Chapter 2

Fuel to the Fire

"How ya doin' son," was the first thing Mr. Fox could conjure up to say.

"A party of one coming all this way down river is a rarity in these part-."

Mr. Fox's remarks were cut short by a passive aggressive hand on the shoulder by Mrs. Fox, who was seemingly not in the mood for her husband's usual banter as she stepped forward and pulled the silver fox in for a hug.

"It's great to see you again. I know it's been a long time." Mrs. Fox spoke softly and in an almost apologetic manner.

"It's great to see you as well, Aunt Felicity."

Ash would've fallen out of a nonexistent chair if he was sitting down; there were only two foxes who ever called Mrs. Fox Felicity, and Kristofferson was not one of them. The only other time her name was ever uttered was when Grandfather Ben was in town... or... whenever Mr. and Mrs. Fox got heated in the upstairs bedroom.

As the group continued their greetings and Mr. Fox reignited his welcome speech, Ash tried to stand as far away as possible in hopes the gathering would not notice his attempts to stifle his laughter. His moment of humor was cut short; however, by a grey paw that extended out towards him followed by the most dreaded, "Hi Ash." The red fox was caught completely off guard by the sudden focus of attention. Glancing up, his eyes were met by two brilliant pools of blue, not the normal light blue that could usually be found in the Canis population, but the blue that could only be found right before dawn when the stars have all but disappeared from the night sky.

Amidst his stumbling thoughts, and disorientation on what in the world to say, all Ash was able to respond with was a seemingly disapproving head nod. Kristofferson attempted to return the gesture to Ash with warm and somewhat humored smile as Mrs. Fox shot daggers at her son through several bouts of head tilts and ear flicks. Mr. Fox, oblivious to his wife's signals, loudly proclaimed that the group was burning daylight and would be best to head back and get the new arrival settled in. This was enough to split the three out of their deadlock, but as the family began to make their way back towards the tree, Ash kept a few paces back.

"Why was he looking at me like that."

"Why did I have to stutter?"

"I look so stupid."

"He probably thinks I'm an absolute idiot."

Thoughts of panic and embarrassment ricocheted through Ash's mind. Any hopes of making a desired first impression had been completely tossed out the window. Any semblance of control of his life was rapidly slipping through Ash's clasped paws.

A quick shot of blue brought Ash's attentions back to the party ahead. If even for but a moment, Ash swore that the silver fox had glanced back at him; that shade of blue was far too noticeable compared to the orange sky and golden, grassy hills. Now fully conscious, the red fox magnified all of his attention towards the house-guest, daring him to turn back one more time, but by chance or the will of the wind, the silver fox never turned back and said little more during the journey save for several murmurs of thanks and praiseful remarks of the surrounding land.

The walk back was not unlike experiencing eternity for the twentieth time, but Ash eventually found wonderous distraction in listening to the swaying of the tall grass and the chirping of unseen crickets in the world below. Eventually, the group did find their way back to the tree, and standing at the doorway was a particular secretary holding his welcome gift and an expression of sheer social panic. With the group arriving at the entrance, Mr. Fox introduced the opossum, but the extent of the pleasantries came to an abrupt end as Kylie was capable of nothing more than a hand raise and the gesture of holding out the bucket of minnows to Kristofferson. The silver fox happily accepted the bucket from Kylie but found great difficulty in the carrying of both it and his meager suitcase. Ash was at his wits end in social composure and was reaching the point of no return in how he was going to handle the next few seconds, but Mrs. Fox abruptly concluded the ordeal by snatching up the bucket and shooing everyone into the house. Kylie sat motionless for a minute before snapping back into his usual self and began trailing Mrs. Fox through the house along with the most humble request of, "Can I have my bucket back when you're done." Ash hoped that by being last through the door that he could escape from the forced niceties, but Mrs. Fox was more than prepared with a soft-spoken phrase that shot daggers through Ash's heart.

"Why don't you show Kristofferson your guy's room while I get everything ready for dinner."

There it went; the last line of defense against this unwanted intruder had been completely annihilated by a simple phrase. The only form of protection Ash now had against this antagonist was sheer bloody intimidation, and that property was about to be turned into overdrive as the silver fox turned to him with an innocent smile still on his face.

"Why can't dad do it."

"I've still got some things to iron out with Kylie son." Mr. Fox chimed as he slipped behind a doorway

"I have homework."

"It's Friday." Mrs. Fox shot back.

"I need to study for chemistry."

"Then why not help your cousin out and get him ahead of the game for Monday."

"I'm not doing it."

Mrs. Fox poked her head out from the kitchen and stared into her kit with looks that could end a war.

"Take your cousin upstairs and help get him settled."

Ash knew defeat when he saw it; shooting a glare towards a significantly more timid Kristofferson before making his way up the stairs with his cousin in slow pursuit. Coming to the top of the stairwell, the red fox shot a low glance at his cousin, whose eyes stared only towards the steps while carrying his small luggage with both hands. The red fox's room sat diagonally from Mr. and Mrs. Fox's room on the left side of the hallway. While the rest of the house featured open or stylish doors leading into their respective rooms, Ash's door left much to be desired, featuring little more than a dark oak slab with noticeable patches of mold in the bottom right corner.

As the two entered, Ash made no attempt in guidance for the silver fox; quickly shifting across the room to start aimlessly rearranging the contents of his comic shelf. He continued at this for some minutes before looking back to see the small luggage sitting in the corner behind the door and a tall, bewildered fox standing in the middle of his room who looked like he was about to start sobbing. A whisper of guilt leapt into Ash's stomach at the pitiful image sitting before him, but with his mask still up; all he could conjure up to say was, "don't put that there." The silver fox quickly obliged and fetched his small carrier of belongings. Ash's eyes darted around the room before coming to rest at the space underneath his bed (originally a bunk bed with the bottom gutted out for more space).

"You can put it over there if you want," the Ash said while quickly gesturing to the right side of the bed space.

The silver fox moved to set his belongings down, but did not turn around to face Ash, instead choosing to stare out the small window. What interests lay beyond the view of that glass Ash could not see, but the quiet gaze of the silver fox told him all he needed to know.

The silence of the room was broken up by the sudden appearance of Mrs. Fox poking her through the doorway.

"Dinner isn't going to be ready for a few hours, and I thought you two might enjoy getting the pool out on a hot day like this."

Just as quickly as she appeared, Mrs. Fox vanished behind the doorway once again, leaving the two alone in their silence.

Ash was in no mood for a forced pool party, but the tone in Mrs. Fox's voice suggested there was no arguing out of this event. Searching for an excuse to leave the room, Ash volunteered himself to get the pool out from under the closet and bring it downstairs to be meticulously blown up outside.

After a small amount of digging, Ash found his desired items and began to make his way out of the room, but was stopped once again by the sight of Kristofferson still standing under the bunkbed, not entirely sure what to do.

"Unpack," Ash scoffed with a chuckle in his voice

"You don't need to be told what to do."

The silver fox seemed to snap out of some of his nervousness and turned to pry open his baggage, but not before Ash realized that his cousin was still wearing the travel card around his neck.

"And take that stupid thing off; its weirding me out!" Ash loudly exclaimed while slamming the door behind him.

On his way down the steps, Ash could hear his father and "secretary" were once again up to no good in the study. It was hard to discern, but on grandfather's grave the word blueberry was said at least thrice.

Reaching the now blustery top of the hill that laid the foundation for the foxes home, Ash Lazily threw down the pool and began the glorious process of inflating the entire thing with nothing but a balloon pump (The bicycle pump was nowhere to be found). It took some time, but eventually the blow-up pool was nearing working order and Ash was beginning to feel the need to barge back into his room to reassert it was a shared living space. Reaching the dark oak doorway once again, Ash waited for a moment before entering, listening for any signs of movement. Disappointed at hearing nothing, Ash kicked the door open and stormed the room like a SWAT unit. Kristofferson had leapt up at the sound of disturbance and was in cuss near a fighting stance as Ash made his grand entrance. The red fox swept across the room and halted his tracks just shy of the train set that marked the center of the abode.

"The pools ready, if you're into that sort of thing." Ash boasted while using all of his willpower to maintain a serious face.

The silver fox was still a little stunned at what had just occurred, but Ash could see the gears turning in his head trying to process the information he had received.

"Do you have a suit?" asked Ash

Kristofferson was still at a loss for words; choosing to nod his head as a suitable response.

"I'll change in the bathroom." Ash exclaimed while snatching his own suit and exiting the room, still silently roaring with what he had just accomplished.

As the red fox made his way downstairs to get changed, Mrs. Fox could be seen carrying a blank canvas out the front door along with a basket of painting supplies. Passing the study, Ash peered in and discovered that Mr. Fox was nowhere to be found in the house, but the sound of a radio being tuned outside gave an idea to his location.

Having the house empty for even a moment was a delight to Ash, rapidly sliding into his suit only to realize he forgot his towel upstairs. Not considering how little time had passed and planning for a second grand entrance, Ash crept up the stairs and began to make his way down the hall, but a crack in his bedroom door caught Ash's attention. Peering into his room, Ash scanned for Kristofferson, but was unsuccessful in locating the house-guest. Pushing the door a little further open, the red fox was met with the sight of an unclothed silver fox standing under his bunk-bed. Kristofferson's back was turned away from Ash, but he stood at just the right angle where the red fox could see everything. Ash didn't move, wholeheartedly stunned at what his eyes were witnessing, but not daring to turn away as he watched the silver fox bend over to slide on an absurdly skimpy pair of speedos that did absolutely nothing to hide his physique. For a male fox, Kristofferson had a noticeably more pronounced rear than Ash could ever be possibly comfortable with seeing.

Hearing Mr. and Mrs. Fox conversing downstairs was enough to snap the red fox out of his view, but he took one more long look before scooting to the end of the hallway and loudly announcing that he was making his way back towards his room, hoping to give the silver fox enough time to prepare for his entrance.

Kicking down the door once again, Ash tore through the room in the direction he hoped his towel had been left in, but was unsuccessful in immediately locating the desired object, instead tripping on the corner of the train set and nose diving onto the not so soft carpet.

"CUSS!" Ash shouted while gripping his leg.

The red fox fell into a fury of embarrassment while writhing on the floor of his violated sanctuary, but was quickly distracted by stifled snorts coming from a certain perpetrator. Glaring across the room, a certain house-guest could be seen fallen backwards (most definitely from shock and nothing else) and was now attempting to stifle an uncontrollable laughter.

"Why don't you go downstairs and be productive or something' Ash shouted towards at his cousin.

Kristofferson lost all composure and erupted into a fit of laughter that was almost enough to get a wheeze out of Ash if he had been on better terms.

"GO ON GET!" Ash once again shouted towards his cousin.

The silver fox stumbled on to his feet and bolted towards the door, clenching his chest from a lack of oxygen. Ash's embarrassment bleed into anger as he attempted to drag himself up towards the window in search of (now even more unwanted) house-guest. Seeing the silver fox emerge into the yard down below was enough of a relief for Ash and he dropped back to the floor. So much had happened in the span of about 42 seconds that the red fox needed a moment to process what exactly had just occurred. Resting his paws on his face, Ash's mind lept from moment to moment trying to find a way out of going downstairs and having to deal with that fox again. As his memories wound back a bit further, Ash could once again view the sight of his cousins rear side. The soft swaying of his tail, the elastic snapping of his speedo against his rear, the slight jiggle of his...-

Ash pulled himself out of his thoughts, absorbed by the sight of a protrusion from his swimming trunks. Realizing the source of the distraction, Ash swiftly glanced towards the mostly shut door to his room and out the window. Seeing that the unwanted trio were still outside, Ash slid down his trunks and was met by the fwip of something he was glad no one else could see. Anger and confusion were the only emotions Ash had the capacity to feel at this moment in time. "I can't go outside like this," He thought while his mind swirled. There was no possible look that Mrs. Fox could give Ash that would make him come downstairs in the state he was in, but he also knew his time was limited if he didn't show his face outside soon. Taking one last look to make sure everyone was still outside, the red fox slid his trunks a bit further.

BOOM! I'm not dead, just forgot this existed is all. Twas many a weeks ago that I first graced this site with chapter 1. Rest assured no more false promises shall befall you dear reader while I still draw breath. In terms of what I have changed in the cannon, it's... not that much; all I've done is placed the starstruck pair's first meeting a bit further away from the tree to give some breathing room for the awkwardness of their interactions. I also warped the timeline a bit so Kylie can already be in the service of Mr. Fox by the time Kristofferson arrives, but other than that I am for the most part trying to keep any major story plots in the same order. I have absolutely no bloody clue when chapter 3 shall emerge into the limelight, but loose no sleep it shall come in gods good time.