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The light near the manhole flickers above them, casting everything in dim light.
Only a single small lantern had been carried, the weak light shone, making their shadows dance on the walls. Their paws lightly tread across the floor, so as to not bring their presence to attention, the stone was cool to the touch.
It had become a sort of regular past-time for both Ash and Kristofferson.
Ash had found a hidden alcove somewhere within the sewers and that had been their favourite hiding spot ever since then.
It was their own personal spot. A secret, special place that no one but him and Ash knew. This was something Kristofferson was most fond of- some place where only the two of them existed together.
On the first day, Ash had sneaked in a few blankets and used cutlery stolen from the grocery store above as poles to help pitch the cloth. It had become some sort of blanket fort. Thanks to the multiple supplies provided from above, there never was a shortage to comfort when it came to their super secret spot.
Kristofferson noted the grape juice stain.
Ash had always somehow been messy, scraggly, and a bit uncoordinated at times. He was a few days older than Kristofferson, but there was something about Ash that he didn't understand- How was he so self-aware and yet so unapologetically himself?
Auntie Fox had mentioned it before, Ash is different, in a way that the sensible him was not. While he had been practicing, perfecting, and careful- Normal, even.
But not Ash.
Ash had this endearing charm to him that Kristofferson thought, was just so unique and different, in a way that he wasn't.
So, when they lay side-by-side, Kristofferson couldn't help but steal gazes (subtly) at his supposedly older cousin.
"Do you you think I can be just like my dad?" Ash suddenly pipes up and flickers his ears.
Kristofferson thinks about it for a while. 'Not in the same way, no.' He thinks. And then he recalls the similarity of how his side of the family take unnecessary risks that he finds quite concerning.
"You're his son," he tries, opting for a vague answer instead.
Ash makes a noise of acknowledgement, but then rolls closer to the Silverfox, "Coach used to say that no one could ever beat dad's record. But you saw what happened on the day we rescued you, I'm an athlete."
"Well, I suppose you are an athlete Ash." And he means it with full sincerity.
"I know," Ash says, pleased.
There was not a hint of conceit to his tone. Kristofferson knows this because Ash, even if he may say things that may seem prideful at face value- Those were years of insecurity that he had made some peace with.
And that, was a small piece of reprieve that he'd give to Ash anytime.
"Thank you, Kristofferson."
"Huh," Kristofferson hears it like it was something he misheard, "for what?"
"For believing in me. You're the first ever animal, besides my mom, who never gave up on me." It could just be his imagination, but was Ash blushing?
"I know I can be grouchy a lot of the times. I made fun of you, of your dad, I spit, and I have a temper. That wasn't cool of me, man." Ash shakes his head, his face unreadable. A thousand words that couldn't make up for what was crossing inside his head.
Kristofferson softens his look. The same way he did back at the attic. The sting of a fall on his back. But all he could remember was Ash's face all sullen, whiskers dropped, and eyes full of remorse. Kristofferson, I'm sorry, had been playing in his mind.
"That's alright too," he said them again.
Ash lifts his chin, and he stares straight into Kristofferson, amber eyes crinkling in a rare smile. They're both smiling.
"You've said that before."
"I know."
If he could trade away full peaches, the sunshine, the river and his acorns to stay here, then he'd already made his decision. Ash and his eccentric family were starting to become home to him. He would never have expected this, but he was glad it happened anyways.
"Kristofferson," Ash says his name like he was thinking out loud, "Hey, Kristofferson."
"Yes, Ash?" Kristofferson indulges him.
"I'm glad you're staying here. With us, I mean." He shifts a little, a habit Ash does when he gets shy over something, "I'm glad you're still here."
Kristofferson's eyes widen at the sudden confession. This is twice in a row, he thinks. It was unfair, because unlike Ash, his blush was much harder to hide due to a lighter shade of fur. He felt not only his cheeks become warmer, but also his heart.
"Yeah, I'm glad too. Glad to be staying here with you," he catches himself quick, "here with the rest too. They're all great animals, Ash."
The little fox stays quiet beside him, only letting out a little noise, satisfied and happy with Kristofferson's words. His chest feels stuffy, with Ash so close, the silver fox wonders if he could hear how loud his heart was beating.
But Ash is quicker and braver. An animal of true instinct just like his father, Kristofferson supposes, "Have you ever kissed anyone?"
He would be lying if he said he hasn't, "I didn't start it, the fox girl just gave me a peck on the cheeks. More of like a whim of a decision for her, I think. Anyways, yes, I have kissed someone before."
"Oh."
"Have you?"
Kristofferson's mind wanders towards the kind of kisser Ash would be. The messy type? The shy type? Would he be a quick kisser? Why was he thinking about all this?
"Me? Kissing?" Ash is all wide eyed, but he doesn't look Kristofferson in the eye as he nods his head around as if deep in thought, "I've kissed before, sure."
Kristofferson looks at him with raised brows.
"Oh, really." He says it flatly. Though he can call out Ash's painfully obvious lie, it wouldn't hurt to try and tease him a little.
"So, you know how to kiss now?"
Ash is a bit flabbergasted at the question.
Ash shook his head as he answered Kristofferson's candid question. His body movements, however, contradicted his words, "Yeah, I do."
Kristofferson decides to push it even further. Which is pretty uncharacteristic of him, but months of living with Ash and his family had made him bolder.
"Then, could you show me?"
Ash neither accepted nor denied. He was at an impasse. There was no way out of this.
Kristofferson soon tastes grape juice upon his muzzle. There were a lot of things about Ash that is unexpected, but he didn't think Ash was such a gentle kisser.
Because Kristofferson begins to return that kiss as well. A gentle fox like him, when he did most things gently and with grace. His meditation practice was what kept his mind as calm as the river back home. Calm and gentle was what Kristofferson was used to.
The blanket beneath them rustle just a bit, Kristofferson's ears flicker and so does Ash's.
And when they parted, a deep blush settled on each other's faces. Bashful and shy. They had just kissed. The world was theirs for that moment, and they had lived in it.
Kristofferson brings a paw up to his muzzle to chase that warmth. Beside him, Ash was hiding his face in his chest, his paw fiddling on the frayed ends of the towel he still wore as a cape.
Both didn't know what to say afterwards, but neither did they express any sort of contempt towards it. So they laid there in comfortable and shared silence.
Both of them hid the pleased smiles on their muzzles.
Kristofferson thinks,
'Now, that. That was truly fantastic.'