Sheltered

The rain was coming down fiercely. The street lights illuminated the roads as they helped people navigate their way around the darkened streets. Cars drove carefully down the inlets so as to not cause an accident given the weather. Anyone who happened to be caught in the rain was trying to make their way to their destinations or reach the safety of home. Some children would stand by the window to look outside and the raindrops trickling down off rooftops and pipe gutters, glad to be indoors where it was warm and dry.

This was exactly the wish of Nick Wilde as he was making his way down the street to get back to his apartment, having finished his shift down at the police station. He scowled as he tried to shield himself from getting wet, which wasn't exactly working out as one might expect.

"The weather just had to turn crap, didn't it?", The red fox muttered under his breath. He had the misfortune of not bringing an umbrella or hoodie to cover himself from the downpour.

"And the day started out fine too, how did it get to this…haaaaaaa, forecast, of course", murmured Nick. Indeed, the day had started out with merely a few clouds in the sky and the air had been temperate, but rain had been issued since morning and had arrived in the evening. Nick hoped he could have beaten it, but unfortunately was caught smack dab in the center of it all. So he was making the arduous journey back home, wishing he was anywhere but outside.

"I'm gonna need a shower when I get back…my poor fur, it's so ugly when it's all soaked and matted", Nick murmured as he wiped some of the rainwater out of his eyes. He then stopped by a crosswalk next to several other mammals waiting to get to the other side. There was a tiger donning a black jacket and red beanie, a mother goat and her child in tow and holding an umbrella over them, a gray wolf donning a suit with an umbrella in one paw and a cigarette in the other, and two otters wearing pink and purple hoodies. Nick envied their protection from the rain and impatiently looked up at the signs, then towards the traffic going back and forth between the lanes.

"Of all nights it had to be now…", Nick muttered darkly, tapping his road on the concrete as he tried to conceal his frustration. At last, the orange light changed to white and the crowd began to make its way over the road. Nick sighed with relief as he followed the others and continued on his way home, turning right onto another street.

"Wonder what I'll do for dinner…hmmmm, maybe some take-out…or I could just make something at ho-!", Nick's monologue was cut short as he suddenly tripped on a crack in the road and landed right into a large puddle.

"PAH!", Nick spit out the water in his mouth and then groaned as he looked down at his clothes, he was now more soaked than ever, "goooooooooh, this just isn't my night, is it?", He groaned and then hissed as he felt a sudden soreness in his leg.

"Aaaaaaaah…that fall didn't do me any favors, AH", Nick shuddered as he tried to stand up.

"Need a little help there, foxy?", came an unfamiliar voice. Nick was surprised and then looked up to see who was addressing him. Standing above the fox was a brown wolf, wearing a white suit and slacks. He was holding a purple umbrella over his head and looked almost bemused at Nick's situation.

"Well, that's one way to introduce yourself to a stranger", Nick remarked as he surveyed the lupine over, "With that suit, I wouldn't be surprised if you were dealing."

"Aaaaah, a people reader, I see. Clever little fox, you are", grinned the wolf. Nick wasn't particularly amused by his entrance, but couldn't deny he had a certain wit about him. It was then that the lupine reached down with one paw, "here, gimme your hand, I'll help you up."

So, against his better judgment, Nick offered his paw to the mystery wolf. He heaved the fox up from the puddle, giving Nick the opportunity to dust himself off, as fruitless as it was given he was completely soaked.

"Uh…thanks for that", Nick said as he gave up trying to clean up.

"No problem…say, you're that fox cop I've seen plastered over social", The wolf remarked, looking Nick up and down, "my, my, never thought I'd meet a celebrity in these parts."

Nick felt a bit flattered by this and decided to play along, "Well, consider yourself lucky, I know I'm a sight to behold", the fox grinned coyly before looking down and realized, "uh, maybe not in this current moment."

"Ah, don't sell yourself short, ya' look fine, man", replied the wolf, "I hardly recognize the difference. Same face, same charm."

"Oh…well, thank you…", Nick said modestly. He felt grateful at the very least this lupine wasn't taking the mick out of his current situation. He tried to walk, but found the kink in his leg was still present and hissed, "aaaaah…"

"You alright there?", asked the wolf.

"Yeah, yeah, just…kinda hurt my leg when I fell", Nick replied and winced down at his right leg. He then felt the rain suddenly stop falling…he could still hear it, so he looked up. The wolf was covering him with the umbrella.

"I hope this isn't too personal, I just didn't wanna leave you out in the rain when ya' got that to deal with", said the wolf in earnest. Nick didn't know what to make of that, he never expected a stranger to be so courteous towards him, let alone care so much for a first encounter.

"Um…no, no, you're fine…thanks for the umbrella", Nick said with gratitude. The wolf smiled in return.

"Well, you know me, upstanding citizen and all that", He said with a slight jest in his voice.

"Actually, I don't know you", Nick replied with a smirk, "mind telling me a little bit about yourself? I'm Nick Wilde, as you've already guessed, you?"

"Just call me…Moe", replied the brown wolf, "Though I do sometimes go by 'Mr. Wolf' as a sort of…business name of mine."

"Hmmm…I think I'll stick with Moe, suits you better", replied Nick. Moe gave a smirk in return.

"Heh, lookit you tryna charm me", The lupine chuckled. Nick gave a chuckle back before remembering he still wanted to get home.

"Yeah…anyway, I gotta get home, I need to take care of all this", Nick said, but then had a strange thought cross his head…, "You…wanna come along? I would appreciate the cover if you don't mind?"

"Why, of course not, I'll help the little foxy get back home, no problem", Moe replied with a wink. Nick gave a smile at this, he couldn't explain why, but something about Moe just clicked with him as someone who knew what they wanted. So, the two headed back to Nick's apartment and Moe kept a close eye on the fox to make sure he didn't hurt himself further.

Eventually, the two arrived at the residence. Moe helped Nick up the stairs as his leg still felt a bit sore from earlier.

"Aaaaah…thanks for that…Moe", said Nick

"Aaaaah, it's no problem, foxy, I'd do it for anyone", replied Moe.

"Hmm, I'll hold you to that", Nick grinned with an eye roll before he had another thought cross his mind, "you wanna…come inside for a bit?"

Moe seemed a bit surprised by the offer, "Oh, you're serious?"

"Yeah, you did help me, after all, I feel like I owe you the favor", Nick replied earnestly as he went to unlock the door.

"Hehe, well, if this isn't my lucky night, shall I take your coat?", Moe asked chivalrously.

"By all means, Romeo", Nick jested as he turned around and stretched his arms out. Sure enough, Moe did remove his coat as he entered the house, "this man continues to surprise me…", murmured Nick.

"You should probably sit down for a bit, help sooth that leg of yours", Moe suggested as he hung his own coat up on the hanger.

"Yeah…good idea…", Nick replied as he went over to the couch, giving a big moan as he laid down, "aaaaaaaaah…that feels good…"

Nick closed his eyes for a bit as he finally had the chance to settle, he was still a bit wet from the rain, but had dried off a little bit from being under Moe's umbrella. It was at that moment when Nick opened his eyes and saw Moe standing over the couch.

"Ya' know, from where I'm standing, you'd think Sleeping Beauty was in front of me", Moe cooed down at the fox.

"You trying to win me over with pickup lines?", Nick asked with a raised brow.

"Never said I wasn't, I just happen to like you", replied Moe.

"Oh, like me? Well…I can see why, I'm kinda hard to resist", Nick purred back.

"Heh, not wrong there, foxy", smirked Moe.

"C'mon, are we really at that stage already? What's with the 'foxy' business?", Nick quizzed.

"I think it suits you", Moe smiled, "it's short, simple, and sweet. Fits you like a glove."

"That's a lot to say to someone you've only known through tabloids", replied Nick.

"Well, do you disagree?", Moe asked craftily.

"Not at all, I happen to like being spoiled with compliments", Nick said with a bit of haughtiness in his voice.

"In that case, I'll shower you with 'em", Moe said as he made his way around the couch and sat on the other side, "I think I've nabbed myself a real winner."

"Awwwww, you're not planning to steal me, are you? I happen to be worth a lot", Nick teased as he played the wolf's little game.

"Oh, I'm well aware, your name didn't spill past me during the pawsicle days", replied Moe. Nick blinked, he hadn't expected someone to be familiar with his past activity, "don't you worry your little head, I'm not holding it against you, in fact, I endorse it."

"Ah…huh, didn't expect a casual talk about my…business, but good to see someone familiar with the game", replied Nick, "I hope you're not planning on bribing me to cover up some…criminal activity of yours."

"Why, my dear Officer Wilde, I wouldn't dream of doing so", said Moe with a paw to his chest, "you have my word on it." He added with a wink. Now Nick couldn't resist being casual with him.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone if you won't, think we'll let any…activity slip beside us, if you know what I mean?", The fox cooed with a wink.

"Hmmhmm, I understand completely", replied Moe. Nick then shifted his leg to be in a more comfortable position, giving a small whine at the slight kink, "awww, lemme help you with that…"

Nick watched as Moe adjusted his sore leg and began to gently rub it…he felt a small sense of relief as the lupine's paws managed to subdue the pain he'd been feeling up to that point. Nick laid his head down on the pillow and gave a content sigh, letting his body relax as Moe continued his work.

"Can you believe I'm letting you do this…or is it not a surprise given the person sitting before me…?", Nick asked softly.

"Not at all, I have been told by a few peers that I know how to be…persuasive, if you get my meaning…", Moe cooed back.

"Well…consider me convinced that I hit the jackpot with this one", grinned Nick.

"Actually, I think I hit it…", Moe grinned as he picked up Nick's paw and gave it a small courteous smooch. Nick felt a small blush coming to his face…how was this wolf so charming, it was as if he was looking into a mirror…a very handsome mirror at that.

"This might be an odd request, but…you have any places you need to be?", Nick asked.

"Not that I know of, why…?", Moe quizzed expectantly.

"Cuz I wouldn't mind a little company this evening…", purred Nick. Moe smiled as he leaned over the fox. Nick felt quite small in his current position, but this was one place where he didn't mean as he looked into the lupine's eyes.

"I wouldn't mind that myself…", Moe cooed as he leaned down and brushed his muzzle against Nick's. The subtle caressing between the gap was then sealed as their tails gently swished in intimacy…while the rain continued to pour outside, the inside of the house was anything but wet. Instead, it was warm…and wild.