"I don't know what to do," Junhui said the next morning as he stretched in the grey light of early morning. He had an affinity for the dawn and meeting Soonyoung at the gym had introduced him to a kindred spirit. They had started running in the mornings as the sun crested the horizon and it was Junhui's favourite part of the day.

"There's only two things you can do. Either buy it or forget about it." Soonyoung laced his runners tighter and stood up, stretching out his back, his lean body reaching up to the cold grey sky. Before Junhui could answer Soonyoung was off at a brisk jog and Junhui had to keep up.

They ran in silence, down the road, past the woods behind the town. They ran along the dirt path by the creek and over the little wooden bridge and back across the empty blocks of land that couldn't sell. Junhui couldn't afford to live any closer to the city than he did now but he liked it out here on the very edge of suburbia anyway.

Buying the hybrid had never crossed his mind. He thought Soonyoung would suggest some kind of social media protest or covert delivery of food to the pet store daily. He never expected the stark and honest advice his friend had just given him.

What would he do with the hybrid? Could be even keep a hybrid in his tiny two bedroom? This wild creature, full of vitriol and agitation and grief. How would he care for it? Would it hurt him? He didn't know.

By the time they'd run past the high school and back down the block to Junhui's house he had an idea. It was probably the worst idea he'd ever had in his life but he couldn't forget about the sad creature trapped in the glass cage.

"I want to buy him and set him free."

Soonyoung frowned before his face broke into an adorable bright smile. "Great idea! You can bring him home and let him stay for a while and then take him back to where they captured him." Junhui nodded slowly. He didn't know how much they wanted for the fox but he didn't care. It was just money. It would be worth it to be able to sleep at night knowing the beautiful creature was free from the torment of his prison.

He showered and dressed and waited for Minghao. He knew the fox liked chicken but today he'd packed some rich flakes of salmon as well as peanut butter balls and fresh fruit. He decided to feed the fox again and then ask him if he would like to be bought and freed.

The shock collar scared him, the warning signs scared him, the bone shattering power of the fox's jaw scared him. A part of his brain told him he couldn't handle this. That he was putting himself into danger. But he pushed that part of his common sense deep down where he could ignore it. He had to do something.

"Another day of trying to get a date with a fox?" Minghao smirked in amusement when he saw Junhui's neat styled hair and tightly-clutched lunch box. "No I'm going to ask him if I can buy him," Junhui said and Minghao almost ran the van off the road. "You're going to buy a hybrid Gē?" he said, voice full of incredulity, his hair flopping as he shook his head. "He's dangerous. The sign even says so. He's wearing a shock collar for goodness sake...." Everyone, not just hybrid owners, knew the collars were a last resort. It was in a domestic hybrids nature to be submissive and eager to please but the wild fox wasn't a domestic housepet. His nature was fight or flight.

"I'm going to ask him first. And then I'm going to free him." Junhui was steadfast in his resolve. He had to do something and this was all he could think of. "If you let him go and they catch him they might kill him," Minghao said and tears filled Junhui's eyes. "He's so unhappy Minghao. He'd probably prefer to die over a life in that cage. At least I can offer him a choice. A chance." Minghao knew he wasn't going to talk him out of this. He'd only known Junhui a few years but he could be stubborn when he wanted to be and by the look on his face he'd already made up his mind.

Junhui managed to focus on his work. This wasn't his area of expertise but he couldn't get distracted. Minghao set up all the connections and installed all the software as a Junhui stood ready to climb into the roof and fix any missed wires or plugs. But their installation was flawless as per usual and they took their lunch break as they waited for the programs to install on the computers and touchscreens. "Go," Minghao's eyes indicated the doorway and Junhui went straight in to find the fox.

This time he came straight out at the scent of Junhui's approach. Junhui saw the fox wrinkle his nose a little and almost cooed aloud at how cute he looked. The warnings of the fox's danger were forgotten when the creature approached in a low crouch, small yips escaping his throat, his ears facing forward in happy submission. "I brought food again," Junhui said and when he opened the lunchbox his stomach sank. The fox immediately retched and disappeared into his damp newspaper den and Junhui scowled at the flakes of salmon. "Stupid idiot," he admonished himself as he frowned at the offending fish. He prepared what he thought was a nutritious lunch without even considering if foxes ate fish. Judging by the molten amber eyes blinking at him from the den he guessed they didn't. This one definitely didn't.

"I'm sorry," Junhui whispered as he closed the lid and pushed the food away. "I fucked up," he laughed nervously and ran a hand through his hair and the fox began to slink back out towards him. "You didn't know," he said softly as he cowered at the man behind the glass. "I still have some of the peanut butter anyway."

Junhui got out the fruit and began to poke it through the vent, strawberries and grapes going straight in the foxes mouth, noticing the apple slices were disregarded. Fish and apples, Junhui committed it to memory, things the fox didn't like.

"I want to ask you something Wonwoo," Junhui said, not missing the reaction of the fox to his name. He watched him yip a little and move closer, his crouch low to the ground and his eyes wide but free from fear. "I-I want to ask you if I can buy you and get you out of here. You could stay with me for a while and when you feel strong enough I'll take you back where you came from. I'll set you free."

The fox widened his eyes as he took in what Junhui was saying. No one had ever asked his permission or opinion on anything ever. He wa taken, he was beaten, he was owned and sold and controlled. He was suspicious and skeptical without even knowing what those concepts were. But he'd head something that was irresistible and he couldn't ignore its lure.

"I'll set you free..."