[PRP] The Bench [Nasir/Fox]

[demon_pachabel]

Sometimes cop films started off showing off someone out on a jog. Hell, she could think of a lot of them that did. But after about two laps, Fox - despite being quite in the position to keep going on her run around the park after a few days stuck at home feeling like utter barfy nonsense - found she wasn't enjoying it half as much as some people seemed to.

Maybe it was the post barfy nonsense.

It was time for a break and then maybe one more lap before dinner. A bench was a short walk away and Fox settled on it, sinking in with a sigh as her legs reminded her that running was hard and that they would have liked it better if she was home snuggling up with a cat.

But no. She needed to prepare herself back into work. A run tonight, then back to work in the morning. It would be fine. She'd be fine.

Everything was fine.

Lord she was tired.

Azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

There was a thump.

Followed by a bump.

Then there was a chitter-chirp of a noise as a flying squirrel with strangely human looking warm brown eyes landed next to her on the bench. His tail flicked back and forth multiple times as if he was considering which direction to go next.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Fox held in a gasp. Oh no. A beautiful wild animal. Her mother would have been quietly losing her mind right now and Fox was tempted to snap a picture, just so when she told this story at some point she had proof.

Slowly she pulled her phone out of the secure band she had it in, carefully flipping to the camera. "Heeeeeyyy there little buddy. You're sure a brave lil' guy~"

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

Trouble, because who else would it be, let out another chitter-chirp as Fox spoke. It also appeared that he stayed still for her phone, though his tail continued to flick to and fro.

He did, in fact, sniff closer towards her briefly.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Flash off. Quadruple check that flash is off on this phone. Once she was certain that her phone wasn't going to strobe-light in the poor thing's face, she snapped a picture, looking at it only briefly before turning it around so that Trouble could look at it.

"That's you!"

This was likely what she said whenever Bento stretched out against the bathroom mirror and meowed at her reflection. It was said in the same tone of voice.

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

There was probably a little too human in the way Trouble moved forward and was stretching himself out to peer at the phone. Grabby motions were made with his paws, clearly wanting to see better, before he simply leapt towards the phone.

Precariously balanced on her phone, somewhat folded over to look at the screen, was a flying squirrel.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Fox held her breath as the voice of Fawn Bliskiss reminded her internally to not touch animals because something about human smells or oils or really she'd been given so many reasons over the years that they mostly blurred together.

"Well hello there, buddy," she said, balancing the phone awkwardly as Trouble clung to it. "You checkin' yourself out?"

Azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

A constant string of little chirps escaped as Trouble continued to look at himself on the screen before his head raised to peer at Fox.

It was hard to miss it now, with him staring at her, the very human color of his eyes: a warm brown that she might think vaguely familiar.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

While having not been up close and personal with a wild animal like a squirrel before, Fox was fairly certain that they...didn't come with eyes that color. At least not normally.

"Well, aren't you a rarity there?" Fox would have taken a picture, but she had a squirrel on her phone, so no options. "Not very scared of people either."

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

All the peering was apparently Trouble trying to determine if Fox was a people he could trust. His decision was made as he jumped from the phone to her shoulder and let out what was possibly the cutest, smallest animal yawn she had ever seen.

... and then he was searching out a pocket to take a nap.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Aaaand there was a squirrel on her. The only pocket Trouble would be able to find was the pouch of Fox's running hoodie, but the clingy friendliness of the little guy made the young woman frown slightly. Fawn Bliskiss worked with wild animals. Fox had been told since a young age not to mess with animals as though they were pets - they were only friendly if they were really sick.


Was this little guy sick?

Fox had turned her phone to pull up Fawn's number to call and ask about a vet when-

".....It died.." she cursed under her breath. She'd have to run it home first. Which meant Trouble would be coming with her, she guessed.

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

Trouble was apparently used to the movement, tucked away and curled into a ball in the pouch. He was a perfect passenger (though he kept waking up periodically).

It was at her apartment, precious minutes after she had gotten there, that there was a knock on her door. Trouble, of course, was still yawning.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Fox had barely had time to plug her phone in when she heard the knock. Bento had been losing her mind, wanting to be held and ALSO wanting to put her face in the pouch to see what was smelling in there. Fox carefully held the cat in one arm as she answered the door. Bento simply purred on her 'mama's' shoulder.

Cracking the door open, Fox at least recognized the face on the other side of it.

"What can I do for you?"

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

Nasir blinked, his glasses fallen down on his nose some. His eyes were a familiar brown, the same brown in fact that Trouble had.

He had not expected her to answer the door, nor for her to have a cat on her. Weren't the Mercers the only ones who let cats ride on their shoulders? Who knew.

"This is going to sound really odd," he said slowly, a ruddy red showing on his cheeks, "but ... you found a squirrel, didn't you? A southern flying squirrel? At the park."

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Bento prepped herself to make a leap from shoulder to shoulder, eyeballing Nasir with dilated pupils of 'I NEED TO BE HELD'. Whether he was ready or not, the feline made the leap. Preparedness would only dictate the number of claws dug in to keep the feline upright.

"I did." Fox stated, pondering if she'd not noticed she was being watched during her interactions. "It was acting strangely so when it uh..." she glanced down at the pouch of her jacket where there was definitely a squirrel sized lump (Is that a Trouble in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?), "fell asleep, I brought it with me to call the vet my mother uses in wildlife services."

A number, in fact, that may be good to have if one was going to be keeping a wild animal around that could potentially get sick or hurt. HMMMM.

azuredreams