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The sky was dark, but it wasn't covered by the pollution and smog that Nine had been so accustomed to while growing up. They were large, towering storm clouds, which rumbled and flashed every so often.
He waits by the window, watching the distant flashes, and listens to the rumbles that follow. The first time he had experienced a thunderstorm was in Green Hill. Tails had been petrified, but Nine was mesmerized by the dark clouds and ominous thunder.
Nine often made fun of Tails and his fear of thunder, to which his brother would always reply with the same things he always said during one of those conversations.
“It might just be noise to you, but it’s not something to mess with!” Tails always said. “Lightning could kill you in one strike! The sound is just a warning!”
While it might have scared Tails, Nine was fascinated with lightning. It commanded such impressive power, able to strike fear into the heart of anyone who dared to challenge it.
Soon after, a downpour begins spattering the pavement outside. Dim street lights cast light into the already forming puddles, and Nine feels the familiar temptation to run out into the rain and play in the puddles.
Even at twenty-one, Nine always enjoyed playing in the rain. He loved the feeling of wet grass beneath his paws and the way the rain dampened his fur. He removes his metal tails, remembering the constant warnings from his brother about going out with them during a storm.
He glances down at his shoes, and removes them, tossing them aside. Same with his gloves–he didn’t want to bother drying them, as they always took hours to dry. He throws the front door open and pauses in the doorway, watching as the rain falls.
Grinning, Nine dashes out of the house, leaping right into a puddle. Rain pours down on him, soaking into his fur. It’s a warm spring rain, and an earthy smell rises in the air as the rain falls. Nine breathes deep, relishing in the clean air of the city.
New Yoke was usually cold, even during the summer months, so it was unusual for a day to be as warm as this. Nine looks off the left, spotting the small grove of trees, and the mud hidden within them. He leaps forward, excitedly jumping into the mud, which splashes all over him.
The cool, wet earth sticks to his fur, soaking into his skin. Nine settles down, feeling as the mud squishes between his fingers. He flops onto his back, watching as the rain hits the large green leaves above him, a raindrop occasionally dripping down onto his face. He closes his eyes and sighs, allowing himself to be enveloped by the rain.
…
Vince should be used to this by now. He’d been dating Nine for a good six months now, but he still wasn’t used to the fact that his boyfriend had a special ability to just disappear without a trace. He picks up his umbrella and slides on his old, worn-out boots, and reaches for the front door.
It’s still raining as he steps outside. It wasn't as bad as before, and the thunder had moved on, but the rain stubbornly refused to stop. Vince walks out onto the street, his boots kicking up water as he steps through a particularly large puddle.
“Nine?” He calls out, knowing that Nine couldn’t have gone far, especially this close to dinnertime. Nine adored Collin’s cooking, and would always come running whenever a meal was laid out. Vince knew how much his father appreciated the excitement from the fox, and always made sure to have enough for seconds, if Nine ever wanted it, which he usually did.
Vince looks around, seeing the small grove of trees beside the house. He takes a step closer. “Nine?” He says again, and moments later, Nine’s head pops up from the bushes, his fur covered in mud. “There you are,” Vince says with a smile. “It’s almost dinner.” He gestures at the house, and at the light of the front room pouring out onto the street through the open door.
Water begins soaking into Vince’s boots, and he frowns, lifting a boot, noticing the hole on the bottom. He shrugs, and sets his foot down, ignoring the way his now-soaked sock squished between his toes. He looks up, startled to see Nine bolting towards him at full speed.
“Nine, wait!” Vince shouts as Nine leaps forward, paws outstretched. They collide, and Vince falls back into the puddle. Nine pins him down, and hugs him tightly, his tails wagging. “ Oof– get off me, you little jerk!” Vince protests, trying to push Nine away.
In response to this, Nine places his mud-covered paws in Vince’s hair and ruffles it, only for Vince to push him off seconds later. He laughs as he’s pushed away, watching as Vince tries to clean the mud from his hair. “I just showered.” Vince huffs, scowling at Nine, who can only laugh, and stick his tongue out at his partner.
Vince can only look at Nine for a few moments before his scowl softens, his complaints dissolving into laughter. “You’re lucky you’re so cute,” Vince says, slinging an arm around Nine, tugging him close. Nine leans against him and laughs. “You love me.” He replies with a smirk.
“I guess I do.” Vince teases. “I can’t imagine how I’d tolerate your shenanigans for this long.” He says, ruffling Nine’s muddy fur. He then takes Nine’s hands and helps him to his feet. “Come on. You look like you could use a bath.” He says with a grin.
Nine spins his tails, shaking the excess mud from them. “Guess I’d better wipe my feet before going inside, huh?” He asks with a smile. “Here. Use these. I have to go out and get new boots tomorrow, anyway.” Vince replies, kicking off his boots. “I’m not sure my dad will be very happy if he finds muddy paw prints all over his clean floors.” He adds, leaning forward to kiss Nine’s cheek.
…
They stayed out a while longer, watching as the rain stopped, and to see the clouds part to reveal the twilight sky, faintly lit by distant stars. They leaned against one another, admiring the starry sky.
It wasn’t until Tails came outside to fetch them did they come inside.
At this point, the mud had dried onto his fur, and Nine knew how hard it would be to get it out. But once he was all clean, he could get into a pair of cozy pajamas and cuddle up on the couch with Vince. They had agreed on a movie date tonight, and it was his turn to choose the movie.
As they step into the house, Nine can smell the dinner–salmon and seasoned broccoli. He looks at his muddy fur, then at Vince, who grins and shrugs. Oh, well. Dinner could wait.