"Wonwoo, do you want to walk through the park and down to the shops by the school? " Junhui called out from the kitchen. He decided he might as well kiss goodbye to the last of his meagre savings and buy Wonwoo some things for his little den. Maybe he just needed some things of his own. Junhui wasn't going to make the same mistakes all over again after seeing how much the little fox loved his Baby.

Silence greeted him and he wondered if the fox maybe just wanted to stay home. He reached for a towel and began to dry his hands when Wonwoo bounded into the kitchen with his collar in his hands. "Yes please!" He said brightly as he pushed the collar towards Junhui who took it with a smile at the hybrids enthusiasm. "Not yet," he said as he wrapped an arm around Wonwoo and guided him out of the kitchen. "First you need to put on some pants."

An hour later they walked along the street towards the park. It was a beautiful winters day but the streets were almost deserted. Wonwoo's eyes sparkled and the glimmer was matched by the gems on his collar blinking in the cold winter sunlight. His cheeks were flushed with the cold despite the jacket and scarf Junhui had wrapped him in. The fox had refused a hat as soon as he felt the unfamiliar sensation crushing his ears. He wore his collar but no leash, instead he clutched at Junhui's hand and swung their arms as they walked. His other hand clung to his Baby which he insisted on bringing along.

The little row of shops was nothing special. There was a tiny grocery shop, a second hand shop, a laundromat and a variety shop that sold all sorts of cheap junk. Junhui knew it was a pretty dismal outing, he didn't have the car to drive Wonwoo to the modern brightly lit mall, or the money to take him somewhere special. Wonwoo seemed unbothered though. He clung to Junhui's hand and chattered excitedly like a toddler as they walked into the second hand shop and began to rummage around.

"These things all smell weird," Wonwoo giggled as he picked up a soft fleece rug. "If you like something I'll buy it and wash it at home. Then it won't smell weird anymore," Junhui smiled as he watched Wonwoo inspect the shelves full of blankets and rugs before his eyes lit up. "Can Baby Have this?" He asked as he pulled a beautiful coral fleece baby blanket from the shelf. It was pastel pink and edged with satin ribbon and Junhui indulged him immediately. He would give Wonwoo whatever he wanted.

Finally, with a bag filled with a huge thick feather-stuffed quilt, they made their way to the variety store. They walked in and Wonwoo's eyes widened. He'd never seen anything so wonderful.

Junhui hung back and let the fox take the lead. He had a red plastic basked clutched in his hands and he looked like a child on Christmas Day. Which he was, in many ways, so childlike and so deprived of luxuries and pleasures anyone should expect. Junhui watched his fingers trace the cheap silken petals of a fake sprig of cherry blossom and when the fox turned a little Junhui nodded. The flowers went in the basket quicker than Junhui could nod.

He followed the fox and smiled to himself as Wonwoo added a big bunch of fake sunflowers and a little red satin cushion. Junhui suddenly had an idea and pulled Wonwoo down an aisle and towards a big stand of fairy lights. "Do you want me to make you a night sky?" He asked and Wonwoo nodded quickly. Junhui added a few strings and led the fox towards the register to pay for their stuff.

Weighed down with two bags, Junhui led Wonwoo towards the tiny grocery. They chose pork and vegetables and rice for dinner and headed back towards home with their bags filled with their treasures. Wonwoo skipped along besides Junhui and suddenly stopped when he noticed the man struggling with the bags. "I can help..." he said and for once Junhui let him. He let him take the bag of flowers and fairy lights and they walked along in silence.

He let Wonwoo take his bags into his room and into the den while he began to braise the pork. After a while Junhui figured he should go and check on him and he found the little fox sitting forlorn in front of the den. Tears streaked his cheeks and Junhui's chest clenched at the sight. No matter what he'd been though, how painful his memories were and how deep his scars ran, junhui had never seen the fox cry. "Petal," He crooned softly as the fox slowly turned around and hid his face in his sleeve.

"I c-can't do t-this..." as soon as he opened his mouth. Wonwoo broke, his trembling body shivering as it was racked with sobs, his breath coming in shaky and out barely. Junhui pulled him as close as he possibly could as they sat on the floor in front of the den. Junhui held him and the fox cried until he couldn't cry any more and Junhui wondered if he even knew why he was crying. Was it something recent or was he finally allowing himself to open the wounds of his past and cleanse them of the pain and the rot that they trapped inside? Junhui rocked him on his lap until the soft sobs became sniffs and finally stopped.

"I'm sorry," Wonwoo whispered and Junhui stroked his head. He ran his fingers gently around the edge of his ears, where dark fur met soft pink flesh, and buried his nose in the scent of the hybrids hair. "Don't be sorry," he said as he nuzzled into the shiny dark locks as they curled around his nose. "It's okay to cry. It makes you feel better."

Wonwoo's face was puffy, his eyes red rimmed and tired, the glow of his smile ethereal. Junhui had climbed into his den and helped him string the lights up all over the roof and stick the flowers around the edge and when it was done Wonwoo yipped with happiness. His den was beautiful with flowers and blankets and the soft silky pillow that felt cool on his face. Most of all he loved having Junhui inside his space and he was hit with a sudden and unexpected craving to find out what it felt like to sleep next to the man. To put his head on his chest and curl up with his brush lazing languidly across their bare bodies as their heartbeats fell slowly in sync. To snuggle the man deep inside his nest and keep him warm all night as they slept in a warm pile.

The craving hit him hard and hot and he couldn't contain it. He threw himself into Junhui's arms and wrapped himself around the man as they sat inside the den. No one spoke as Wonwoo pushed himself into Junhui's space and nosed his neck and chin. His tongue darted out, desperate to taste the skin of the man who made him feel safe, soft little licks satisfying his urgent craving. His lips pursed and poured into a gentle kiss as he mouthed Junhui's jaw and the man stroked his hair.

"I have to check the food..." Junhui said as he gently shifted the fox from his lap. "Are you okay now?" Wonwoo nodded and Junhui crawled out of the den and went back into the kitchen.

He hid around the corner and tried to slow his breathing. He couldn't do this, it was getting harder and harder to resist, the heat of the gorgeous squirmy little fox in his lap. The gentle press of lips into his skin. The eyes black as ink which seemed to be asking for something intangible and incomprehensible. Wonwoo needed answers and he couldn't even ask the questions.

Junhui sighed as he turned to the stove and stirred the braised pork and vegetables. He had to stay strong and push his urges deep down where they couldn't hurt anyone. He wouldn't hurt Wonwoo for anything.