still sell my goods?"
A cold chill ran up Tom's back, though not one of fear or anger. Memories of their past relationship flooded his mind as he kept his expression serious. "You won't get away with it. I will catch you if you put one foot on the island."
"You'll keep that close of an eye out for lil ole me?" A gentle claw circled around Tom's muzzle and traced the line of the tanuki's jaw. "I'm flattered you would do that, love, but you have your own work to handle…"
"I can multitask quite well."
"Yes… I'm very aware of that…" Redd retorted, a hidden tease to his words. The claw left Tom's jaw as a few of the kitsune's tails curled around Tom's left leg. "But you also know how slippery I can be… How often I can find a hiding place where no one expects… How good I am at staying under your radar…"
A spark of irritation prompted the tanuki to narrow his eyes and stiffen. "Like the scam you built against me in Ywellun, yes?"
Redd pulled away a bit. His tails curled tighter around Tom's leg, and the next time the kitsune spoke, the tease in his voice was gone. "…I'm… sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I was stupid, and-"
"The past is the past," Tom snapped, cutting Redd off. "We have no need to bring it up. I am here only for the here and now, and for right now, I have only come to deliver the message that you will face harsh consequences if I catch you selling anything on the Resident Representative's island."
Fur tickled his right side as Redd circled around, darting back in front of him.
The kitsune was calm, even remorseful if Tom could accept it. It took a moment for the playful nature to come back, the gleam back in Redd's eyes after a tiny shake of the kitsune's head.
"Like I said before, Nookie, that only applies 'if' you can catch me…"
"I'm not playing games with you, Redd."
"But I want to play games with you."
This was going to go in circles if the conversation continued.
With a heavy and exhausted sigh, Tom took a step back, waving his paw in an arc to keep any of Redd's paws from drifting close to his face. "I can see that you're not going to take this seriously, so I will let my actions speak for my words when the time comes, yes." He turned on his heels, turning back to the entrance of the little grove.
Orange blurred in front of him, and before Tom could take another step, a soft peck tickled his cheek.
"Again…" Redd pulled back, shoulders ducked to make himself look smaller and playful. The roguish look twinkled in his eyes, and the kitsune's trademarked snark filtered into his words. "…It's only if you can catch me."
Tom paused and pushed away the small knot of warmth in his chest. His eyes closed, and another wave of exhaustion washed over him. Before he had been ready to spark up the whole grove, but now he couldn't summon the energy to be furious.
Everything was a game to Redd. Seeing how far he could stretch people's trust for him; how much they were willing to shell out for fake goods before they noticed; how much creatures believed in him and the good he could do, only to betray them…
Tom had trusted Redd long before, but even his close relationship with the kitsune hadn't stopped Redd from treating everything like a giant game he wanted to win.
Everything was a game to Redd, no matter the cost, no matter the situation. And that mentality was what had nearly destroyed the other half of the world and completely ruined the relationship Tom had had with him.
If Redd was going to treat this like a game, then Tom was ready to speak the kitsune's language to push the message through.
Tom pushed past the kitsune, sending a small ball no bigger than a half a Bell of his magic at the kitsune's tails. A joyful yelp followed, as the magic was not enough to hurt, just enough to jolt. As Tom stepped through the stone arch leading out and onto the mountain steps that led to a mystic valley below, the tanuki called back one last thing.
"Fine. We shall have it your way. Let the games begin then, hm?"
Song Inspo: "Love Me Harder" by Ariana Grande feat. The Weeknd (both the original version and the slowed and reverbed version).
HHHH, this story became a pain in the butt for me about halfway through. Admittedly, I worked on this story over a couple of days, and I actually forgot the original ending I planned for this by the time I had to write the ending. I know I wanted to let Redd give Tom more than just a small kiss on the cheek, but FGHJG I can't remember what I had planned beforehand to get them to that point. So a bit of a bummer for me; I hope this was still enjoyable, even if I'm not sure about this story's second half…
The universe's world is still being kinda built up, but some things are solid. In this, Tom, Redd, and the Nooklings are all god-like creatures with some of their powers from their mythology. "Ywellun" is a completely fictional place that I made up, and that's about all I have to add for the AU rules. I may work more on this AU with another oneshot, though I'll see where my motivation takes me.
I also may do more ReddNook in the future, though it may take me a few drabbles or fics to figure out how I want to write them. In the meantime, I hope you all enjoyed and thank you for reading! :D
XD