[AN - I'm just going to leave chapter 9 as it is; just that one event. There is a "happy" follow-on to that incident at the end here. ]
[AN - Just a reminder (since I received a rather...er...shall we say "strong" response to Chapter 9) this started off as unrelated snippets. Over time some have built on each other and referenced/or cross-referenced each other like mini "arcs". The tail ones, the parent ones, and so on. In this chapter it's about 50/50 - half are completely random/independent and the other refer back to one or more previous ones.
Others, like chapter 9 and its complement back in chapter 2, are not about how it happened, what happens next, or so on. It's about a moment. An emotion. A visual. A snippet, if you will, in these two characters lives. I may, and probably will, touch back on them at some point. They also may show up in other stories.
Please do not think of these as in any sort of chronological order - some of the "arcs" would conflict with each other. I know it's a little disjointed; even I have to re-read earlier chapters when working on new ones to keep things straight. :)]
"Let's use our inside voice okay Nick?"
"You know me, I'm a talker. I can talk and talk. I'm a good talker."
"Yes. Yes your are. Just not now okay?"
"It's always a good time to talk. Communication is the secret to a good relationship."
"You tire me."
"That's why I'm talking. By talking I'm transferring that energy to you. To help perk you up."
"..."
"This really is all about you and what you need. I'm a giver...you know that. I give by talking. I'm giving this energy to you. Talk talk talk. Give give give."
"OKAY! OKAY! I'M SORRY I BROKE THE RADIO! CAN YOU JUST PLEASE BE QUIET UNTIL WE GET THERE!"
"Nick? Well?"
"Uh...well what?"
"Weren't you listening?"
"Is this a trick question?"
[dancing and singing]
"I won't give up, no I won't give in."
[hops and twirls]
"'til I reach the end and then I'll start again."
[shake and spin]
"No I won't le-EEEEEKKKKK! Nick! How long have you been there!"
"Long enough. This is video gold."
"NOOOOO!"
"And...posted."
"You never answered me you know."
"About what?"
"What would be different if we were dating?"
"Um...well...some things would be."
"Like what?"
"Er...well...I'm guessing, just guessing, that one of them is that I'd have a...shaved...tail?"
"Really?" [breathlessly]
"Maybe?" [nervously]
"So...ah...you got any...plans for later? Like tonight?"
[gulp]
"Texting would be a lot harder if we didn't have thumbs."
[head tilt]
"Well wouldn't it? I mean how would we hold the phone? Would we have to press the keys with our nose? And what about mammals with a short muzzle like you? How would it work?"
"I can't imagine what it must be like to be inside your head."
"NICK!"
[beep] [beep]
"Hey." [weakly]
[cuddle] [burrow]
[beep] [beep]
"Ow. Just...careful."
"Sorry! Sorry!"
"It's okay."
[beep] [beep]
"I thought...Nick..." [tears]
"Me too."
"You dumb fox. IF. YOU. EVER-" [near sob]
[beep] [beep]
"Later."
"What?"
"Yell...at me later." [ragged] "Just...stay...here. So I can see you. Okay?" [near tears]
[nods] [smiles]
[beep] [beep]
[chin rub/mark]
"Wha- Did you just..."
"Shh. My fox. I'm here. Always."
[beep] [beep]
...