Foxies - 1. Part 1

::

The Second Move

::

Kender was so relieved once everything had been unloaded into the house. All that was left to do was the arduous task of unpacking. At least the furniture had been placed where he wanted it, for the most part. His little Renael had been roaming around exploring the new house and he was so afraid something would somehow squish the little boy.

The kit in question had pulled out his favorite blanket from his box and was running around with it. Ken caught him quickly and scooped him up. "How about we take a break, kiddo?" he asked aloud with a tired smile.

Ren looked at him with his soft pink eyes and bounced in his arms happily as if to say yes. The toddler enjoyed cuddling into the warmth of his father just as much as he enjoyed eating and playing. So, when the older fox sat down, Renael tugged his blanket closer and settled down.

Kender leaned his head back against the couch and closed his eyes for a moment. The knock on the door startled them both. His paternal instincts were sharp enough not to allow the toddler on his lap to fall. He carefully set Renael down before standing back up.

“Let’s go see who that is, then,” the blond decided with a sight.

When Ken opened the door, he was surprised to see a young family. "Ah, hello there. May I help you?" He asked. He barely felt the familiar grasp of his son’s tiny fingers upon his pants and looked down to see the kit peeking at their visitors.

Andrew and Dena Dewin had been surprised when they found that the for sale sign was gone from the house across the street and their new neighbor's U-haul stood at the driveway. Remembering how difficult it was for them to move in, they decided to introduce themselves and offer their help.

“Welcome to the neighborhood!” Dena greeted as she handed their new, bespectacled neighbor a cheesecake. "We're your neighbors from across the street and we wanted to offer our help. My name is Dena, and this is my husband Andrew. And our little one is Septimus."

As he held the cheesecake in his hands, Kender tried to curb his surprise." That's kind of you but I couldn't ask that of you." He responded. Unpacking by himself would be quite the undertaking, but with the passing of his wife, he had been learning to do everything on his own.” My name is Kender,” he added looked down at Ren. "And this shy little guy is my son, Renael."

The bespectacled blond placed the cheesecake on a side table and picked his toddler up. "Look, they have a little boy too. Can you say hi?" he asked his son.

Though Ren was a bit nervous, he waved his hand towards the other toddler and sent him a smile before hiding his face against his father’s chest.

"Nonsense," Dena huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "You're just going to have to suffer our help." She quieted down when they were introduced to Renael. "Oh, Drew, isn't he absolutely precious?"

"Can you say hi back, Sept?" Andrew urged his dark-haired son. Septimus responded by reaching out his hands in a "hug" gesture and trying to wriggle out of his father's arms. "Whoa, settle down. You have plenty of time to play with Ren."

"Wen!" Sept squeaked happily, all sleepiness was forgotten.

Kender put Ren down just as Andrew put Sept down. “Ren, this little one is named Sept,” he affirmed.

Septimus rushed over to the blond toddler, the two of them almost falling over with the enthusiastic hug. But, only laughter bubbled out of the little boys.

“Wen!” Sept repeated as if to commit the name to memory.

"Sheb!" Ren responded with a giggle.

"Looks like you've made your first friend, Ren,” Kender responded, his lilac eyes softening at the sight of the boys bonding.

::

Ken’s initial reluctance was chased away the more he talked with his kind neighbors. Between the three of them, they managed to unpack around three-fourths of the boxes. A part of the lilac-eyed man felt a bit envious of the young family. The ache in his chest at the thought of his wife only proved that he was still alive and he needed to do his best for little Ren. As his gaze fell on the toddlers, he realized he had made the right decision in welcoming the Dewins into their new home. He couldn’t remember the last time he saw Renael so happy to share his blocks and rings.

"They sure get along," Andrew remarked.

“As will we,” Dena insisted. “Know that you can come to us for anything, Kender.”

A knot formed in Kender’s throat. Paige had been just as kind, determined, and thoughtful as the young woman before him. The two couldn’t have looked more different on the outside...Dena was petite with dark hair and his Paige was a tall blonde. But, it was yet another example that there were more similarities than differences within everyone.

“The same goes for the three of you,” The blond man finally responded.

“Besides," Andrew piped in as he smiled at the kids. "We should have these little guys hang out often." He turned to look at Kender. "Should you ever need babysitters, we'd be more than glad to watch over Ren every now and then."

“That would be amazing,” Ken agreed. “It's just the two of us, so I really do need someone to watch him when I'm at work."

Sept handed Ren block after block, placing each with their own color. The blond toddler built part of the structure with one color, then the next with another, and so on. "Daddy! It big!" the pink-eyed kit said happily as he pointed to their little buildings.

"I see that! You two make a good team,” The lilac-eyed fox responded with a smile.

"Ren says a lot of things for his age," Dena commented, thoroughly amused by the interactions between their sons. "Sept is more of a walker than a talker."

"Ren's the exact opposite... he likes being held so much and it's hard to say no." Kender replied. "Well, if he wants to play with Sept, I guess he'll have to learn so he can keep up with him.”

When the light of the sun began to shift to an amber hue, the Dewins felt it was time to head home.

"Ren, can you tell Sept bye?" Kender asked.

Ren smiled with a little nod and kissed Sept on the cheek before doing his little baby wave. "Bye-bye, Sheb!"

The toddler Septimus found one thing he liked even more than Ren's hug. He liked the kiss more. When he saw his parents moving towards him to pick him up, he panicked. The kit tackled Ren to the ground in a grappling hug. "Noooooo! No bye-bye! Wen mine!!!"

"You'll see him again, Sept," Andrew chuckled as he leaned down to gently separate them, lifting Sept easily onto his shoulder.

"Sheb come pway mowe?" The blond toddler asked, looking up at his dad.

"Of course he can." Kender said, picking his son up and kissing his cheek, earning a hug from the little boy.

::

As the years passed, Sept and Ren formed a close bond. They were inseparable at school to the point that they frequently found themselves becoming ill one after the other. Kender and the Dewins were so used to having both boys under their roofs that it felt as if they had two sons instead of one.

However, Kender took careful note of just how many times the boys fell ill. Septimus recovered quickly and, as time went by, he no longer fell ill as often as his Renael. The bespectacled man’s concern only grew when he realized how stronger and healthier Sept was than Ren.

As a medical professional, Ken couldn’t bear the suffering his son continued to endure season after season. His immune system continued to be weak no matter the number of vitamins and medicines administered to him on a regular basis. Hoping that a change of environment and more natural surroundings would improve Renael’s health, Kender made the difficult decision to move once more.

::

"Stop," A nine-year-old boy said as he rested the side of his face against the chain of the swing that he was sitting on. His body was a lot smaller than a nine-year-old’s should have been. The tip of one of his vulpine ears threaded through one of the chain loops. His pink-tipped, blond tail dragged limply along the sand on the ground as the swing slowed to a stop. Strands of his curly hair, the same hue as his tail, swayed with the soft wind. His soft pink eyes were rapidly filling with unshed tears as he gazed out at the city he spent the first nine years of his life in. Renael had to leave in a few weeks because of his rocky health. He had to leave everything he knew and cared about behind to start from scratch with his father out in some mountainous town surrounded by woods on another continent.

Septimus had dragged the blond fox with him to spend the entire day at the park when he realized that their time together was coming to an end. The blond fox always loved it whenever Sept pushed him on the swing. He glanced mournfully at the beautiful pink-tipped locks as they fluttered like a banner behind his best friend. When asked to stop, the dark-haired fox moved to the front of the swing as it decreased in momentum and placed his hands on either side of the chains. His straight, shoulder-length, red-tipped black hair trickled over his shoulder as his peach-hued eyes stared into Ren’s soft pink ones. Upon seeing the tears brimming in his beloved friend’s eyes, he felt his own do the same. The dark-haired fox didn’t want Renael to leave any more than Ren himself wanted to. He said the first thing that came to his mind.

"Don't cry!" Sept warned as his red-tipped, black tail bristled behind him. His vulpine ears flattened against the top of his head. "I-I…I'll steal your first kiss if you even try-" As soon as he saw a tear rolling down Renael's cheek, he dove down in a panic to place a gentle, lingering kiss on the boy's lips.

Up until that point, neither of the boys had ever kissed one another on anything other than their cheeks. They had shared plenty of hugs and gentle touches. But, they had never done anything beyond what friends or siblings did. The kiss that they shared at that moment was a culmination of mixed and misunderstood emotions that the two of them couldn’t even describe.

But, it was a moment that neither of them would ever forget...

::

Letters and 237 Credits

::

Ren,

I know it's been a year already, but it still feels weird not having you around. My parents stopped driving by your old house when new neighbors moved in, 'cause even they know that no one will ever be like you and your dad were with us. I asked them if you could come for the summer or I could go over there, but they said it's too expensive. I'm gonna save money for it myself! And as soon as I'm old enough, I won't need their permission!

Your bestest friend,

Sept

P.S.

This sunflower bookmark reminded me of you. Hope you like it.

::

Dear Sept,

I've been here a whole year and it still feels so weird around here. I miss having someone over all the time and I really miss you. There aren't any kids around here and not too many talk to me at school. I wish you could have moved with us! I really hope I get to see you soon. I'm going to start saving any money I get too! That includes tooth fairy and birthday money! I want to see you so badly.

Oh! I also really liked the bookmark! I use it every time I read a book, especially the big kid books since they take too long to read in one sitting right now. I really hope you like the bear keychain. Apparently there are bears really far in the woods here! So there are lots of bear thingies at gift shops and stuff.

Love,

your best friend,

Ren

::

As the cold weather began to roll in, Septimus wondered just how cold it could get out in the mountains where Renael lived. Did his frail friend have a big, warm coat? Did he have enough blankets? Ren used to be the first in the class to get sick and was the last to recover. He hoped the blond wouldn’t get too sick out there. The fourteen-year-old’s thought always managed to drift towards Ren, even after so long.

Every month, the dark-haired fox sent a letter and a gift to Ren. What spurred him on was the fact that he would receive a letter and gift in return. The packages were a constant in his life and his only connection to the closest friend he ever had. Due to the heartache of the separation, he became a bit of a grouch in school, which isolated him from his other classmates as a potential friend. With every year that passed, he gained more and more attention from girls, and that ostracized him from the boys.

The teenage Sept lifted the edge of his maroon scarf and pressed it to his lips. The scarf was one of the best gifts he had received from his secret crush from that continent so far away. Renael had crocheted it himself. Septimus wondered if it had taken months for him to finish it.

“You sure seem to like that scarf.”

The words came from a girl with strawberry-blonde hair. Her name was Christine if Sept remembered correctly. He didn’t see any of her usual group of friends around, so the slightly taller fox began to feel anxious. Girls that came up to him by themselves generally wanted more from him than what he could give.

“Was it a gift from a girl?” Christine questioned. “Your girlfriend?”

Heh. What a subtle way to ask if he was single. Sept had tried time and time again to explain to them that he had no interest in girls. But, he kept getting into trouble for it. The girls would become upset whenever he pointed out that he was not only gay but that his only interest was clear across an ocean near mountains in some woodsy town.

“Yeah,” Septimus lied. “She doesn’t go to our school. But, we spend time on the weekends...”

He inwardly winced at both the very thought of having a girlfriend and the fact that he had to lie about how he felt. His crush didn’t know about his feelings, either, after all. What would his response be when Sept wrote about this very incident to him? Would he be disgusted to have been used as a stand-in girlfriend?

When the dark-haired fox came home that afternoon, he gave his parents his usual dry greeting and flopped on his bed. The teenager felt he had no choice but to do his classwork and graduate if he had any hope to get a decent-paying job. How else was he going to see Renael in person again? He pulled out Ren’s latest letter from under his bed and gave it another read.

---

My Dear Sept,

People keep mistaking me for a girl, even at school. If they knew I was really a guy, I'd probably get dragged into a fight. I hope you don’t get hurt over there. Maybe when you come over, it will be winter time so we can sit in front of the fire with hot chocolate and marshmallows under a blanket like we used to!

I miss you and hope to see you soon,

Ren

---

Sept scowled. He had asked both his parents and Ren’s pop if they could save up enough credits for him to go visit the blonds as a sweet sixteen present in two years’ time. But, a round trip ticket to that region was ridiculously expensive. Septimus realized that he couldn’t count on their parents. He would have to save up the money to go see Ren himself.

::

My Dear Ren,

Things are both better this year and worse at the same time. You've told me before that guys have tended to laugh it off when they found out you were male, and those that didn't laugh it up didn't mind that you were male and asked you out again (shameless jerks). But, over here I t's opposite genders, or else. I made friends with a girl who's one-hudred percent into girls instead of guys. Her name’s Riley and she's the most hilarious, amazing girl I've ever met. I thought I was never going to have any other friends, let alone a girl as one, but I was wrong. And we understand each other because...well, I've realized that I only like my own gender, as well. I've only ever been attracted to guys, not girls. Especially those with a specific build and height...that remind me of someone I know. Anyway, but things are dangerous for us because the rest of the school body can't tolerate us. I can't keep my promise about staying safe this year, 'cause I'm helping her date other girls secretly.

Yours,

Sept

P.S.

I know your sweet sixteen's not for another few weeks, but I saw this ring and the topaz reminded me of you. Happy Early Birthday, Ren.

::

Despite his concerns, both Ren and Sept turned 18 and graduated high school, respectively. On the night of graduation, Riley felt the need to celebrate with liquor. Lylah was quite inebriated. But, she was determined to lecture their gay friend.

“Sept, mah man,” Lylah insisted. “If you truly love someone, money isn't an object and nothing can stand in your way. Am I right, sweetie?”

“Always,” Riley responded with a grin. “Which is why we got you this card here for free international minutes as a Grad gift. Go on, give him a call.”

“Holy shit,” Sept hissed. He hadn’t expected such a gift. International calls were so costly that the dark-haired fox preferred to save the money towards his ticket rather than to call. The young man was so excited that he decided to call Renael right then and there.

The only problem was the time difference. His blond friend’s phone was off, probably because it was the middle of the night over in the mountains. Regardless, Septimus decided to leave him a message.

"That's it, I'm coming!" He half-slurred into the receiver. "I don't really have the money yet, but I'll find a way ta get the rest. Hee hee...oh boy, I'm so drunk. I've gotta be, I'm trying to picture your face, but I just see doubles of Riley. And trust me when I say, she's nowhere near as pleasant to look at."

"Hey! I heard that!"

"Riley, Lylah, and I got a liiiiittle carried away celebrating our graduation night. But, hey Ren...there's something I've been meaning to tell you for a while now. You see, I...ooohhh no! No no, Riley, she's too close, she's going to puke all over-!” Sept let out a big sigh. “Dammit. I gotta clean up some puke now. Love ya Ren! Congrats to us both!"

::

Dear Sept,

I don’t mind your drunk message at all. It makes me laugh every time I hear it. I’m never going to delete it! Just remember to take it easy on the drinking. There is such a thing as too much of anything.

If I remember correctly, winters aren't all that different here than they are in the city. I just love seeing the snow, especially now that I can go out in it and not get sick every time! I feel sad at the same time whenever I remember how we used to play in the snow together. I'm usually walking around outside by myself these days. Sometimes my dad gets stuck at the hospital too because the roads are too dangerous.

I really wish you were here, though. We could go make a snowman, or just do silly things in the snow, then have hot chocolate in front of the fire as we try to warm up. Maybe one day... :c

Love,

Ren

::

Septimus glanced down at the letter in his hand. He was getting tired of waiting to save enough money for a round trip. So, he decided to make it easier on the both of them. He was going to move to that mountain town and start a new life there!

As the dark haired fox closed the door behind him, rushing out to the airport, a yellow sheet of paper was left on the corner of his bed. It read:

My Dickheaded Friend,

The last time we talked, you did nothing but whine to me about being only 237 credits short from that one-way ticket out to no-man's-land that you've been after since we first met. Since Lylah is a true believer in true love in all its forms, together, we decided to give you a birth-mas-ter-day gift (includes birthdays, Christmas, and Easter). One that you will never forget. Don't fail us. Don't fail yourself. Just go and get him already!

Your knights in shining armor,

Riley and Lylah

And, it was only after depositing the 237 credits that Sept had finally acquired enough funds to see his beloved Renael...

::

Reunited

::

Sept’s parents seemed to have mixed feelings about his decision to move to a town in the middle of no-man’s-land on a continent separated by a large body of water. He couldn’t blame them. But, his decision wasn’t some sporadic fantasy he dreamed up at the last minute upon graduating.

The dark-haired fox felt that something within him had been ripped away with Renael’s departure. In recent years, he had learned to live with the loss and found a few moments of happiness with newfound friends that were similar to him. However, nothing ever appeased the fervent desire of having Ren physically there with him. Nothing that the blond fox sent in packages to him compared to being able to hear his voice; to be able to hug him.

As much as he loved his parents, Septimus felt that he couldn’t wait any longer. He left with the clothes he had on and a duffel bag full of extra clothes for the journey. Going through customs at the airport was a lengthy process for an international flight, but the young man was brimming with excitement. It was actually happening. The ticket in his hand was as real as the small, uncomfortable, economy seat beneath his butt cheeks.

When he arrived at the airport that was closest to the mountains, he felt the cold nipping at him. The hooded sweater did little to shield him from a gust of wind so cold and sharp that it felt like it was taking a bite out of his face every other moment. That’s what he got for only bringing an impromptu duffel bag of clothes with him in his haste. The pale fox had to hitch a ride on the back of a truck in order to get through the mountainous terrain that led to the entrance of the town…which was apparently named Erohas. Sept hadn’t needed to know the real name until he traveled towards it. Luckily, the address was on every letter he had received from Ren.

“Thanks, man!” He told the truck driver, slipping him his last 10 credits, as he was deposited at the bottom of a hill. Apparently, Kender and Renael’s house was on the very outskirts of the town. The doc wasn’t kidding when he said he’d bring Ren to a more rural area.

“Give me a break,” Sept hissed as his converse sneaks slipped on a bit of ice as he walked up the steep path and he fell forward into snow and mud. Technically, it was his own fault for rushing. But, his goal was so close, it made him temporarily forget about the cold in favor of the prospect of seeing Renael.

The dark-haired fox dusted himself off as much as he could and continued the trek. About halfway there, he felt his shoe sink lower than his prior steps. “Fickity-frack!” He growled, tugging desperately to release himself from the mud.

“Oh, come on!”

In a fit of rage, he raked his fingers through the laces to loosen them enough to slip his foot out of the shoe. His first step with only a sock as a barrier was cold and wet. But, he readjusted the strap of his duffel bag and pushed on. He was shivering so hard by the time that he reached the door that he couldn’t will himself to lift one of his arms to knock. Instead, he knocked twice on the door with his forehead.

::

Renael had been saving up money to visit Sept, but he barely had enough for a one-flight, let alone a round trip. Why was it so expensive to fly across twelve continents? The blond had just finished dropping some change into a glass jar when he heard a strange knock at the door. Who would risk coming to see his father in such weather? He ran to the door, peeking outside the window next to it, and his soft pink eyes widened. Was he seeing things? He rubbed his eyes, shaking his head, and realized that the apparition was still there. Ren quickly opened the door.

The shorter fox’s intention had been to usher the brunette in immediately. But, seeing Septimus without the barrier of the door left him a bit dazed. Whenever he dreamed about Sept showing up, the taller fox was dressed more for the weather. Surely that meant that the dark-haired fox before him was real, right?

"S-Sept, what are you doing here!?" He finally managed to gasp. "Ack! You've got to be freezing! Get in here…" Ren ordered, tugging the dark-haired fox inside by his elbow. The blond didn’t stop until they were close to the fire. "I-I'll make some hot chocolate to warm you up, okay?"

Sept had been getting ready to whine and complain in a smart-ass manner the moment that the door opened, but as soon as his peach eyes caught sight of his childhood friend, he fell speechless. And worse, at that very moment, a few drops of fluid fell from one his nostrils from his runny nose.

"Frack," He hissed under his breath as he quickly rubbed his nose clean with a sleeve. Ten years had turned his frail, girly-looking friend into something breathtakingly beautiful. He could barely even feel the warmth of the fire or the hunger in his stomach. His eyes were riveted to knee-length curly blond hair with pink tips and the lovely soft pink eyes he had once known so well. "So hot..." He commented dazedly, but quickly caught himself and tried to amend his stupor by adding. "So...hot ch-chocolate would be great!"

Ranael brought Sept a blanket, wrapping the taller fox up the same way Septimus used to do for him when they were kids. He gave him a small smile before heading towards the kitchen to get to work on the hot chocolate. Once again, he fell into a daze as he tossed the two mugs into the microwave. How was this not a dream? The Septimus in his house was taller and more handsome than how he imagined him.

When the blond peeked back into the living room, his eyes met with peach and a squeak escaped him before he ducked back into the kitchen. One of his hands fanned his face as he tried to cool off his blushing face. He couldn’t seem to do much for his racing heart. The rhythm kept fluctuating in speed against his control. When the microwave beeped, he placed the mugs on a tray and tossed some marshmallows into them.

"Are you crazy coming up here with so little on?" The blond chastised with a bit of a pout. "What were you thinking? And what are you doing out here?”

Sept's shaking hands held onto one of the mugs with a look of relief on his face. He took a careful sip and sent a little glare onto his friend. “Winters here aren't all that different here than in the city," He quoted in a high, mocking octave. "But, you failed to tell me that while we're only at the beginning of winter in my city, out here it's already in the middle."

Ranael had quite the pitiful expression on his face. "I'm sorry…I guess I forgot about the weather changes. As a kid, I thought that the weather was the same everywhere." He muttered in his defense.

Sept’s face transformed into a sad, longing expression. "And what do you think I'm doing out here? I came to see you! I was getting sick and tired of waiting so long. I've never stopped missing you."

Renael blushed when he noticed the look in Sept's eyes. The blond's heart felt as if it was beating so fast that it could burst out of his chest. "You could have told me sooner! I could have gotten us both a bit more prepared. But, I'm really glad you're here! You came at the right time. If you had waited a few days, you might have met a really bad snowstorm that's approaching." He pointed out with a frown as he thought of the impending danger. Ren didn't even want to imagine what could have happened had Sept been caught in it.

Septimus felt even colder just thinking about such things as snowstorms. "Damn, guess I really did come just in time..."

"You never were one to take caution, though," Ren replied with a laugh. He shivered and scooted closer to Sept. "D-do you mind if we share the blanket?"

"Heh." Sept snorted before wrapping his arms around the blond, along with the blanket, and settling him between his legs so that he felt the fox's back against his own chest. "Better?" He breathed into one of his ears.

Renael blushed when he was settled between Sept's legs. He felt the other's chest against his back and gasped when he felt the breath at his ear. Well, he certainly felt warmer in his face, if nothing else. "Y-yes, a bit better." He replied nervously before laughing. "I can take you shopping for warmer clothes if you want to tomorrow…I've got some emergency money."

"Hmm, I don't know," Sept purred as he nuzzled the side of Ren's neck with his nose. "I doubt that any clothes the markets have could compare to having you as my heater." He pressed a soft kiss on the fox's cheek. "Thank you. Now, don't you dare move for the next several hours, if you please." He hugged him a little tighter. "Don't make me beg."

Renael didn’t realize it was possible to blush even more. He felt warmer than ever in the fox's embrace and wanted to stay as they were for a long time, as well. He hesitated a bit since he was never as bold and confident as the other fox, but he gave Sept a return kiss on the cheek and rested against him. "I'm more than okay with that…" The blond replied as he tugged the blanket closed around them both.

Sept took a sharp intake of breath when he felt Renael's lips on his cheek. That one peck felt as if it were actually an arrow that pierced right through his heart. Yes, it had all been worth it. All of his troubles getting to Ren had been absolutely worth it. "Th-thank you," He barely managed to reply. He had the most childish urge to tackle them both to the ground and grumble the word 'mine' like he did when they were kids. But, he was much more content with holding him close like this. "Ren...has there been anyone that's caught your attention over here?"

The blond looked confused at Sept's sudden question. "Caught my attention..?" He repeated, thinking. "Not really…I mean, I've seen interesting people. But, not any that have made me curious enough to have a close friendship with." aHe answered, nuzzling against him. Then, he thought about something. "Sept? How…how long are you going to get to stay?" He asked with a worried pout. He really hoped that their time together wouldn't end too soon.

Sept fell unusually silent as he all but strained his fox ears to hear every word and everything in between the words that came out of his blond's mouth. Once his hands were finally warmed up enough, he took hold of some of the long golden locks and breathed in their scent. "I had originally planned to kidnap you...to just run away with you and never give you back." He said as he gently raked through the curly hair and began to massage the back of the fox's neck. "But, now that I'm here with you, I can't even think about wasting time going back. So, I’m here so long as you don't tire of me."

Renael’s eyes widened. He looked up at the other fox with his soft pink eyes. "You really mean it..?" He asked. "Thank goodness."

The two of them shared a peaceful moment of silence before the dark-haired fox broke it. "Ren...have you kissed anyone else after that one day at the park?" He asked tentatively.

Ren blushed when he thought about that day. It was still a clear image in his head as if it had just happened yesterday. The shorter fox remembered Septimus pushing him on the swing and how the blond told him to stop when he realized that they wouldn't be able to play together again. Before he had known what happened, Sept had stolen his first kiss.

The blond fox shook his head. "No, I haven't." He replied, running one of his hands through Sept's straight black and red hair.

That day, Sept had no idea what had possessed him to even do such a thing. But, as the years passed, he realized that what he felt for the fox before him was a very complicated feeling. For example, right now he felt rather pleased that no one else had kissed him that way. "I know we haven't really brought it up since that day, not even in our letters. But, even if you did ask, I wouldn't have been able to give you a decent enough answer as to why I did it. Not back then." He reached over to slide his hand up the side of Ren's face and raked through the golden curls there. "I might have the answer now, but I don't think I'll give it up easily." He added with a challenging half-smirk.

"I...I honestly never really questioned it, because I kinda liked it," Renael admitted sheepishly. At that age, he had a secret crush on Sept. Only, now, the feelings were much deeper and more extreme than a simple crush. So, when the pale fox teased him, he pouted in a huffy manner. "What do I have to do to get the answer, then?"

Sept had felt a stab at his heart when Renael admitted that he liked the kiss and the stab seemed to only dig deeper when the blond pouted adorably at him. "You would have to kiss me," He replied as his smirk widened. "But, if the kiss isn't good enough, I won't answer."

Renael's face only reddened after hearing Sept's condition. This could be a good chance for him. A chance to relay to the taller fox just how he felt about him. A chance to get some sort of answer on both of their feelings. "You would eventually tell me..." He countered. Ren then quickly gave the dark-haired man a peck on the lips to build up his courage. His second kiss was slower, softer. He could feel the warmth and softness of Sept’s lips. How were they not chapped from the cold? Did he use lip balm?

The blond fox shifted and pressed his lips one more time against the brunette’s. They were slightly parted that time. He felt a quivering of excitement in his stomach. As he forced himself to pull away, he prayed that his feelings were transparent in his kisses. He had never been the one to kiss someone else before. He wasn't even sure if he was doing it right. But, he found that he rather liked it.

The smirk had completely fallen off of Sept's face. In fact, he was so dazed that he probably looked stupid to his beautiful friend. Though he had tried to never forget the sensation of their first kiss on the swing, he realized that the kisses Ren just planted on him were at least ten times better than his childish attempt. No, a hundred times better. Sept felt the echo of the several pleasant shivers that had down his spine in the process. "Ren," He gasped. Then, with a racing heart, he tugged him closer and kissed him back. The tip of his tongue traced the top of the fox's bottom lip, but he didn't go any further. With a final soft peck, he pulled away and looked into soft pink eyes. "I think I've fallen for you."

Ren's heart skipped a beat. Those were the words he wanted to hear for so long…the ones that only the Sept in his dreams told him. He felt himself tearing up and ended up hugging the other man tightly. "It's about time you said something...I-I don't know if I could have ever been brave enough to say it first.” He sniffled, but he had a smile on his face. "I love you so much, Sept. I think I always have.”

The dark-haired fox simply held onto the beauty in his arms, thanking the cosmos for allowing them to reunite. A part of him was glad that, as kids, they didn't know what this feeling really was. It would have made Renael's leaving that much harder. "I don't want us to ever be apart again," He whispered into a blond ear.

"I don't either...I guess that's why I was so upset all this time." Ren admitted, holding onto the other fox for as long as Sept would allow him.

After a long moment that could have spanned minutes or hours basking in each other's warmth, Sept spoke again. "How is your father? Would he mind if I moved in with you temporarily?" He asked.

Renael's father was a doctor. When the two of them moved to the mountains for Ren's health, his father had worked non-stop at a clinic near the market. Despite his wanting to help, the younger fox was too receptive to viruses and colds, so he generally ended up being by himself.

"He's…as busy as ever. I'm usually here by myself." Ren admitted with a sigh. "He won't mind that you're here. I usually don't get to go out too far to actually be with anyone my age. I'm usually here drawing scenery for the local calendar." The shorter fox yawned and nuzzled against Septimus. He was fighting sleep in order to keep his friend in sight as if he’d disappear as suddenly as he’d arrived.

Sept rolled his eyes. "Then, I guess you'll have to start sketching me into the scenery and be driven absolutely insane by my presence from now on because I'm not going anywhere."

"That'd be...yawn...great.”

Septimus gracefully hefted Ren into his arms like he weighed nothing and kissed his forehead. "So, which room is yours? I'll tuck you in," he said.

Renael gasped and held on tightly to Sept when he was lifted up. His cheeks were pink, and it took him a moment for the question to register. "O-oh! Um…At the very end of the hall on the left."

When Sept stepped into the room, he was a bit shocked to find all of the things that he sent the blond fox. The posters, the plushes, the figurines, the quilts, the blankets, and even the pillow with the sun stitched onto it (which he had sent merely because the color reminded Sept of Ren's hair). "You actually kept all of it..." He murmured as he pulled down the quilt and settled the shorter fox onto the bed.

Renael saw how surprised Sept was and chuckled. "Of course I did. You picked them out for me. So, they were special." He replied. "I have a tub under my bed that has all your letters. I used to read through them sometimes when I was little, so I decided to keep every single one. They made me smile whenever I needed one." He gently tugged at Sept's sleeve to urge the brunette to lay down with him.

Sept was rather touched that his letters and gifts meant so much to the blond fox. A light blush streaked across his nose and cheeks. He tugged off his remaining shoe and socks before shrugging off his sweater. The dark-haired fox then climbed in next to Ren and tugged the quilt over both their forms. "You need to get your rest." He warned. Septimus was wary of embarrassing himself, having Renael so close, but he would gladly suffer through such embarrassment in order to stay near him.

"Y-yeah...allergies kept me up all night. Sorry we're having to sleep so soon." The blond fox apologized, scooting closer to Sept and curling up against him to get any warmth he could. "I'm so glad you're here. I'm going to be mad if I wake up and this was all a dream."

The pale fox began to lazily rub Ren's back in soft circles. "Heh," He responded. "The way the cold went and nipped my ass, I know this is no dream. I'll be here when you wake." And, in the warmth that they provided one another with, the two of them drifted off into a deep sleep.

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