Chapter 34 : Working Day

The phone rings, and the vixen pushes a key to stop it as she rolls out of bed. Walking toward her bathroom, she grabs a brush and starts working on her fur, taming the tufts into a smooth ensemble before brushing her fangs.

Not bothering to take a breakfast, she throws on a dress, a pair of earrings and puts on some discreet make up. With a satisfied smile, she takes her coat and leaves her small apartment.

"Hello Mrs Grazonski." She greets with a smile as crosses the halway. "How is it going?"

"Hello Hester." Smiles the old glass-wearing sheep. "Well, you know, at my age, it goes slowly."

The vixen holds the door for the prey before leaving the building. She takes the town center's direction, passing the opening shops, greeting people here and there before reaching Gideon's bakery. Using her key, she opens the iron curtain and rolls it up before pushing the door open.

"Good morning Boss." She greets loudly.

"Good mornin', Hester." Comes the muffled answer from the kitchen.

Rounding the counter, she grabs an apron and puts it on, tying it before joining the tod. "How is it going?"

"Steadily. There are two trays to set up over there."

"On it."

Taking the bakeries to the front store, she sets them up behind the glass in the counter display before going back to the kitchen. "Need help with anything?"

"There is a batch of loafs that are ready for the oven. Don't forget to set up the timer."

It takes only a handful of seconds for her to complete the task before going back to being idle. "You know, I can get here sooner if you need the help."

"I just woke up a bit late." He shrugs. "Besides, I'm still payin' the credit and I can't afford to give ya overtime yet."

"It's fine-"

"I'm not lettin' you work hours I can't pay."

The vixen can't help the little smile that spreads on her lips. His tone was firm, but not aggressive. She used to be afraid that him losing the bully persona would mean he'd let everyone walk all over him, but she can see it's not the case, and she's glad for it.

"Coffee?" She proposes, pouring herself a cup from the pot.

"Yeah thanks. Can ya grab me a croissant too?"

"Sure." She nods, taking one for herself too.

As noon is about to come, Hester leaves the counter and makes her way into the office. She knocks and enters to see Gideon napping in the armchair. The pudgy tod emits discreet snoring noises as she approaches him and taps him on the shoulder. "Gid?"

"Hm?"

"Boss, time to wake up."

"Uh… I'm awake, what time is it?"

"11:45."

"Wha- You were supposed to wake me up almost an hour ago."

"You've been up since five AM. Don't worry, I pulled the sandwiches from the fridge, put another batch of bread into the oven."

"That's supposed to be my job." He yawns, stretching his arms.

"The counter was clean, I had time to kill."

"You say that every day."

"It's true every day."

The tod aims a little smirk her way. "There are time stamps on the receipts. I know when you're occupied. You don't have to overwork yourself."

"Maybe I don't want my boss to think I'm underworked." She smiles back.

"Did you have time to kill or not? You need to learn to keep your story straight." the tod taunts before making his way back into his shop. "Ready for the noon rush?"

"Always, Boss."

"Aaand we're closed." Sighs Hester with satisfaction, turning the small sign on the door so that it will say "closed" from the outside. Walking back behind the counter, she goes through the kitchen to get to a small closet where they keep the cleaning furniture.

"Already done with the oven, Boss?"

"Yup."

"Need help with the rest of the kitchen?"

"Nope. The kitchen's my zone, you do the front."

"You do help at the front."

"And you help with the accounting." He smiles back. "Still not underworked."

It takes her a handful of minutes to mop the tiled floor and wipe the counter and glass surfaces. By the time she's done, so is Gideon.

As she enters the kitchen, she sees the tod wrapping a sandwich in cellophane and put an apple tartlet in cardboard box. "Did you have something planned for dinner?"

"Not really. Catch whatever's in the fridge, probably."

"Here you go, then." He smiles, handing her the food.

"Thanks." She answers, taking the items. "And you, what are you doing tonight?"

"Not much. Probably just crash upstairs and watch some nutflix."

"On your own?"

"Yeah. I mean I could go to mum's, but I have my own place now, so..."

"Feels a bit lonely living on your own, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Tell me about it." Hester nods. "I like the freedom, but my apartment feels pretty empty in the evening."

"We could eat together." Gideon offers. "I mean, I know I'm yer boss-"

"Not when I'm off the clock." The vixen smiles. "Why not. It'll be less lonely than being on my own."

Taking his own meal out fo the fridge, the tod leads the way up into the apartment above the store. It's an old place, with wooden floors, old yellowing wallpaper. The furniture inside is cheap, mostly likely things the tod bought second hand. It's clean though, smells fresh, but it feels pretty empty.

"Beer?" Gideon offers.

"Sure."

As a reflex, he throws the bottle to the vixen, before realising she might not be used to the interaction. She fumbles with it in a weird juggle, and finally manages to catch it.

"Sorry." He apologises. "Habit."

"It's fine. Give me a heads up next time."

Sitting side by side on the squeaking sofa, they open the bottles and remain in a awkward silence, only disturbed by the sound of cellophane being unwrapped and sandwiches being chewed.

"Nutflix?" He offers to cut through the tension.

"Sure."

Turning the TV on, the fox starts browsing, not really knowing what to choose. Romcom? Action? Thriller?

"How's your mom?" The vixen asks.

"She's… Good. Now that Hailey's goin' to school she got way more time to herself. Tha's actually why I'm livin' here now. No way in hell I wos' gon' let her take care of mah sister wid'out help but she insists I use my place, be independant. How's it on yer end. Family an' stuff."

Taking another bite from her sandwich, Hester takes her time chewing on it. "First time you asked about my family."

"I… Yeah. Sore topic?"

"No, not at all. I'm simply surprised."

"Sorry, I ain't good at… People."

The vixen giggles. "No one is good at people. I'd rather have you not asking question, than doing so without caring, simply for socialisation's sake. As for my family and stuff, it's good. Literally nothing to talk about. Dad's plumbing, mom's bookkeeping, siblings are doing their own stuff."

"Didn't know ya had siblings."

"I never told you." Hester shrugs. "There's not much to tell either. My sister's in Zootopia, working as a cashier for some sort of fancy clothing shop. My brother delivers mail in Podunk."

As they keep eating, Hester's gaze roams around the room. There's a chair with discarded clothes, a table with a dirty dish on it, and no decoration, posters, or frame hanging from the wall.

"How long have you been living here ?"

"Give or take seven months." The tod answers with his mouth full.

"It's pretty bare."

"It's just where I live." He shrugs.

"I got frames and pictures at mine, and that's 'just where I live' too." She smiles while making airquotes. "I'm surprised Judy didn't push you to decorate."

"She ain't really into decorating. Plus she ain't here a lot. Maybe once every month now." He shrugs. "Doesn't really matter."

"You know, if you want to keep her-"

"I don't… It's complicated."

"How so?"

"Well… With the MII being put in place, she'll get into the Police Academy as soon as she has her diploma in a few months, then she'll leave Bunnyburrow… And then… Well…"

"Oh… That has to suck."

Gideon shrugs again. "I like bein' wid' her. But yeah it does suck knowin' that it'll end. Unless she fails at becomin' a cop, but even then, nothing's certain, ya know?"

"I can't really imagine. How long has it been like this?"

"Two years."

The vixen puts down her sandwich and frowns.

"Why? I mean, why are you… Keeping this alive? I know it's not my business, but it doesn't seem really healthy."

"Because… I mean, she's got lots goin' on at school, but we don't want – At least I know I don't – wanna break up. At least we get this until she leaves."

Time passes as they chew in silence, while Hester is processing the information.

"You still love her."

"Yeah."

"Oh… Does she still love you?"

"Dunno… Maybe? We still… Well you know. It's good. I wish it was more't that, but I won't make her choose. I feel like an asshole, cuz I know it ain't easy fer her… But I just don't… I don't know, I'm glad I can at least have that."

"Were you the one to suggest dialing back to… Casual?"

The tod shakes his head. "I thought she'd rather break it up. We didn't intend of it gettin' casual. I mean we're exclusive, but I know it ain't that serious anymore."

"Haven't you thought about breaking up? Moving on? If you know it's going to end and why… Staying together has to hurt."

The tod shrugs again. "It does a bit. I know it's stupid, but… I know I ain't really gonna as long as she's dere, ya know?"

"And you don't feel use- trapped?"

"Trapped?"

"Well, you're together, and you know it's doomed. So as long as she keeps seeing you, you can't really move on… It's like you're trapped until she's sure she'll leave or stay, but none of you can really have a proper relationship in the meantime."

She can't decipher the look he gives her. Then it turns into a frown and he grabs the remote, putting on a show at random. The vixen knows she just gave him something to think about, but she doesn't feel like it's enough.