Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Being a writer is my dream job but it has full-time hours and this is where I'd normally pitch my ways to support me, but I've been told Ao3 doesn't vibe with that, so maybe just follow me on Twitter to see what I'm up to?

And with that out of the way…

—♥🌙—

Episode 1:

Never trust a fox

“Fu-” Sen hissed through his mawguard, unable to finish the slur as a gloved fist slammed into his muzzle. The world spun until he slammed chest first into the training mat under him, “-ck… ngh!” He winced as he rubbed his jaw. Even with the guard, it was a hell of a lot harder than it needed to be, and the instructor had explicitly said no head blows.

“Point for Derick,” The instructor drolled out with a bored tone in his voice, the other fox hopping back from the downed twin-tail who thrashed his deep orange tails around, glaring up at the instructor. The older dog with gray showing against his muzzle snorted down at the kitsune as he huffed out, “Wanna bitch about it, shrine-pup? Maybe pray the pain away?”

The kitsune snarled and righted himself without a word. With a growl, he got back into stance, his tails whipping about faster as he punched his gloves together and nodded at the other fox across from him to continue the sparring match.

It had been like this from day one, you’d think he’d be used to it by now. The only kitsune in the lot, all the others just regular vulpine guys with single tails. A high and mighty spiritual kitsune bringing himself down to the common dog’s levels as if trying to prove something.

The next point started and as soon as Derick moved in to throw a punch, Sen sidestepped and haymakered the other dog right across the muzzle. The fox literally spun around twice before slapping to the floor, clearly unconscious.

Sen spit his maw guard out. “Wanna call me for a fucking head blow, Sensei?!” Sen snarled, glaring at the instructor, his tails a blur and his blue eyes shining with anger.

The older dog sneered at the kitsune and nodded. “Point for Matsuma. Someone pick Derick up and get his ass an icepack or something,” he growled the words begrudgingly as he waved a paw and stepped away from the sparring match.

—♥🌙—

“Your targets aren’t going to wait for you to take the shot, let’s go, Matsuma!” the firing instructor barked out right in his ear loud enough to hear through the ear guards. The kitsune snarled and squeezed the trigger on the high-powered rifle, the metal target offering a loud ‘ping’ as it dropped.

“Oh thank you very much, shrine-pup, next time present me with the fucking thesis you wrote while lining the shot up!” The instructor yelled loud enough for the rest of the trainees to hear as he stalked off to harass another would-be security agent.

That’s how it went with training when you wanted to be part of the Inari-Corporations private security force. You had to have the skill, the discipline, and the fortitude to endure. Also, you had to be a vulpine; species prejudice was alive and well these days. No one was going to say drek if a megacorp wanted to populate their ranks with specific species, nationalities, or age groups. They could make whatever laws they wanted on their own properties.

Nearly thirty years ago, after over a century of the political system being influenced nonstop by corporation lobbyists, the courts made the landmark decision that corporations could declare their own properties as international territories. And so the age of the ‘megacorp’ began, effectively allowing corporations to make their own laws, as well as establish their own ‘security’ forces, which was a colorful term for their own military. If you stepped on corporate land, you played by their rules, and if you didn’t, they would just geek your tail and bury you in a shallow grave somewhere.

“Come on, pup! You really letting a fucking kitsune show you up? Maybe you should be the one off praying at a shrine instead!” the instructor snarled at another trainee as Matsuma snorted out and shouldered his rifle, taking a look at the digital display of targets hit, seeing he had a commanding lead over the rest of them.

He was redressing in the locker room after the day's training, his ear flicking as he listened to some of the other guys grumbling in the shower, “Yeah, he’s probably just using spells or something, you know how those kitsune are.”

Sen slammed the locker door shut and rounded the corner to the group as he snarled, “What was that? You think I’d use some cheap spell to get my results?!” The rest of the guys offered the cursory jeers and excuses that it is exactly what a kitsune would do, why did he even bother arguing with these assholes at this point?

“You dipshits should already know the instructors are trained to recognize any sort of magical or spiritual drek someone does, get off Matsie’s damn tails already!” A somewhat pudgy otter came trotting up with his own toothy grin, his fur still slick from his shower, his large wide tail wagging.

Dalton was the only non-vulpine in the class, a special op’s candidate for infiltration missions, mostly aquatic based missions, but everyone in Inari started with the basics. You’d make a poor infiltration unit if you were a fox in a fox-only corporation after all.

Sen scoffed at the other guys before nodding to the otter joining in. “Not that I don’t appreciate it, Dalton, but there’s nothing to prove to them anyway. My marks speak for themselves, if you can’t hack it, stop bitching.”

“That’s right! So stop getting your tails fluffed up over the pups gossiping and worry about yourself, mister number one in the class!” Dalton showed a toothy smirk to the kitsune. Naturally being the only other ‘outsider’ of the group, he’d gravitate towards him.

—♥🌙—

He lifted his muzzle as the nine-tails pinned the badge onto his crisp military uniform, the slightly smaller dog offering him a small smile as he nodded. “Well Matsuma, I must congratulate you on finishing with the highest honors in the academy and making it into our special forces division. Not many kitsune get this far as we are more inclined in… other fields.” The vice president of Inari offered him a smug grin while rolling his myriad of tails.

“Thank you sir! I’m proud to serve Inari in the small capacity I can provide!” Sen barked out while looking straight ahead, offering a salute, his right arm lifting to show the faint gleam of titanium alloy.

The other kitsune frowned at the shine of metal but then nodded. “Rest assured, Matsuma, with marks like you made in training, I expect no small amount from you in the future,” he spoke matter-of-factly as he paced along to the next graduate, one of only five out of the initial twenty.

Sen grinned broadly for once, patting the shoulder of the otter who’d been one of the few pillars of this grinding venture. The kitsune looked between their badges with pride, “We seriously pulled it off, even with that pack of assholes chomping at our heels, eh?”

Dalton offered a genuine smile in kind, “Because you had me at your side, giving you all the pointers, of course!” The otter smirked at the jab, “We’re two of a kind here for sure, earned it without a doubt despite how rough it looked a few times.”

“Not gonna lie, I might miss your ass after all this,” Sen growled as he put his paws on his hips.

“Aww, you in love, Matsie? Didn’t know you care!” Dalton laughed and playfully shoulder checked the fox. “C’mon, man. We’re working for the same team, I’m sure we’ll see each other plenty, let’s go get a drink to celebrate!”

—♥🌙—

Sen shifted a paw to his hip as he frowned at his commanding officer. “Sir, with all due respect to the Ninetails, should an elite strike squad really be relegated to… guard duty?”

The older grizzled fox gave the kitsune a tired look as he leaned against the wall near the guard post into the facility they were watching. “Careful with that tone, Matsuma, the wrong dog hears it, you’ll be up a drek creek without a paddle… and why do you care? Credits are the same either way.” The veteran dog offered a grin, a few of his teeth missing.

The kitsune looked irritated by the answer but nodded. The CO chuckled and shook his head. “Kit… look, you’re going to see more action than you know what to do with as you go, just be thankful for the easy drek when it comes around.”

“Fine, what is this place anyway?” Sen jerked a metal thumb back towards the place, his new cybernetic arm feeling just as normal as his old one did.

“You seen one mysterious factory or plant, you’ve seen em all, don’t know, don’t care to know. Less I know, less worries I’ve got!” The older fox barked out a laugh, then grunted as he shouldered his assault rifle as a trio approached the checkpoint. “Hey hey, far enough chums, let’s see some badges please.”

A lithe male turned to speak to the other two. All three of them were foxes, which wasn’t out of the ordinary coming into an Inari facility. They made a point to keep their movements slow and paws in the open as the lead dog collected badges from the other two.

“Here you are gentlemen, I think you’ll find them in proper order, sorry for any inconvenience,” the black fox almost purred the words, his eyes glittering in the low lights of the checkpoint, clearly cybernetic, the pupils shifting and focusing as Sen snarled and tightened his grip on his own assault rifle.

The commanding officer scanned over the badges, then tapped them against the data pad he had been carrying at his hip, giving a shrug as he passed them back. “Checks out, guess you’re clear to go in then.”

Sen looked at the names that appeared then pulled out his own data tablet, quickly searching. “Sir, those names don’t seem to appear in the faculty listings for the facility.” The kitsune shot his eyes back, seeing one of the other two fox’s tails clearly grow rigid.

“Clearance checks out, pup, we don’t get paid to question and I’m too close to retirement to go ruffling the brass’s fur over this drek, they have executive clearance,” The older dog barked the orders in a stern tone.

“That’s right, I wasn’t going to flex rank here. I appreciate you being so thorough, gentlemen, but my time is credits, and I really need to be on my way with my associates, thank you.” The black fox poked his snout up, pushing right between the two of them.

Sen growled but stepped back, not wanting to risk earning an infraction on his very first duty with Inari. The kitsune narrowed his eyes at the trio walking away with a sinking feeling in his gut. Once they were alone, Sen leaned close to mutter, “Sir, with all due respect, what’s the point in checking ID if it doesn’t match our system?” 

“That’s a question above your pay grade, rookie. If they get the green light, you let ‘em pass, read me?” The CO cocked a brow at the kitsune, then flashed a one-sided grin. “You’ve got an eye for detail, that’s good and I won’t fault you there, but-” that expression dropped with a flat stare, “-you follow my lead, don’t go sticking your snout where it doesn’t belong. I didn’t get this far by dotting I’s or crossing T’s. Keep your head down, understand?”

Sen exhaled from his chest with a curt nod, stepping back into his position across his senior officer with a slight frown, “Understood, sir.” Twin tails twitched when they wanted to lash about in frustration as his expectations of duty were already cut at the knees. He’d caught a detail that should matter. In all that training, the goal had always been to get the correct, accurate results. Some post, let the people with falsified clearance waltz right past him, that’ll be training well used.

It was a long quiet after the sting to his pride. Sen felt his collar rise as the idea of being some glorified checkpoint goon sank in, and this was all his CO did for decades? Some life.

An intense blast shook the structure. The plasteel flooring shuddered beneath their boots as the power and lights flickered. Sen fell against the console at his back with a curse, “What the slag was that?! An interior detonation?!”

“Hell if I know, I’m-” The CO’s reply was lost in the next resounding explosion of the reinforced glass at the entryway shattering inwards, the heavy reverb of a grav-APC following after to further distort their senses. 

The pair of officers dove to each side of the pass-check, behind two of the many rowed pillars along the open entrance. Muzzle flares lit up the roiling smoke, quick impacts along the edges of each smooth black column let them know accurate gunfire would suppress their position. 

“Fuck! What the fuck is this?!” Sen snarled, back pressed up hard to the shuddering pillar with his side-arm draw and held at his chest, features furrowed as repeated bursts tore at the sides of his cover, “Sir! We need support, this is a damn breach and clear!”

The kitsune’s tensed posture froze as the trio swiftly descended the stairs from the upper level, but even as Sen made to draw a bead the foremost fox deftly drew first, firing off a round that blinded him with lancing pain as it tore through his eye. The kitsune shouted in agony with a paw grasping at his face, firing off a few rounds at the escaping agents before they vanished in the haze.

Several more bursts of covering fire rang across the ruined central plaza before the pulsing thrum of the hover car eased away, leaving the scene a wreck. Sen slumped against the crumbling pillar at his back, wincing in a snarl of pain even as his head turned to see his CO spring over.

“Ah drek, that’ll leave a mark.” The seasoned fox sighed, shaking his head as he looked about the carnage of the place, “Not as much as this will on us, well, you anyway.” 

“W-what? Sir, what are you…why didn’t you fire? Ngh, need to call this in, they stole something, intel…fuck if I know, but-” Sen reached for his vox, but a boot planted onto his arm, pinning it against his chest as the old fox clicked his tongue.

“Afraid not, pup. See, I’ve come too close to finishing my service for some ass-pull of a heist to ruin my record.” The officer hefted his rifle upward, barrel tilted to the ceiling, “Hate to do this to you pup, but the rap for this’ll be all yours.”

The butt of the rifle connected to the kitsune’s head, blacking out the rage of betrayal before it could even start. Sen had barely taken his first steps on this path, one he’d sacrificed and scorned all else in life for, just to get fed to the grinder. Guess the word on the street was right, you can never trust a damned fox, even if you are one.

—♥🌙—

Sen came to with a wince, the lights bright above him, he was in some sort of medical ward of the main building. His vision felt odd, the left side of his head weighed down with dressing as he recalled the stray shot he took that grazed his eye. Looking around the room, there wasn’t much more than the medical table and a toilet, the door was clearly barred - this certainly wasn’t the regular medical facility.

The kitsune’s mind whirred like that damn grav engine on that APC that extracted the obvious infiltration team. Once his head cleared he rubbed at the bump there, snarling in fury as he recalled the whole reason he lost consciousness to begin with. He climbed from the table, a little woozy, and grabbed the bars at the door, shouting out into the hall, “Someone get your ass out here!”

He was surprised to see it was Dalton that came to him, the otter having been seated further down the hall. His old training buddy frowned at the state his friend was in. “Hey, you’re awake huh?”

“The fuck are you doing here?” Sen growled.

He shrugged and looked away. “Heard you’d been injured, been checking on you off and on for the last day or so.”

“I was out for over a day?” The fox rubbed his head, then lifted his ears, “Whatever, doesn’t matter, that fucking drek-for-brains set my tails up! I told him not to let those three in but he just pulled rank on me, and now he plans to pin it on me!”

“Yeah, the higher-ups are pretty pissed off, they already plan to ‘terminate’ your employment,” the otter said with a deep frown.

Sen’s blood ran cold at those words. You don’t get handed a pink slip when you get terminated from Inari; they’re like most megacorps. Like the old world’s mafia or yakuza, you only left the corp in a body bag.

“They can’t just take his word though, there’s surveillance, his recorder even scanned their damn badges! That’s evidence, that’s a lot of damn evidence I was doing my fucking job, and he just…he just stood there!” Sen snarled, grasping the bars as if it were the OC’s collar, “What if, what if he was in on it? He knew they’d be there, he could turn a blind eye and-”

The kitsune felt a cold chill run down his spine, the realization dawning on him like the slug that had taken his eye, “-and he’d have some fresh off the program scapegoat.” Maybe that was his rage talking, grasping at straws for the absolute drekshow that went down on his first mission. 

Dalton gave a defeated shrug at his friend. “Look, even if you were right, it doesn’t look like they much care. They can use this whole incident for publicity, frame a story around the whole thing as a tragic, hostile attack,” the otter offered a sad smile. “I really am sorry, you had the most potential, but life’s just not fair sometimes.”

“Go fuck yourself, Dalton, this isn’t about being fair, they should check the fucking cameras! Look at the fucking data!” Sen thrust a metallic finger at his friend with a snarl, Dalton looking up at the camera on them as the fox mentioned ‘cameras’. As if on cue the door to the hall slid open as one of the higher rank officers strode in, Dalton turning and offering a salute, but Sen just snarled at the other dog.

“You’ve said your goodbyes to your friend, you’re dismissed,” the silver tri-tailed kitsune snarled, the otter offering another salute and taking one more glance to Sen, offering a small nod to him before stepping out.

“What in the drek is this all about, SIR?!” Sen snarled and practically spat the title at the other dog. “Did you not look at the fucking cameras?!”

The other kitsune lifted his muzzle. “Don’t be absurd, we did of course, but it seems the team that infiltrated the facility had managed to splice into the feed. We quite literally could pull no data from the event, except that it was your data pad that had taken the scans.”

“That’s insane! I was the one that told him to cross-check them because they didn’t appear on the employee roster for the facility!” Sen hissed out, looking stunned at the information.

The CO clicked his tongue with a sigh and shook his head. “Look Matsuma, I know a liar when I see one, and you’re not a liar, but I’ve got nothing to go on but that and the Ninetails want someone to answer for this. It’s literally your word against that of a distinguished officer with nearly forty years of service, which would you choose?”

Sen slammed his fist into the bar with a loud metallic bang, saying nothing as he just stomped away from the door with a growl. The kitsune sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry soldier, all I can promise you is, I’ll get to the bottom of this, and if I can dig up enough, I’ll make sure you’re honored posthumously.” Sen snarled and looked over his shoulder as the CO just paced away, the whisper slide of the auto door snapping open then closed again, then silence and just the buzzing of the lights in the room.

—♥🌙—

He’d been transferred to a regular cell, it had been about three days since he’d been ‘tried’ and sentenced, with tomorrow being the big day. Sure enough, none would hear his side of things, siding with the tenured officer, because why wouldn’t they?

Closing his eyes he tried to just drown the maddening thoughts of his pending execution out, maybe get some sleep so it’d get here sooner and be over with, not that he stood a snowball's chance of that. It was too bad he didn’t believe in some kind of afterlife.

“You might want to move away from the wall…” A cute boyish voice spoke out. It wasn’t in his ear though, it was in his head, straight into his wireless synapsis network installed in his spinal column. That got his attention, no one should have been able to get past Inari protective countermeasures.

“Huh?” He thought to himself, then heard the voice again.

“Are you stupid, get away from the wall already!” The voice shouted as he rolled off his cot and backed up to the cell bars. A small pinpoint beam of light started shining through the plasteel wall as he gaped his jaws, watching a small hole be carved right out of the side of the wall near the bunk he’d been laying on.

As the remains of the wall were pushed forward to slam into the floor at his footpaws, he saw glittering green eyes peer at him through dirty-blonde locks of hair on the other side of the new hole. A shiny set of white teeth showed, a canine tooth missing on the left side as another dog grinned back at him. He had golden fur with dirty smudges against his cheeks as he cooed, “Hey there, hope you’re ready to go, sugar!” He barked and as suddenly as he appeared, he was gone.

Sen shook his head in disbelief as he slowly moved over to the hole, feeling cold air rushing in, and as he peered out he could see the fog clinging to the side of the building, easily over a thirty-story drop before him. He didn’t get time to enjoy the view though as the other dog grabbed him by the collar of his prisoner fatigues and repelled right off the wall.

“What in the fuuuuck!” Sen screamed out as the golden retriever disconnected the tether he’d been hanging on, both of them entering into a freefall, the fog around the building clearing in microseconds to show them plummeting towards the cold hard asphalt below.

“Hold on real tight, sugar!” The other dog barked out as he hugged the kitsune. Sen just did as he was told, clinging to the slightly larger dog for dear life. An aerial drone intercepted them, locking onto a magnetic grav-harness the golden-furred boy wore, and their descent slowly eased until they gingerly landed on their footpaws right in the middle of an alley intersecting the corporate office.

“I think I’m gonna puke…” Sen grabbed his head, feeling dizzy, then barked as the other dog grabbed his paw and dragged him along in a dash.

“You’ll have to toss it in the van, sugar, we gotta make tracks!” He barked a laugh as he pulled the fox along. Sen just did what his body told him, trying not to think as his adrenaline still was dialed to eleven.

They had only been on foot for a few seconds when the howling sirens started filling the air. He knew the protocol and that a whole division of security members would be pouring out of that building in seconds.

“Fuuuuck… get your ass over here, Wheels, you’re gonna get us shot up at this rate!” The retriever barked out, and as they rounded the corner, a junky-looking van pulled right up with the side door already open. The propulsion jets that kept it off the ground looked about ready to give out.

“Ey! Need a lift?” The voice came straight into his headware again but before Sen could respond, the retriever tossed him right in, the kitsune barking as he tumbled into a duffle bag of ammunition clips. There was a sound of spraying gunfire as the retriever dove in with a bark of laughter. He toppled onto the fox while bullets plinked off the reinforced van’s plating as it turned and, with surprising speed, pulled out of the vicinity.

“Woo! That was intense! I live for that kinda stuff, sugar!” The retriever barked out with a grin, sitting up nose to nose with the fox who just had his maw gaped, stunned. Sen offered up a shocked protesting yip as the other boy just licked his own chops and then shoved his muzzle right up against the kitsune’s in a sudden kiss.

After just a few seconds of shock and feeling the other boy’s tongue starting to move forward as his head tilted, the fox pulled back with another sharp yip, “Dude what the fuck?!”

“Ah he he… sorry about that, sugar, just adrenaline, and you’re kinda hot, ya know?” The retriever rocked back with a smug smirk on his muzzle, his legs folded as he licked his chops again. “Doesn’t the valiant knight usually get a kiss for rescuing the damsel?”

“If you’re the valiant knight, I’m the evil dragon,” the voice Sen had heard in his head called out, this time hearing it with his ears as the ‘driver’ of the van padded back from the front to them, a scrappy looking rat with a thick, wiry tail.

“Uh… what… who? I-... The hell is going on!?” Sen finally just barked out with clenched paws.

“Ah hell… we got some of your fans following us, you’re a popular guy, aren’t you?” The rat drolled out as he leaned against the side of the inner wall, closed his eyes, and nodded his head as if in focus. Sen gave another sharp bark as the van jerked and he tumbled forward, as luck would have it right back into the other dog's paws.

“Ha ha, hold on sugar! Don’t worry, I won’t kiss you again, not unless you ask anyway, but if you do, we’re doing tongue next time!” He barked out with an amused grin, his other paw holding onto one of the bars at the side of the van while it lurched and juked about.

“Damn, it… you boys really making me jack in and use Bonnie again!?” The rat grumbled as he stomped back over to the cockpit of the van.

“Oh oh! C’mon sugar, this is gonna be good!” The golden retriever pulled the kitsune along. “Hold on tight like last time!”

“What?” Sen barked out but clung to the other dog, his eyes growing wide as the retriever pushed the door open and swung half his body out. “Are you crazy?!” The kitsune barked as he caught sight of nearly half a dozen armed Inari escort units chasing them, but then the same aerial drone that had given them the ride earlier swooped in, laying down support fire. As it did so, it also seemed to be filling the air with some sort of inky black smog.

Sen figured that wouldn’t do much, given all their units were equipped with advanced AI algorithms that wouldn’t be fooled by some silly smoke screen - but then it became obvious that ‘smog’ was some sort of nanite cloud, as the other vehicles just started showering sparks and slowly coasted to a stop.

“Fuck… there went any of that bonus I’ll end up spending, that’s never a cheap trick.” The rat groaned as the two dogs climbed back in.

Sen realized he was still clinging to the retriever, who was now petting one of his ears while cooing down at him. The fox yipped and snarled before shoving the other dog off him with a glare. "Keep your paws to yourself, chuckles!"

“And… we’re clear… yeah we’re clear… fuck those guys.” The driver sighed and stepped over to the kitsune who was still panting and heaving, clearly not having had the adrenaline clear yet. “Whoa, breathe there big guy. I’m Wheels.”

Sen took a slow huff, then shoved a paw out to shake the other smaller boy's. “Sen… and what the fuck is going on?”

The rat pulled his paw back and grinned, rubbing it through his messy red locks of hair, his own fur a familiar orange to Sen’s but it also looked like it might have been dyed. Both his arms, however, were shaved clean to show a myriad of tattoos all over them, and the rat wore a set of overalls and a tank top to show them off.

“Wait… you’re driving while just back here meeting and greeting?” Sen quirked a brow.

“Oh it’s easy, I only need to focus when… whoop!” Wheels gave a squeak as they felt the van lurch quickly and heard a loud horn honking. “Yeah, yeah, drive faster next time!”

“I’m Angel, and I’m free later if you’re not busy, sugar,” the retriever shoved his own paw out with an eager grin. He was missing his left canine tooth and wore a bomber jacket, a set of goggles on his forehead, and upon further inspection, it was clear the wagging tail and his left leg were augmented like Sen’s own arm. However, unlike the kitsune, he wasn’t really making an effort to hide the leg - the jeans he wore were purposefully torn away to show a mismatched brownish-gold with a shabby faded faux fur against the chrome. The tail looked a little better though.

“Okay, first off, what the hell is going on, for like, the third time? And second off, I’m not gay!” Sen barked out with an awkward glare at the other dog who showed him an eager grin.

“Well, I’ll let Wheels field the first question, as to the second statement, I’m not gay either, sugar! I’ve got enough love for all species, and all genders, sooo… you and me later, a hot cup of soykaf, maybe a burger? You know what? Fuck it, a cutie like you? I’ll spend up and get you real coffee!” Angel offered him a wink.

Sen slowly blinked at that, frowning before he spoke, “I don’t think I’ve ever had real co- Wait, no! I want answers already, are you some kind of go-gang or something? Why jailbreak me like that?” The kitsune looked about the interior of their van, seeing various higher-grade equipment scattered about such as smartgun-assisted carbines or reinforced drone parts. Some of it was cutting edge, others pieces clearly looked held together by extensive repairs or welded-on replacement parts.

Wheels snorted at that and put a paw on his hip, seeing the fox taking in his surroundings. “Does this look like a van some slapped-together go-gang would have? Don’t answer that, payday.”

“Payday?” Sen barked as he narrowed his eyes. “Someone paid you to jailbreak my tail? Who? You guys are insane, pissing off Inari.”

“Heh, not the first time we’ve pissed the Big I off, won’t be the last.” Angel rocked back and flopped right back down to the floor on his rear. “We don’t know the details, we just took the job, sugar.”

“You took an assignment without knowing all the intel? What kind of outfit is this?” Sen snorted at that kind of thinking, but that was also his training and routine still fresh in his mind. He shook his head with a sigh, then perked his ears in realization. “You’re runners, aren’t you? Why in the drek would- You know what? Doesn’t matter. When do we meet your employer, then?”

Wheels shook his head with another moody squeak, “Sorry our methods don’t meet your approval, soldier-boy. We get drek done though, and it pays the bills. You’ll meet the missus after we get that tracking tech out of your damn arm. You’re not packing any headwear are you?”

Sen sat up straighter at the mention of tracking, growling with a look at his arm, “Fuck, they’ll be dispatching more cleaners soon, we better make it fast.” He met Wheels’ question with a curt shake of his head. “Negative, too far below the pay grade for that tech…my one lucky break, huzzah…”

“What, and we don’t count? Things are already looking up for you, sugar! You ain’t dead, right? You had an Angel looking out for you today, that’s a fact.” The retriever gave a knowing grin and wink at the kitsune.

“Pay grade or not, that’s some nice tech in your meat there. Is that delta-grade?” Wheels looked at the kitsune’s arm with a cocked brow. Sen frowned and looked down at his arm, clenching his metallic fist a few times.

“You serious?!” Angel pawed over to him to look at it, his own tail wagging. “Oh, that’s wiz! You lucky fox, you! Does it have any feedback delay at all, sugar?”

“Can you stop calling me- Ugh… no, feels just like my old arm in every way. That leg of yours doesn’t?” Sen knew he was privileged that his first augment was corporate level, it’s one of the appeals to joining up with the megacorps. Some tech enthusiasts will sign on just to get the primo stuff shoved into their bodies.

“It gets the job done, a little delay from when I tell it to do something, makes running and climbing fun sometimes, but I manage just fine. Didn’t miss a step when hauling you through the alley earlier, did I?” Angel showed his teeth in another grin, that small gap showing on the left side of his muzzle.

“Yeah well, considerably less than this.” Sen reached up, tapping the scarred area of his face where the replacement eye sat. It was still more than some street job, but a far cry from the expensive piece that served as his new arm.

“Ha! They shoved a cheap eye in your socket just so you could see the firing squad with both of them eh? That’s so megacorp, isn’t it?” Wheels gave a laugh and slapped the fox on the shoulder with a grin before turning on his heel. “We’ll be over to the doc in about fifteen. Try not to fuck him, Angel, I don’t need my van stinking of dog again!”

“Dude, she was in heat, what was I supposed to do? Your van was the only private spot we had!” Angel barked out with a little pout, Sen glaring at the dialogue in general as the rat padded off.

“Yeah frag that, anyway, you got some kind of dampener in this rust bucket or what?” Sen asked the returning pilot, “Fifteen minutes might as well be a whole day.”

“Of course I do, you tried to connect to the net?” Wheels spoke out but this time it wasn’t with his physical maw, it came from some speakers in the van, the rat already jacking back into the dash of the cabin.

The van didn’t actually have a wheel or seats for that matter, the smaller boy just stood there staring out the front windshield, a thick cable strung from the back of his shaved neck to the console, patches of electrical tape dotting the length of the cord.

“So! How about that coffee?” Angel barked out with a grin, his artificial tail wagging behind him in a blur of golden faux-fur.

“You try to rub everyone you jailbreak, man?” Sen grumbled and tilted his head.

“Nah! You’re just cute and seem like you have a fun personality.” Angel showed him an innocent smile as he continued, “Last poor drek we jailbroke I had to cuff, gag, and drag out by force. Not every one of them is skydiving and hugging!”

“You guys fucking kidnap people too?” Sen growled.

“Technically we were giving him a career change, it’s not kidnapping so much as theft and re-employment, you know how it is, yeah? Sometimes job transfers aren’t so easy to do from corp to corp, and sometimes you don’t get a say in your new position while you climb the megacorp ladder!” Angel showed another smile as he leaned back on his paws, kicking his augmented footpaw a few times.

“Whatever, I can buy my own damn coffee,” Sen growled and looked away from the other dog's eager green eyes.

“Yeah? Gonna take it out of your corporate stipend?” Angel growled teasingly as the other dog flinched. “Even if you did have credits, do you know where to get it, Sen? You ever been out of your little corp-life?”

“My family used to tend the shrine in-” He bit his tongue.

“In the Inari corporate arcology?” The retriever fired back with a knowing smirk.

“Yeah, just another dog in the kennel to you lot, huh? Nicely kept enclosures and all that.” Sen sighed with a shrug, “Wasn’t for me.”

Arcologies were massive self-contained living habitats corporate citizens could live within. It wasn’t uncommon to be born, raised, work, and die in an arcology for some wageslaves, the only ‘vacations’ they might have being trips outside to nearby locals.

Angel scooted closer and bent his metallic leg, resting an elbow on it. “Look, Sen. I’ll shoot straight with you, you’re gonna need to learn to live outside of that mess and quick. You think you’ve got experience, but you’re a pup being thrown out in the big cold dark world. The street will chew your hot little ass up and spit you out in days, if not hours.”

“Your motivational speech is moving to say the least. Is this a segue to saying you’ll protect and help me if I give it up for you?” The smaller dog snorted and folded his ears, already growling.

“Ha! I’m not that kind of guy, Sen! We’ll get that burger and coffee, my treat, I’ll get you up to speed and be your mentor where I can, no tail needed.” Angel gave him another wink as he leaned back.

“Why? Why do you give a drek if I’m just your payday?” The kitsune growled but lifted his ears, showing he wasn’t as on edge as prior.

The retriever offered him a cool smile, his dirty blonde bangs hanging down over one eye. “Because I got most of my fucking left hip area blown off getting out of a similar mess? I guess I get having to transplant out of that life and into the shadows.”

Sen winced and looked down at the other dog's hip, the torn-away pants covering the thigh area, but he realized the tail wasn’t separate, it was just attached to the main area. “Damn… that’s rough, how long ago was that?”

“About four years ago. I was twenty-one, same age as you are now, sugar. Sure wish I had some military-grade wear to shove into my meat back then.” Angel laughed then offered the fox another cute grin. “Ah well, at least it stopped short of my cock, be a shame to have to have that augmented, always been pretty proud of it.”

“You just had to fucking go there, didn’t you? Heh… ruin the tragic backstory with that?” Sen offered a small grin to the retriever.

“It’s my specialty, can’t get down too long or I’ll become a depressed wreck and no one is here for that!” Angel offered back a playful bark, then bit his tongue cutely as he looked up to the top of the van, as Wheels spoke out through the system.

“Okay, we’re about at the meet-up location, make some room for the good doctor. I’ve still got two T-birds tracking our location, so we’re going to have to get this drek done while we drive.”

Sen gave a nod and leaned against the van wall out of reflexive memory, going into a brace like he’d done in dozens of combat sims. He looked at the retriever with a lift of the chin, “How many times you guys done one of these while mobile?”

Angel laughed at how serious Sen looked. “Like, every time basically. Megacorps don’t like losing property. This’ll be easy, it’s not like the doc is shoving new metal into your meat, just gonna jack into the system and prune that tracking program out of your tech.”

The kitsune cracked a grin at that, giving a nod and relaxing best he could given the swaying of the van, “You sure you aren’t doing this just for the thrill of chasing a new hoop?”

Sen saw the retriever stick his tongue out cutely at him. “Sen, I think you saw from earlier, I do this for a lot of the thrills that come with it.” Angel scooted to the side as the door to the van swung open with a loud hissing sound, cool air from the night rushing into the interior as the vehicle settled to a stop.

Another vector thrust was heard as a sedan-style vehicle quickly pulled away and the whole van visibly dipped as a very large bull climbed into the cabin, having to tilt his head to avoid slamming a spanning horn against the entrance. There was a dressing of wires draped on both the horns he sported, electrodes and lights seeming to glitter along the boney masses.

He didn’t look like some kind of doctor, wearing blue jeans and a faux-leather jacket, a small set of spectacles on his snout that clearly showed a myriad of vid displays in one lens. “Credits?” He drolled out as the door slid closed and the van took back off, feeling like it had to struggle to get back into the air.

“Here you go, doc!” Angel produced a credstick that looked tiny in the massive bull’s paw. The doctor snorted and tapped it against a datapad in his other paw, seeing the transfer process.

“Hmph… there better not be a bomb in this one like the last time,” The bull snarled with an irritated look at the kitsune. Sen presented his arm and the doctor sighed and rolled his clearly cybernetic eyes. “Take your shirt off so I can see what I’m working with, fox!”

“O-Oh, right!” Sen barked as he quickly peeled the prison top off, Angel offering an approving whistle at the well-defined muscles and abs under the thin coat of fur, the normal arm just as toned as the new one.

The bull grabbed his titanium wrist and jerked him forward, then shifted his paw away. “Keep your fucking paw out like that in case the spurs or bayonet or whatever the hell Inari likes to put in these deploys, understand?” As the doctor gave the orders he was already unraveling one of the cables around a horn, moving his massive paw over the shoulder area of the arm for a jack point.

Sen frowned and nodded as the much larger male gripped the bicep of his artificial arm, the bull taking a steadying breath before plunging the cord into the jack-point. There was a long bout of silence after that, just the doc sitting there, unmoving, unspeaking, just the sound of the van’s vector engine whirring and sputtering.

“Crazy when you think about it huh? We’re just sitting here, but he’s literally in combat right now.” Angel huffed out, a bit of respect in his voice as he continued, “We call him doc because he specializes in breaking down security in implants, but he’s very much a hacker too, ya know?”

“Yeah, I don’t know how the guys in the cyber-security division do it, it’s so far beyond- Whoa!” Sen barked out as his arm felt like it wasn’t even his anymore as the large blade slid from his wrist in a quick shink of titanium.

“Fuck!” The bull bellowed as a loud popping hiss came forth as he wrenched the cable-free with a snarl, a curl of smoke trailing from it.

“You okay, doc?” Angel perked his ears, this obviously not a normal event given the surprise in his own eyes.

“It’s fine, just didn’t expect that level of ICE, you were going to be on one of their fucking strike squads weren’t you?” The doctor grumbled as he ripped the whole cord off him and tossed it into the van, reaching to a small messenger bag to pull out a new cable, the smell of burned fur lingering in the air as there was clearly a scorch mark on the back of his neck where he plunged the cable back in.

“Alright, now I’m serious, let’s see what you’ve got mother fucker…” The doc snarled with a glint in his cybernetic eyes before he jacked back into the system. Sen just frowned and blinked down at the whole thing, not even able to move his arm at this point, just feeling the weight of it on his body.

“Never seen the doc so serious, if he can’t crack that, I’m kicking your ass out the door, payday be damned, I can’t just let T-birds follow my tail all fucking night,” Wheels spoke out over the van’s system.

“Gee, thanks a fucking lot!” Sen growled, then barked as he felt a jolt of sensation return to his arm as the blade slid back into place.

A few seconds later the bull yanked the cable out of his shoulder, giving a sigh as he tossed it over one horn, running a large paw over his bald head that was clearly covered in sweat. “That was not worth the pay, that fucking thing burned through one of my personal ICE systems before I could shut it down.”

“You’ll have to take it up with the boss if you want more pay, doc. I gave you the only credstick I have and I got bills to pay myself, ya know?” Angel gave him a grin and shrugged.

“Tracking signatures have faded, we’re dark,” Wheels said calmly as he paced away from the console with a sigh, looking exhausted.

“Why are you so tired looking?” Sen looked back to the rat curiously.

“Because I wasn’t the only one dealing with drek, pup. While I was fighting off tracking ICE in your meat, the rat over there was fighting off wireless shutdown protocols bombarding the electrical systems of the van,” the doc cooly explained before leaning back to take out a handkerchief and wipe his forehead.

“So the whole time me and you were just back here shooting the drek, Wheels has pretty much been in live combat?” The kitsune blinked at that with surprise in his eyes. He had some basic ideas on cyber combat, but he wasn’t a hacker or driver, he specialized at dealing with physical issues.

“Yeah, the systems can’t hurt me directly like the doc since it’s wireless, but to do what needed to be done with your arm, he had to jack straight in. However, they sure as hell can try to tear down the systems on the van and bring us to a stop,” Wheels explained as he lifted his muzzle. “Take a listen, you can probably hear my baby is purring a little louder now.”

Sen gave a small nod, then felt the bull squeeze his arm as he spoke, “Pup, I’m gonna offer you some advice, won’t even charge you a consultation fee for it.”

“What’s up?” The kitsune asked, flexing his paw a few times now that he had full motor control again.

“I just jailbroke this gear like they did your tail back there. This is military-grade tech and there are more than a few that’d geek you just to rip it out of you and repurpose it for themselves. You are quite literally worth more dead than alive right now. When you’ve got some credit to your name, I’d strongly advise you to get a fur job on this thing so you’re not standing out like a juicy target,” the doctor frowned and released his arm after explaining.

“You know what, doc? I’ll cover him, so book it for me, and now that all this drek is sorted, we’ll get him to your normal place right now,” Angel said with a grin.

“Real coffee and a fur job, guess you didn’t need that bonus as much as you said, eh Angel?” Wheels snorted out and folded his shaved tattooed arms over his chest. “Van’s gonna rock, it’s just Bonnie landing,” As soon as the rat spoke, there was a loud thunk and shudder from the roof.

Sen had already pulled his shirt back on and frowned at the retriever, then looked down at his arm, clenching his paw into a fist a few times. He’d been so proud of it, but it made sense, and as much as he wanted to argue with the other dog, he really didn’t have a paw to stand on at this point.

“The road to the nine hells is paved with good intentions they say…” The doc just grumbled the words as he pulled out his datapad to book the appointment.

—♥🌙—

Sen flexed his augmented arm a few times before turning it over this way and that, looking over the limb that appeared just as normal as the natural now, fur immaculately grafted to the cyberware so well it was almost like it was never replaced.

“Doc, that's unreal, I can’t tell where any seams are or that it's not my own damn fur!” The kitsune grinned in amazement at the finished work, still sitting in the patient chair in his lower combat fatigues only.

“Of course, you can’t, think people would come to me with hard-earned dosh if I did some shoddy patch-job? Feh.” The seasoned male snorted as he rolled away on his chair with his tray of tools to clean, then stopped with a turn of his head, looking over his glasses, “Don’t go punching any walls with it, your chrome will show through again easy enough.”

“Whatever you say doc, thanks for the tip.” Sen picked up his shirt in his lap, starting to slip it on again only to pause when he heard a huff off to the side, blinking to see it was Angel.

“Oh no, you can leave it off, sugar. You worked hard for that bod, that much of it still meat you might as well show it off!” The retriever grinned cutely, having remained with Sen after Wheels had dropped them off and generously covered the operation fee.

“I’m sure you’d love that, fetch.” Sen rolled his eyes with a grin, tugging down his shirt the rest of the way before standing from the chair, stretching a bit from the “absolute still” he was told to be.

“Fetch huh? I mean, if we’re speaking dog, I can roll over and beg, sugar.” Angel laughed with a wink before jumping a bit in his seat when doc swiveled about with a grumbling growl.

“None of that drek in my clinic, y’hear? Take that hoop-sniffing business outside. I run a clean operation here, don’t need dog drool on my equipment.” Doc had already turned back around halfway through speaking, replacing tools or canisters after the sizable use of synthfur.

“Alright, alright, no need to kill the good vibes, doc. We’ll be on our way!” Angel gave an exaggerated shrug behind the older male’s back, making Sen grin a bit as they gathered up their jackets to step outside.

They’d be out of sight, the ‘clinic’ was tucked away into a sizable hab-center where the community largely looked after its own. The area was an outer section of the plex where anyone from a meta to burnout took refuge from the bustling blocks of the inner city, where there was at least a partial sense of security through eyes and ears of those in the grind.

Once the door hissed closed, Sen tugged the collar of his jacket up then shoved his paws into his pockets as the two started a walk toward the hub where they'd soon meet Wheels. “He’s got a tough act, but I didn’t expect the help from him, or any of you really. Job or not, your crew has done more than the pay…hope I’m worth all this.” The retriever had even ducked into a clothing store with him to get some new threads so he wasn’t trotting around in a prisoner outfit.

“You remember what I said, dontcha? You already showed that when I spirited you away from that cell, sugar.” Angel smiled with a genuine tone, shrugging as they padded along the corridor of rockcrete, footfalls echoing softly in the graffiti-laden hall. “Nobody knows if they’re worthy or not, but it’s not about that to me. You want to make a difference, like the good doc back there? Or you only in it for yourself? Now don’t answer honey, those are questions to ask yourself, mhm.”

Sen nodded with a shift of his lips in thought, his boots thudding along lightly as the retriever strolled alongside him. To go from ditching decades of family tradition to being sky-dived out of the job he’d been hosed out of, this was an insane turn of events. Yet, Sen felt like he’d possibly made a friend again.

The kitsune frowned to himself as his mind thought of Dalton, the only real comrade he’d made at the tower. He hoped the otter hadn’t been caught up in anything because of his crazy escape, someone that kind in all this deserved better.

Angel threw an arm around Sen’s shoulder as he barked out, “So, about that coffee and-” Both of them lifted their ears as their synaptic feedback kicked in, hearing Wheels voice speaking to them.

“If you boys are done with your date, the missus will be wanting to meet us in the next half hour, we should probably get our tails to the locale. She’s keen to meet her new investment!”

“Investment?” Sen growled, already sounding on edge.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds, if anyone’s investing in your fine tail, it’s me!” Angel showed a playful grin as he pulled the slightly smaller dog with him toward the rendezvous spot with Wheels.

Once back in the van it only took a few minutes to arrive at the meet-up place. The vector thrusters tapered off as the van slowly came to a halt before one of the nicer clubs in the area, a repurposed office skyscraper that had been gutted to allow for upper floors to be makeshift hotel rooms for patrons, with the first three levels just completely knocked out to make room for a sprawling club.

An irritated-looking doorman was stepping up, an assault rifle clearly strapped on the dalmatian’s back. “What in the frag are you assholes doing, just parking that-” He bit his tongue as Angel hopped down and flashed a single orange card from his sleeve.

The other dog grunted and took it, tapping it against his forehead as the data quickly processed. “Apologies, chummers, Ms. Jane just arrived a few minutes ago, should be in her private booth, you know the way?”

“We know the way, yeah,” Wheels said as he hopped down last before the Van picked up and just thrust off, assumedly to go park, or maybe just circle the area.

The dalmatian nodded and walked back to the front as the doors slid open with a hiss, a loud violent thrum of bass spilling out along with the heat of the club. “Welcome to the Rhinestone Tower. Enjoy your night, gentlemen.”

Sen walked into the club to see lasers and strobes cascading through the lower floors, a small mass of clubgoers dancing in splintered groups to the synthetic angry thrash of music from the band on stage. The floors of the top two levels had been knocked out mostly with only the stairwells remaining intact along with the support beams from the building. Some of the floors remained in place on the previous third level, offering balcony overlooks of the dance floor, and makeshift private rooms for VIPs with the credits to throw out for them.

“C’mon sugar! I’ll dance with you when we’re done if you’re down!” Angel linked an arm with the smaller dogs and tugged him right along as the trio of boys made their way to the stairs, Sen’s footpaws stumbling for a moment to shake off the sights and loud music before he paced up with them.

A few flights of stairs later they stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the dance floor. A pawful of booths was scattered about, with one tucked into the corner. As they approached it, the thrum of the music seemed to dampen, the laser and strobes seeming to be more muted as the natural light of the ceiling lights reclaimed the chaos.

A small female sat at the booth, holding a martini glass in her left paw, long crimson-red claws encircling the smooth surface as she cupped it. Some sort of synth-hol swirled in the container, flecks of brightly colored specks that could pass for glitter or large grains of rock sugar, which caught the occasional wayward laser and scattered into a million fragments against her paw.

She was clearly a rabbit given the elongated right ear that lifted upon their approach out of the platinum blonde locks of hair, meticulously groomed as if she’d just left a salon. The hair swept across her forehead in a jagged array of bangs, the tips faintly dyed to blue, making the piercing green eyes that looked back stand out all the more.

The rabbit was flanked by two guards standing behind her - one a large hulking stallion, holding a high-powered shotgun in both his paws, the other a smaller rabbit, so decked out in chrome he was practically humming with electricity, his own shotgun on his back with two sub-machine guns at his hips. Still, even with that kind of muscle, the real threat was clearly present before the two males, the small female giving off the aura of a calculated, hardened killer that wouldn’t hesitate if needed.

“We’re back, ma’am! Mission accomplished!” Angel barked out cheerfully, shattering the tension as he rubbed the back of his head with a cheeky grin showing his missing tooth.

Her green eyes shot to the retriever, then leveled onto the kitsune before them as she showed a predatory grin before taking a sip from her synth-hol cocktail, a small imprint of crimson left at the edge of the glass before she finally spoke in a smooth voice of absolute confidence. “You have, my little Angel, and I see you brought my new investment home to me. I do so appreciate it when you do things in such an… efficient manner.”

“Investment home?” Sen muttered with a frown, feeling a chill run up his spine at the words.

“Yeah yeah, you know I’m not here for all this, ma’am. Can you square me away so I can bounce?” Wheels piped up with a squeak.

The green eyes shifted to the rat and the rabbit showed her teeth in a grin before lifting her muzzle. “I saw the footage you shared from your drone, the credits are already in your account, including a little something to reimburse you for your… extra measures.”

Sen looked surprised by that but Wheels didn’t as he gave a nod. “Thank you, ma’am, this is why I’m happy to keep running with you even if I’m not official.” Wheels spoke out with a respectful and grateful tone as he reached over and smacked the kitsune on the shoulder. “Have fun, pup, don’t let that fifty caliber maw of yours spout off drek your nine-millimeter ass can’t back up, okay?”

The rat trotted right off with a whip of his tail, the rabbit offering a relaxed gaze as he left. “He’s a peach, isn’t he?” She cooed out then locked her green eyes back up to Sen’s lone blue one as she answered his question, “Yes, my dear kitsune, you could say I purchased you as it were, you’re more or less mine now so to speak.”

“Uh… Ms. Jane?” Angel asked with some concern in his own voice, as his golden ears perked at that declaration, but  Sen just snarled out in a bark.

“You think you own me because you had me fucking jailbreaked, lady?!” He clenched his paws into fists, his twin tails fluffing right up. The male rabbit settled his paws on the SMGs at his side, and the stallion straight up took aim at the fox with his roomsweeper.

“Boys, behave, afford the poor thing some room to be shocked,” the bunny known simply as Jane cooed out. The two bodyguards shifted back to a neutral posture as if they were her puppets, hooked up to her own synaptic network.

The fox gulped as he realized his position, that stallion had already been prepared to blow him into paste, and at this distance, there wouldn’t be any getting out of the range of it. Darting his eyes up, he also could see small sentry guns mounted in the ceiling aimed right at him.

With a sigh, the rabbit slowly finished off her synth-hol cocktail and plunked the martini glass down on the booth table. “Angel, be a good dog and go get me another. Boys, escort my retriever if you would. You, Matsuma, sit down, we need to talk alone.”

The other three boys snapped right to the orders, the rabbit and stallion offering the kitsune a heated glare before walking off. Angel’s own glance was more of concern as he called out, “Sen, man, it’s gonna be fine, just hear Jane out, okay?” He offered a last bit of advice before heading back down the stairs for the long walk to the bar.

Composing himself, Sen slowly took a seat across the table from the rabbit. Upon looking at her straight on, that ‘right’ ear was actually her only ear, as the blonde hair seemed to just strategically cover the spot where a left one should have been.

Jane showed her teeth through crimson lips and shifted a finger to her right temple near her eye as if making note of the cheap one he sported. “You’re not the only one with missing bits in you, my fox.”

“I’m…” Sen looked up at the sentry guns, then hardened his gaze before snarling out, “I was already expecting to die tomorrow, don’t think I’m afraid to be gunned down here. I’m not your slave, Jane.”

She rolled her green eyes and grinned, but it looked more like a predator ready to tear into his throat than one of sincerity. “You’re full of spirit, and stupidity, but spirit.” She gave a giggle and pushed her paws to the table, folding them as she offered another cold smirk. “Allow me to explain your situation, my fox…”

—♥🌙—

“Inari is going to want to know why your signal went dark for over an hour, you know.” Jane laced her fingers together as she grinned over at the male sitting across from her, the crimson claws shining in the lasers against the cream-colored fur.

“I’m part of the infiltration division, it happens, you let me worry about that.” The otter gave her another nod before shifting a credstick and data tablet forward.

The stallion collected the credit stick while the other bodyguard collected the tablet. Both of them hesitated then spoke in unison, “Checks out, ma’am.”

“Tsk… alright, I’ll bite… let’s be clear on something though, this payment is hardly sufficient for extracting from Inari. I’m having to call in outside help and put one of my best dogs on it. I should charge you ten times this much for what you’re asking… This much will barely cover just getting the ICE out of your friend’s arm you know.” Jane scoffed as she held the datapad, scanning over the details of the request.

Dalton hissed through his teeth and looked away. “Look, that’s literally every credit I have right now, I can pay you more as-”

“Do I look like a fucking loanshark or bank, Otter?” She nodded as the stallion tossed the credstick back to the table but she kept holding the datapad, scanning through it as she continued, “You don’t get to my age in this biz by doing charity work for every corporate shill that waddles up to you needing a favor.”

He glared down at the credstick, his teeth clenched as the rabbit sighed and brought the pad up closer, shielding her face but for her scrutinizing eyes. “Infiltration huh?”

“That’s what I was trained for, yes.” The otter met the rabbit’s cold green eyes as she offered a predatory grin.

“I know a good investment when I see one. Keep your credits, I’ll spring your dog from the pound for you, otter.” Jane smirked behind the screen as she felt the pieces sliding into place.

“What do you want in exchange?” Dalton picked back up the credstick with a frown.

Those steely green eyes peered over the datapad as the rabbit answered simply, “You.” She hummed then looked the details over as she continued, “You owe me one for this, my choosing, no questions asked, if I tell you to geek your own mother, you do it.”

Dalton frowned and lifted his muzzle before whispering, “The look in your eyes says there’s more to pay than that.”

Jane tapped the datapad in her paw with a hum, looking the Kitsune over in the display. “Not on your part, my chum… Not on your part at all.”

—♥🌙—

“Dalton…” Sen muttered his friend's name, feeling a pang in his chest, remembering one of the last things he did was scream at him. The otter had been playing it cool that whole time while making these arrangements.

She drummed her bloody claws on the table for a few heartbeats, letting the kitsune realize what happened as if she already knew he’d come around. Eventually, his eye snapped back up to hers, the implanted one a split second behind before it focused. “What do you want?” He asked, sounding tired.

Her teeth showed in that hungry predatory grin as she shifted to rest her chin on her folded paws, lifting them from the table as she braced on her elbows. The position made the elegant suit she wore push forward, showing there was a plump swell of breasts tucked into that silk, the rabbit’s teeth looking surprisingly sharp in those moments.

“Let’s be clear on something, doggy… You need not be my property or slave. Your friend has or will pay for the service I rendered for him. You have been freed and spared your execution, I hold no claim upon you, Matsuma. You are a free dog to do as you please.”

“Uh huh?” He cocked a brow while sounding skeptical, his eyes unable to help but notice the position of her chest before they darted back up, the rabbit offering a smirk as the younger male took in her figure.

Jane grinned at this young dog nearly half her age ogling her even if briefly. “They're real, you know. No implants, just bio-nano treatments to keep my tone and figure on par. Angel can’t keep his eyes off them.” She cocked a crooked grin at the fox as he gave a small huff, shaking his head at getting caught, even though he only stared for a nanosecond.

“Uh… S-sorry? What do…” He growled and folded his arms, squarely focusing on her. “What the fuck do you want already?”

She cocked her head back with a smirk, her blue-dyed bangs flittering across her sharp green eyes as if she approved before she leaned back once more, pushing her paws together, fingers drumming on one another. “As I said, you are a free dog, Matsuma, turn tail and walk right out that door, you’ll not find a knife or bullet in your back from me.”

“There a ‘but’ in there, lady?” He tilted his head.

“Where did you get the wardrobe? I expected you to arrive barepawed in prison fatigues.” The look in her eyes said she already had the answer as she showed another sharp grin, her green eyes glittering in the dim light of the booth. Sen grit his teeth and looked away, instantly seeing where this was going.

“My Angel has taken a shine to you, but he can’t do for you what I can. Your system identification number, the thing that makes you, you… it was assigned to you at birth, and it’ll be what they file you away with when they pull you from the slab. The instant you buy something, from a new shirt to a cup of soykaf… You know what’ll happen, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I’ll get a nice fat target reticule on my tail, and Inari will come looking for their tech,” Sen sighed and pushed his paw through his own onyx-colored hair as he looked down at the table.

“Hm hm… I can erase you Sen Matsuma, I can make you never exist, and then give you a new SIN, but that… now that is an expensive and sought-after service.” Jane shifted a paw, resting her cheek in it as her other drummed her bloody claws on the table, an infinitely amused smirk playing on her crimson lips. “What to do… what to do… or perhaps better to say, what will you do, doggy?”

“I get it, you’re offering me this, but I have to basically sell my soul to you, right?” He snarled with heat in his voice, glaring at the smirking rabbit.

“Sell your soul? Don’t be so dramatic…” Jane lifted herself up from her seat, leaning over as she pushed a paw against his muzzle, those claws digging in past the orange fur at his jaw as she looked deep into his eyes. “I’ll make you rise like a phoenix, my fox, give you new life, but you’ll certainly be indebted to me for a time.”

Sen bit his lower lip, feeling a shiver roll up his spine, he could smell the perfume on her, a luxury most never could hope to afford, then her own natural odor coming to the front to make an exotic cocktail for the senses, his stomach twisting. Those emerald eyes hardened, then he saw the right one finally shift out of focus, the iris turning purple as it scanned over his wide left one, then she settled back once more.

He huffed out in shock, “Whoa… what did you… just do? Those aren’t-”

“I said my tits were real, but I said nothing about my eyes, doggy. They’re the best credits can buy.” She smirked and nodded as the trio of boys she sent off started to ascend the stairs. “I’ll see if you’re going to be a good dog like my Angel. I’ll offer you a job soon, finish it, and I’ll get you a new SIN. Keep behaving, and we’ll see about getting you a proper eye as well.”

“And me agreeing to all this isn’t going to like, lock me into servitude?” The kitsune sat up with a frown.

“Oh of course it will, but within reason. I don’t make a habit out of breaking my best tools, doggy. You’ll pay back my investments in you, and then you’ll be part of my warren, just like that retriever you’ve taken a shine to.” Jane showed her teeth in a cool grin and simply held her paw out, palm open as the aforementioned retriever walked up and slid the new synth-hol cocktail into her claws, his own tail wagging.

“Seems I’ve little choice in the matter, fine.” Sen folded his arms and frowned.

“Life’s full of choice, my fox, just not all are wise ones, you are showing wisdom in your situation,” Jane cooed as Angel offered a little smile to the fox, a look of relief in his eyes. The rabbit nodded to the stallion who produced an orange card and tossed it to the table before the kitsune. “Bring that with you tomorrow, twenty hundred hours.”

Sen collected the card, it looked like a basic mag-lock key. Tucking it into his pocket he tilted his head. “What do I do in the meantime?”

Jane offered him a grin, her green eyes glittering as she took a moment to sip her new cocktail before simply huffing out, “Survive. Let’s see you make it back to me in one piece, that’ll show me you’re worth my time. Now get out of my booth.”

The kitsune rose from his seat, growling, but he saw the other rabbit give him a cold look as his paws shifted to his SMGs and the stallion just withdraw his roomsweeper again, lifting his own muzzle. With fluffed-up tails, the fox spun on his heel and stomped away from the booth, and moved to the stairs.

Angel frowned and folded his ears, his tail growing limp from the wag it had been in. He looked back to Jane and huffed out, “Uh… ma’am I-” The rabbit held her paw up and the dog bit his tongue, halting his words.

The sound of thrumming synthetic music filled the void for several seconds. The rabbit took another sip of her synth-hol before sighing, “You’ve taken a liking to him, haven’t you, my Angel?”

“Yes, Ms. Jane,” Angel responded pointedly.

She gave a roll of her eyes and nodded. “New orders. Go protect my investment, ensure he makes it back here tomorrow night.”

The retriever showed that bright eager grin, his tail wagging behind him as he barked out, “Yes, ma’am!” He spun on his heel to leave and catch up with Sen.

“Oh and, my Angel?” He looked back at her with perked ears as Jane showed him a toothy grin. “Try to have fun and show him a good time, the poor thing’s been through a lot.”

“Of course, ma’am!” He barked out and didn’t bother with the stairs, just hopping right off the balcony.

Sen was just padding off the last few steps growling to himself, not even sure what he was supposed to do. Did she expect him to just squat in the fucking alley for the night? He only made a few more paces forward before Angel just suddenly landed right on the ground in front of him with that gapped grin.

“Fuck!” Sen jumped back with a growl as the retriever laughed and stood up from his bent knees, the sound of a servo motor hissing in the knee joint of his one cyber-leg.

“Sorry for the scare, sugar! You didn’t think I’d let you just trot off alone without a credit to your name do you?” The retriever seemed to just slide gracefully right over to the other dog, linking an arm with him. “C’mon, I owe you that soyk- coffee, yeah? Then you can crash at my place tonight until your meeting tomorrow!”

The kitsune didn’t really feel he had much say in the matter, his footpaws already in motion as the retriever that started this whole thing off cheerfully led him out of the club and back into the sprawl.

—♥🌙—

Next Episode:

A tender emotion never felt, a swell of a heartbeat from another's touch. Is this what it’s like to be truly alive? Is my life my own, or will it always be within the bloody claws of another? Will you support me to the end as you promise, even as my paws grow crimson with blood? A life for a life, a love for a love, is it even my place to do such a thing?

Episode Two: You never forget your first.

I hope you've enjoyed this episode, my lovely reader!

I'm not going to lie, I kick my tail writing these! A single episode can take me twelve to fifteen hours or longer to make after conception, writing, editing, and proofreading! If you enjoy this, support me, please? It doesn't have to be financial either, just share my stuff and get my name out there. Vote, Fave, Comment, offer feedback, anything. Thank you, and as always, I'm nothing without your support!

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Chapter Text

Being a writer is my dream job but it has full-time hours and this is where I'd normally pitch my ways to support me, but I've been told Ao3 doesn't vibe with that, so maybe just follow me on Twitter to see what I'm up to?

And with that out of the way…

—♥🌙—

Episode 2:

You never forget your first.

Sen stepped alongside the other canine in quiet frustration. It was humbling to be back in the restless plex so soon; back to the streets, the corridors, and the neon halo cascading across everything. How much had been sacrificed, no, scorned, to reach just that first ledge he’d already fallen off? What would the family who looked down their snouts at those without tradition think of their wayward son, now?

A world of questions weighed on his mind with his future up in the air, now up to the whims of a doe that could literally remake or break his whole life. The kitsune felt torn; he’d fled a life of little choice and being told what to believe or make of himself, just to end up on a new path dictated for him. Yet, Sen had met a pack of misfits that went above and beyond the pay, and were kind to him without even truly knowing who he was.

“Mhm, you need a big tall re-kaff, maybe a double shot with a sour look like that.” Angel broke the quiet, hiking a thumb at the embedded shop in the wall, just like so many units of the hub. All of them with shutters, doors, or thru-slots open for the sights and smells to bombard the senses, and that was before the flashing trideos for just about any vice desirable.

“I don’t really drink stimulants, can mess up the-”

“Honey you’re gonna need to loosen up, and when Angel is buying you don’t get to say no, you dig?” The retriever waved a paw to dismiss any further rebuttal, cutting off Sen’s declination before turning to the waiting bay window, “Two soy-kaffs, both double, and gimme two spritzes of sunset in em, thanks sugar. Oh, one of those needs real rocks!” 

A tired nod and smile came from the older siamese cat, then she cocked a brow at the following words, giving the retriever an expectant look to pay first. Once Angel slid his credstick, the feline turned to swiftly work on the two beverages. “You’re gonna like this, bet you’ve never had anything like it before!” The retriever gave a confident lift of a brow and nod.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Sen chuckled, then looked about as other groups and the occasional solo wanderer walked along the rockrete street in the cool night air, but all were possibles to him; threats, faces, unknowns that caused his training to come to the fore. The kitsune felt naked without so much as a handgun at his hip, the heckling of his fur rising at the further paranoia some Inari goon was out there, watching him.

“Here you go, sip and savor sugar, it'll pick you right up.” Angel presented Sen a cup, breaking him from his train of thought, “Enjoy!” He tapped cup-lids before taking a sample of the strong beverage, licking his chops with a swift tail-wagging, “Mm-mm! That’s what I’m talking about, this smile don’t run on hopes and dreams alone, ha ha!”

Sen snorted with a roll of his eyes before sipping the mug, instantly blinking at the sweet then savory flavors that flowed over his tongue, “Woah, how’d it do that?”

“Heh, that’s the sunset honey. It gives you a sweet kiss then takes you to bed. Also that’s the real stuff, gotta know the lingo to get it and pay upfront.” Angel winked with a cheeky smile before nodding his head onward, “Let’s get on, you’ve had quite a day, sugar.”

The idea of following someone to their home was new and odd to Sen, who hadn’t visited or been allowed friends, having grown up in a strict family. Even that upbringing aside was the training he’d gone through: to observe then follow a target through a crowded plex without them ever being aware; but, it was altogether alien for Sen to walk alongside someone, weaving through living traffic to visit their home by invitation instead of stalking them.

Sen tried to focus on the other dog at his side as they passed the archways to clubs, the thumping beat reminding him of entering the domain of Jane. She was like a black widow, with the looks and wit to get anything she wanted, and the power to take it or snuff out those opposing her goals. The kitsune admired all those things enough that the idea of being her lapdog now only mildly pissed him off, but did nothing for the unease of stepping into Jane’s world.

“Well, here we are sugar, ain’t no pearly gates but this is where Angel resides.” The retriever offered that by now trademark grin that was cute and sweet at once, something that both offered comfort and put Sen off-guard. Angel swiftly tapped in his key code to get the door hissing to the side. “Make yourself comfortable, heh.”

Sen stepped inside after his host, peering about the nicely kept space with a quiet pan as if taking in another simulation. His twin tails idly shifted while taking in the small, humble living quarters. Various little sculptures or rescued bits of art decorated the otherwise sparse walls and slab shelves.

“Whatcha think, not too bad right? It ain’t much to some but all I need when alone.” Angel shrugged, taking another sip of his soy-kaff before setting it on the small kitchen counter at his back, an L-shaped space with a few small appliances and a sink. With no space for a dining table, the slender one before the two-person couch had to do.

“It’s nice.” Sen gave a light smile, setting down his cup on the small table before him, then taking off the jacket given to him by the same kind host. The kitsune placed it lightly on one of the armrests of the couch, then rubbed the back of his neck in thought.

“Nice huh? That a ‘nice’ way of saying it’s a tiny, broke-ass place?” Angel laughed with a flash of his tongue, “Only kidding, but you gotta speak your mind, sugar. Don’t clam up or you’ll become a shell, just saying.”

Sen regarded the other canine with a grateful nod, “I hate to ask but uh, this place got a shower?”

“Mmhm, only room enough for one though, it’s a real shame.” Angel grinned with a wave toward the door in the middle of the dual-purpose room, letting the kitsune into his bedroom with a smaller side door for the bathroom. “No hot water, sorry sugar, but towels on the right. I’ll get us some chow together, take your time.”

“Heh, thank you Angel…you’ve ah, been real nice.” Sen smiled more warmly for once, tails lifting as he saw that same bright grin from his newfound friend.

“Mhm, I know. It’s what I do baby, Angel’s gotta look out for others.” The retriever grinned with a wink before slipping out of the room.

Sen took off the clothes that hadn’t even been his at the start of this insane day, setting them aside to turn enough to stare at the small mirror on the wall. There was a slight blur in his vision as the other eye took a few nanoseconds to catch up to the movement and feed the information to his nerves. He’d actually been turning it off during the crazy moments like the freefall and running, at least he did after the freefall where he almost threw up in the alley over it trying to process everything.

Angel clearly didn’t get company over, the whole place smelled of nothing but him as Sen pulled the handle of the shower. The head sputtered and stalled with groaning in the old pipes before it finally started spitting out a stream of water. He waved his paw through it a few seconds with the handle turned to the ‘hot’ setting, before recalling the retriever told him there was only cold water.

In times like this, Sen wished he’d sprung for that neural network link they offered back at Inari that could temporarily disable your sensation of pain. It was handy for combat in the field as you could just keep pushing without the body screaming at you about how you were bleeding out from all the bullet holes in you, but handy for situations like this too.

With a controlled breath, he sent a signal to his arm to at least disable the nerves there and stepped into the icy shower. Angel couldn’t help but bite his tongue with an amused grin from the sofa outside, hearing the loudly barked swearing from the bathroom.

While his guest was showering, the retriever lounged back on the couch, his wireless headware sorting through places to call up for delivery. He had promised the fox burgers and he didn’t seem objective to the idea. He thought about spending up for real stuff instead of soy, but that drek was pricey and he’d already have trouble making rent at this rate.

“Man… I’m too nice for my own good, aren’t I?” Angel barked out to himself with a laugh as he set up the order while grinning and looking over at the small window. “I’ll see if Ms. Jane has some extra work I can do, maybe hang out with the other two sour-faced boys as muscle or something?” He did this occasionally, talked to himself when he was nervous, and always told himself it was fine so long as he didn’t answer back.

“Guh!” Sen made his shower as quick as possible, but he hated the cold and had a lot of the day to wash out, what with all the blood, sweat, and filth of the streets he’d been thrown into. With a shiver, he turned the water off and grabbed the towel, hesitating as he clearly could smell the retriever on it, familiar and frankly comforting at this point - that scent had been in his nose every time the drek was hitting the fan today. Sen frowned as he looked at the towel, hardly believing where he was, but at least he was alive.

“Oh, that was quick!” Angel said as Sen came out into the small living room with the towel wrapped around his head, his outfit back on but some of his fur still looking a little damp.

“No drek it was quick, I don’t do cold showers,” The kitsune said with a frown as the retriever hopped right up and trotted over to him.

“Must be nice, hot water is one of many luxuries in the sprawl, sugar, but I hope you feel better. Tag you’re it!” Angel plucked the towel off his head to saunter into the bathroom. “Oh hey, I got slop on the way, so if you hear the buzzer, don’t think it’s the Big-I here for you!”

Sen frowned at that, his messy black bangs scattered over his forehead, blocking some of his vision as he saw the other dog bump the bathroom door closed and heard the groaning pipes from here knock a few times before the water arrived.

There were a few loud pounds on the front door, making the kitsune instinctively shift into a fighting stance, his teeth bared as that blade in his arm shot forth. Sen frowned as he just heard the footsteps fading, and with a cautious snort opened the door, blade still drawn just to be safe as he looked up and down the hall, hearing a loud bang from the stairwell door slamming, the flickering lights above illuminating the greasy-looking paper sack left behind.

A few more minutes passed before the retriever came out of the bathroom with the towel thrown over his shoulders. “Is that soy-burgs I smell? I can feel my arteries hardening already!” He called out with a laugh as he grinned at the fox who was giving him a curious look.

He’d put his jeans back on but was shirtless, his dirty-blonde hair looking browner from still being damp, curling around his slightly round face and tickling back near his shoulder blades. It was odd for Sen to see another boy with long hair, given the academy and security division had strict regulations on hair as well as fur length.

Angel showed him that cute grin as both his paws held the towel, seeing the fox looking at him curiously, the first time he’d been shirtless. There were a few streaks of pink flesh showing through the golden fur, scars from who knows what the retriever had experienced in his life. He had a stronger frame than Sen did, but then again he was a bigger dog. It’s not like the fox wasn’t secure enough in his manhood to know when another guy looked good - especially with those abs.

“Oh hey, since you’re checking me out, take a look at this too!” Angel showed that gapped grin once more then whipped his towel off before pulling his wet hair to the side and turning around. There were a few scars along the other dog’s broad shoulders and back, but more to the point, there was a large articulate display of black ink that formed into large wings that spanned over shoulder blades, teasing at the back of his shoulders.

Sen looked surprised to be sure. “Woah… that’s actually pretty wiz! But… how is it-”

Those sharp green eyes looked back at him over his shoulder, tail wagging as if happy the fox approved. “It’s a special tattoo infused with nanites and biotech, it basically not only does the skin, but tells my fur, hey buddy, you’re growing in black right here!” The retriever gave him a lazy smile before Sen heard him hesitate before speaking again, “... do you like it?”

“I do, yeah. You’re a pretty chill guy, so it suits you. I’ve never seen tattoos like that, the corp was big on clean fur and short hair,” Sen almost sounded remorseful as he explained.

“Wanna know a secret?” Angel turned and trotted over to him, that cute grin showing and his eyes looking softer, more relaxed than Sen had seen them.

“Uh… what?” He took a small step back, half wondering if the other dog was about to pounce him.

“I only got these about a month ago, you’re the first one that’s seen them!” The retriever declared playfully, putting a paw to his scarred chest.

“Is that right?” Sen offered a small grin. The other dog’s tail wagged faster, his scent stronger now that he was closer, not that Sen didn’t already smell heavily of him from using that towel.

“Maybe… I can give you a first, sugar,” The retriever offered him a playful wink.

“Yeah, you already did, like skydiving out of a fragging window, or getting tech ripped out of my arm while my old boss tried to murder me, so I think I’m good on firsts!” Sen barked with a laugh as he put his paws on his hips.

Angel almost looked like he was pouting at that retort, but then showed another grin as he grabbed up the bag on the counter. “C’mon sugar, grab a few beers out of the fridge, and let’s eat. I’m ready to eat my arm, and I don’t have a fancy replacement one like you do!” The retriever barked out with a laugh as he trotted into the bedroom.

“Wait- Why in…” Sen frowned but went to the small micro-fridge that didn’t seem to hold anything but synth-hol, mostly beers but a few bottles of harder stuff too. He gathered a few up and with some hesitation, walked back into the bedroom.

Angel had already thrown the towel over the mattress of the small bed, slipped on a t-shirt, and set out a soy-burg and some fries. The shirt he slipped on was form-fitting, showing off the definition the larger dog sported, a simple no-frills white one that looked like you could buy in packs. Sen frowned awkwardly before he took a seat on the bed, hearing it give a small groaning squeak from the old springs, even as the mattress looked fairly clean and new.

“That rickety old coffee table would probably fall over with a stiff breeze, that’s why.” Angel gave a bark to the question that wasn’t asked before snatching up his burger and taking a bite.

“Uh-huh…” Sen cracked open a can of the synth-hol and took a small sip before taking a bite of the burger. It was surprisingly good, cheesy, and soy-filled; greasy for sure, but after the day he’d had, it was amazing.

Angel grinned as he saw the kitsune start to really dig into the slop he’d ordered. “Heh… hadn’t had any food in a while, sugar?”

“Mmph…” Sen took down a bite and chased it with a swig of beer before speaking, “Why bother feeding a dead dog much? One meal a day, and you busted my tail out right before dinner.”

“Oooh, maybe I should have given you a little time?” He hummed and took another bite of his own burger.

“Oh yeah, I was raring to go for that nutri-paste. Small mercy I hadn’t eaten actually, probably really would have tossed it in the alley.” The fox growled and got back to work finishing off his burger, the other boy having not even gotten halfway done.

“I like watching you relaxed and eating. If I can get a hold of a proper kitchen, I’ll cook you something, sugar,” The retriever offered a childish grin before getting back to work on his own food.

“You can cook? Your fridge was full of nothing but booze though,” Sen asked curiously, frowning as he realized his burger was finished but picked up his small sleeve of fries.

“I can, would you believe I was actually educated to be a professional cook before the drek went south?” The retriever smiled wistfully at him as if recalling another time.

“Huh… how did you go from cook to runner, if I may ask?” Sen perked his ears, his head tilting as he started nibbling on his fries.

“Got you an extra, knew you’d be ravenous.” Angel fished into the paper bag, tossing another soy-burger to the fox, his blue eye widening as if he’d just been handed a credstick with a million credits on it.

“Anyway, I was a corp-brat like you, trained up in a military academy, but you know armies don’t march on their bellies, and I love cooking, so naturally I started specializing in that. You keep the chaplains safe for your soul, you keep the docs safe for your health, and you keep the cooks safe so you don’t choke on MRE’s, ya know,” Angel barked a laugh.

“So what went south?” Sen asked between bites of his new burger.

—♥🌙—

The dark hull of the T-bird streaked with the volume of anti-air flack filling the sky around it, forcing the nimble craft to jink endlessly even as the pilot frantically shouted into his headset over the din of glancing hits across the hull.

“Commander, we cannot sustain this course, we’ll be shredded in seconds!” The young retriever reported to his commanding officer who shook his head, keeping a paw covering the earpiece since this was a live operation and they were blacked out to radio only, no wireless.

“That’s suicide, they knew our vector already! We can’t-” The pilot felt his throat dry out as the CO pushed a handgun to the side of his head.

“Take us in, soldier. Better to die at enemy paws than get shot down by our own for treason, so follow your damn orders!” The older calico hissed the words, his eyes looking hardened even as a hail of fire raked across the underside of the aircraft.

“F- Fine, get that fucking thing out of my face!” The pilot snarled as he licked his chops and focused, but the pistol stayed trained on him for that first crack in willpower, doing nothing to ease the rattling anxiety of the situation.

“C-Commander, I can’t fucking do this! I know I went through basic, but I’m a fucking cook, not a strike squad member! I’m only here for time served, damn it!” The young dog barked out, glaring at the older cat who simply gave a hard jab of the pistol against his helmet.

“We all serve Raijin absolutely, soldier. Don’t make me put you or anyone else down for insubordination. If we die, then we die with our fucking muzzles up, not with tails tucked and whimpering!” He shouted to the other four members of the squad, all just as terrified and grasping at the shuddering hull by harness or framework as the craft lurched to and fro.

There wasn’t much time for further questioning as a stream of anti-air rounds tore through the left turbine of the T-bird, the engine making a loud whining groan as it blew out and sent the dropship into a dying tailspin.

“Fuck fuck fuck! I don’t wanna fucking die, this is bullshit!” The retriever barked out while clinging to the side of the drop door that he needed to parachute from.

“Pilot what are-” The Calico snarled as he saw the cockpit covered in blood and bits from the other soldier. He hissed out seeing the others still buckled in with the retriever the only one that had been ready to drop.

Through the whirling maelstrom of the spiraling vehicle, the young dog gave a shrill bark as he felt himself tackled right out of the opening. “Sir!” He screamed out as the CO hissed out and grabbed the pull cord on the chute he wore, offering him a salute before yanking it.

“Commander!” He screamed as the older cat plummeted past his paws as the chute snatched and caught him. The dog winced from the jerk, then offered a gasp as the t-bird spiraled past him into the distance.

“Fuck! Fuck… why?!” He cried out, his vision blurring, then screamed out as he clutched the straps of his parachute harness as he saw tracer rounds coming straight for him. “Shit shit what do I-” Blinding pain then unconsciousness.

“Damn, you just couldn’t resist could you?”

“The auto-targeting program was tracking the T-bird, he just happened to be in the path.”

“Huh… took his whole fucking hip nearly off on that, he still got a pulse?”

“Barely, you want me to put a bullet in his brain and put him out of his misery?”

“What’s that, ma’am? His SIN? Let’s see… yeah, ha ha, poor little bastard was just some cook. Guess he should have stayed in the Raijin mess halls, eh?”

“Come again?”

“Stabilize his tail and bring him back, that’s what she says.”

“Seriously? Fuck it, fine, I’m not going to be on that rabbit’s drek list, give me the blood-coagulant agent before this mother fucker bleeds out.”

—♥🌙—

“Damn…” Sen blinked over at the retriever who was just offering that silly cute grin after the harrowing tale. “So… rabbit?”

“Uh-huh… The Big-F, Fujin, got word of the mission, hired out some extra security from Ms. Jane. The location didn’t have any anti-air guns according to intel, because they literally outsourced them at the last minute.”

“Doesn’t that mean it was kind of her fault you ended up that way?” Sen cocked a brow.

“Soldiers are soldiers, Sen. You should know that. We do what we do, it’s rarely personal, but it sure as drek was made personal when she pulled my tail out of a one-way trip to the nine hells!” Angel huffed out matter-of-factly with a nod.

“I guess so. Why did she do it anyway?” He asked.

“Thought I was cute!” Angel barked with a grin.

“T-there has to be more than that!” Sen didn’t look convinced.

“Mmm… she occasionally has me cook for her?” The retriever grinned and shrugged.

“Let me get this straight… she saved you, put chrome in your meat, and made you one of her personal runners, all because she thought you were cute, and could cook for her occasionally?” Sen asked skeptically.

“That’s what she says. It’s a little more involved now, but yeah, that’s the gist of it. Me having some training and background in the Big-R didn’t hurt I’m sure, I think I might be her only operative from them.” Angel chomped down the last bite of his soy-burg and shrugged, “I dunno, Sen, maybe she was just doing her once-a-year good deed like she did with your ass, or maybe she’s got a thing for hot doggies?”

“You sounded really scared in the story.” Sen sipped his beer before getting back to what was left of his burger.

“I was like twenty and had no live combat experience, just some basic training. I was terrified.” Angel leaned back on his paws with a smile. “Fear isn’t a bad thing, sugar. It can help you a lot in the moment, can help you run away or fight hard enough to survive, ya know?”

“Still get scared these days?” He asked with a tilt of his head.

“Every time, sugar! I get that little twisty ache in my belly, then my one knee gets a little weak, I swear my new one does too, but then that rush comes along. Woo baby… That adrenaline hits, my heart pounds and I get sprung!” Angel clenched his paws with a grin, his tail wagging behind him.

Sen gave a laugh and then awkwardly grinned. “Thanks for the visual, you really are a little horn dog, huh, fetch?”

Angel offered him a surprisingly sultry smile, his green eyes looking a little more relaxed as he huffed out. “Adrenaline isn’t the only thing that gets me sprung though, sugar.”

The kitsune felt his heart pitter-patter rather hard at that and his stomach twist a little as he swallowed a lump in his throat and stammered out, “Uh… Y-yeah? Shouldn’t we be finishing our food, An-”

The retriever growled and pushed the towel and fries that were left off the bed onto the floor. “I’ll clean it up later!” He gave a lazy grin, showing that little gap of tooth before dropping onto his paws and slowly moving towards the other dog.

“Uh…” Sen huffed, looking at the intent boy padding towards him, the bed shifting under him, then glanced back to see his own tails wagging a little. Was this actually exciting him? He’d not had much experience but-

His thoughts scattered as Angel gently gripped his collar and pulled him closer, nose to nose again like they had been in the van. “You remember what I said last time, yeah, sugar?”

Sen’s blue eye widened but he shivered at the confident touch and the smell of this dog, the comfort he’d provided, the reassurance, and even the protection. “Y-yeah, I do…”

“Mhm… gonna make a liar of me, then? Because if you don’t ask, I’m gonna just do it, sugar.” He shifted a paw to cup the other boy's jaw, feeling how warm his cheeks were through that thin orange fur, knowing he was blushing under it.

“You’re incorrigible, fetch!” He barked out but then shifted his paws to the other dog’s t-shirt, gripping it as he pulled closer. “F-fine, if it’ll make you-” His eyes widened as the other boy just took the invitation and pushed his muzzle hard up to his.

Sen’s eyes widened as Angel tilted his own muzzle to make the kiss nice and deep, feeling his paws tangle into his still faintly damp locks of hair, then a small muffled bark came from the fox as the retriever made good on his promise and brought that tongue forward to meet his.

He’d never kissed with tongue before, so his movements were awkward. He tasted the synth-hol and soy on Angel’s breath, no doubt his own taste similar as they held one another, in the kiss he’d let the retriever give him in earnest without shoving him off.

The kiss lasted several heated moments before Angel finally pulled away with a huff, his tongue lolled, his green eyes looking like they were sparkling in the cheap lights of the room. “First kiss, sugar?”

Sen perked his ears, shaking off the moment before barking out, “W-what? Uh… I’ve kissed before!”

“Yeah, kissing your mom or sibling on the cheek doesn’t count, sugar!” Angel barked out a laugh before the kitsune glared at him and gave him a good shove, pushing him off.

“You drek-for-brains! Geeze I-” He bit his tongue and just glared at the other dog, his heart still pounding. Life in the shrine was heavily restrictive, then the military was equally constraining. It wasn’t that he couldn’t find attention, he’d just never sought it out. No one gave him those looks like Angel had, and even Jane had been eying him like a piece of meat earlier- at least, he thought she was. Then again, with that rabbit, she could have literally been doing that, as if looking for a spot to sink her teeth in and rip out.

“I am honored to be your first kiss, then!” Angel barked out playfully and put a paw to his chest.

“I didn’t say you were my first,” Sen growled and looked away.

“You didn’t say I wasn’t either.” Angel lifted a padded-finger offering a grin as he leaned back in.

“So?” The kitsune glared slightly at the larger dog then frowned with folded ears as Angel pulled nice and close again, already licking his chops.

“So, want another?” he growled. Sen barked out as he didn’t wait for an answer, feeling him lock muzzles with him again, the fox offering a fussy growl but this time his own tongue coming forth to meet the other dog’s.

Angel’s deeper growls rolled down his throat and Sen felt the world roll on him before he smacked back into the bed, the larger body atop him now, their tongues rolling as the fox shifted his paws to push against Angel’s chest, not to shove him away but curiously feeling it up.

With a small playful grin, the retriever broke the kiss and hummed as he felt the fox curiously pushing against his chest. “I’d like to say I work out, but it’s mostly me running, climbing, and fighting for my life multiple times a week!”

“Really? I mean, they’re pretty impressive…” Sen pushed a paw against one of his abs, feeling the small ridges through the shirt Angel had put on.

“Okay, okay, you got me, maybe I do a few pull ups, planks, and run a tiny bit, but I’d not call myself a fitness buff.” He hummed and smiled down at the fox, nose to nose again, looking hard into his eyes. “You’ve got really pretty eyes, Sen… well that one is anyway, that other one looks like cheap drek!” He barked out in a laugh.

The fox felt his heart start to beat hard, then narrowed his eyes with a snarl. “You’re an ass, you know that, right?”

“Mhm… I can tell you enjoy it though.” Angel moved in and Sen barked out softly as the retriever started offering small nips and love bites along his throat. Now this wasn’t just a kiss, every dog knew, bites like that were like cheek licks, they were-

The retriever huffed and leaned close, dragging his tongue right up against Sen’s muzzle in a slow kiss, the fox offering a small shiver and huffing before blinking up into the green eyes, looking shocked.

“Too much?” Angel showed that cute grin, looking down at him with sparkling eyes.

“I don’t… No, it wasn’t… I think?” Sen rubbed his jaw, his heart pounding before he darted his eyes away, then shifted them back to see that cute grinning retriever that’d saved his life a few times today. “So uh… what happens now? I mean… with us?”

“Now? Well, that was your goodnight kiss, sugar!” Angel hummed as he rolled right off the fox, sitting up with a tail wag.

“Wait-” Sen jerked up and shook his head. “That’s… but you- I mean… weren’t you wanting to uh…”

“Roll around in the sheets with you, make you scream my name, work that tension of the day out?” Angel hummed and wagged his tail faster before grinning. “Oh yes, sugar… I want that very very much but…”

He gave the fox a surprisingly cute whimper as his green eyes looked away. “You’ve had a tough day, you’re still reeling, and I like you a lot so far, like you enough, I’m not gonna do that to you, capiche?”

“Seriously? Wait, are you just … teasing me?” Sen cocked a brow, looking as confused as he felt, his heart was pounding, part of him was curious, kind of wanted to keep going, he thought Angel did too, but now he was getting shut down?

“I’m not teasing you, I’m just wanting you to not regret things, sugar. I like you a lot so far, I don’t… wanna ruin that, okay?” The retriever leaned in and huffed, kissing his muzzle again quickly, then offering the other side of his jaw a small lap, Sen’s tails fluffing out as a shiver rolled up his spine.

“Get some sleep, you’ve got a million things on your mind, sugar. See how you feel in the morning, okay?” The retriever hopped right up, gathering the discarded towel, wrappers and fries before giving him a wink.

“Wait a sec, Angel. This is your bed, shouldn’t I crash on the sofa?” Sen started to stand.

“I’m not going to be a poor host, I’m used to sleeping in the floor of vans, or in old warehouses with a jacket wrapped around a bottle for a pillow, you don’t worry about me napping on a couch, sugar, that’s like a luxury bed compared to some of the drek I’ve had to sleep in!”

He wanted to argue but the older dog just smiled and stepped out of the room, the door closing behind him. The kitsune just sat there in bed, his mind racing. He’d never been sexual, never really craved it, but there was no denying what all this had done in the fatigues he wore, and his heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

“The drek is this all about…” Sen flopped over into the pillows, huffing out and shivering a little at how strongly they smelled of Angel, his heart just beating harder before he calmed his mind and told his synapsis system to cue up something relaxing to listen to. It didn’t take long to fade, the day was grueling and he’d not slept well in his waiting for his execution either, because who would? Sleep took him, and it took him hard like a bitch in heat - no dreams, no thoughts, just the void of absolute slumber.

—♥🌙—

He slept as if he were dead. Angel had slipped in to put a blanket over him, but a C4 charge going off in the next room wouldn’t have woken him. Down for over half a day, Sen finally woke with a growling snort and a wide yawn, the first thing to his senses was the scent of the other dog in the bedding.

Biting his lower lip, the memories of yesterday rushed back in; the near-death experiences, meeting Jane, but mostly, that retriever. They actually made out last night, it wasn’t a dream, was it? Sitting up from the bed, the smell of food caught his nose, making his mind stray from the worries as his stomach groaned. He’d not been eating much over the last few days, with last night's meal the biggest one he’d had in easily a week.

Angel was already showing off that cute grin as his guest came out of the bedroom after freshening up in the small bathroom adjoining it. “G’morning, sugar! Shoulda known the smell of home cookin’ would wake your tails up!”

Sen rubbed the side of his head, growling slightly as he looked around the small dwelling, then settled his gaze back on Angel who offered him a surprisingly gentle smile, standing there before the hotplate working on some sort of egg dish.

“I was out almost fourteen hours, why didn’t you wake me up? Any later, we’d miss the meeting with Ms. Jane.” He yawned again and padded towards the small kitchen, looking in curiously from the bar near the stove.

“What do you think I’m doing, sugar? I knew this would wake you up faster than trying to shake you, not to mention if I put paws on you, I might have just ripped you out of those pants and bent you over!” The retriever gave the other boy a playful grin before gathering up two plates, one with a small stack of pancakes, the other with some scrambled eggs and sausage. Not real sausage or eggs, of course, he didn’t expect Angel to have those kinds of ingredients.

Sen frowned down at the spread, lost in thought, trying to remember the last time he’d had anyone cook for him. A brief memory flashed in his mind of when he was a puppy back at the shrine, before his parents and him hated one another. A steaming mug of soykaf smacked down on the counter, bringing him back from his flashback.

“Eat up, sugar! Don’t go letting it get cold!” Angel showed him a grin before turning to the tiny sink to start washing out the pan and various other cooking utensils. Sen nodded and took his fork to the eggs first, his ears perking right up as the food hit his tongue. He knew it wasn’t real, but the seasoning used, the skill in cooking them, it seriously tasted like real scrambled eggs, not the mushy pasty ones they used to serve to them back in the mess halls.

“Damn… this is pretty wiz, Angel!” He barked out and started eating with more intent, the retriever beaming at the words.

“You don’t know how happy I am to hear that, sweetie! I wanted to make you something nice after the rough day you had yesterday.” He wagged his tail while standing at the sink, already dressed as if ready to hit the road, blue jeans on with his t-shirt, the bomber jacket he’d worn hooked on a rack near the door along with those goggles.

Sen gulped down the bite, his mind processing the newest pet name before finally speaking, “I promise to pay you back for all this when I get back on my footpaws, fetch. How much was that coffee last night anyway?”

The retriever wagged a padded-finger at him. “Now now, you don’t worry about that. You can pay me back by getting yourself squared away, that’ll keep me from stressing about your ass, and that’s worth more than any credits you could transfer me.”

The fox looked down at the food, processing that before returning to his eating, occasionally sipping on his soykaf. Angel hopped right up on the counter in the kitchen across from Sen, holding his own plate of food he started working on.

They settled into a comfortable silence of eating, but Sen noticed the retriever smiling and looking at him quite often through the whole thing, the fox finally taking down a gulp of food, feeling his cheeks burn before he spoke, “Why… are you staring so hard?”

“I just really like seeing you enjoying the food, sugar,” He called out casually as he set his plate on his lap to grab up his own mug of soykaf, taking a long pull from it with a contented sigh.

“Hey uh… about last night?” Sen prodded.

Angel smiled against the rim of his mug before setting it down. “What about it, sugar?”

“Were you okay with how that went?” Sen asked.

“Were you?” Angel curled the side of his muzzle into a smirk.

Sen huffed out and fluffed his tails behind him. “Hey, jerk-face, I asked first!”

“Yeah yeah…” Angel laughed and hefted his plate up, stabbing into his eggs and snapping them up, taking his time before swallowing and answering, “I don’t regret giving you some space, if that’s your question.”

Sen frowned and nodded before taking another bite, then almost choked at the follow-up question from the retriever, “Regret I didn’t push for more?” Angel showed him a sparkling gapped grin as he watched the fox clearly struggle to not cough and spit his bite out.

He fumbled for his soykaf, taking a gulp to get the food down that had threatened to come up. He then took a deep sigh of air before glaring at the other dog over the rim of the mug. “Asshole, you waited until I was about to swallow to do that on purpose!”

Angel hummed as he flicked his tail. “Speaking of swallowing…”

“Don’t you fucking dare!” Sen barked out, feeling his cheeks burning.

“Anyway, I didn’t regret it, we can talk about it in detail later once things are sorted with you and Ms. Jane.” Angel finished off his eggs and hopped up, moving over to the sink to wash the plate. It was evident the retriever was a bit of a neat freak who liked to tidy up as he went along.

Sen felt his heart thump at the whole idea of them ‘talking’ about it later, but at the reminder of that black widow wanting to see him, his thoughts shifted back into focus on the more pressing matters instead of the way the retriever was making him feel in his heart or pants.

—♥🌙—

The dalmatian at the door recognized him and upon showing the card, he was allowed to pass through with Angel at his side. Climbing the stairs, his stomach was in a knot, and upon moving towards the booth, his fur was up on the back of his neck, seeing those piercing green eyes shining in the dark before the rest of Jane came into view.

She had her paws folded under her chin, in that position that had made him take notice of her the first time, those plump bunny breasts pushing through the buttons of the suit. Her eyes seemed to shift to a softer green - and he realized she’d quite literally been making them glow upon his approach.

“You came back. I suppose this means you’re considering my offer, my fox?” She showed her teeth, giving him eyes that almost looked like dreamy bedroom ones as if she were wistfully in love with him.

Sen gulped down hard, already feeling himself drawn into the web, his mind going blank at the look of an older experienced doe playing him like a puppy. Angel slapped his shoulder with a grin to break him out of the headlights he was caught in. “Wakey wakey, you keep staring at Ms. Jane like that, I might start to feel jealous and neglected, sugar!”

She offered an approving grin as she slowly sat back, the dull thrum of thrash metal banging out beneath them, the two guards behind her keeping unamused neutral gazes. Jane’s eyes sparkled as she opened an elegant dainty paw, large crimson claws spread like a deadly flower that would be toxic to touch, but with beauty that compelled you to do so all the same. “Sen Matsuma, if you are prepared, then we’ll talk business.”

Even with Angel leaning on him for support, his spine felt icy cold as that chill rolled up it, as if he were bargaining with a demon at the gates of one of the nine hells. Lifting his muzzle he finally spoke out, “What do you have for me?”

The bunny smirked and shifted a paw through her bangs, her right eye glittering to purple before Sen saw the details feed straight into his synaptic network. A hacker by the call sign simply as ‘Merlin’, with a picture of a middle-aged possum staring back at him.

“This possum has been a very troublesome thorn in my paw, not just mine but many others. Sic em’ doggy,” Jane showed a wicked little grin as her eye shifted back to green.

“What?! You want me to fucking geek this guy?! Lady, I’m not some fucking hitman, I didn’t think you were going to ask me to do fucking wetwork here!” Sen snarled out and clenched his titanium paw into a fist Jane just smirking at his reaction, as if she expected it.

“Heh…” The rabbit looked infinitely amused by that, then let out a surprisingly cute giggle that sent a chill up his spine, as if he had ice cracking under his footpaws. The cold look shifted back into her eyes and that wicked grin returned as she cooly asked, “You were trained as a soldier, to kill, to end life, yet you’re going to perch on some moral high ground now?”

He barked out with heat in his voice, “That’s different, it’s-”

“It’s the same, but I won’t humor your ego, doggy.” She pushed her paws to the table and slowly rose from the seat. It was the first time he’d seen her out from behind that table in the booth. The business suit she wore had a hip-hugging skirt that just came down enough to keep any of the good bits out of sight. She had thick soft-looking thighs and snug leggings pushed against the cream-colored fur, leading down into a small set of crimson heels that matched her claws.

“You’re going to turn your tail and you’re going to go do this because you know you have to, doggy. You’re already a killer, you just don’t know it yet.” She casually moved to him, almost seeming to glide with the stroke of the lasers that danced in the club, and just like that, she was before him, her paws gripping his collar and pulling him down to her.

“You want to die, Matsuma? You want me to kill you and revive you anew? A life for a life, nothing is free in this world, doggy.” She shifted a paw to his muzzle, leaning close, his nostrils flaring at the scent of her as she took a little huff of him as well, then shifted her green eyes to Angel, a knowing smile playing on her muzzle before she disengaged.

Sen’s mind raced like a t-bird, his heart pounding at the scent and touch of her, then he swallowed hard as she pulled away, feeling like a junkie that’d had his syringe snatched out of his paws. A shiver rolled up his spine before he composed himself and glanced over to the retriever who showed that cute grin with his missing tooth. That look seemed to ground him again as he sighed and ran his paw through his own dark hair. “Can I at least know what this guy did to get on your drek-list?”

“Poor form to ask questions of the employer, my doggy, but since it’s puppy’s first run, I’ll oblige.” She smirked and folded her arms, pushing them under her breast as she leaned forward; showing her figure to both the dogs as her eye shifted to purple and he saw a rap sheet a mile-long scan through his network.

Angel whistled and folded his arms as he spoke, “This boy’s been busy… everything from hits to slave trafficking, no wonder you want him on ice, Ms. Jane.”

She shifted her eyes to the retriever and grinned. “Would you kill him for me if I asked you to, my good boy? Even without pay?” The retriever's ears perked up and he met her gaze, then gave a decisive nod in answer. Sen looked a little shocked, but Jane’s point was made clearly.

“I’m no paragon, Matsuma, chasing a sense of justice is a fool's game in this world. However, I’ve purposefully picked you out something to test your mettle for me. I just made sure your target was a real piece of work to make it less of such a tough pill to swallow, understand?” She shifted her paw through her hair, raking down the blonde locks that stopped just short of her shoulders.

“Guess he has it coming, and if not me, it’d just be another, eh?” He whispered out the words, unsure if she’d hear them through the thrum of music but Jane simply nodded with a satisfied smile.

He saw her breasts bounce ever so slightly as she turned and paced back to the booth, settling down once more. “Good dog…You and Angel will take a taxi to the locale. Sen, you will gain entry to the apartment, use the scrambler I’ll provide to bypass the door.”

Jane shifted her eyes up to the kitsune’s, another grin showing on her small muzzle. “Make sure he sees it coming, make sure he knows it’s from me. Do this for me, Matsuma, and I will kill you as promised.”

He swallowed hard and rubbed the back of his head, his heart pounding as he nodded before asking, “To be clear, you don’t actually mean kill, kill… right?”

She showed an approving grin and saw the worried look on her other dog's face before huffing out, “I mean metaphorically as in, I’ll have you a new SIN lined up and we’ll make sure your old one is so buried, it’ll never see the light of day, understand?”

Sen took a deep composing breath then gave a nod, knowing at this point it was this guy or him. “Alright, you have a deal, Ms. Jane.”

Jane cocked her muzzle up with a smirk, her eye shifting to indigo again, a few seconds of pause hanging in the air before it shifted once more. “Excellent. I’ve already reached out to my connection about getting you a new SIN crafted. Do this for me, my doggy, and I’ll be very grateful.” She gave him a bat of her green eyes, a look in them like she’d ride him into unconsciousness for it.

“So I’m to hang back and just assist if needed, ma’am?” Angel spoke up.

“Yes, my Angel. This is his mission, you will just be there in case things take an unfortunate turn I didn’t foresee happening. I’ll have Wheels contracted to bring you two back to my loving embrace once things are finished.” Jane shifted to rest her cheek in her paw, giving the retriever a surprisingly gentle look.

“Alright! You heard the missus, sugar! Let’s get this over with so you’ll be one step closer to having some freedom!” He barked out encouragingly to the kitsune who offered a smile at the comfort his friend was offering.

Jane tapped her paws together as she grinned. "Matsuma, this isn't just for a new life. Do this and you will be one of my dogs, like Angel. I’d not let the street have such a promising samurai like you.”

“Well, wouldn’t that make me a ronin then since I wouldn’t be part of a corp?” Sen tilted his head with a cocked brow.

“Like drek it would, you’re not going to be some street samurai, you’re going to be mine, just like your boyfriend over there.” Jane showed him a smug smirk at the fluff of tails, the retriever offering a silly grin. She saw the kitsune start to part his maw to rebuttal and huffed out, “Zip it, doggy, and get going, learn to take a joke.”

Sen frowned but offered a small nod as the two dogs turned to leave, but Jane called out, “My Angel, can I speak to you about some intel on another job before you head out?”

His tail wagged as he spun right on his heels. “Of course ma’am! I was going to ask if you had some extra work anyway.”

She offered a smug grin to the retriever then shifted her eyes to the nervous-looking kitsune. “Rest assured, it’s nothing to do with you, doggy. Go have a drink on my tab.” She shifted her gaze back to her guards. “You two, watch the first-floor stairwell.”

The two personal guards nodded and stepped forward, each of them looking the kitsune over as if not willing to move until he did. Sen frowned as Angel waved his paw at him. “It’ll be fine, Sugar! Go have a drink!” He offered the retriever another nod and turned to make his way down the stairs to the bar.

—♥🌙—

“So… was he fun? Did you… have a good time?” She huffed out while pushing a paw to his head, rubbing at one of the brown ears, lazily fingering the titanium hoop with an emerald stud in it.

Angel blinked up at her with his sparkling green eyes from between her soft warm thighs, pulling back from her rabbit petals to puff out, “He was, such a cutie… but I didn’t huff… fuck him…” He whined as he tried to get the words out, then gave a growl and shoved his maw back down hard against her from her paw pushing on his head to continue.

“Ha! No wonder you’re so eager… ngh… good boy…” She panted the praise as the golden retriever wagged his tail, whining gently as his tongue flicked and skillfully teased her pearl that sported an identical piercing to the one in his ear, but smaller. She had both curvy legs draped over his shoulder, her skimpy red panties hanging from the left ankle as he held her hips.

“Right there Angel… no… side to side… Ha… good boy, that’s perfect…” She panted out, stroking her paw through those dirty blonde locks, the retriever following her directions, flicking his tongue side to side while he suckled.

“Uh… huh… good… boy…” Her crimson nails dug into his scalp as she shuddered, her tongue peaking out slightly but even in this, looking in control and composed, even as he drew her body to a much-needed release. “Huff… huff… why didn’t you have sex with your new toy, Angel?”

He lapped at her rabbit honey a few times before blinking up at her with a small grin. “I really like him so far, didn’t want to make things awkward, ya know? I want him to be- Urf…” He shuddered as the rabbit shifted her paw to shove his maw back over her petals.

“Huff… I get it… do it again…” She panted the orders, one never being enough with him as the retriever eagerly nodded, working his tongue and even suckling on that pierced pearl she sported, all the while listening to her soft panting praises, but always sounding in control, always sounding like she was in charge of everything.

His paws pushed up along her outer thighs, shifting through that soft cream-colored fur, her skirt all the way up to just below her navel, seeing more of her than any other boy did. He looked up at her with those green eyes full of adoration, suckling, lapping, and teasing that pearl constantly.

Jane showed him that same wicked little grin, her lips crimson like her claws as she rubbed his ear again. “That’s my boy… my good boy… c’mon, my Angel… almost there… you want me to... yes?”

He nodded fervently, whimpering as he lapped harder and faster. The rabbit clenched her teeth, rolling her eyes up as he eagerly pushed her body more and more. Finally, a few heartbeats later, she let out a shuddering soft squeak of a moan, only loud enough for his ears.

That tail of his blurred as she panted in relief, unable to help but grin at it while feeling him lapping dutifully to clean her up before rising with his tongue lolled, licking his chops. “Huff… I love when you call me a good boy and yours…” He growled and shifted over her, the smaller rabbit quickly being dwarfed by the larger dog, his nose moving to hers.

“What do you think you’re doing, Angel?” She pushed a paw under his muzzle, rubbing and scratching into his fur with her crimson claws.

“Going crazy… especially after having to behave last night… can we uh… you know?” He asked with a cute grin.

“Hgn… no one's fault you didn’t get any last night but your own, my Angel…” She leaned in and gently kissed his lips before shifting back with a haughty huff. “I’m not sending you out on a run spent of energy, the answer is no.”

He offered her a small whimper but knew better than to argue as he pulled back from her even as the rabbit calmly ringed her panties back on her other ankle and pulled them up. She looked over at the young dog that was pouting a little but not arguing, offering him that smug grin before rubbing his ears as she asked, “Who’s my good boy?”

“I- I am!” He barked out with a small grin.

“Uh-huh… Take care of this run and sort your new playmate out, I’ll set some time aside later for just you and me, understand?” She leaned in and kissed him right on the nose, watching his green eyes cross a little as she drew close, being cuter than he had any right to be as she leaned back with a grin at seeing his tail blurring in a wag.

“If nothing else, I’m doing Sen a favor by telling you no. We’ll see if your horniness overrides your chivalry, my good boy.” Jane offered another grin as she shifted her dress back down to cover her damp thigh fur.

—♥🌙—

The kitsune had no idea what had transpired while he was at the bar, and Angel just came back with that same silly if not loving grin he always had for him. Though even he could pick up the retriever was pretty worked up and musky smelling. He just wrote it off to what happened last night and they left the club.

The cab ride to the southwestern side of the sprawl was a quick one, taking all of ten minutes before they were dropped off at the unassuming apartment complex. It had gone well past midnight by now with the streets sparse, mostly just the typical streetwalkers or occasional two-bit thugs that would patrol their turf looking for smaller weaker looking members of society to harass.

Sen had an advantage that lent to his courage of the situation: he’d been on the streets before, through his own choosing the kitsune had shirked a life of comforts, wealth, and safety for one of scavenging. Granted, the streets of a corp-cage arcology were vastly safer than the sprawl, but it was something. Sen hadn’t been able to live with himself at the shrine. Sen’s older brother soaked up the attention and every luxury thrown at him, having always been his father’s favorite, while Sen had struggled growing up to never meet his approval despite how earnestly he had tried to earn it.

Sen descended an entry flight of rockrete stairs stained with chemicals, re-chew, and cig butts. The case turned three times, each wall marked up with go-gang signs or pointless signatures of no-namers that would never escape their food-chain. Not like he was trying now, becoming a pawn for a major player that would make or break him after a single mission.

Just like before it was down to one operation, the idea of a second chance making his pulse drum in both chest and ears. Sen placed his back to the wall at the mouth of the stairway, peering out past the wall to observe the area. It was a lower level hab-center, almost identical to the one Angel was housed in but that was no surprise, the corpo’s loved the copy/paste manufacture that kept costs down and production high.

It was a single large room with four archways, the one he was hiding in but three others equidistant from another to begin the network of halls to the colony of units. Sen needed the one directly opposite him to the eighty to one hundred designations, spotting the small black placard across the way in the dim, humming green light above. Another sweep of the area confirmed the layout and pattern of old security cams, which would be knocked out with the signal provided to his PAN by his new benefactor.

No sight or scent for a solid beat, allowing the kitsune to swiftly close the distance to the far side in just a few bootfalls. It was almost automatic at this point, the training so engrained Sen could let his mind take a backseat to the muscle memory of pace, order of decision, and follow-through drilled in.

Door by door went by short order as Sen padded down the hallway with a muffled step of boots, rolling on the arches of his footpaws to maximize his stride without heavy impacts. Eighty-nine, ninety, ninety-one…the numbers rolled up to ninety-nine before the canine found his mark. Sen checked left to right again before dipping a paw into a zip-clasp at his belt, withdrawing a small breaker-box to place atop the pin panel. 

A simple few presses and a series of dim lights signaled the scramble had started, letting Sen glance up and down the length of the green-hued hallway another time. He saw movement at the far end, someone passing the corner to head the opposite way, making the kitsune check his right side as if looking for something before entering his own unit.

He didn’t need anyone else involved, this was a no-static operation, with only his mark to geek. When his ear flicked at the hiss-sliding sound of the far off door Sen checked to see no one again. A moment later and an easily missed chime notified the door was breached.

A swift detachment of the code-breaker let the sam press the door open, slipping into the lightless space to close it again. Even with its delay his aug-eye was invaluable as he shifted it to thermal vision with a single hard ‘blink’, letting Sen see the faint bloom of heat in the room beyond. Again, it was almost identical to Angel’s room, giving the kitsune a tight feeling in his heart. The kitchen off the right, with a single door to the bedroom space closed ten paces ahead.

It made this far easier to know the layout of the space personally, even with a room-read given to him in the briefing. Angel had provided him with a first-paw understanding of the space, allowing Sen to step over the strewn about trash, scraps of torn apart decks used to repair or upgrade newer ones, as he made his way through the small front room. 

Sen let the blade in his aug-arm slide free quietly as his other pawed the console to open the door. Harsh blue light flooded out of the space, causing Sen to close his natural eye as the cybernetic shifted after a delay to a filtered screen. Ten monitors of various sizes sat bolted into the far wall, each displaying sprawling bits of code or camera feed except for one.

That last top right screen was fixed straight onto him from a place somewhere in the kitchen, the feed mostly garbled by noise from his PAN but giving a minor silhouette regardless. Sen stepped inside, watching the back of the large port-chair closely as he nudged more food containers and second-paw chrome aside quietly, then froze as a raspy voice spoke up.

“Will it be quick, at least?” It was a small male voice, one that sounded haggard from lack of proper hydration or rest. “I knew she’d find me…took everyone else I knew out of the net, had to be me last, had to send that message.”

“Yes, it will,” Sen replied curtly, still easing himself about to come up on the left side of the chair to see the lithe figure of a possum male draped in his seat, breathing weakly. Two large, dark-circled eyes swiveled up to the tall kitsune that came into view, with a weak smile forming below to show small teeth.

“I suppose being geeked by one of her cleaners is an honor, of sorts. Pissed off Ms. Jane one too many times, had to be silenced, had to be eliminated,” the possum spoke in a soft, hurried manner as his eyes flicked to one of the many bright screens before them.

Sen stood there for a long moment, part of him feeling sorry for the miserable-looking creature that was clearly exhausted and malnourished. His figure was frail, with countless jacks arranged about a collar for quick use, reminding the kitsune of why he was here. Even if this small, unkempt possum looked innocent and pathetic, he’d fragged a dozen or so others of various stations without a thought but for himself, or those exploiting his extensive skills.

The sam shifted his footing that allowed a single clean stroke of his aug-blade through the chest of his mark, a small pulse-shock sent along the weapon to dull both nerves and muscles in the kill. It wasn’t intended as mercy, but a way to prevent any retaliation from a target in such close proximity. Maybe in this case it had been a small mercy for the sad creature that had eked out a life online at the cost of the minds of others.

Sen withdrew the blade in an effortless pull, reaching to his belt again to thumb out an incendiary charge that rolled into his palm. The kitsune turned and stepped out of the room while slapping the small package to the bedroom wall on the exit. His steps were careful but quick as the timer began upon deposit, counting down from thirty.

The sam stepped out into the dim corridor again with the door hissing shut behind him. Sen swiftly retreated as the charge went off inside the hab unit. It was a high-grade phosphor that would eat away all living traces within the room, developed to consume bioware but leave chrome untouched. Perfectly ideal for wiping a scene clean but leaving salvage for gangers, or in his case, no ties he’d ever been there for a corpse to identify. 

Sen knew the fire would gasp itself out in the room once the detectors sealed it off without the presence of a person inside it would starve the flames of oxygen, leaving the complex safe. His steps were more hurried now, his mind racing enough that his vision swam slightly as the adrenaline caused his heart to hammer rapidly.

He should have been walking along casually like he lived there or was seeing a friend, but the training wasn’t enough to override the sensation in his gut. He’d killed someone, taken a life forever. Sen felt sick, stumbling along the wall to plant and slide his aug-arm along the smooth rockcrete as he managed to clamber up the stairs toward the surface archway. Once outside the relatively fresh air caused the kitsune to clasp, swing about the open doorway and half collapse as his body evacuated his stomach. 

Sen coughed a few times with a quick panting afterward, vision returning with a few hard blinks as his mind raced to get his thoughts under control. He’d succeeded, with no witnesses or evidence left aside from the street art he’d just made, but the drizzle of rain would muddy even that as it came down on the shaking canine.

“Merlin is resting,” Sen spoke into his comm with a paw at his ear, letting it fall away as he pushed off with his aug-arm to make himself walk along the open street. Only a few stragglers out at this graveyard hour and only one of them had noticed him, assuming the kitsune had just hurled from overindulging a fix, they kept walking with a laugh.

“Proceed to the hen house,” came a voice over his comm, Angel confirming the message to return to the awaiting vehicle. With a frown at the encroaching headache and unsettled feeling in his core, the kitsune trudged along with a closer clutch of his faded jacket. 

To anyone else he just had worn black pants, a jet-bikers coat, and some fingerless gloves to look like some rough around-the-edges fox, even both of his tails had been clipped together between themselves to hide any hint of more than that. His boots made slightly muffled, wet impacts along the walkway, lit only by the spaced lamps of various colored bulbs. 

Sen felt his mind turning over the scene again and again, replaying his approach, then the kill. He’d hesitated a whole ten seconds after the last exchange before geeking the mark, but it had felt like forever at the time. Would she notice that? Would each second weigh against him somehow? With a huff from his snout Sen shrugged it off, it wouldn’t do any good tormenting himself until he got the verdict from Jane herself. 

The kitsune at least felt this was somewhat a success over the total disaster of his Inari posting, at least this time he’d followed orders, used his training and gotten the damn assignment done. That was something he could take pride in, the first real victory after fleeing the shrine and the chastising voices of his family.

Stepping around the corner he saw the retriever waiting near the beat up looking van, the scene nostalgic to last night. Angel didn’t offer him that silly grin this time, just a sad knowing smile as the door swung open with a loud hiss and they both piled in.

Sen just sat on the floor of the van, saying nothing. Angel just sat next to him, staying in contact, hips touching his, but otherwise keeping his own maw shut. There was just the whir of the vector engines and the occasional whizzing sound of a vehicle being passed.

“They say, you never forget your first, ya know?” Wheels broke the silence as the two dogs looked up to see the rat leaning against the wall, his arms folded.

“Is that right?” Sen whispered, his throat still feeling tight and dry.

The driver moved over to a fridge tucked in the corner, pulling out a can of water to toss to the fox. “I was sixteen, just getting my paws dirty for the first time with my drones, hadn’t even learned to drive really, just pilot the hovering ones.”

The can opened with a hiss before Sen gulped down the fizzy water, a light hint of lime to it. He looked over the label seeing it was for nausea. Wheels offered him a knowing grin as he continued, “Anyway, probably like my third run, I was sitting nice and safe in the getaway vehicle, running recon with my toys. Drek hit the fan, the team got pinned down, there were about five corp-suits firing on their location, I had to get them out of there.”

Sen looked into the rat's eyes as Wheels hissed out and clicked his tongue. “I tried spraying low suppression fire, take out knees and feet, not kill any of the suits. Soon as the bullets started scattering, one instinctively dove to the side, right in the stream of bullets. I still remember seeing the fuckers eyes as a shot got him right between them.”

“Sticks with you even today, huh? How old are you, Wheels?” Sen asked.

“Twenty-six, and yeah, it’s been about a decade now, but I still occasionally wake up in a cold sweat. Being a killer ain’t natural to most people Sen, soldier training or not.” He shrugged and walked over, patting the fox on the shoulder before moving back into the cabin of the van.

Sen looked over to Angel who tilted his head curiously. “You remember yours?” The fox asked point-blank.

The retriever grinned a little and shook his head. “Sugar, let’s save that story for another day, you’ve got enough on your noggin’ right now, suffice to say, yeah I do.”

He nodded to the other dog, then gave a small quiet bark as Angel threw his arm around his shoulder and pulled him close. “It’s okay, Sugar… You’re going through something every runner, hell, every soldier has to go through eventually. It’ll get easier, I’ll be here for you.”

Sen tensed at the gesture as the retriever sighed and just reinforced his grip gently. “Relax… I got you, okay? You trust me, yeah?” Sen perked his ears, then relaxed, slumping into the other dog, taking in his odor, feeling the comfort that came with it, faintly smelling Jane on him as well.

“Back to the Rhinestone?” Wheels asked through the system in the van.

“Nah, just drop us off at my place, Wheels. We’ll check in with Ms. Jane tomorrow night.” Angel felt the fox’s ears perk under his chin at that, but the smaller dog didn’t argue, seeing that black widow fresh off the heels of this would be too much, and Angel knew it.

—♥🌙—

Next Episode:

A scent of comfort, a desperate ache to feel more of that touch. When was it these feelings bloomed, and is it okay? The blood of a friend spilled in the defense of love, regrets eased with a carnal embrace that further reinforced her position. A shot rang out, and a contract was forever written, in that moment, I knew I loved her.

Episode Three: I’m her fallen angel

I hope you've enjoyed this episode, my lovely reader!

I'm not going to lie, I kick my tail writing these! A single episode can take me twelve to fifteen hours or longer to make after conception, writing, editing, and proofreading! If you enjoy this, support me, please? It doesn't have to be financial either, just share my stuff and get my name out there. Vote, Fave, Comment, offer feedback, anything. Thank you, and as always, I'm nothing without your support!

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Chapter Text

Being a writer is my dream job but it has full-time hours and this is where I'd normally pitch my ways to support me, but I've been told Ao3 doesn't vibe with that, so maybe just follow me on Twitter to see what I'm up to?

And with that out of the way…

—♥🌙—

Episode 3:

I’m her fallen angel

“Let’s go, runner!” Angel offered his paw as Sen snorted, ignored it, and hopped down out of the van without the retriever's assistance.

“You two have fun! Nice seeing you didn’t spout your mouth off and get your brains painted on the wall by Steph last night,” Wheels spoke out jovially before the door hissed closed and the van picked up to pull back out into the air lanes.

“Who’s Steph?” Sen asked, biting his lower lip as Angel linked an arm with his, showing a cute grin as he started leading him to the apartment building.

“That’s the big guy of the two guards; you know, the horse with the room sweeper shotgun,” Angel explained as he dropped a keycard against the main doors of the building that responded with a rusty shink of metal before shuddering open.

Passing by the elevator that had a perpetual out-of-order sign on it for the last four years now, the two dogs took the flights of stairs up to the fourth floor. Even through all the drama of the night, Angel’s scent tickled the fox’s nose, a comforting feeling making his heart pump a little faster as if the stair climb had winded him.

The retriever was humming as he kept his right arm linked with Sen’s left one, the real meat one without artificial nerves, just their flesh touching through their fur, feeling one another's gentle warmth. With a flourish of padded-fingers, the code was entered, followed by a jab of Angel’s padded thumb for the scanner as the door whispered open with a woosh.

The scent of his home hit Sen in the face; all the retrievers, but his own scent still lingering in the air like a ghost. Angel pulled away to immediately gather some pots and the hotplate. “I’ve already put an order in from the corner buy-or-die mart, just some basic ingredients, sugar.”

“Oh?” Sen asked curiously.

“Uh-huh! I’ll cook you a proper dinner tonight, not some sloppy soy-burg out of a bag. Why don’t you go wash the day off.” He gave him that cute grin, his missing tooth showing the gap in his muzzle that couldn’t help but put the other dog at ease.

“I’d offer to help, but I’d end up burning your water instead of boiling it, I’m sure,” Sen gave a small chuckle as the retriever shook his head.

“Go take your shower, samurai, I got things covered here.” The retriever grinned and moved over to push the other dog playfully by the back of his shoulders, guiding him out of the den into the adjoining bedroom.

He gave a small nod and pushed into the bathroom as the retriever gave an eager bark before turning back to the kitchen. His faux-fur tail blurred in a wag as he started setting things up, eager to get the night started, then his ears perked as his head-ware pinged, an incoming call from Jane.

With a little thump of his heart, Angel instantly recalled looking up at her from between her thighs, getting petted and praised, his own stomach twisting a little before he connected the call. Of course, the dialog was all in his head, no need to speak out loud for it.

“How did things go, my Angel?”

He huffed and put a small pot on the hotplate to start heating water as he thought, “About what you’d expect, ma’am. He got outside and painted the sidewalk in today's lunch.”

“An expected conclusion, but if I know you, you’re already preparing something for him, yes?”

Angel grinned while wagging his tail as he looked around the kitchen. “You know me so well, ma’am!”

“Because you’re my good boy. Come by tomorrow around midnight, in the meantime though, enjoy comforting your new fox how I comforted you back then,” Her voice sounded sensual and amused as the call ended. His cheeks burned hot under his golden fur as his own heart thumped hard, the flash of the memory filling his mind before he shook his head to focus with a small grin across his muzzle.

Sen came out of the bedroom about the time Angel had actually gotten his ingredients and began cooking in earnest, still looking a little lost in his thoughts, no doubt having been thinking about everything in his alone time in the shower.

Angel plunked a cold bottle of synth-hol down on the bar. “Take a load off and watch me cook, sugar!”

“Don’t you want me to help?” Sen asked with a smile as he collected the open can to take a drink.

“And have you burn my water? I don’t think so, honey. You sit your fine ass there and look cute while I work!” He gave that same toothy grin, Sen feeling his heart lighten at the words.

The fox looked on curiously as the retriever brought out packages of instant noodles, but was forming some sort of sauce from synth-hol, some sort of soy-meat and dehydrated vegetables. “What in the slog are you making, fetch?”

“Heh…It’ll taste better than you think, don’t worry!” Angel winked as he kept working away in the kitchen. Despite the eclectic set of ingredients, eventually what appeared to be a reasonable-looking meal started taking shape.

A plate of noodles covered in a syrupy-looking sauce with bits of soy-meat and tofu scattered in it along with reconstituted vegetables was set before him. A small hunk of bread was presented next to a bowl of what looked like some sort of potato chowder.

“Wow… this all smells great, I’m impressed you managed to make all this with drek from the buy-or-die!” Sen barked with surprise as he looked over the small spread of food.

“This is nothing, sugar. If I get into a proper kitchen with proper ingredients, I could even make you real bread! Yeast is a huge pain in the tail to find though so…” Angel bit his own tongue to cut off his rant and went to sit next to the fox. “Anyway, get eating, I know you’re famished, honey!”

Sen couldn’t deny that, since his stomach was mostly empty now and got right to work on the food, Angel grinning as he saw those orange-black twin-tails wagging in approval.

Once the dinner was complete Angel collected the dishes, once again showing he didn’t like to leave things for later, cleaning and putting them and the cooking utensils away, all the while his tail wagging cheerfully. Sen found himself smiling at the retriever who was looking so relaxed and down to earth.

Angel showed him that cute grin, his green eyes looking bright as the kitsune’s heart thumped a little, both the retriever's golden ears perking as he asked, “Want some dessert, sugar?”

“You got something sweet too, Angel?” Sen looked curious as he asked.

“Just a little something I’ve kept tucked away for a special occasion!” Angel moved to the small refrigerator and brought forth a small foil-wrapped item as he trotted to the kitsune with a cute grin. “Ever had real chocolate? I mean like, from cocoa beans and real sugar?”

“No, but isn’t that stuff really expensive? Angel, you really gotta stop wasting your-” He barked as the retriever hooked an arm around his as he’d done earlier and pulled him right along to the bedroom.

“Huff… now… don’t tell me what to do, sugar… my credits, my chocolate, yeah?” He growled and with surprising assertiveness, pulled the other boy right down to the mattress with him, both of them sitting before one another.

“Y-You don’t have to just pull me around everywhere, fetch!” Sen barked out awkwardly, then bit his lower lip at the look Angel was giving him, those green eyes sparkling like they’d done last night, making butterflies erupt in his belly.

“Come here, sugar…” Angel gripped the collar of Sen’s shirt, pulling him closer, then pulled the small cube of chocolate up and nipped a corner off it. The fox looked confused, but then gave a shocked little bark as the retriever pushed right into a deep kiss with him.

He felt Angel’s tongue gently push against his own, passing the bite of chocolate to him, the confection melting against his tongue, filling his maw with the sweet fragrant aroma of cocoa, all the while their lips locked in the deep kiss.

Sen shifted his paws to the retriever's chest, then pulled back with a slight gasp, his tongue lolled slightly. “Pretty good, yeah?” Angel puffed out as he calmly took another nip from the small hunk of chocolate and drew close again.

He heard the fox give a little growling whimper at the approach as the retriever held his maw open slightly, the chocolate on his tongue, melting there. Sen snarled and shoved forward, forcing his tongue against Angel’s, instigating the kiss this time.

They rolled their tongues together while kissing then after a few moments Angel broke away with a soft pant. “Huff… you really like the chocolate huh, sugar?”

“Just sick of you always teasing me with your damn kisses, fetch.” Sen gripped the retriever's collar, pushing close as he panted, that comforting scent all in his nose, mingling with the heady scent of cocoa, his mouth full of that sweet taste.

“Then you try… yeah?” Angel winked and presented the rest of the chocolate to Sen. “Say… ahhhh,” He cooed lovingly.

Sen glared at him but parted his maw, showing the small rows of sharp little teeth, then huffed out as the retriever plunked the last bit of chocolate right on his tongue. “Gonna share, sugar?” Angel whispered as he drew close, brushing his lips to the other boy’s.

The kitsune growled and shoved his maw hard to Angel’s, their tongues slipping together, rolling against the last of the chocolate that hadn’t a prayer of withstanding the heat of their kissing.

He didn’t know what he was doing, but he just pushed closer, paws moving to the other dog's shoulders, claws digging in as he shifted and rolled them right over, Angel falling to his back in a bounce of sheets. The retriever threw his arms around the smaller dog's neck, the growls the two of them were sharing in their kiss growing louder and more desperate by the second.

“Ngh! Ha… fuck… Sen…” Angel barked out as the fox parted and went straight to his throat, small fox nips digging into the retriever's fur, his breath hot against the golden fur. His real footpaw curled its toes as he felt the fox finally return the gesture, a small slow lap of his tongue dragging across the side of the other boy's muzzle.

“Huff… this mean you like me, like I like you, honey?” Angel huffed out and offered a small nuzzle to the side of Sen’s jaw, then a quick lap of his own tongue, making the fox’s orange fur smell of chocolate.

“Y-yeah… I think I do…” Sen huffed and moved to nuzzle under Angel’s jaw, then shifted to lap the other side of his jaw.

Angel showed him a small grin, then shifted and rolled them over again as Sen hit his back with a bark. He blinked up to see the slightly larger dog tug his t-shirt right off, his strong toned muscles showing under a thin coat of golden fur, the various scars dotting his flesh.

“You too, honey… let me see…” Angel’s paws moved to grip the hem of Sen’s own shirt, the fox giving a small nod before sitting up and helping the retriever peel his own top off. Angel showed an eager grin and slid his paws over the fox’s chest in earnest for the first time, his claws raking through the thin orange fur that grew more off-white around his throat, moving down his chest.

“Huff… you’re such a gorgeous dog, Sen…” Angel licked his chops and moved to kiss along his throat, then Sen bit his lower lip as he watched the retriever kiss down his chest, moving to his belly, then gave a slightly panicked bark as the other boy grabbed the front of his jeans.

“H-Hang on, I’m not… I mean is this… uh…” Sen stammered, trying to shift his brain into gear.

“Asking me to stop, sugar? You know I will…” Angel cooed as his right paw played with the front button of his pants, but more importantly, that left paw was cupping right at that obvious bulge the fox had inside the aforementioned clothing. “Huff… you’re so worked up, I can smell you through the thick denim…”

“I- I’m not saying… to stop per… se? I just uh…” He bit his lower lip as Angel offered him that cute grin and flicked the button on his jeans clear.

“Just what, honey?” Angel licked his chops and slowly dragged the zipper down, the heady scent of fox musk getting stronger by the second down there, despite him having just taken a shower.

“I don’t… I don’t know, okay?! This is just…” Sen offered a cute whimper as the retriever gripped his pants, wrenching them down right along with his boxer shorts, finally getting a look at him at last.

“Oooh already sliding free of your base, I’m glad you like me too, sugar…” Angel huffed out as he looked up at the fox who was chewing on his lower lip. The retriever hummed and brought his right paw up, gripping the base where the crimson length slipped free, giving it surprisingly gentle pumps.

Sen felt his body responding, his length growing more rigid as more slid free, his tongue showing as another touched him in such a way for the first time, another boy at that. He clenched his teeth, panting as he whispered, “Damn… y-your paw is really warm…”

“Know what else is nice and warm, sugar?” Angel showed him that cute grin, then leaned forward. Sen widened his eyes as his heart shoved into his throat, but he didn’t have time to protest as the retriever took several inches right into his maw.

“Holy… gods… is this… real?” Sen panted as he looked down while bracing on his own paw, seeing Angel right there between his legs, his head bobbing back and forth, his maw extremely hot against his flesh, a foreign feeling to have it in someone’s mouth, but it felt amazing all the same.

Angel nodded his head to the question, popping his maw free with a messy smack of his lips, his tongue lolling out, saliva dripping from it to the other dog's tapered tip. “Oh it’s real, honey, and you taste so fucking good… I’ve not been with a boy in years, you know? Fuck… you’re bigger than I thought, but I bet I can take all of you…” The golden-furred boy hummed and moved right back down, taking a little more in this time.

“Oh my godddsss…” Sen hissed out, his own claws digging into the bed sheets, this was too much and he couldn’t even recall the last time he’d dealt with it himself either. His tongue lolled in a pant as he tried to keep himself under control, shaking his head while whimpering.

Angel gave him a challenging look in his green eyes, then pushed his head down as the kitsune yelped out, feeling every inch plunge deep in, the other dog’s nose right to his crotch, enjoying the heady scent of fox while prelove just dripped down his throat as he sucked, his nearly full knot kissing at his lips.

“Fuck! Oh my gods! Angel! I fucking… I fucking can’t!” Sen howled out as he shook his head, his claws digging so hard into the bedding they broke threads in the sheets. He was trying to endure it but this was all new and Angel clearly knew what he was doing. It had been several heated moments but not that long at all it felt.

The retriever dug his left claws into the fox’s chest hard, his right paw digging claws into the fur at his hip, holding the position for an agonizingly long second before clenching his throat to finish his new lover off.

Sen howled out in a throaty moan, calling out the retriever's name as he was thrown over his edge for the first time by another. “Oh my gods! Angel!” The other dog perked his ears as that fire erupted and gushed down his throat. Sen lolled his tongue, eyes rolling up, having trouble processing it as he heard as much as felt the loud gulps in his ears, feeling himself being drained, Angel taking it down just as quickly as it came forth.

After what felt like an eternity but was only a brief euphoria, Sen whimpered as he felt the last rope milked from him by the older boy's skilled maw. Angel pulled up slowly, letting the length slide from his maw as he lifted his chin so Sen could see his throat as he took the last of it down with a gulp, then lolled his tongue, his saliva looking milky as he panted. “Damn, sugar… you came a lot… I almost couldn’t get it all down.”

His ears folded as he blinked at the retriever that composed himself a moment later and offered him that same cute grin as if he’d not just punched his card and swallowed down his spunk.

“Feel better, Sen?” Angel climbed back up to him, flopping down next to him in bed, grinning at him again.

“I- Y-yeah… but what about you, Angel?” He panted out and frowned.

“Eh? I’m okay, sugar! I wanted to make my fox feel good tonight, okay?” The retriever wagged his tail with a smile.

“Your fox huh? And that’s hardly fair, fetch!” Sen frowned at him.

“Uh-huh… I mean, it’s fun to say you’re mine, right? And I’m yours?” He barked a laugh and licked his chops. “Within reason of course, I ain’t gonna stop ya from getting your cock wet if you find a hot bitch or three, ya know?”

Sen grinned at that but then growled as he sat up. “Angel, this isn’t okay!”

The retriever frowned and looked up at the fox. “What, sugar? You sore I punched your V-card or something?”

“Not that! I mean, you not… Just let me do it for you too!” Sen growled and shifted over to grab at the retriever's jeans, his twin tails thrashing as he huffed before starting to work the button free.

Angel almost giggled at that before looking on in amusement. “Honey, do you even know what you’re doing?”

“I’ll… I’ll figure it out, I’m not going to leave this one-sided, damn it!” Sen snarled and unzipped the retriever's jeans, then gave a small bark as he pulled them down, seeing the large throbbing length of retriever cock spring to attention. “Holy drek…”

“Ah he he… Yeah, I’m kinda pent up, so it’s already fully slid from the base, I really got into sucking you off, honey…” Angel winked and moved his paw down, tapping his padded-finger against the tapered head, a string of prelove hanging from it.

“I had no-” Sen started to speak as the retriever grinned and popped his padded finger right into the fox’s maw, seeing his blue eye widen as the taste of his musk hit his senses.

“Gods… that’s…” Sen shuddered and fluffed both his tails up as he smacked his lips. “That’s potent and… kinda salty…”

“Uh huh… I should eat better… You sure you wanna do this, sugar? No hard feelings if you wanna back-” Angel snapped his jaws together and grinned, his ears folding as the fox glared at him and then just moved right in, pushing his maw down on the tip of the larger dog’s length.

Angel panted and moved a paw to stroke at the large orange and black-tipped ears. “There you go… ngh… watch those teeth, honey… don’t take too much down or you’ll-” Sen’s eyes widened before he pulled back with a sputtering cough. “gag… heh…”

Sen wiped his eyes and cleared his throat, smacking his tongue a few times, another shudder running up his spine at the taste and scent of the other boy all in his mouth and nose. “Fuck… your musk is intense…”

“Yeah… I’m really really pent up… you gonna try again or gonna go for a pawjob instead?” Angel showed him that same cute grin, his paw petting down the fox’s head gently.

“Uh…” Sen swallowed hard then glared back up at the retriever. “I’m not stupid, no way I can uh… do what you uhm…”

“Deep throat?” Angel asked with a grin.

Sen felt his cheeks burn under his fur. “Y-yeah… so I’ll do both!” He barked out in declaration before settling onto his elbows, growling as his right paw gripped the base of that jumping retriever cock, pumping it awkwardly as he pushed his maw back over the tip.

“Hgn! That’s the… spirit… Oh, sugar… that feels really good… huff huff… just like that, honey… no need to take too much in, just… keep that pace and tempo up, it’s perfect…” Angel encouraged the younger dog, petting him and even offering a soft moan, Sen’s ears perking at that, the sound of him in pleasure making butterflies swarm in his tummy again.

He furrowed his brow before nodding, prelove dripping on his tongue, this other boy's essence and musk all in his senses. While he awkwardly shifted his paw while bobbing his head. He only had a few inches in, focusing on just watching his teeth as he worked.

“Mhm… that’s it, right there…” Angel hesitated before calling out, “Good boy…” Sen perked his ears but didn’t seem to mind, more focused on his movements, pumping his paw intently, feeling the growing knot at the other dog’s base, a sure sign he was indeed doing a good job.

“Oh man… Sen… Sen… honey… c’mon… almost, please…” Angel raked his claws through that dark black hair of his, panting and encouraging him to keep going, the younger dog awkwardly jerking his paw and suckling, but he’d been so pent-up wanting him. Getting teased up by Jane earlier hadn’t helped matters either.

Angel gave him a surprisingly feral-sounding snarl and Sen widened his eyes, feeling that knot bulge against his padded-fingers. “Oh gods, sugar… Sen! I fucking-” The retriever gave his own throaty howl, his green eyes rolling up and tongue sagging out of his jaws as he finally got that tension eased.

Sen’s eyes widened as that scorching hot love slammed into his maw, filling it up, and even started down his throat. He closed his eyes tightly, the taste was musky, salty, even slimy feeling as he forced it down with a loud awkward gulp, but then it just came forth again in another gush he had to take down.

“Guh!” He pulled back, unable to take another gulp, yipping as the next rope shot across his muzzle, scattering across his fur. Angel shuddered and groaned as he finally felt the last of his own orgasm pass and panted down at the fox who was still holding his length in one paw, panting with his own tongue lolled, saliva-looking milky. Sen had a few tracks of the retriever spunk scattered against his muzzle and even some on his ear as well as his hair.

The retriever offered him a cute drunk grin as he sighed and rubbed the one clean ear of the fox. “Damn, sugar… that was really good for your first time… ngh… give me a sec to catch my breath and I’ll get you something to clean up with.”

Once they cleaned up, he found himself in bed with this other boy, both of them naked and clinging to one another. He’d never imagined his life would take a turn like this, but that comforting scent was all around him, and for better or worse, he felt secure for the first time in his life.

—♥🌙—

Sen furrowed his brow and groaned as he came too. His chest felt heavy, no, weighed down. He shifted in the sheets and realized Angel was clinging upon him. Biting his lower lip he blinked the sleep out of his eyes to see the retriever resting with an arm around him, his cheek pressed up to the fox’s fur. He had his maw open slightly with his tongue showing, the fur there clearly damp.

‘What the drek… that wasn’t a dream?’ Sen thought to himself, still trying to process all this. With some hesitation he reached a paw up, stopping just short of those folded golden ears, then after another moment, softly began to pet them.

“Ngh…” Angel growled and hugged closer, nuzzling the fox’s chest as he puffed out, “Yeah… call me a good boy again…” He slurred in his sleep as Sen saw the thumping wag in the sheets from his tail.

“Eh? Uh…” Sen blinked at that, then leaned close and puffed into the retriever's ear gently, “You’re… a good boy, Angel.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot,” the other dog said as clearly as could be, opening his green eyes and grinning at the smaller dog.

“Guh!” Sen barked, then narrowed his eyes. “Dude… what the hell?”

Angel grinned and kissed the fox’s muzzle gently with a huff. “I’ve been awake for like half an hour, sugar. I was just basking at being the one held for once!”

“Drek-for-brains…” Sen growled and shoved the retriever off him with a huff, but then barked as Angel came right back and hugged him tight, grunting at the squeeze.

“Don’t be like that, sugar! Last night was soooo fun, aren’t you happy?” He barked and then leaned up lapping the other dog's jaw.

“H-Happy? Uh… I mean… yeah, but is it okay?” Sen looked back at the other boy, his eye clearly showing conflicting emotions.

“What do you mean, is it okay? We like one another, isn’t it fine then?” Angel cocked a brow.

“I mean, yeah, but… you’re a guy like me, isn’t that… I mean, isn’t that like abnormal or something?” Sen darted his good eye away awkwardly.

“Wha? I mean… I like you, that’s all I care about, why would it be weird? You raised by some religious purist or something, Sen?” Angel gave a chuckle, then saw the fox give him a flat look.

“Actually, yeah, until about twelve, I was brought up in a pretty strict traditional family that tended a shrine,” Sen sighed and moved a paw through his messy hair. “I’m just not sure how to process all this, it goes against-” He bit his tongue, recalling even joining the military went against what his family wanted.

His gaze shifted back to the green eyes that looked concerned, then smiled as he moved a paw to cup Angel’s jaw. “You know what? Frag it, forget I said anything. Yeah, we’re good, fetch.”

Angel barked out and threw his arms around the fox’s neck, Sen laughed but then grunted as the other boy shoved his maw against his. Sen grunted and couldn’t help but move his tongue to the retrievers as they shared their first good morning kiss.

After a few heated moments, the fox broke from it and huffed out, “C-cmon, man, I got morning breath don’t just go- urf!” He barked as Angel shoved back into the kiss with a growl. Sen relented and moved his tongue back against the other dog’s as they got back to kissing.

“Huff… don’t care… I love your stinky good morning kisses!” Angel barked playfully.

“Dude! S-Shut up, they aren’t that bad are they?!” Sen cupped his paw over his own maw as he huffed a few times curiously.

“Ha ha, I’m fucking with you, sugar!” He leaned close and lapped the other dog’s jaw with another good morning kiss, then shifted to roll off him. “C’mon, I’ll make you breakfast, we both slept through most of the afternoon, we need to get ready to meet the missus!”

“Hang on!” Sen growled and climbed out of bed after him, then barked as he realized he was still naked, but then again so was the other boy.

Angel offered him a smug grin and put a paw on his hip, the fox biting his lower lip, seeing some of that length was already slid free again, the retriever offering a playful grin through his mussed blonde hair.

“Looks like you enjoy what you see, sugar, I like looking at you too, ya know?” The retriever trotted over and casually reached a paw down, grasping at the base of Sen’s own length that had been surprisingly eager to show itself. “Huff… I need to find us a nice big shower with hot water so that I can bathe with you, honey…” He cooed the words as he pumped his paw, the fox gasping at the confident touch.

“O-Okay… but, but… Ngh!” Sen growled and gripped the retriever's paw, jerking it off his now mostly ready length. “Can we clear some things before you start jacking off my morning wood, fetch?”

Angel barked a laugh and rubbed the back of his head before stepping back. “Sorry, guess I got a little eager, what should we clear up, sugar?”

Sen bit his lower lip, seeing the retriever was shamelessly fully slid free now, Angel offered his cute grin and then just clenched to make the length jump before the fox barked and just turned from him, stomping over to get his own boxers back on before slinging Angel’s own discarded boxer shorts at him. 

“Cover that damn thing up, I can’t talk to you with it doing…doing that! ” Sen barked with hot cheeks as he pulled his own shorts up.

“Are you saying you like how I look, sugar?” The retriever offered him a playful smile as he pulled his own underwear back into place.

“Y-yeah, I guess I am… but seriously… what… are we? Where does this leave us?” Sen frowned as he shifted both paws to his hips, Angel smiling at the tent in his boxers.

“Hmm… wanna be my boyfriend?” Angel leaned against the wall of the room with a loving smile.

Sen frowned at how direct the question was but was even more surprised by his own answer, “I- think I might? I like you but…I’m still really confused about, well, everything?”

Angel wagged his tail at the response and trotted right over to the other dog, paws reaching out as Sen clasped them. “Me too, sugar! Oh I get it, I’ve never had a boyfriend either! I’ve uh… never really had a girlfriend technically, just a bunch of casual things ya know?”

Sen looked surprised by that but smiled at the grip of their paws. “Really? No one serious at all?”

“Uhm… well I’m kinda serious with one girl, but she’s not what I’d call a uh, girlfriend.” Angel grinned and looked away with a smile.

“Huh… aren’t relationships supposed to be like… monogamous or something?” Sen tilted his head curiously.

“Depends on the relationship, sugar.” Angel leaned close and lapped Sen’s jaw before parting to open the door to the den. “I don’t mind if you fuck around, honey, I’m not some street walker, but I’m not looking to make you into my personal ball and chain, you know?”

“So uh… we’re dating, but, we can see or fuck whom we like?” Sen asked, as if confirming the rules to the potential new relationship.

“Mhm! I think it’s fair! Why don’t you stay with me, honey? On the nights your foxy ass isn’t balls deep in a bitch at her place, yeah?” Angel gave another bark of laughter as he moved into the kitchen to start preparing for breakfast in just his boxer shorts.

“Oh yeah, that’s me, the girls and boys are just lining up, right?” Sen offered a small grin as he shrugged.

“I’d line up for you, sugar!” Angel growled and wagged his tail, looking hungry again but clearly not for food.

“Hah… you’re much hotter than me, fetch, but thanks… I think…” Sen rubbed his jaw and then gave a shrug. “Fuck it, I’d be dead three times over by now if it wasn’t for you, least I can do is give it a shot, life’s too short, right?”

“Especially in the sprawl, sugar. Sooo…” The retriever trotted back over to him with a cute grin on his muzzle. “Boyfriends?”

Sen gave his muzzle a quick peck and smiled as he spoke, “Boyfriends.”

Once breakfast was made, the two of them settled down together on the sofa, their plates of food in their laps, steaming mugs of soykaf on the small table before them.

“So, you never mentioned, your first in the van yesterday,” Sen prodded the topic anew while they sat, eating on some of the reconstituted eggs. It was the cheap powdered ones most stores sold that you had to add water too, but once again Angel had somehow made them taste amazing.

“Tch… Is this one of those, show a secret in good faith for the relationship things, sugar?” Angel pouted as he poked at his soy-sage with a fork.

The kitsune waved his paw at that. “No way, fetch. I’m just curious, but I’m not like, blackmailing you or something because we’re an item now. If it’s uncomfortable or too personal, that’s okay, you know?”

Angel tapped his fork on the plate while chewing, then met the other dog's eye. “No, I’ll tell you, sugar, but you gotta promise not to bring it up with Jane. Okay?”

“Uh… what’s this got to do with, Ms. Jane?” Sen cocked a brow.

“That’s the point of me saying you gotta keep your maw shut about it, honey.” Angel gave him a flat look like he was being dumb.

Sen clicked his tongue and then nodded. “Got it, mums the word, fetch. Stays between us.”

Angel gave a deep sigh as he started to explain, “It took me a few months to get back on my footpaws after the whole t-bird thing I mentioned…”

—♥🌙—

Jane was really nice to the boy she saved. Still cold, and calculating, but nice. She wasn’t motherly nice, or best friend nice, but kind of more like a coach that knew he was capable and kept pushing him, always knowing when he needed comfort but only giving enough to keep her new dog going.

As soon as Angel was capable, he was eager to return her investment and faith in him. He started doing runs for her but didn’t look for other Johns or Janes, he was happy to be hers, the pay be damned, he was… her dog.

“Hang on, Angel. Other Johns and Janes?” Sen interrupted the story.

“Yeah, sugar. Did you think that was her real name? Mr. John, or Ms. Jane. These are what runners call their anonymous employers as it were. It’s a street handle like Wheels.”

“Wait- Is your name-”

“Sugar, Angel is my real name, it’s just also such a cool handle, I keep it for both!”

“Huh… okay, do you know her real name?”

“... anyway, as I was saying!”

It had been a few runs now, four successful ones to be precise. He worked with a few runners, including Wheels. There was this other girl though, Sylph. She was kinda new like him, but she’d been running with them through every job, Jane trusted her, and that was good enough for Angel, she even had a few extra runs under her belt before he had showed up. She was a cutie too, a dog like him, but a collie. He was already starting to crush on her a little, still a young innocent pup in the shadows, and still had a v-card unpunched to boot. Between the collie's spunky cute attitude and the rabbit’s elegant sexiness, he was fit to be tied.

“Hey, Sylph? Uh… after this run is sorted tonight, you wanna go out?” He finally got the courage to ask her out after weeks.

The collie showed him a cute grin and perked her ears. “Hey, baby, isn’t Jane treating us all anyway once this is sorted? So sure, it was already scheduled!”

Angel huffed out and offered her a fussy look before stammering out, “N-not like that, I mean-”

“I know what you mean, Angel, you wanna go out with me, specifically, yeah?” She asked with a knowing smile.

“Y-Yeah! Sorry, is that okay?” He barked out awkwardly, then bit his lower lip as she walked right over to him, pushing a paw to his chest, his heart shoving into his throat at her touch.

“If we get through this run and I live to see tomorrow, sure baby. My place, I’m in heat though, so you better be ready for a workout!” She gave him a confident grin as he offered her a wide-eyed look, then a shocked gasp as she leaned in nice and close, giving his lips a quick kiss.

The run went off without a hitch. Jane had already promised the whole team a celebration for Angel’s fifth run, so everyone was supporting and cheering the new guy on the whole mission. Angel was so proud as he strutted up to her to report their success with Wheels and Sylph, knowing later he’d be in that collies bed getting ravaged by her.

They gave the debriefing and Jane offered him a proud grin, her eyes looking relaxed for the first time since he’d begun running for her. That moment was all it took though, the next thing anyone knew there was a loud bang and flash of light, an emp burst grenade going off. The light blinded him since his eyes were normal meat, and by the time the ringing stopped, he realized his leg wouldn’t move, the electronics stalled out from the burst.

Through the haze, he saw Sylph standing there, her large caliber handgun right to Jane’s face, the rabbit holding her paw over her one good eye, her other brandishing a smaller gun pointed at the collie's chest.

“Pretty fast, almost caught me fully off-guard, girl…” Jane said as she cracked her paw, her green eye showing, while her other looked gray as if the color had been bled out of it. Her guards were completely disabled, and so was Wheels, their electronics shielded from most emp pulses usually, but this was an exceptionally high-grade one that went off, the gods know how much she paid for it, she’d clearly been planning this for a while.

“I don’t care if I make it out of here, you cost me my brother, you’re not leaving here alive, rabbit.” Sylph tensed to squeeze the trigger then there was a loud clap of sound, blood spattering on the rabbit’s cream-colored cheeks before the collie just crumpled to the floor, a large section of her skull now missing.

Jane shot her gaze down to him, he was there on his hip, paws trembling, with his own gun in grip, tears rolling down his cheeks, a look of terror and anguish on his face. Sylph had assumed the retriever had more chrome in his meat than he did, and that he was disabled like the others. Had she only made the promise knowing she wasn’t getting out of his alive? Or maybe hoping he’d side with her?

“J-Jane?! A-are you… okay?” Angel sobbed out as he looked upon her, looking shaken and lost. She was there instantly and he felt her hug him to her chest. She petted his ears and called him her good boy, her good dog, so he just threw his arms around her as it all crashed inside him. The fully grown dog sobbed like a puppy as it all caught up to him, realizing he’d not just killed someone, but one of his friends and teammates, all to protect the rabbit who meant everything to him.

Jane held him so tenderly, an ice-cold bunny, but she was so warm as he sobbed into her chest, her scent so comforting, almost motherly in this moment. Even then, she was furious, snarling at her guards, demanding background traces on the runner she’d been betrayed by, swearing to tighten her net for would-be contractors, all while gently petting her loyal dog.

—♥🌙—

Angel sighed and leaned back on the sofa, tapping his fork on the plate. “Yeah… it was at that moment, I realized I loved Jane. I couldn’t see her hurt, even at the cost of my friend. I know she’s not a good rabbit, but I don’t care, I’m happy to be her fallen Angel, ya know?”

“That’s intense… how long did you carry that with you, fetch?” Sen frowned at him.

The retriever shrugged and smiled. “A few days, had a nice rebound from how she thanked me though!” He offered that cute grin as his ears perked.

“Woah… you mean you and her?” His new lover looked shocked, impressed, and a little fearful all at once. “No wonder you don’t want me repeating that!”

Angel waved a paw. “Nah, she wouldn’t care if you knew we were having sex, but she would absolutely care if I had told you about her having a moment of weakness, you understand?”

Sen gave a nod of understanding. “That…sounds like her, actually. So…” The fox gave the retriever a side-eye. “What’s her name and how is she in bed?”

Angel offered him an apologetic smile as he shook his head. “You might be my lover now, sugar, but there are words and bonds given, I’d not break that trust with her, I’m sure you understand?”

“Hm, yeah I can get that. You’ve known her for almost five years and me only a few days, sorry for prying like that, Angel.” Sen frowned then felt the retriever push close to him.

“Sugar, it’s okay, I get how you feel, Jane is very mysterious, and can be a little scary, but I’m sure in time she will trust you, especially if you’re my partner!” Angel barked out cheerfully as he threw an arm around his new fox.

“So any hints on how she is in bed then? I’m still dying to know!” Sen hummed as he leaned into the retriever.

“Huh, do you know the thing about tops and bottoms?” Angel asked.

“Uh… yeah, vaguely. Tops are like the dominant partner, and bottoms are the submissive ones, right?” Sen tilted his head.

“Right! Well, like take me for an example, I’m a switch, sugar. I can go either or, that’s why I was kind of dommy last night, but if you ever wanna flex or practice your top-mode I know is in there, I’ll happily roll over and beg. Anyway, she is always in charge, you get me? That air she puts on for work is not a facade. You do what she wants, when she wants, and you don’t argue. What do you think you might be?”

Sen frowned and put a paw on his own chest. “Seriously? That is one intense rabbit heh, but as for me personally? I’m not sure yet. I liked what you did, but I don’t feel like I would want to have you holding the reins every time either.”

“Yeah, I hoped you’d say that, sugar. I bet you’re a switch like me! It just means you’ll be more versatile and that means you’ll get a crack at more tail!” The retriever grinned, his green eyes looking eager. “Hey hey, maybe we can even find some to team up-”

“Fetch! We’ve been dating for like an hour and you’re already talking about shit like that? I’m not good enough for you huh?” Sen offered a playful smirk.

“Oh look at you, sugar, already learning how to tease me just like I love,” Angel growled and placed the empty plates on the table before tapping the fox’s nose. “Hm hm… you’re dangerous, I might fall for you haaaard…”

“I- I don’t know about that, fetch…” He huffed out then gave a small bark as the retriever growled and moved in, nibbling at his throat.

“Hgn… we still got a bit of time before we meet up, how about I show you what these paws can do, honey!” Angel offered little love nips along the fox’s throat as Sen shuddered.

“Huff… W-well, now that you mention it…” Sen gripped the other boy’s shoulders, the fox showing a grin at this new situation, his heart thumping as they stared at one another.

“Ah he he… I’m already bringing that confidence out in you… c’mere, sugar!” Angel growled as he shoved his muzzle to Sen’s, the kitsune giving a shocked bark as the larger dog brought him right down onto the sofa. Both boys drew into a kiss before they rolled off the cushions right onto the floor in a tangle of limbs and tails as the rickety coffee table just collapsed in a heap while they were getting back to it.

—♥🌙—

“Welcome back, runner,” Jane offered that sharp smug grin, her green eyes seeming to glow in the dim lights of the private booth. Sen recalled in Angel’s story that she only had one cybernetic eye, but Jane herself said they weren’t real. Was she lying to him, or perhaps had ripped her other meat one out after the incident?

The fox quickly pushed the thoughts away as he responded, “Thank you, ma’am, am I officially a runner now?”

“You don’t get a welcome package or sign-on bonus, my fox…” She smirked and offered her open paw, Steph placing a small envelope into it. “Then again, for you, I suppose you do, Kohaku.” She flipped the envelope across the table to him.

Sen opened the paper to see a small laminated SIN card inside, Sakata Kohaku - S539-8E76-1P16. The year of birth was correct, but the day of wasn’t even close. More  importantly, the fur, eye, and species details were exact.

“So should I just start going by Sakata in my day-to-day, then?” He asked while tucking the card away.

“You may go by whatever you wish, call yourself Aburage for all I care, Kitsune, just remember that SIN number and name for when you need it.” Jane gave a smirk as Sen glared at her commentary before folding his arms.

“So, should we get down to business then? Talk about debts owed, how much I belong to you, etcetera?” He growled as Angel frowned next to him.

“How is he treating you, my Angel?” Jane seemed to largely ignore the questions and asked her own to the retriever.

“Ah, very well! I’m so glad we found him, ma’am! He’s already… very important to me.” The retriever offered a small grin, his tail wagging slowly.

“Huh… All of you, frag off but the fox, he and I talk, the rest of you go get a drink or something on my tab, I don’t care.” Jane snarled the words as her eyes hardened before flourishing a paw before Sen, “You, sit.”

The other three left and Sen found himself seated before the rabbit who was drumming her bloody claws on the table. She looked to the stairwell to see the others were gone before her green eyes darted back to the fox. “He looks serious, what did you do with my Angel?”

Sen growled at being put on the spot and gave her a glare before clicking his tongue as he answered, “Mostly oral and pawjobs, why do you ask?”

Jane twitched an eye at the casual response before extending her right paw, Sen giving a gasp as a tiny handgun just shot out of the sleeve of her suit right into her paw, leveled at his head. “You hurt that dog, I’ll make you beg me for death, two-tails.” She showed her teeth in a snarl, her right eye already purple, clearly the gun was sporting a smart link feed system with her eye, meaning she’d hit whatever she wanted to with a shot.

“Just like that…y-you’d put me in the dirt after the investments you’ve made, Ms. Jane?” Sen quirked a brow, lifting his paws to show they were clear, not that he’d been given a gun in all this anyway.

“That is my dog, and he is worth ten times the credits I’ve spent on any asset. Had this been a casual affair, I’d have given no fucks, but seeing the look in his eyes…” The rabbit flicked her wrist as the gun slid back into place. He realized at that moment, it wasn’t some sort of cyberware, she simply had a rig attached to her suit sleeve and arm.

“The look he has for you, Jane? Jealousy isn’t very becoming of you…” Sen offered her a confident smirk, only to yelp out as the rabbit leaned forward to grip his jaw like she’d done the other day, digging her bloody crimson claws deep into his muzzle to pierce his flesh.

“You ever talk to me like that again, I’ll rip all your limbs off, install pegs, and throw you into the street so I can watch the vermin eat you alive, while I sip on a fine wine, doggy. Don’t ever make light of him and you sure as drek do not make light of me! Are we clear?” Jane’s purple eye was twitching now and Sen offered a pained nod, imagining these claws could just be retractable spurs she could extend here and now if she willed it.

She withdrew her now literally bloody claws, giving them a flick to scatter his own blood across his muzzle and hair before she settled back down. Once he finished wiping his face on his sleeve, she was seated again, looking composed but still coldly furious.

Jane took out a handkerchief to wipe lingering blood off her claws before tucking it back into the breast pocket of her suit. “I’ll use that fire in you well, but make sure you watch where you aim it. You singe my fur, I’ll scorch yours off and leave blisters in the wake, we clear?”

“You’ll torture me and make me suffer, I get the message. Can we move on already?” Sen barked out and offered her another half-hearted glare.

“Hmph… You two sort yourselves however you see fit, I could care less who he sleeps with, but you break his heart and I’ll revoke this new life of yours, Sakata Kohaku.” Jane folded her paws on the table, giving him a level look.

Sen now realized for all the cute adorable doggy antics his new boyfriend had, that Angel had the devil herself watching out for him in the guise of a small rabbit. The fox sighed and rubbed the back of his head before just spitting it out, “Look, Ms. Jane, give me some fucking room to breathe here. I was a fucking virgin until last night, I’ve never had a relationship like this before in my life, and I wouldn’t go and frag the first good thing to happen to me, that I promise you.”

The purple finally faded from her right eye as she ever so slightly eased the tension in her shoulders, offering a nod of understanding. “Do you have any questions for me, doggy?”

“Yeah, your left eye, is it real?” He asked curiously, grateful for the focus being taken off him at last.

“Yes, and no. Are you familiar with bioware-implants?” She lifted her muzzle.

“Vaguely, it’s like… natural mostly non-invasive implants, usually using your own cells to create, right?” Sen thought back to the small lessons on it he’d gotten in the academy.

“Correct, good boy.” Jane looked him dead on as her green eyes seemed to glow once more. “The short version is, yes they are both augment and I didn’t lie, one is just regrown using my own cells, enhanced with night vision, flash resistance, and heightened visual strength.”

Sen thought back to the story of the flashbang, which explained why Jane hadn’t been fully helpless, she was only half blind, she was just shielding her eye as a ruse during that. He gave a nod and then offered a smile. “Thanks, I was curious since I never saw it shift to purple like-”

“Oh come off it, it’s clear as crystal my retriever blathered on about his first kill. I expected it after sending you off to get your own out of the way.” Jane waved a paw and leaned back. “I understand, and I’m not sore with my Angel for telling you, so he and you may relax, my fox.”

Sen had felt his fur rising on the back of his neck, but relaxed as she continued, then gave an awkward nod. “T-Thanks… I mean for not being mad at Angel.”

“You were worried about him?” She showed a smug grin on her muzzle.

“I mean yeah, of course, I was! I really like him and… I don’t want to just come in here and fuck up his life, you know?” Sen hissed through his teeth as he ran a paw through his hair.

“You… pass, for now,” Jane said as she drummed her fingers together.

“Well, thanks… but uh, can we get back to my original question? Am I indebted to you now?” Sen asked, point blank.

“Yes. The SIN alone was nearly twenty thousand credits.” She said matter-of-factly as the fox barked out in shock.

“T-twenty grand?!” Sen stammered and rubbed the back of his head, that was over a year’s worth of pay with Inari.

“Listen to me, doggy. You’re not my slave, but you run for no Jane or John but me, are we clear? I will pay you and I’m not impatient, it will be a fair share for the work you do, but you will work the debt off all the same.” Jane folded her paws and met him with a neutral business-like gaze.

“I understand, and… Thank you.” He offered a small smile to her.

“For saving your life? Or perhaps for giving you a new one, while not making you my personal slave? There is quite a list to sort through,” Jane offered a sharp grin of amusement.

“Heh… actually, thanks for letting me meet Angel mostly.” Sen barked out with a laugh then offered another grin of his own. “I guess that other stuff is pretty wiz of you, too.”

Jane gave him an honest look of surprise at his words but then offered something he hadn’t seen from her yet, a smile. Not a smug or calculating smirk, but an earnest smile. “You’re welcome, you take care of my good boy, that is my all-encompassing order for you, Tanto.”

“Tanto?” Sen cocked a brow.

“That’s going to be your call sign on missions, yes. Tanto, the stabby pokey sword thing from- Don’t you know your own culture?” Jane offered an amused grin.

“Uh, yes I do, but shouldn’t I choose my call sign?” Sen pushed a paw to his own chest.

“No,” The rabbit said flatly then moved on, “I have work for you. I need details on a target, I’ll be feeding the logs straight into your head, like last time.”

Sen gave a nod as he asked, “Am I doing this one alone then?”

“Yes and no. Angel will be doing reconnaissance for you, but he’s going to be nowhere near you. If drek hits the fan, you’ll have to clean it up yourself.” Jane looked upon him, her eye shifting to indigo once more as she asked, “Ready for your first official mission as my personal blade, Tanto?”

—♥🌙—

Rain fell in a gentle shower across the sprawl, a cool welcome to his exposed head, relishing in the feeling of it flowing down his ears, snout and tail. Something about the rain had always been a comfort to the fox, not a manufactured simsense or conjured by a magic, but a facet of nature that caressed all beneath her touch, meat or chrome. The soft patter of drops against his coat was almost therapeutic, a reminder of when he'd just lay and listen to it on the old, traditional roofing of the shrine housing.

Sen stood at the top level of one building among many, far from the tallest but enough to look out over an area of interest. His paws gripped the cold metal rail just before him at waist height as he surveyed the prismatic glow of the hub below, where neon took on an almost mesmerizing halo in the falling rain. He'd have to do the leg-work on this one himself, not follow a name with all the leads already all but finished.

With Angel he'd found himself again, the retriever had gotten his head straight after the first geek Sen had to perform; now, he had set himself a personal rule, as many other of his breed did in the streets, a code to abide by to never truly lose himself. The kitsune had sworn not to kill bystanders, innocents as far as could be proven, in his work and told Ms. Jane as much. Whatever else she needed doing, he signed up for as long as civilians weren't going to get wasted, that was his one request to his new handler. 

"She's not here yet, but this'll be the place. Second vendor-hub on Avalon Street, beneath that mangled light post with the blinking green bulb, sugar. You watch, she'll be snaking out of there any minute now." The voice of the retriever in his comm was a reassuring sound, both giving his heart a kick to stay focused and the comfort he wasn't out in the night rain alone.

“Y’know, you sure fall for some sketchy types.” Sen chuckled into the comm.

“How do you figure, hm?” Angel’s voice betrayed amusement.

“Well let’s see, you fall for a guy that failed his first day on the job, bailed him out of a termination chase…” The fox shook his head with a scoff, “And then there’s Jane.”

“Tch, I was blown out of the sky, remember sugar? What kind of an Angel am I to be shot down?” The retriever laughed, “It’s not the deeds babe, it’s the heart. But what’s this about the boss lady, hm?”

“Oh nothing, just that she promised to stuff and mount me on a wall if I so much as send you home in tears, or something like that.” Sen growled, fur heckling even in the damp air at the fresh sting from her claws on his snout, the way she talked down at him like some adopted, unbroken pup.

“Never you mind her, sugar. She’s got to be that tough, you think someone soft-hearted gets to where she is? Nuh-uh, and the shit she’s seen? Forget about it.” Angel clicked his tongue in thought, a smile still audible over their secure line, “You’ve seen it though, haven’t you?”

“Seen what? The bitch-switch?” The fox snorted with a roll of the eyes, twin tails giving a lash to shake off some of the soaking rain as his mood fluttered.

“No no, that’s the armor she keeps up to stave off the jackals, baby. What I meant was, you’ve seen her smile, haven’t you?” Angel said more seriously, knowingly now.

Sen thought for a moment, sorting through the surface frustration of being treated like he was going to use Angel, of being scolded and handled like a fledgling kit until it clicked; at the end, after the warning Jane had flashed a genuine smile. The memory waved away the smoke of anger, cooling the fox as he nodded to himself.

“Yeah, yeah I have. I think I get it now.” Sen admitted with a huff into the drizzling air, “Sorry Angel, I’ve been trying to catch up ever since we sky-dived out of my own damn execution, didn’t stop and think about why things are.”

“Don’t you sweat it, sugar. Jane, she runs the Warren like a well-oiled machine, leaving no sign of weakness to anyone around her…but in truth?” Angel hummed a pleasant sound for a moment, reflecting on the bunny, “You couldn’t find someone that cared more about others, hell, she takes in strays and resets lives only to spin it as getting new blood.” 

“I’ll try to keep that in mind the next time she’s got my balls in a vice,” Sen smirked to himself with a flick of his ears, scanning over the neon-lit streets again. As he waited, Sen ran over the details Ms. Jane had uploaded to him again; they’d be looking for a female hyena, rather well-kept and fit, a few scars and tats would cause some fur to be missing about the arms. The mark would have hair like his, kept short and out of the way, less to grasp in a scuffle. 

“Ace,” came the voice of an Angel again in his comm, making the kitsune double-take before realizing it was the name of their target, not a random word. “Alright babe, you’re on your own now. Trust yourself and your training, I’ll be watching as always.”

“Yeah, thanks for that.” Sen departed the rooftop without another word, closing his end of the comm out so it wouldn’t be swept up. The fox made a swift descent of stairs through the building, out the final floor that was a tattoo parlor Ms. Jane herself kept fronting. The amount of information gathered just by those laying there, trying to think of anything other than the needle, was surprisingly useful.

Into the rain again the kitsune walked along, more comfortable alone this time even if he missed the presence of the retriever at his side. While he’d gotten attached to that presence, his life before and during training was always the loner. Sen wanted to operate like this, with just the knowledge his newfound team could help him, even if they wouldn’t be able to this time.

The kitsune had kept the location frozen in his aug-eye, the front facing of the vendor-slab Angel had pointed out as a snap-shot with the mark captured in the reflecting neon air. The hyena had come about an alley corner to stroll up to the opened slot, leaning into the edge of it with arms folded to speak to the owner like a casual regular. 

Her dark green cargo-pants with cord-strap belt, black tank-top, and a dozen different clasps along her arms matched the recent info-package. Patchwork fur of light and dark, vivid sea-green eyes that were unnerving to stare at too long, with various piercings from ears to muzzle. 

As he moved along in the crowd, shadowing a group of shuffling crows, Sen kept his natural eye on the chattering hyena while the distance closed. Any time she looked up to glance about the kitsune shifted to the left, looking into a window or steaming vendor-slot as if interested until he could move again.

Hub by hub the kitsune closed the distance with wet footfalls of boots, until he could lose the adopted cluster of citizens or the unaware and alone traveler. The fox came up behind the snickering hyena with a nudge of his augmented arm, the fist of it against the small of her back.

“Step into the alley, make a sound and twenty-thousand volts blow-dries your fur, Ace .” Sen growled out her name, leveraging his knowledge of her before she knew what happened.

The hyena gave a look to the vendor, then slowly eased from her lean on the shelf of the open window with a snicker, “Well drek, guess I got a customer…don’t forget to lock the dumpster like last time.” 

Sen shoved the hyena along, into the darker and out of sight steps of the alleyway. Once they weren’t in much risk of being seen, the fox grasped the back of her neck, shoving the hyena against the damp rockrete brickside.

“You’ve been holding out on your debts, think you can just walk away from cashouts like that?” Sen pressed the clasped fist to her back with his aug-arm constantly, where the faux-fur wouldn’t do much to hide the cyber-ware beneath.

“The fuck are you talking about, drek for brains?” Ace chuckled against the wall, not seeming too phased by the rough treatment, “If you wanted some of this, you should know how to ask! You that desperate?” She pressed her backside against the fist and hips alike, giving a wiggling grind before Sen shoved her forward again.

“You want to play games?” Sen flexed his aug-arm for a discharge of a few thousand volts from the blade-port at the knuckles, causing the hyena to shift against his grasp and the wall in a squirm, but it didn’t get the reaction he expected. 

“Aww, not as potent as you thought, drek-face?” Ace showed all her teeth in a side-smirk, laughing as Sen kept her pinned, “I don’t have any pain receptors active, got em all turned off after one too many dogs chased my tail, get it? You got nothin' you can do to me, so good luck jogging my memory.”

Sen canted his head in closer, standing a foot taller than the mocking hyena, “Is that a fact? Joke’s on you then, I know this great street doc.” The fox flexed on the word ‘great’ with his paw about her neck, smirking with his augmented eye glowing a knowing red in the dimly-lit alley, “Time for a check-up.”

Ace gave a snort at that, not seeming to believe the kitsune before he tugged her from the wall, pushed her along further into the less lit space between buildings to make good on his threat before he heard a click behind them.

“That’s as far as you go, chummer,” a gruff male voice came at the entrance of the alleyway, making Sen look over his shoulder to see the same vendor the hyena was chatting with. It was a rough around the edges looking rat, living the street life without much care for health, eyes with dark circles from the constant harsh lights and graveyard hours.

“This doesn’t concern you, step back around the corner and tend your shop. Involving yourself won’t end well, so take this warning.” Sen growled at the rat with a shift to face him halfway, keeping himself between the new threat and the hyena. 

“That’s where you’re wrong, see, this gal is a good associate of mine. Anything a fox wants with her, isn’t gonna be good.” The rat gave a nudge of the scattergun he was holding in both paws, “You move away, and we can overlook this, how’s that sound?”

“Not going to happen.” Sen opened the palm of his augmented arm, dropping a small charge he’d slipped into it when he first heard the hammer drawn on the shotgun. He’d have Angel to thank for the idea later as a micro-flashbang went off at his feet. His cybernetic eye would be fragged for a while, but he’d kept his natural one closed for the duration.

“Gah, what the drek?!” The rat shouted, waving around the scattergun before he felt it go still in his paws, unable to move it as a harsh grip came about his trigger paw, almost breaking the digits about it.

“Any other night, you’d be joining your trash. I wasn’t here, neither was Ace, got it?” Sen snarled at the momentarily blinded rat, shoving the butt of the gun into his chest with a push of his augmented arm, knocking the male to the ground without air in his lungs.

“The next friend of yours that decides to play hero loses their head, now move it.” Sen huffed in annoyance as he grasped the closest arm of the equally disoriented hyena, half-hauling the smaller creature down into the alleyway. 

It was harder than he expected to keep his mark close but not obviously against her will as they went from gap to gap in the sometimes bustling nightlife, or eerily silent run-down areas where business had either died off or was controlled by roaming gangs. Sen kept a tight grip on her forearm, channeling the occasional jolt to keep any gathered resistance to a minimum. 

The data given to him was invaluable, providing routes often used or easily accessed by a team should the need arise, with a map recalled each time he looked at a street name or trideo on some corner with embedded checkpoints.

In a longer time than he’d liked, Sen brought the hyena to stand before the clinic doorway with a low growl, “Don’t make a sound, don’t move. Each time you do, it’ll get worse than you’re thinking.”

The hyena just gave a deep frown, “Tch, such a tough guy.”

Sen gave a last hard glance down at the talkative captive before pushing into the ‘clinic’ before them. Of course, Jane had provided all the data he’d need for contacts, including the good doctor, so it was simple to schedule the appointment on her dime.

“Been a few days, you want a check-up on that arm while you’re here, runner?” The bull drolled out as he lumbered out of the backroom, having heard the small chime ping from someone entering.

“Maybe later, think you could retrigger some receptors for me? You know who is keen to get some information out of this bitch, but she’s not very receptive to my pleas, you could say.” Sen offered the bull a cold look as he snorted.

“Not usually my forte, I don’t really-” his drooped ears lifted as the credit transfer came through at five times the regular rate. “I’ll get things ready,” He muttered out as he shifted to the back.

That got the hyena’s attention as she barked out, “Okay, so maybe uh… my memory is starting to clear up now that I think about it!”

“Quaint, let’s make sure though,” Sen growled as he hauled her into the other room and shoved her right down into a large examination chair. Placing the taser-port of his aug-fist right to the hyena’s chest with a shove, digging it nice and deep into her breasts.

“Okay, okay! No need to-” Ace hissed out as the bull grabbed her jaw, jerked her head to the side and slammed a cord straight into her jack at the base of her neck, it took just a second or two before she felt the sensation of pressure against her chest.

Sen noticed the widening of her eyes and let a small burst loose right into her chest as she howled out a yelp. “Funny thing about turning that drek off, makes it all the more tender when they come live again, bitch,” the kitsune growled as he leaned over her, eye to eye with her now.

“Y-yeah… it sure… fucking does… so uh, my head is real clear now, sugar, how about-” He snarled and let another jolt loose into her as she yelped out again.

“Don’t fucking call me that! Now spill it, bitch!” He barked into her face, showing his sharp teeth, spittle hitting her cheeks as she panted from the pain, but not in a pleased way.

"Kamui! I w-work for Kamui!" Ace barked out between panted breaths, "They were p-practically giving away the chance at chip-ware, that's how I got some of mine! The pain receptors, my s-sense of taste for- well, things! Look, I was given this drek free, in exchange I was to lure some of the Warren goons to their side!" 

"Trying to weaken their position, even though you'd gotten considerable sums to study the Big K?!" Sen snapped his jaws, glaring with a narrowed natural eye and flickering red augment, "You really thought it would go unnoticed, street clown? Is it all a joke to you?!" The kitsune delivered another surge into the hyena's chest, causing her to spasm and jolt with pained gasps.

"Nono-ngh, no! Of course not, ahh fuck! I was going…going to pay it…back, give the f-fucking intel, I swear!" The hyena whined out, grasping at the aug-arm with both paws in a failed attempt to get the fox off her.

“Ms. Jane sees it all, bitch. Nothing-” The fox leaned in close to show his fangs, “- nothing is beneath her notice, do you understand now?” The twin-tails flicked his ears, huffing a breath out as he reined himself in, “Alright ‘Ace’, you’re going to be ours in the hole.”

“W-what…? I don’t…understand?” She blinked up at the fox, muscles going from tense in fear of the next shock to a lax quivering from the previous jolts.

“You wanted to play both sides, act as a double-agent right?” Sen gave a slow, teeth-showing grin down at the female who couldn’t stop doing the same earlier, “That’s exactly what you’re going to do. You’ll scurry back, say nothing of this, and start reporting to me about Kamui’s next moves, are we clear?”

“Are…are you fucking kidding me?!” Ace barked before Sen flexed his pressed arm to her chest firmly, “F-fine! Fine, I’ll fucking do it, just…how do I know you won’t just expose all this?”

“You be a good girl, and I’ll treat you right, Ace, you don’t-'' Sen looked lazily over to the bull. “Hey doc, she’s sporting head-ware, yeah?”

“That’s right, you want some insurance? That’s extra you know.” The street doc folded his wide arms as he tilted his head.

“You know me and Jane are good for it, just a little one will do.” Sen showed his teeth in a cruel smirk as the hyena widened her eyes.

“Woah, you planning on putting a fucking cortex bomb in my fucking skull over this drek? I already said I’d cooperate!” Ace snarled up at him as the kitsune leaned back before thumping a finger against her forehead.

“Yeah, just a small one, something that’ll just go ‘pop’ and put the lights out without much mess. We’ll take it out once everything’s sorted nice and clean.” Sen nodded to the doctor.

“Now wait just a-” Ace shuddered as the bull that still had a jack into her sent a signal to shut down her consciousness to her head-ware.

“You don’t even seem like the same dog from the other day.” He called out casually as he unjacked himself to move over to a cabinet and brought down a small bin of various-sized cortex bombs.

“Blame the training, once I’m in a mission mindset, that’s all there is. I’ll feel like drek later I’m sure,” Sen responded casually then lifted his ears before asking, “Why the frag do you got so many of those, doc?”

“Popular item.” The street doc shrugged before walking back over to the unconscious girl before him. “I’ll give you a command code and even install some tracking ware to keep tabs on your new pet hyena.”

Sen showed his sharp teeth with a grin as he tucked the taser away and shoved his paws into his pockets. “Sounds wiz, thanks doc.”

—♥🌙—

Next Episode:

Different people have different values in life. What’s important to one may be a frivolous thing to another. In the grit and grime of the sprawl, can you take the time to find common ground?

Do you hate me for what I am? Can I avoid hating you for what you are? Can we even start over, or is it too late? Regardless of what I think, the wheel turns and I find myself moving forward.

Episode Four: Fox and Mouse Game

If you enjoyed this, support me please? It doesn’t have to be financial either, just share my stuff and get my name out there. Vote, Fave, Comment, offer feedback, anything. Thank you and as always, I’m nothing without your support.

I'm not going to lie, I kick my tail writing these! A single episode can take me twelve to fifteen hours or longer to make after conception, writing, editing, and proofreading! If you enjoy this, support me, please? It doesn't have to be financial either, just share my stuff and get my name out there. Vote, Fave, Comment, offer feedback, anything. Thank you, and as always, I'm nothing without your support!

If you enjoyed this and want to keep up with me, you can find me on twitter @stargazer_g

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Chapter Text

Being a writer is my dream job but it has full-time hours and this is where I'd normally pitch my ways to support me, but I've been told Ao3 doesn't vibe with that, so maybe just follow me on Twitter or BlueSky to see what I'm up to?

And with that out of the way…

—♥🌙—

Episode 4:

Fox and Mouse Game

“Kamui has their dirty paws in the pie do they?” Jane folded her arms on the table with an amused grin at the news. “Sen, you were fairly ruthless with getting Ace back over to our side of the field, I can see my instincts in you were spot on.”

“Ruthless? I guess I was. I’m not sure what was happening, but once I was on the mission, I felt like a different fox altogether.”

“It’s a byproduct of your training, it happens with plenty of soldiers. It's a way to rationalize your actions. My advice is to not think too hard about it, but don’t lean on it like a crutch either. I don’t need you turning into a little psychopathic fox,” Jane explained coolly as her right eye shifted to purple, clearly going over something.

“Psychopath?” Sen asked curiously.

“Yeah, sugar. We have to hold ourselves accountable, if you lean too much on that side of you, you’ll make excuses if you get out of line, like blaming it for the atrocities and not yourself.” Angel looked like he had some experience with this as he chimed in.

“My Angel has the right of it, my fox. Do what you have to do for the mission, but don’t make excuses either, that’s the short of it.” Jane clicked her tongue as she nodded to the rabbit next to her before producing her paw. The chromed-up bunny next to her said nothing as he placed a small data card into the open paw.

“Kamui is going to be a pain in the tail to deal with. Like Inari, they love their wagemages.” Jane sighed as she flipped the blank white data card end over end between her crimson claws.

“Ma’am, didn’t you just do a series of runs for Kamui? Why would they return the gesture with a knife in your back?” Angel frowned as he asked.

She offered the retriever a knowing smile and looked over to Sen. “Care to field that question for your boyfriend, my fox?”

Sen cocked a brow, a rare situation since it had been Angel breaking him in and answering all the questions up until now. “There are no permanent friends or allies in the corporate world, only permanent interests.”

“Good dog.” Jane offered a nod to Sen before looking back to her retriever. “You see, my Angel. I knew Sen would understand, as he was part of an elite squad, and he’s had officer training.”

Angel frowned at the words but Jane waved her paw. “Now now, don’t look at me like that, it doesn’t make you any less my best dog, but you can’t know it all, lean on one another’s strengths, bolster the weakness, yes?”

“Yes ma’am, my apologies!” He barked out as he straightened up, his tail wagging.

Jane looked over the card then flicked it to the kitsune, giving Steph a look as the stallion followed it up with two credsticks tossed forward. “Payment for a run well done, a little extra for not being a drek-for-brains and having the logic to insure your little plan.”

Sen took the stick and ran it through the datapad at his waist without taking it out. Sakata Kohaku now had a balance of credits to his name, seven hundred to be exact. A debt of forty thousand showed in his synaptic visual field, three hundred credits reducing from it, showing he had a long way to go, but at least she was letting him keep the majority of his payments.

“Wow, that’s a nice payday for just some recon with a little coercion work, ma’am!” Angel barked out happily, having no doubt gotten the full sum. He grinned and linked an arm with Sen’s right there in front of her. “I’ll take you somewhere nice tonight, sugar, my treat since I know you had a reduced payment.”

“It paid well because there’s a lot at stake here, and there will be more dangerous situations to come if we’re dealing with Kamui,” Jane said matter-of-factly, then looked over to Sen. “That data card has an address on it along with some basic information on one of my old runners. She and I had a little falling out about a year ago and I cut her loose.”

“Wait- Do you mean Scythe, ma’am?” Angel asked, the rabbit nodding in answer to him.

“Tanto, be a peach and take this secure credstick with you, go meet with her and tell her I’m willing to let bygones be bygones. Also, explain to her this is a … gift, to help show my sincerity,” Jane looked like she was ready to vomit after explaining the situation, clearly not happy about being in such a position.

“Sure thing, ma’am, but why me?” He asked while pocketing the card and credstick.

“Because she’d slam the door in mine or Angel’s face. I need someone to talk to her that she isn’t aware is associated with me. Get your footpaw in the door and explain things, let her know there’s more where that came from.” Jane rolled her eyes before pushing a paw through her blonde hair, already looking tired at the idea of it.

“I beg your pardon ma’am, but why not just hire someone new? What makes this ‘Scythe’ so special?” Sen asked.

“Because I can’t just cherry-pick out magic-attuned runners, my fox. Any drek-for-brains can learn how to shoot a gun or follow orders with enough training, but trained magicians are something else entirely,” Jane grumbled and then met his eyes before shifting over to Angel’s. “Also, I know her well enough to know she’s not going to drop a fucking flashbang at my footpaws and try to blow a hole in my skull, understand?”

Sen seemed satisfied with the explanation as he gave a small nod. “I assume I'm leaving immediately?”

“Yeah, hit the street, runner, I already transferred you some extra for the cab fare.” Jane waved her paw and then lifted her muzzle. “But, don’t let me down, we need some arcane backup for when the drek starts flying with Kumui.”

He nodded and gave the retriever next to him a glance, their eyes lingering for a moment as he realized, this was as much for their backup in runs to come as it was for Jane to secure more help.

“Try to be home before all the nice places close, sugar!” Angel barked out as Sen just threw his paw up while heading for the stairwell.

—♥🌙—

It was nearly a twenty-minute ride in the vector-cab to the location. The cabby had been keen to tell Sen all about his new girlfriend, along with the ensuing drama that it was the sister of his wife. By the time he climbed out of the cab he was thankful to shove the door closed just to shut the rambling driver up.

Pushing his paws into his jacket, Sen looked over the small stretch of shops, one having a half-lit neon picture of a crystal ball, along with a blacked-out open paw. In cursive letters, it simply read, “Tarot & Paw reading”.

What was he thinking? He purposefully left the shrine and anything to do with the arcane to join up with the military, yet here he was going to try to talk a mage into joining back up with Jane. Then again it wasn’t a choice, Jane hadn’t asked him to do it, but ordered instead.

Pushing the door open, the top of it smacked a small bell that chimed out into the dark musty smelling room. There was a small clatter of sound from in the back followed by some muttering about poor timing, “always when it's getting to the best part.”

A small curtain of beads suddenly shifted as a girl walked right in at only about half his height. A set of rounded ears and slightly prominent front teeth instantly reminded him of Wheels, but given the thinness of her wiry tail, it was clear she was a mouse, not a rat.

She wore a flowing gown of crimson silks that seemed to suit her naturally brown fur, the top strategically showing just enough cleavage to look tempting but not overly sexual, several necklaces and charms dotting over the surface of the rather large breasts she sported for her small frame.

With a clap of paws together she walked forward, showing a forced grin, her hips swaying in the silk, round and soft looking as if she could easily perform some sort of exotic dance in the grown. “Welcome, welcome, I can sense you are-” Her nose twitched as she offered a disapproving grunt. “You smell familiar.”

“Oh hey, uh…” Sen finally pried his eyes up from the round chest she sported to look into her already irritated green eyes, the left one twitching like Jane’s had done the other night, seeing he wasn’t starting off on the best paw here.

“Uh what? I reco- Yes I know! No, I’m not going to-” She started talking oddly as if someone was telling her something, then she hissed out and shoved both her paws to her hips, making her chest sway a little as she squeaked out, “What do you want?”

“Ms. Jane sent me,” Sen said dryly, trying to avoid the sway of that chest as she stomped a foot and glared up at him.

“I don’t have anything to say to that bitch, if you’re not here for me to read your paws…” She glared at his right arm before gapping her maw. “Sweet spirits! What have you done to…” With a squeak she glared at the fox that was towering over her. “How could you do that to, wait, your eye too?!”

“Hey hey, look lady, I’m not here to get interrogated, mind your own business about what I do with my meat and chrome,” Sen barked out with a glare of his own, shifting to withdraw the credstick from his pocket.

“I see Jane still keeps lowbrow, ugh! No I will not- Stay out of this, no one is talking to you, Mantis!” She squeaked out then looked back at the fox, her green eyes darting down to the credstick in his paws for a moment before she turned to stalk over to her table that was setup.

“Sit down,” The mouse sighed as she snatched up a deck of tarot cards and started thumbing through them absentmindedly.

Sen grunted, but he did as he was told, knowing he needed to at least make an effort with this job before he told this obnoxious mouse to frag off. She tapped the deck of cards in her paw a few times before drawing one and slapping it right down, quirking a brow at what it was, ‘The Wheel’.

“Speak,” She snapped out as she slapped the rest of the deck down on the table with a loud thud that once again made her chest bobble about a little, the charms, bones, and various other jewelry rattling from the myriad of necklaces she wore.

“Jane says she’s sorry about what happened, wants you to sign on again. Told me this was for you, no strings attached.” Sen slapped the credstick down with an exasperated sigh of his own.

“Tell that bitch she can take this credstick and-” She grunted and flicked her ears a few times. “I know that… I know that… yes I know that!!” She squeaked out in frustration.

“Hey, uh… you okay, mousey?” Sen blinked at the display a few times.

“Do not address me as, mousey!” She shoved a finger back at the fox with a small glare, her green eyes looking fierce, reminding him a little of Jane’s.

“Okay, whatever, so what are you doing? The sooner you tell me, the sooner I’ll piss off, okay?” He grumbled and looked away, folding his own arms.

“Hmph… as I said…” She groaned and shoved a paw through her own blonde hair, the bangs of it dyed green to match her eyes. “Mantis reminds me the electric and water bills are on their final notice, and though I am confident I could live without my tridcom shows, I am loath to give up routine bathing. Let me see what this is all about!” She squeaked as she snatched the credstick and shoved it against a datapad she had on the table.

The gasping huff said all it needed to before she cleared her throat and pushed a paw through her hair once more. “So, I can keep this credstick, no strings attached?”

“Yeah some kind of peace offering, but I suspect you won’t get any future offers for employment if you leave her hanging, and judging by the looks of this place, you could use all the help you can get, mousey,” Sen gave a shrug.

“Do not mock a practitioner of divination, you heretical fox!” She squeaked out with a glare.

“Okay, starting to feel like I’m back home with my parents, I’m out, do what you want, mousey,” Sen snarled and stood from the seat, turning to leave as the mouse started arguing with herself again.

“I will not- I don’t care if you’re curious! No! I- Ugh… Fine!” She called out before he fully paced away, “Dog wants to know what happened to your eye.”

“Mantis, Dog? Lady, do you have some screws loose in that head of yours?” Sen looked over his shoulder.

“What? I am perfectly cognitive, you lout!” She squeaked out with a hiss.

“I don’t know what a lout is, but that sounds like an insult, again… what is your deal!?” Sen barked out as he wheeled to face the mouse that was glaring at him from the table.

“It means an uncouth or aggressive boy.” She spat out matter-of-factly.

“Seriously? You’ve been the aggressive one from the start, I just came to deliver a message, not tie your tail in a knot!” Sen folded his arms with his own fussy-looking glare.

“Are you going to answer, Dog, or just continue to be rude?” She squeaked out in annoyance.

“What dog? The only dog in here is me?” Sen pointed to himself in confusion.

She groaned and rubbed a paw against her small snout before looking up at the kitsune through cracked fingers in her paw. “The spirit, Dog. She wishes to know what happened to your right eye.”

“Spirit… riiight…” Sen rubbed his jaw as the pieces came together then shrugged. “Some drek-for-brains shot it out, so this is the best I’ve got.”

“Hmph… did something similarly unfortunate happen to your arm then, and that is why you scarred yourself in such a way?” She clicked her tongue and tilted her head, as if looking calmer.

“This? No, I did this myself, willingly.” Sen flexed his right paw into a fist, then watched the mouse’s calm expression wash away.

“You willingly, chopped off the arm that nature spent millions of years making perfect, all for some… some… shabby metal substitute?!” She spat the words out, looking as aghast as she sounded.

“Oh, that is it! Frag your holier-than-thou bullshit, lady! You sound like my damn parents!” He growled and thrust a finger at her.

“Perhaps your parents are to blame! You should be ashamed of-” She bit her tongue, then glared at nothing in particular before hissing out, “I most certainly will not! I said- But… You cannot levy such a threat upon me! Uh… ngh! So be it!”

Sen had already taken a step back as the mouse stood there arguing with herself before her arms crossed and tail whipped a few times, just glaring up at him before spitting the words out bitterly, “Dog says I owe you an apology.”

“Well, sounds like Dog at least has some fucking manners around here. So you gonna actually apologize then?” He put his paws on his hips.

“I just did!” She squeaked out.

“No, you said Dog told you that you owed me one, you didn’t actually apologize, now did you?” Sen showed a smug grin.

“I apologize,” She hissed the words out while grinding her teeth, her rounded ears folded as she glared at him.

“Cool, accepted, now get off my tail about what I do with my own damn meat.” Sen thrashed his own twin tails around as he eased his stance slightly.

“Hmph… a wasted gesture, but I will extend the offer,” She said as she poked her nose up, looking haughty before cutting her green eyes up to his. “Dog says she likes you, likes your spirit. Says she’d help you regrow that eye if you’re willing.”

“Regrow? You can do that?” Sen looked shocked at the offer.

“Me? Of course, I cannot, but Dog can, Mantis says she doesn’t give a flop that you cut your arm off, but yes, Dog said it would take about half a year to be usable, but she could do it.” She tapped her footpaw on the ground under her table bare against the dingie old carpet of the shop.

“Well, tell Dog I said thanks, but I’m pretty sure Ms. Jane already has a new eye lined up for me,” Sen shrugged like it was no big deal.

“Are you stupid? Not everyone is offered such a boon! If Dog restored your eye, it would be stronger and better than your original!” She squeaked out with frustration in her voice.

“Kind of like… bioware?” Sen asked. He then rubbed his jaw in thought. “I could always just have the left one replaced, maybe do like Jane does with one of each…”

“Ha! See… I told you!” She scoffed out, then shoved her nose up. “Dog said she would only help if you left your other eye alone, she feels sympathy for your plight as it is an injury, not a purposeful butchering of your sacred body.”

“Huh… Well, tell Dog I appreciate it and I’ll think about it.” Sen shoved his paws into his jacket and turned to leave, then stopped at the door before looking back. “What am I telling Jane?”

“Hmm…” The mouse showed her teeth in a smug grin and flicked her tail a few times. “I will agree if she provides me with a paw-written apology letter delivered by you!”

“Hang on, why… why bring me back into this?” Sen grumbled as he glared at her over his shoulder.

“Because Dog told me I should, and Mantis thinks you’re cute. I simply find you annoying,” She squeaked out pointedly.

“Yeah, I think we can agree on that. You’re not my favorite person I’ve met this week, mousey,” Sen snarled and shook his head. “Whatever, I’ll tell her.”

“Why should I?” She scoffed and then rolled her eyes. “Fine! Mantis says it’s rude of me to see you off without knowing your name, and as it is poor form to simply ask, I shall tell you, my name is, Moon.”

“Moon… I thought your name was Scythe?” Sen turned to face her.

“Scythe is my mission name, it is what they call me on runs. My street name is Moon, Moon Sickle,” She pushed a paw to her ample bosom as she explained.

He snorted at that with a show of teeth in a challenging grin, the mouse already narrowing her eyes before he spoke, “Sounds like a kit’s frozen synth-cream treat.”

“That name was bequeathed upon me by Mantis when we entered into our pact, you will not- Yes, you see?! I told you he was troublesome!” She squeaked out and nodded to herself, then sharpened her focus before huffing out, “Tell me your name already.”

“Sen,” He said simply.

“Hmph… it’s not the worst name I’ve ever heard, very well, Sen. Mantis tells you to return with not only the written letter, but also with an apology ready for her, or no deal!” Moon squeaked out casually as she shifted to rest her paws before her with a small crooked grin, her eyes half-lidded.

“You’ve got to be kidding, look lady, you can tell Mantis or whoever to go shove their imaginary head into a bucket of-” He yipped as a bite of pain hit his muzzle a loud ‘knock’ sound hitting the doorjamb behind him as he saw a chunk of wood was missing as if someone had slammed a blade into it, then lifted his paw to his muzzle, drawing it back to see blood.

“Tut… you shouldn’t upset Mantis, she is more forgiving than I, but she has a temper in the heat of the moment.” She lifted her muzzle and nodded. “Yes Dog, you may, and Weasle, please see our guest out afterward!”

Sen felt a warm sensation on his cheek as the wound closed, then gave a sharp bark as an unseen force just ejected him out of the shop right onto the rockcrete of the walkway, a blustering of wind hitting his tails before the door just slammed shut behind him.

With a slight wince, Sen picked himself up from the grimy sidewalk trying to process everything that had just happened. It’d have been nice if Jane had warned him she was a shaman and not a mage as he initially believed. With an annoyed snort he called for another V-cab to get a ride back to the club.

Even as he climbed into the cab, he had this odd sensation like he was being watched or followed. Rubbing his temple he felt a headache coming on as he sighed to himself, “Drek… Jane isn’t gonna be happy about this…”

—♥🌙—

“Ha! I’m quite happy about this turn of events, aren’t you, my Angel?” The rabbit groaned out as she braced on her knees and elbows right at the edge of the bed, the retriever on his own knees in the floor, his tongue dutifully lapping against her petals as he nodded at the question.

“We’ve not had time alone like this in months, ma’am… I missed you…” He puffed against her petals, then moved back in, tongue lapping against her pearl as the rabbit curled her footpaw toes and huffed out.

“Come now, my good boy… we showered for a reason, give my other hole some attention too,” She panted the orders, then squeaked out as she felt the dog push his tongue right to her tailhole as well, lapping and circling it as her cream-colored tail hiked right up.

She was fully bared before him, the only boy she’d do such a thing for, no weapons on her, absolutely exposed for her Angel. He was also naked, both their fur slightly damp from the quick shower they’d taken.

“Good dog… back to the other one… ngh! Perfect!” She squeaked out and dug her bloody claws into the sheets, grinding her teeth as she shoved her hips back with a huff. “Faster… side to side!”

He nodded and held her shifting hips steady, his own claws dug into her round hips as he rapidly shifted his tongue back and forth at her command. Jane rolled her green eyes up then gave a squeaky moan, louder than she normally would since they were in private, her honey gushing all over her dog’s skilled tongue.

“Ha… ha… that’s my dog… good boy…” She panted back at him over her shoulder, offering that wicked little grin as her rear shifted back and forth slowly. “You sure you wish to spend time with an older rabbit when you’ve got a young spry fox waiting at home for you?”

“Please don’t tease me like that, ma’am, you know how much you mean to me!” Angel barked out dutifully with a whimper.

“I do.” Jane rolled right over onto her back, the retriever giving an excited gasp as her perky round breasts came into view, peaks dark against that cream fur, stiff and showing how worked up she was. She offered another smug grin and draped a leg over his shoulder, her heel pushing into the back of his head as she forced his muzzle right back down upon her.

“Ngh… give me a nice good kiss, Angel…” Jane panted out, her other leg sliding over his shoulder as both of them locked around his head, trapping his head in those soft warm bunny-thighs as he whimpered and nodded, lapping, kissing, and suckling upon her.

“Good boy… my boy… ngh…” Jane panted and lolled her tongue, sighing with pride as the dog just nodded his head at her words, her legs snug, those thick warm thighs pushing to his cheeks, the heady scent of rabbit all in his nose while he circled and shifted his tongue against her spot.

“Ha… ha… almost… snap down, suckle nice… and… hard!” She hissed the words out, then squeaked and lolled her tongue, feeling him do as she told him, the pressure almost painful as her toes curled. “Good boy! Good… boy!!” She moaned out with another squeak, shuddering before easing her death-grip on his head with her strong legs, humming proudly as he dutifully lapped up her honey.

“Go sit at the head of the bed, my good boy…” Jane calmly kicked a leg up over his head, shifting to sit up, her breasts bouncing slightly from the movement. Angel barked like a puppy and scrambled to climb onto the bed, settling right against the pillows at the headboard, his length shamelessly at attention, fully slid free for her.

“Are you happy, my Angel?” She cooed while pawing right over to him, the mattress shifting as she climbed right into his lap, that crooked grin showing on her own muzzle as she pushed her sopping wet petals right up against the length of jumping retriever cock before her.

“So happy, ma’am… so happy to be your dog!” Angel whimpered and dug his paws into the bedding, knowing better than to grab her hips or rush her.

“Such a good boy…” Jane shifted both paws to his chest, trailing a finger along one of the deeper scars before lifting her hips. She could feel his heart pounding against her paw as she shifted her hips to position that tapered tip right to her entrance, bunny petals spreading to let it just settle against her.

“You’re mine… yes, my dog?” She asked while slowly shifting her hips the tapered tip right at her entrance, rabbit honey and his own prelove dripping down his jumping length, but she only let the head push into her.

“Y-yours ma’am!” Angel barked out and bit his lower lip, whining as the rabbit kept the teasing up, agonizingly shifting those soft full hips, her eyes locked to his own with that proud grin showing at his words.

“Mhm… aren’t you happy that I’m letting you have a little boyfriend?” She shifted her hips to let the tapered tip finally gain some purchase, slipping just an inch or so into that tight velvety entrance, feeling the heat from her smaller body burn against it.

“Y-yes! You’re so good to me, ma’am! J-Jane!” Angel whined out, clenching his teeth hard, giving her those adorable eyes that even made her icy heart melt just a little.

“Hgn… that’s what I like to hear… one more thing, my good boy… Are you listening?” She leaned back to better position herself, letting her hips lower, taking another inch in but the majority still jumping and throbbing beneath her, hearing the dog practically whining now.

“I’m listening! Anything, anything for you, Jane!” Angel barked out, his tongue showing, his paws shuddering against the sheets as his claws dug into them.

She leaned back in and gave his lips a soft peck, then shifted to whisper some orders into his ear, then pulled back, cupping his jaw as she looked into his eyes. “Got it?” He nodded his head frantically, his tongue showing as she offered that wicked little smirk and grabbed his paws, shifting them right to her hips. “Go on then, I’m listening…” She perked her ear nice and high.

“I belong to you, Jane and… I love you!” He barked out the decree and then she felt his claws sink into her cream fur hard, showing a proud grin as the dog wrenched her down with all his might, that length plunging straight up, smashing into her core to make her see stars for a moment as her tongue sagged out slightly.

“Ha! Perfect! Ngh… you are… such a good… boy!” She moaned the praise out, already clenching as he whined and ground his hips, holding those soft round hips steady while at last getting this rabbit hole he’d been dying for, her scent all over him as she came from just his entry.

“I do… I do… I love you, I love you so much…” Jane smirked at his words and nodded, pressing her paws to his chest, feeling him grind against her core, but knowing better than to thrust too eagerly, knowing she preferred the slow grinding, savoring those jumps and throbs of his cock while it was buried to the hilt in her.

“I know, my Angel… huff huff… go on, you can play with them, give them a pinch too…” She showed a haughty grin and leaned back slightly, resting her paws on his knees as he ground, the motion making her round breasts jiggle invitingly before he slapped his paws right up against them.

She hissed through her teeth as he kneaded at them hard, then jumped a little from his padded-fingers giving each peak a snug pinch. “Ngh… harder…” She hissed out then gasped as he applied even more pressure, her hips slapping down hard into his lap as she snarled out, “Harder, now!” As soon as the orders crossed her lips, Angel pinched down and twisted hard at her peaks, the rabbit offering a shrill little squeaky moan as her orgasm crashed against his jumping length.

“Gods! Yes… okay okay… too hard… lighten up!” She grabbed his paws and jerked them back down to her hips. “Good boy though… fuck… you weren’t holding back… I’ll feel that for a few days…” She offered him a giggle as her own body started to get in on the movements, those softly-sloped hips gliding against his paws while he moaned from her clenching walls.

“Mhm… you like that, don’t you, my good boy?” She rubbed her paws against his own, her nipples looking darker against her jiggling breasts as she rose and fell to his own movements, plunging that retriever length deep into her with each drop of her hips.

“Uh-huh! Always love being with you, ma’am… Gods… so amazing…” He sounded drunk and she bit her lower lip, loving seeing him like this as she leaned forward, shoving her paws to his chest.

“No more grinding… hold still… let mistress take care of you the rest of the way, understand?” She panted the orders as Angel nodded with a whimper, letting her have the reins. Jane started grinding and pumping herself, slapping her round hips hard into his lap, a small huff on her breath as she forced his tapered tip to smack into her core, feeling his bulging knot kiss at her entrance with each shift of her hips.

“There’s that knot… always can tell when you’re close by how big it is… You wanna cum in me, Angel? Cum in your mistress and boss?” She gave him that crooked grin as her own tail flicked with each drop of her hips.

“C-Can I?!” He barked out excitedly, his paws flexing on her hips as they shifted, already struggling to contain himself.

“Hmm…” She smacked her hips down hard a few more times, listening to his pitched breath, his eyes looking love-struck as he whined, seeing him hold on by a knife's edge for her. Leaning in close, she pulled up, letting almost the whole length of that honey-soaked length withdraw from her rabbit hole.

“Say please,” She whispered the order against his muzzle, only the tapered tip in her.

“Please! Please! Gods! Please!” Angel barked frantically, then yowled out in a throaty moan as Jane slammed her hips down with one final heavy push that made her breasts bounce hard, wincing as she forced that knot in, the length barely settling before he was erupting in thick hot ropes deep inside her.

“Good boy! Good boy! Ngh! All of it Angel… every… drop… of your… love!” She ground her hips, licking her chops as her whole body felt warm from him pouring his love and adoration deep into her.

“Fuck… fuck… Jaane… ma’aaam… L-love… you so… Ngh!” He clenched his teeth, then sagged his tongue, looking stunned as she clenched hard, milking that last gush in with a lick of her own chops.

His green eyes rolled up before he slumped back into the pillows, looking distant and brokenly in love with this rabbit, while she perched on his lap with that wicked little grin as if a succubus feeding off his adoration for her.

“You had so much, my Angel… even with your new boyfriend tending to you… ngh… that’s my boy… my good boy…” She leaned in and gave the side of his jaw a single lap of her tongue, his heart shuddering as his tail blurred against the bedding, despite having no energy left.

“Huff… take a breather, you earned it, my Angel… I’ll even sleep with you tonight, sound good?” She smirked and pushed a paw to his muzzle, rubbing under it as he sighed happily before nodding. The rabbit just showed him that crooked little grin, kissing his nose before settling down against his chest.

—♥🌙—

Sen leaned back into the seat of the grimy vector cab, trying to not breath too much through his nose. The thing smelled like the lovely combination of mildew and some drek’s hangover, the cabbie also hadn’t apparently learned the concept of personal hygiene. Mercifully the windows were cracked.

Focusing on his synaptic network, the vid display in his artificial eye popped into view, a static picture of Ms. Jane looking calculating and cold as ice appeared in his field of view as the audio fed straight into his brainstem, “What do you have for me, my dog?”

Sen took a deep breath in through his clenched teeth, taking in more of that funk from the air before answering, “Yeah about that…”

“That pompous little… I can respect her position though, bitch knows she’s got me by the metaphorical jewels. Fine, at least she isn’t asking for double her original fee. My paws are pretty full tonight, take the rest of the evening off, we’ll meet up at the Rhinestone Tower tomorrow afternoon.”

“Yes Ma’am.” He disconnected the call, then checked his messages, there was only a pawful of people in his contacts right now. Obviously, Jane as well as Angel, but he also had Wheels, the doc, and now by proxy of his last mission, Ace. 

Sure enough, he had a message from Angel that pinged into his visual field in text, “Hey Sugar, I’ll be busy with my own ‘special assignment’ tonight with the boss, if you know what I mean! ;). You have the code to my place and your paw is registered with the lock, I’ve even suggested a few decent places that deliver, miss you!”

Sen rolled his eyes, trying not to chuckle as he muttered to himself, “You sure get around, fetch.” The kitsune had to grin, the way Angel spoke so endearingly and took care of him was still an adjustment, but gave him reassurance after his world had flipped on its head. 

The fox was happy for the retriever and Jane both, after learning some of their history they deserved such loyal company in each other. Sen rested his head back again and closed his eyes at the thought, it made sense that if anyone could get past that icy exterior, it was Angel.

He started thinking more intently about Jane and Angel, wondering just how the sex was? What did that bunny look like under that suit? She clearly had a nice set on her, and those hips were wiz to say the least, likewise with that backside. His heart sped up a little at the recollection of her holding his jaw so intently, was it like that?

As the kitsune was starting to go through the mental gymnastics of considering what she might look like naked, he felt the fur on the back of his neck stand up, an odd sensation coming over him. It felt like he’d done something rather perverse and been caught, like a mother finding her teenage son’s trid-porn or something.

Sen shook his head a few times, reaching up to rub the bristled fur of his neck, “Guh, that was weird.” He sighed to himself, chalking it up to being a bit tired as his mind played catch-up on processing recent events. 

He thought about telling the cabby to change course but the sooner he got out of this puke-cab the better and it was almost to the club. The smoggy air and dust of the streets was akin to a field of mountain flowers after that ride as Sen took several paces away from the vector cab.

Pacing in front of the club for a few minutes, he made damn sure that fragging’ cab driver was leaving on another pickup for the next poor hapless soul before calling a new one. The new ride still stunk, but not on that level. It wasn’t a long ride back to Angel’s pad though.

He had to check the message for the code and as he shoved his thumb-pad over the scanner, it opened the door to the apartment. He caught his own scent in the air mingling with Angels and a few emotions hit him like a truck as he realized he wasn’t walking into just Angel’s place, but his as well.

It still looked foreign to him, but also familiar now. Then another sensation settled in on him, loneliness? This was the first time he’d been well and truly alone in a safe space since that night. It hadn’t clicked in the ride here, but the scent and sight of the well-kept place saw the kitsune realize how attached he was to the retriever already. 

Sen hadn’t made the effort to bond with many in his life, had been resistant to even blend in with his own family, but Angel had swooped in at the end of that one, given him a new one and gotten past his guard in one go.

The kitsune walked over to the kitchen, which felt somehow larger and a little lifeless without that dumb grin and apron prancing about making a meal with care. Sen swallowed down the pang of emotion in his throat, reaching for the list of places that would deliver. The fox made a few faces at the names, already a little used to home-cooked food over the quick and dirty meals out. 

Sen looked up for a moment as that feeling came back again, of someone watching him out of concern or care about his choices. He looked over the place again, across the clean surfaces with a slight shiver from ears to tail, like there was this urge in the air that someone wanted to care for him.

“The drek is going on…” The fox flicked his ears, then shrugged it off as he realized he was projecting the way Angel would want to look after him, without the retriever around it was like he was second-guessing the new lease on life.

None of the food was going to be up to what Angel would make, so he just picked something. Sitting on the small sofa he saw the coffee table was holding together decently but didn’t trust putting his drink on it, eating in silence and keenly feeling how empty the whole place felt.

Getting himself sorted out after dinner he looked at the small bed, the sheets the only thing untidy in the house, given they’d rushed out the door to make the meeting with Jane after quickly righting themselves from another heated makeout session. His tails fluffed behind him and his stomach ached a little, after all, he had been a virgin until last night.

With thoughts of that other dog in his head, he climbed into the bed, smelling the retriever's heady scent in the blankets. Again his mind drifted to wondering how that must have been with him and Jane, then of course what it’d be like to be in the middle of them.

He got that odd sensation again like he shouldn’t be thinking about this right now. With a frustrated grunt, Sen rolled over onto his belly, pushing his ‘kickstand’ into the mattress as he hugged Angel's pillow and tried to sleep, growling in frustration at how horny he was.

Sleep seemed to take him surprisingly easily, as if he’d taken drugs or drank too much. Once asleep the loneliness seemed to slip away. He had lucid dreams of comfort and security, as if he were being held in another’s arms. He swore he dreamed of his head in a lap with someone stroking his ears and hair. In the end though, it was just a dream and the next day came.

—♥🌙—

Sen groaned as he lifted his head from Angel’s pillow, his dark hair mussed about as the smell of food came to his senses. Flicking a large orange and black-tipped ear, he could hear the sounds of activity in the kitchen. He was shocked as he realized he was a little giddy at the thought that Angel was back and cooking for him.

Grunting a little he sat up and pushed a paw through his hair, shaking his head. “Damn… he already got that kind of hold on you, man? Some hardened soldier you turned out to be,” Sen grumbled to himself with a grin as he slowly found his bare footpaws, ducking into the restroom to freshen up and at least somewhat detangle his hair before going out to greet his boyfriend.

Sen strode into the front room with an excited shifting of his tails, smiling more than he realized at seeing the retriever, apron donned and manning the stove with a happy hum. The fox leaned onto the counter with both paws with a friendly bark, “Hoi! Someone’s in a good mood, eh? That good of a time with the ‘ice queen’?” 

“Hehee, you know it, sugar! What I like to call a serious perk of the job, the boss lady knows how to give orders!” Angel grinned broadly, the tone in his voice and wagging tail stirring butterflies in the kitsune, “Glad you got settled alright, though, don’t think you weren’t on my mind, babe.”

“Pffft, is that right? You got a night with a body like hers, while I’m sent out to talk with a walking tarot deck?” Sen flicked his tails behind himself, grinning at the retriever, “At least you had a good time, fetch. I guess it wasn’t all bad, the mouse had a rather nice bod herself.”

“You mean Moon? Oh yeah, that mouse is easy on the eyes. She’s a bit eccentric but who isn’t in this biz? Was she wearing one of those silky numbers that make her hips and tits show? Always wanted to ask her to dance or something in that getup!” Angel barked a laugh as he stirred some eggs in a pan.

“Not sure her personality is worth that view though, damn what a bitch…” Sen grumbled and drummed his claws on the counter, then hissed out as a cold chill went up his spine for some reason.

“You cold, sugar? Here.” Angel passed him a mug of soykaf with that bright grin that was missing a tooth. Sen smiled and sipped the steaming hot drink with a relieved huff as the infused caffeine started slogging his brain back into motion.

“I’ve worked with her several times, she’s not bad, just a little weird sometimes. Hates chrome though, used to glare at my leg all the time. Said it was a shame but at least it was from an injury.” Angel plated up the eggs to present to his new boyfriend.

“Ha! At least you have that excuse. She looked ready to shoot me when she found out I willingly ditched the old arm.” Sen grumbled as he clenched his right paw a few times, flexing the arm in question.

“Sounds like how she acts around Wheels, her and the rat are like oil and water. You’d think a mouse and rat would get along, yeah?” Angel asked with another grin as he quickly wiped out the pan to pour batter into it, obviously making some sort of pancakes.

“Fuck if I know, fetch… I’m already dreading seeing her again, hopefully she doesn’t light my tails on fire or some shit. When I left her shop yesterday, I was literally thrown out by something, like she was standing on the other side of the room and everything.” Sen grumbled as he stabbed into the fluffy eggs, then after a bite, his tails started wagging before he focused in on the food.

“Probably Weasel I’d guess,” Angel said casually as he peered down at the pancake he was cooking.

“Mmm… yeah that’s what she said I think as Mantis cut me, Dog apparently healed me, then Weasel threw my tails out. How many spirits is she hiding in that mousey cleavage of hers?” Sen offered a snarky grin, then shivered again before rubbing the back of his head.

“You got the chills this morning, sugar? Need me to come snuggle up with you?” Angel asked while flipping the partially cooked pancake in the skillet, not even looking at it, but it landed perfectly centered.

“Show off… and yes.” Sen smiled then frowned as he continued, “I dunno, fetch. I’ve just kind of had this chill in me ever since I left her place yesterday.” Almost like with the combat training, something else came to mind that had been taught to him before even that. 

When he was a pup at his home shrine, his father had been bent on embedding the traditional ways and knowledge of their family. One of those was the existence of spirits unseen, the embodiments of emotion themselves called the Kami; ethereal beings of gifts and power on a scale from rain blessings to the Sun itself. Sen at first had been in awe of this revelation, attending the teachings and rituals of the family dutifully in the hopes of communicating with one of these ancient beings, some even considered Gods in the old world.

"Heh, it's kind of funny isn't it, what we believe or don't in life?" Sen muttered aloud to the retriever without thinking, his mind relaying those days a thought occurred to him.

"Hm? I think I know that look, where you scrunch your brow, you get real quiet...what's on your mind, sugar?"  Angel piped up with a curious grin, settling golden-brown pancakes onto a plate to place by the kitsune.

"When I was little, my father mentioned these spirits, a lot like how that mouse was seeing, or talking to...I don't know, but anyway...he said as a kitsune, we had the ability to talk to them more easily, like a natural connection." Sen finished the eggs in front of him with a flick of both tails, enjoying these small bites of comfort food more than even a choice go-meal. The fox slid the plates about so he could start breaking up the still softly steaming pancakes.

"You think one of them picked up on that?" Angel tilted his head with a smile that denied any judgment, merely a gentle inquiry to this side of the military fox, turning about every so often to finish his own breakfast with an almost ever-wagging tail.

"Maybe, Moon even said one of them thought I was cute, or some drek...before another threw me out, so who knows?" Sen shrugged his natural shoulder, digging into bites of the fluffy pancakes with an audible sound of enjoyment, tails swishing in further betrayal of how much the fox liked these homemade meals.

“I already knew you were cute so that I can believe, sugar.” Angel winked back at the kitsune with a knowing grin that caused those butterflies again, making a quick finish up with his own breakfast to set his plate across Sen, “When you go back, maybe chat it up? Ask if you got the gift or some spirit is stalking you, can’t hurt right?”

“It might, depending on where I land if I get tossed out again.” Sen rolled his eyes with a snort, shoving a few stabbed bits of pancake into his maw with a huff from his nose afterward.

“Heh, you gotta mind your manners better, especially around Moon! You’re talking to a menagerie of attitudes, but most times I found it good to stay cool, don’t let your tongue get ahead of your heart.” Angel nodded to himself as he thought back on his own time with the shamanistic mouse.

“Tch, easy for you to say, everyone fuckin’ loves you, fetch!” Sen barked after finishing his last bites, laughing with a shake of his head, “I mean, damn, bedding the boss-bunny proves you’re irresistible!” 

“Well don’t you think too highly of me, sugar, I got plenty of flaws. Sweet of you, but don’t go puttin’ me on a pedestal now. I get the most out of life helping others, making ‘em smile, that’s all.” Angel spoke in a soft voice with a bright smile, his tail wagging in a blur at the praise, “Not that I don’t appreciate it, coming from you it means I’ve done right as Ms. Jane did for me.”

“Yeah, lucky for my ass, huh? How many people can say they were on Death’s door, then got a second chance?” Sen shook his head at the insane luck on his side lately, even if it was all still a spinning mess in his head. Fewer still were the people that got the kind of shot he did, a literal reincarnation with a new identity, purpose, and people he could actually call friends.

“We can, babe. And we’re gonna pay it forward, just like the boss bunny wants.” Angel grinned warmly, lifting his soykaff for Sen to do the same, clinking mugs before sipping in time at that comforting thought. 

—♥🌙—

Jane flipped a sealed envelope end over end against her bloody claws for several moments, glaring heatedly at it before shifting her sharp green eyes back to the kitsune before her. With a flick of her paw, she tossed the letter forward to him, one eye shifting to purple before he got a notifying ping in his synaptic network of a credit transfer.

“There’s something for the cab, go give that stupid mouse her letter,” She snarled towards the fox as her eye faded back to green.

“Nice to see I’m not the only one she leaves such a great impression on,” Sen said as he took the letter and tucked it into his jacket.

Jane sighed before pushing a paw through her blonde locks. “I’m loathe to admit she’s an exceptional mage, but-”

“Hang on,” Sen called out, the rabbit twitching a brow at being interrupted but tilted her head, looking annoyed but letting him continue, “She’s a shaman, not a mage, you know that right?”

“Of course, I know that, but what’s it matter? It’s all arcane drek, isn’t that what you’d say?” Jane offered him a smirk, as if in a bid of camaraderie.

Sen rubbed the back of his head before shrugging. “I mean, yeah, but it’s different too, mages tend to be more focused, they approach it educated, shamans tend to be more…”

“Bat-drek nuts?” Angel asked with a grin.

“I was going to say eccentric, but we’ll go with that,” Sen smiled at his boyfriend.

“Regardless, go tell that, shaman, that I’ve got her silly letter. However…” Jane hissed through her teeth as she folded her paws on the table. “If she doesn’t play ball after this little humiliation stunt, I make no promises on that storefront of hers remaining intact over the next week.”

“Am I telling her that, ma’am?” Sen asked.

“Don’t bother, just get going.” Jane snapped out then shifted her eyes to Angel. “I’ve got something for you to do while your new fox is off.” The retriever showed an eager grin, his tail wagging before she rolled her eyes and followed up, “Not that kind of work, get your brain out of the gutter.” Angel pouted but gave a nod.

“I’ll be off then, try not to get into too much drek while I’m gone, honey,” Sen called out teasingly to the other dog as he threw a paw up.

“You too, sugar! Remember to avoid any wind gusts!” Angel barked out playfully as Sen’s waved paw shifted to shoot him a middle finger as he kept walking.

“Sugar and honey? You guys make me sick.” Jane offered a wicked little grin as she leaned back with her paws folded.

“Ah come on boss, you like it when I get romantic!” Angel put his paws on his hips with a smile, both of her bodyguards behind her visibly showing eye rolls at the exchange.

—♥🌙—

The cab ride back to Moon’s shop was interesting to say the least, the jackal that was his cabby looked like he had more piercings than strands of fur on his body, a constant blaring stream of thrash metal filling the cabin the whole ride.

When he opened the door to step out of the v-cab, another parked vehicle actually activated its alarm from the heavy warble of sound coming from the interior of the cab before he shut the door with a snarl, having to take a few minutes to let the ringing in his ears subside.

Standing outside the shop he took a deep breath, trying to remember what Angel said, remembering what he was dealing with, and thinking back to some of the time at the shrine with his father. The spirits were very much individuals even if they spoke through the shaman. They all had their own tastes, objectives, personalities, and goals.

He pushed the door open to the shop, the little copper bell tinkling into the air once more, his eyes adjusting to the darker room, his cybernetic one taking a few microseconds longer to adjust than his meat one. Moon just sat there at the table, her paws folded, her green claws shining in the low light with a smug haughty grin showing on her muzzle.

“You look like you knew I was coming, one of your spirit buddies tip you off?” Sen lifted his muzzle, trying to not sound too irritated.

“No, the screaming thrash metal from the cab did. I just peeked out the curtains and saw your fine tail standing there, so I got into a proper menacing position as such,” She hummed out with another grin, showing her slightly more prominent front teeth.

“Fine tails is it?” Sen asked, forcing a smile as he looked her over. She wore the same style of silks as last time, but a green set this time which more suited the highlights in her hair and along her nails. That ample swell of breasts were still clear and present with necklaces laying across those mousey tits of hers.

“Sit down.” Moon took out her tarot deck and started shuffling the cards.

“Don’t you want your letter?” Sen asked while settling before her, the mouse’s scent tickling his nose again, she smelled sweeter, like flowers, had she purposefully freshened up in anticipation for his arrival? Not that she smelled bad the first time.

“I do not, but Mantis will take that apology now,” She hummed out as she started laying cards out before him.

Sen rolled his eyes but then sighed before speaking out, “Okay, fine. Look, Mantis, sorry for being rude to you earlier, okay?”

“Do you mean it?” Moon cocked a brow as she laid another card face down.

“My father taught me a little about spirits, I understand they have feelings just like me, so yes. I mean it.” He grumbled and didn’t really sound like he meant it, but wasn’t thrilled about having to force the apology.

“She doesn’t believe you, but understands you’re a kitsune, a prideful creature, so she acknowledges your efforts and will forgive you.” The mouse stuck her nose up as she dropped another card on the table.

The first card turned over and Moon cocked a brow at it, once again it was the Wheel in an upright position. “It would appear, you truly are a force of chaos and change, are you not?”

“I really don’t get how tarot cards work, Moon,” Sen frowned as he looked down at the faded card with worn edges, then his eyes shifted to the display of her cleavage once more. Moon shifted to lean a little closer as he watched those ample swells shift to show a deeper view.

“Enjoying the view?” She asked casually as she flipped over another card, the Star. “Would you feel your life has been rejuvenated, Sen?” He snapped his eyes to hers, the mouse showing a toothy grin, not bothering to change her position as she thumbed her claw on the next card, but clearly waiting on his answer.

“Huh… Yeah I was thinking just that earlier, what with being pulled from the teeth of death recently, and yes I was enjoying the view.” He offered her a challenging grin.

“Straightforward and confident suits you better.” Moon squeaked out as she flipped the other card over, The Devil.

“Huh, that’s bad, right?” Sen asked curiously.

“There is no good or bad in the divination, Kitsune. Merely see it as a roadmap or guide… Why if we simply do this…” She shifted a paw to turn the card around so it was upside down. “You could consider this… freedom, but you are a caged dog right now, aren’t you? Caged by a devil, yes?” Moon showed a grin as she flipped the next card over, the Empress.

Sen gulped at that, seeing the four cards laid out before him, then looked back up into her eyes, the mouse shifting to sit up before him. After a few moments, he asked, “So what’s all this mean, Moon?”

“It means my cards are all marked so I can pull what I want,” She scooped the four up and slipped them back into the deck with a haughty smirk.

“Wh- Y-you mean that was all just a show?” He barked out with a half-glare at her.

“Oh come now, the spirits already have the answers before the cards are drawn, I simply use them as a tool to make the uninitiated understand better, don’t take it personally, Sen.” Moon gave him a playful grin as she leaned back, seeing him still glaring slightly as if trying to bite his tongue. “Come now, don’t pout, say what you wish.”

“Are you fucking with me again, lady?” He growled out with a tilt of his head.

Moon showed him a mischievous grin as she lifted her paw, then her finger before tapping a claw right on his nose. “Yes.” She giggled before cocking a brow, looking relaxed and even playful now, a complete change to her attitude yesterday.

Sen looked shocked, then shook his head, “See, this is why there’s such a bad rap for the arcane, and why it’s not taken seriously…I actually came here, even started to think there was some kind of…drek if I know, fate or something. How do the spirits know all about me already, anyway?”

“Fate is… transient, Sen. Nothing is cast in stone, even the gods cannot foretell what is yet to be written,” Moon held her right paw out to him. “Place your paw pads up in mine, your left one obviously, if you put that abomination in my paw I’ll throw you out.” The mouse offered him that smug little grin.

Sen rolled his eyes, not enjoying this game of hers, but did as he was told, placing his larger paw atop the mouse’s smaller one. She huffed and traced a finger along his pads, nodding to herself in thought. “Yes, I understand… As a spiritual kitsune, you turned your back on the arcane, because it was your pedigree. You were expected to do such things and you wished to be your own dog in this bitter-cold world, yes?”

His large ears perked at that before he gave a small nod. Moon offered him an almost motherly-looking smile before circling her clawed finger against the main pad of his paw. “Clearly you have trust issues with the arcane, largely due in part to your upbringing… A shrine kit, destined to live and die in the services of the powers of the aether.”

“Damn…Okay, I know you couldn’t bullshit me on all that…” He huffed out, looking impressed, then felt his tails fluff as the mouse shifted before him, offering him another view of her chest while she continued.

“Do you hate me, Sen? Do you hate the spirits I keep company with? Distrust us?” Moon met his eyes, seeing he had to shift his focus up from her cleavage to meet her piercing green eyes. They reminded him a little of Jane’s, but more curious looking in this moment.

“Uh… I don’t really know you, Moon, we just kind of started off in a bad way. You’ve not really done anything to make me hate you though?” He felt his heart speed up as the mouse offered a small smile to him, an earnest-looking smile.

“Alright, Sen… Dog says I should give you a second chance, and you did at least attempt an apology to Mantis, so…” She let her fingers linger on his, feeling them hook just a little as she tried to withdraw her paw, as if not wanting to break the contact, their claws hooking together as she grinned at him.

She pulled her paw back at last, then sat up straight in her chair before thrusting it out with a cute little smug grin. “I’m Moon, nice to meet you, Sen.”

He looked surprised, but his paw moved in without thinking as he clasped the mouse’s in a pawshake. “Uh… Nice to meet you, Moon.”

“The pleasure is mine,” She said with an indiscernible look in her eyes, keeping hold of his paw even after the shaking stopped. He blinked a few times as this older girl just held his paw, her grip warm and small feeling, was she waiting on him to pull away?

After another heartbeat, he broke the grip and she let his paw part from hers, feeling a shiver up his spine like he’d just lost some sort of connection other than a physical one. Moon showed another grin then hummed as she opened her paw. “Give me that letter.”

He had to take a few moments to compose himself before remembering the letter Jane gave him. Digging into his jacket he withdrew it and passed it over. Moon used her blue claw to break the seal, flipped it over and then snorted. “I guess she did as I asked.” She flipped the letter onto the table face up, a simple messy scrawl of letters that simply read, ‘Sorry, don’t make me kill you’.

Sen barked out in a laugh at that and Moon offered him her own grin as their eyes met. They locked into a staring match again, as if that connection returned once more. After a few more moments of silence, Sen finally asked, “So, what should I tell, Jane?”

“Tell her I’ll run with her again, for double my original fee,” Moon said matter-of-factly.

“She’s gonna be pissed you added more to the terms,” He said with a grin.

“I’m not adding anything to the terms. She asked if I’d run again with her, she spoke nothing of pay. The letter was just to get me to agree to work.” Moon smirked as she leaned back, showing that smug little grin once more.

“So uh… I guess I should go tell her, huh?” Sen looked away from her piercing green eyes, his tails wagging behind him.

“Well, that is your job, isn’t it? Did you need anything more from me, Sen?” Moon asked with a small smile as she leaned forward on her elbows, letting her chest push forward a little against her arms.

Sen looked down at the smaller mouse clearly showing off, thinking he had a lot he needed from her and didn’t even realize it until now. His eyes darted back up to hers, the mouse shifting a paw to brush the green-dyed bangs from her eyes before grinning at him.

“How about…” He cut himself off, processing what he was about to say, but then thought about how close he’d come to death just a few days ago, about how no one was promised tomorrow in the sprawl. Reining his courage in, he offered the most forced smirk he could muster as he continued, “How about your number?”

Moon opened her paw as she extended it before speaking, “Paw.” He shifted his left paw into hers once more as the mouse withdrew a pen and drew a series of digits across his pads, then pulled her paw back with a small smile.

“Woah… uh… didn’t think you’d agree…” Sen blinked at his paw, already logging the digits into his contact list.

“Why not? You’re cute when you’re not being insufferable. Jane gave me quite a nice incentive to sign back up, so I’ve got a little extra credit burning in my pocket. Since you were a brave kitsune and asked for my number, I’ll return the gesture. You, me, and dinner tomorrow night sound good?” Moon lifted her muzzle as she shifted her arms to push her chest out a little more, giving him a good look at the goods as he contemplated his answer.

“Really? Uh… Yes! That sounds wiz, actually!” He barked out awkwardly, feeling his heartbeat dial up a little faster at the view.

“Sounds good, seven will work for me, ah one more thing… Dog was hoping she could talk to you later?” She asked with a knowing smirk.

“Eh? Sure, when is later?” He asked.

Moon shook her head, then clicked her tongue as she spoke out, “Wait- are you serious? You most certainly may not! I realize it wouldn’t be physical but-” The mouse grunted and then squeaked out, the fussy haughty tone from yesterday coming out at last, “No! I took the prerogative and- I don’t care if you helped!”

“Uh… should I go?” Sen asked with a small grin.

“You are fine, Dog is just being a bitch. Yes, I know that’s what you are by default, no I mean a bitch as in a little dreking punk!” Moon hissed out with a glare as Sen couldn’t help but grin as the mood shifted to something like this.

“Yes, talk, just… talk! You know what? No!” Moon glared at the kitsune and thrust a paw forward, making her chest bobble a little. “Sen, please excuse yourself, your meeting with Dog will have to wait until after you and I have our date tomorrow.”

“So, it’s officially a date?” He asked with a grin, his tails wagging as he climbed from the chair.

“Do you need those semantics to have your ego properly stroked, fox? Yes, a date, and I’m even in a heat cycle, if you don’t piss me off, I might even put out for you, now please excuse yourself!” Moon poked her nose up with a huff.

Sen felt his cheeks burn under his fur as he wagged his tails but gave a quick nod, the mouse offering him a playful grin, her green eyes looking more sultry now, but then they hardened as she hissed out, “Ask me if I care, bitch.”

“Uh… I’ll leave you to it then… see you tomorrow, Moon!” He barked out, unable to hide the eagerness in his voice.

“No, you will not punch his astral v-card before-” He shut the door with a confused frown as the mouse kept arguing with Dog, his heart pounding but a little nervousness creeping in at the thought of how he’d handle her, was it going to be just her, or her and all her friends as well?

Her sweet scent lingered in his nose and the butterflies in his stomach told him that his life was about to get more complicated. Shaking his head, he took a composing huff before stepping away to call a cab, the lovely vision of that mouse still clear and present in his mind.

—♥🌙—

Next Episode:

They say if you don’t remember the past, you won’t learn from it, but should the past forever brand your present and future? Was this a legacy rejected? Am I just full of bitterness and disappointment at all that remains of that time?

Are you a protector that would stand by me as my mother should have done? You look at me with such hunger in your eyes despite your motherly tone. Is this a bond I feel forming? The carnal embrace of a guardian, the desperate hunger of a mature woman starved for affection and the exuberant wonder of a young male’s first time… What do you mean you love me?!

Episode Five: Astral Bonds

I hope you've enjoyed this episode, my lovely reader!

I'm not going to lie, I kick my tail writing these! A single episode can take me twelve to fifteen hours or longer to make after conception, writing, editing, and proofreading! If you enjoy this, support me, please? It doesn't have to be financial either, just share my stuff and get my name out there. Vote, Fave, Comment, offer feedback, anything. Thank you, and as always, I'm nothing without your support!

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Chapter Text

Being a writer is my dream job but it has full-time hours and this is where I'd normally pitch my ways to support me, but I've been told Ao3 doesn't vibe with that, so maybe just follow me on Twitter or BlueSky to see what I'm up to?

And with that out of the way…

—♥🌙—

Episode 5:

Astral Bonds

"You are late. Again." Came the gruff voice of his father, the colors of that fox coat made silver with time and wisdom, or something like that. White shrine attire hid the rest of the figure, with six flowing tails shifting in timed, silent movements.

"I-...yes, sorry father. I was listening to the spirit of the forest, she's happy we've kept it untouched." Sen bowed low before and during speaking, only rising again at the gruff "Hmph" sound his father made, neither approval nor acceptance of such an answer.

"Did you sweep the grounds, and clean the wardstones at each shrine gate?" His father spoke again, still seated on his knees, back to the entryway of the central shrine. This was how it always went, never eye to eye or speaking to one another as family, "And why did you not remove your shoes?"

Sen frowned down at his slightly dirty shoes and then sighed, stepping backward to slip them off at the doorway. "I'm sorry father. Yes, I did as you asked, and helped Mother water the flower beds outside the grounds." The young kitsune spoke softly, ears splayed knowing there wouldn't be a reply of praise.

"So, listening to the spirits? Since when can you hear them as clearly as I, mm?" The seasoned fox asked with a steady, almost emotionless tone save for the note of constant questioning.

"Nowhere near your skill, father. I merely heard it on the wind, or in my head, I think..." Sen's tail twitched in thought, trying to remember how the gentle voice echoed before, but now seemed like a distant memory to him already.

"Exactly, you don't even know what you heard or how...I doubt you understood the words correctly." The older kitsune exhaled, shifting forward to pick up a teacup to bring up for a long sip, then the sound of an empty clink before a clawed paw came up, signaling for the boy to approach him.

Sen perked up with a barely hidden smile, padding over the smooth and perfectly preserved wooden flooring to stand at the side of his father, swallowing any reply before hearing the words his father wanted to say, what lesson to receive next. 

“Bring me more tea, make sure it’s adequately hot this time.” The six-tailed fox didn’t look up, staring instead out of the open double doors of the shrine to the green, painstakingly maintained clearing before it, where an ancient statue of a nine-tailed kitsune stood. It held its paws together as if in prayer, with one eye open looking at the father and son, the other closed with a tear upon its cheek.

“Y-yes, father.” Sen knelt down to pick up the tray holding the empty kettle and cup, only to gasp as a strong paw grasped at one of his wrists.

“If you aren’t going to take this seriously…this way of life, the traditions we safeguard in this chaotic world…do not return to the shrine. You have dishonored me, and this sacred place enough with your laxity!”

Sen yelped as the eyes of his father widened, and glowed a fierce crimson as fangs snapped at his face. The kitsune sat up in bed with a bark, arms held up to shield his face, but after a moment he dropped his arms with a sigh, realizing where he was.

“The drek was that about…haven’t had a dream like that in years.” Sen shook his head, then perked his ears at the alarm he’d just beaten on the nightstand. After smacking it off, he grinned hearing the increasingly familiar sound of Angel humming in the kitchen.

Then it came to the surface, the butterflies as Sen remembered the date setup for tonight. His grin broadened at how Moon had surprised him, rewarding his brazen ask of her number, only for the admittedly cute argument with someone he couldn’t even see.

“Oooh, somebody looks ex-cit-ed!” Angel spoke from the open doorway, making Sen jump in place with a flail of the covers.

“Woah, dude! Don’t DO that!” The kitsune laughed out of embarrassment at how easily the retriever had gotten the drop on him, but the fox shrugged with a grin, “Okay yeah fine, I am. She’s cute, kinda weird…but c’mon, how many people are going to want this?”

“Um, excuse you? Sounds like you want to sleep on the couch from now on, sugar. Mhm.” Angel feigned insult from that reply, scoffing with a paw at his heart before turning to finish making breakfast, “Cannot believe I heard that, take in this stray, feed ‘em…”

Sen smacked his paws onto his face to muffle a laugh as Angel kept muttering on even after turning the corner, “Alright, alright, I’m sorry!”

Once the morning settled down, he found himself again with a breakfast plate, homemade and tasting better than it should, given the ingredients his lover had at his paws. The two ate comfortably on the couch, the rickety table having been reinforced by a sawed-off two-by-four.

“So, where you gonna take her, sugar?” Angel asked while sipping on his soykaf.

“Take her? She is taking my tail out, I ain’t got the credits to be going on dates yet, fetch!” Sen laughed as he stabbed another bite of reconstituted eggs.

“Hey, you just got paid, you couldn’t have spent it all so quick, Sen?” He asked with a tilt of his head.

“Of course not, but I want to help you with rent and food. I’m not just going to freeload off you, Angel,” Sen grumbled as he looked over at the other dog next to him.

Angel growled and scooted close, offering a nuzzle against his jaw, his right paw sliding between the kitsune’s legs, grabbing a pawful of his crotch through his jeans, the fox yipping as the retriever offered a smug grin. “Here and I thought your tail was payment enough.”

“Guh! Cut that out, fetch! Damn!” He barked out and pushed the other dog’s paw off his crotch with a laugh, even though his body was already responding to it, telling him he enjoyed that direct approach from his boyfriend.

“Heh… speaking of tail… guess who picked up lube today!” Angel showed the fox a devious grin.

Sen folded his ears with a frown on his muzzle. “Uh… N-not sure I’m ready for that step, I don’t think my ass could take-”

“Who said it was for your tail, sugar?” The retriever pushed a paw to his chest as he barked out in a haughty tone, “It won’t make me feel any less macho to assume the position and be a bottom for you, I’ll just pounce you later to return the favor!”

“Drek face…” Sen muttered with an awkward huff, his mind already whirling about the various gymnastic positions he was going to no doubt end up in with this guy.

“You love me!” Angel barked out and lapped his jaw before flopping back over to the other side of the sofa to sip his soykaf.

—♥🌙—

“Hey troublemaker, let’s meet up around eight outside of my place, I know a dive with cheap synthol and cheaper food. You know the stuff that is so bad for you, it sends you to heaven!” Moon’s voice fed straight into his synaptic feed as he was throwing together an outfit for their date.

“Troublemaker is it?” Sen responded as he brushed out his freshly washed hair, still shaking off the cold shower.

“I’ll provide you with a more endearing pet name if the night ends without me lighting your tails on fire, eight o’clock, don’t be late.”

“Yeah yeah, by the way, how are you doing this? I know you don’t have a data output in your synaptic system.”

“I’m not going to butcher my body, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the conveniences of technology drek-for-brains, I’ve got a synaptic set of goggles I wear for this sort of thing.”

“Sounds cumbersome,” Sen thought.

“It’s like a tiny set of glasses, it’s no big deal,” Moon responded.

“Huh, I bet you’d look cute in glasses!” Sen showed a grin, then perked his ears as his feedback display loaded up a picture of the mouse looking in a mirror with the glasses on, sticking her tongue out. He could already tell she had curled her hair slightly and was wearing some blush on her cheek fur.

“Oh man, you look really cute, Moon!” Sen responded.

“Thanks, I’m sure you’ll be looking nice tonight as well, hopefully you like how cute I look when the clothes come off as-” Both of them perked their ears as a priority message hit their networks.

“Hoi! What the hell!?” Angel barked out from the other room as all three of them got the message at the same time.

“Rhinestone, 1900.” Was all the message said, sent from Jane.

“Fucking serious!?” Sen barked out loud with a snarl.

“So much for that hot date!” Angel barked out from the other room with a laugh.

“Frag off!” Sen barked back with a snap of his teeth.

“Bitch is already torturing me, guess I’ll scratch the itch a little with a toy then see you at work!” Moon responded as Sen’s ears shot up at that.

“Hey! At least let me see!” He responded.

“Let me think about it. No.” The feed disconnected as he barked out in frustration and snarled at himself in the mirror.

“That’s rough, sugar. You want a quickie before we head out?” Angel laughed as he peeked into the tiny bathroom on his boyfriend.

“We’d never finish in time, I know how your ‘quickies’ end up, fetch!” Sen showed him a small grin and shook his head before following up, “I’ll be okay, it’s not the end of-” His ears perked as another message fed into his synaptic feed.

It was a picture of Moon wearing her glasses, her top off in a skimpy black bra, her arms folded under it to heft her rather large breasts up, a smug grin showing on her muzzle with a caption under it. “Here’s something to tide you over, you perverted fox.”

“I take it back, the world is over, I want everything to burn…” Sen snarled and ground his teeth with clenched paws, seeing what he was losing tonight.

“Oh shit! Did she send you something juicy?! Let me see!” Angel hugged him right up with a little bark and nipped his orange-black ear with a playful growl.

“Dude! She’d murder me if she found out!” Sen barked as his boyfriend hugged him up, as if he’d be able to look over his shoulder to see what was in his visual field.

“Who’s gonna tell her? Come on!” Angel grinned and wagged his tail.

“Tch… I guess it’s not that bad…” Sen shot the picture over to Angel’s own network on a secure line in their apartment instead of through the synopsis network.

“Daaamn… those mousey milkers are even bigger than Janes!” Angel barked out with an impressed huff.

“Mousey milkers? What are you, twelve?” Sen grumbled.

“No, about nine and a half, if I were twelve I’d be in the trid-porn industry, sugar!” Angel showed him a smug grin.

“No wonder it always makes my fucking jaw hurt…” Sen grumbled then shoved him out of the tiny bathroom. “Get out so I can get ready to go!”

“Yeah yeah! I’m going, I’m going!” Angel barked as he moved into their bedroom to get his own running gear out.

—♥🌙—

“My dogs are always so punctual,” Jane cooed out as she folded her paws while sitting in the booth of the club, lasers dancing about, the thrum of synthetic music spilling out beneath them on the lower floor.

“Of course, ma’am, always eager to be of assistance!” Angel responded happily, his golden tail wagging in a blur behind him. Sen looked a little more irritable though.

The rabbit clued in instantly on the glum-looking fox’s attitude and showed her teeth in a predatory grin. “Something weighing upon you, my fox?”

Sen perked his ears and shook his head before answering her, “No, sorry, my mind was just wandering, Ms Jane.”

She gave him a smirk, seeing he was clearly hiding something but let it be before waving her paw. “Would you like a drink since we have a few before the others get here?”

“Oh, that’d be nice, can I get-” Sen started to answer before Jane held a paw up, then pointed to Steph who gave a snort and stomped right off. An awkward silence hung about the three of them and the chromed-up rabbit flanking her that never spoke. Finally, Sen spoke up, “I could have told you what I wanted, Ms Jane.”

“I didn’t ask, I asked if you wanted a drink, not what I would give you,” Jane responded with a smug grin, her eyes glowing in the dim lights as she folded her paws on the table, then smirked as Steph returned, setting three cocktails out before them.

Each one seemed to spark in the lasers, the same kind she seemed to favor, little glittering stars seeming to shimmer in the synthol as the rabbit lifted one up. “Well?” Both the dogs looked to one another and lifted their own drinks, the trio clinking the glasses together.

Sen took a sip of the drink, it didn’t taste like synthol at all, almost like fruit juice, or what he assumed real fruit juice would taste like. A moment later the burn kicked in as he winced a little, rubbing his throat, that awkward sensation coming forth when you’d drink something too hard, a little cough erupting from his throat. Jane just offered him an amused smirk and kept sipping on her own cocktail.

Angel just turned the whole thing up, having the whole drink polished off in a matter of seconds, his tail blurring in a wag before he thunked the glass down, licking his chops as he huffed out in satisfaction.

“Good boy,” Jane cooed out, then sat her half-drank cocktail down before looking intently into Sen’s eyes. He felt a cold chill crawl up his back at the icy gaze she gave him, his lips about to part to speak when she cut him off, “This job might give you de-ja-vu, my fox.”

Sen tried to be cool about things and took another sip of the cocktail, clearing his throat to avoid coughing before answering, “What do you mean, ma’am?”

“Kamui is on my drek-list, but coincidentally, it seems one of their executives has been given a new job offer by an anonymous benefactor, but they don’t realize it yet.” Jane showed her teeth in another grin as both dogs saw a quick image of the wageslave in question, their name, age, species, and various other information.

“Do you expect them to be happy about this new job transfer, ma’am?” Angel asked with an all business tone.

“No.” Jane folded her paws on the table once more as the retriever gave an understanding nod.

Sen pursed his lips but said nothing. He had heard of this sort of thing on a number of occasions. Once again, when you signed on with a megacorp, it was for life, you usually didn’t get to put in a resignation letter to go somewhere else, not with a headcomputer full of company information. Likewise, you didn’t always get a choice to move positions either. High-value wageslaves sometimes got ‘job transfers’ and had little say in the matter.

Just as Sen was about to say something, his ears perked, a scent filling his nose he recognized, one that made his stomach twist, the smell of a mouse he’d been flirting with earlier. Sure enough, he turned his head to see Moon or, Scythe as it were in this moment, trotting right up to the table with a crooked little grin on her muzzle.

“Hoi, Jane… long time no see, but not nearly long enough, eh?” She showed her teeth in a smug grin, putting a paw on her hip. She wasn’t dressed in the flowing gypsy-style robes he’d seen her in before, she now wore sturdy dark cargo slacks, a snug t-shirt and a ballistic’s jacket that clearly had reinforced plates in it. Who said mages had to avoid wearing protective gear in the future after all?

“I appreciate your consideration in this matter, know I consider it a favor to me that you were willing to come back to my warren, Scythe,” Jane ground the words out, sitting up straight, one of her eyes flaring to purple, scanning over who knows what.

Scythe sat right down at the booth and Sen gave a small huff as she pushed nice and close, letting her scent of heat tickle his nose as she leaned forward with a smug grin. “Oh I’m sure, and I trust you’ll show that appreciation in credits, Ms Jane.” As she leaned forward, he caught a shine of metal, realizing she had a quite literal scythe strapped to her back, the blade looking honed to perfection.

The mouse looked up at the fox with a smirk and perked her round ears. “Admiring it, Tanto?” She said his street name without missing a beat, no doubt having been informed of it by Jane before arriving. She withdrew it and laid it right out on the table with a hum. “Only the best for Mantis, she’d accept no other foci… the blade is a high-tempered tungsten, so strong it had to be sharpened with lasers, it’ll cut through most chrome like paper, and don’t get me started on flesh. The shaft is made from a cursed ebony wood, took me two years to track down the best tree for it, I’ll have to share some of the adventures that ensued over it sometime!”

“Are you finished showing off, Scythe?” Jane snarled out in a dry tone.

The mouse offered the rabbit a challenging grin as she gripped the kitsune’s real paw and brought it up to run over the shaft of the scythe. “As I was saying, I etched these runes myself, each one representing my spirit companions, there’s Dog, Weasel, and even Cat, but Cat has since made a pact with another shaman, but we keep in touch.”

“How many spirits do you command, Mo- Scythe?” Sen asked curiously, his tail wagging as she gripped his paw, Angel showing an amused grin, Jane looking ready to spit.

“Command? Tanto, my sweet, I don’t command the spirits, we are equals. They help me because they wish to, either because we are bonded as companions like Mantis, or I offer them favors in exchange. Some mages bind spirits to their will, a shaman like me works with them, and mind you if I find any mage’s binding spirits while we’re working, this scythe will make short work of them!” Scythe’s tone of voice seemed to take on more and more heat at the notion of binding spirits.

“May I continue?” Jane finally ground out, drumming her bloody red claws on the table of the booth.

The mouse said nothing as she slid the scythe back into place along her back before pushing nice and close to Sen, as if they were lovers, the rabbit offering a twitch of her one bioware eye that was glowing.

“Time for you to get first-paw experience in how we liberate assets, my fox.” Jane huffed from her nose almost guardedly about her latest acquisition, before a hololith came to life displaying the render of the target structure. With a few taps of crimson claw, it rotated about to fixate and highlight several areas, “Now, as always I entrust Angel with extraction, the rest of you support him to your talents.”

“Ooh, first time?” Scythe grinned up at Sen, who only seemed to look more flustered with her proximity and the glowing stare from Jane that narrowed at the further interruptions.

“Expect resistance anywhere from fellow razors to vatjob’s, this isn’t a cakewalk.” Jane continued as if the mouse hadn’t spoken at all, instead giving a solid tap of a red claw to magnify the holding cell location at the top right of the metroplex, “I expect nothing less than perfect execution, are we clear?”

“Yes ma’am!” Angel barked like the ever-loyal dog he was, tail blurring in excitement to work on such a significant assignment or continue to reap praise from Jane once home, Sen couldn’t tell. 

“Transportation is already waiting in the usual bay at the warehouse across the street, so gear up and bring my prize home. Don’t hose this, especially you Tanto, you’re still paying off your own ass-saving.” Jane waved away both the hololith and team, already turning her head to speak to the gleaming custodian at her side.

In short order, the squad went through the small armory that staged as a warehouse across from the club, mostly for Sen to gather a pawful of field items as Angel checked over the extraction gear. Scythe shook her head at all the weapons and contraptions, clicking her tongue seeing the fox strap a secondary side-arm to his thigh.

“Tch, compensating a bit aren’t we?” The mouse grinned at the kitsune, who blinked from her gaze to the pistol to her own form.

“Says the half-pint wearing half a tank, yeah?” Sen snorted, “I thought you were a spirit ninja or something, won’t they protect you?”

“The Spirits do all they can, but I don’t expect or rely on them like you do with guns, drek-face.” Scythe stuck her tongue out, stepping past both canines with a huff, making them grin behind her back as she stepped out of the auto-door and into the loading bay.

“Oh great, it gets better!” Scythe groaned a moment later, Sen and Angel following up to the awaiting grav-car to see the mouse glaring at Wheels, “Seriously, what’s with you people? You can’t have much of a soul in that junkyard husk you call a body!”

“Oh gods I hope not, souls are overrated as hell!” Wheels laughed a retort while gracefully flipping several toggles with a sweeping paw.

“Let’s go fussy, we got a schedule to keep!” Angel nudged the mouse inside with a chuckling grin, taking up a position by the back to prepare the jump-gear needed for the heist.

Sen brought up the rear like it was second nature despite being new to the order things went, shifting into the van with a sweep outward, back always to his team in a mechanical motion before the door slid closed.

“You have an auto-pilot or what, don’t tell me that eye goes deeper?” Scythe saw the way the fox seemed to go quiet, losing that jovial side as their ride boosted from a stop to whir along the lit launchway. 

“No, just lean into my training for this stuff. Helps me focus, I don’t want to lose any assets.” Sen replied without looking at the mouse, running a few last-minute internals of his augmented arm, his answer meaning both the idea of failing another first mission or one of his newfound family. 

—♥🌙—

Wheels had perfectly positioned their transport to the weakest sector of the Kamui network, where the sweeps of security were fewest by living or otherwise. Sen found himself even more impressed by Angel, who had slipped from the ride with a no-nonsense attitude to get into position. 

“Angel returning to heaven in three, two, one…now!” The rat signaled in time with a swift working of a console, a holo-suite emitting from Bonnie around the retriever just as his ‘wings’ ignited in small, powerful blue jets. To any onlooker or sensory equipment, the air would just appear displaced about the swiftly rising Angel, shielded in an artificial blindspot by Bonnie’s onboard e-war theater. 

Wheels turned to look at the mouse with a winking grin, “I got magic too, smoke show, the useful kind, heh!”

Scythe puffed a laugh at the rat, but when Wheels lightly bopped the back of her head, she fussed back at him, “Such disrespect! You better watch yourself!”

“Gah, keep your spooks to yourself, will ya? I was just fooling around, sheesh.” Wheels bristled after a chill passed over his inked-up form, with so little flesh left that wasn’t beneath a tattoo or augment, the rat had little defense against such techniques. 

“At the pearly gates, knocking on heaven’s door.” Came the voice of the retriever over their network, making the kitsune tense and ready up his primary firearm. A dull thud resounded a few breaths later, and outside Bonnie a shower of debris peppered her hull as the structure above was breached by the high-end charges.

“Uh oh.” Came the retriever in a less than assuring tone, making Sen bark over the com-line.

“What? Angel, status!”

“They got wise to our operation, the wall just sealed with plasti-crete, and that was my only bundle of charges,” Angel said something to the confused, shouting transferee in the background. 

“Fuck!” The kitsune hammered the van wall, earning him a glare from Wheels before Sen looked at them both, “Get Bonnie to the secondary LZ, Scythe, we’re up.”

“This wasn’t part of the plan, dude, we’re supposed to fall back if securing-”

“Frag that, Angel is up there and we’re not leaving him. Coming or not?” Sen asked the mouse beside him as alarms started to chime across the dash by the rat, who cursed several colorful metaphors while already shifting gears.

“Tch… knew I’d have to bail you boys out. Not killing anyone I don’t have to, Mantis-”

“Okay great, just cover my tails!” Sen cut off the shaman with a shove of the door as he stepped out partially, going into deployment training. His firearm was drawn as he crossed the area. The kitsune fell into a swift step, almost mechanical as he drew up to the side of the building. 

“Not how I thought our dirty talk would go, needs some work!” Scythe called out after Sen, having to take twice as many steps to catch up to the kitsune, who whipped out the wrist-blade of his arm with a flick before jamming it into the port of the door-hub, “Woah, no protection huh?”

Sen smirked at the mouse as the delta-tier arm worked to burn out the virtual locks of the door, then tugged out the blade when a hissing seal forced it open, “Don’t worry, still clean, now move!”

Scythe moved gracefully, almost martially into the doorway, easing inside with her name-sake drawn and held out before her in a side-slanted manner. The mouse surprised Sen by her aware confidence despite the mission going to hell already, then realized the spirits were likely able to act as sensory amplifiers or buffers as needed.

The kitsune followed after, able to see over the mouse as they swiftly found then ascended a stairwell toward the correct floor, finding only auto-sealed doors along the way, with alarms now blaring both offensively loud chimes and strobes of vision-blurring light. 

Almost before it came down, Scythe raised her weapon in time to deflect a series of bullets as if the air itself shielded it. The mouse nodded to herself then glanced at the fox, “Four floors left, they’re sending security two above and below to cut us-” another few rounds harmlessly swatted away by swift work of her sickle, “-talking here, drek-face! We need to move, or we’ll get pinned!”

Sen nodded, then lunged forward with both paws coming up in a secure grip of his pistol, firing off three shots that found a mark in the chest and then the head of the first guard. He pressed against the mouse so closely they smelled each other, the adrenaline making even tactical gear unable to fully suppress their scents. 

“Not what I meant, but no complaints, toolbox.” Scythe grinned up at the fox, who gave a snort but never let his eyes leave the spiraling stairs above as he began to swiftly advance up the steps.

The kitsune stopped briefly at the fallen guard, swiping his aug-arm’s palm across the badge of the officer before hastily ascending the last stairs to the door. Scythe gave a few hushed words to the air as she glanced at Sen, who placed his faux paw on the interface of the door, which chimed and then hissed open.

“Oooh, fancy, you have that effect on every entrance or just cold metal?” The mouse grinned at the kitsune, only to squeak as he ducked a taser goad aimed at his head. Sen grasped the guard by the face, half tugging, half hurling them into the stairwell past him to slam into the far wall by his aug-arm. 

“You guys better fucking-” Over their secure link, Wheels crackled out a slew of curses as a hard pang rocked the side of the van, “-oh you drek-faces, you fraggin’ up my paint job?!” Wheels shouted, going into full-dive mode with his precious vehicle to sweep the area for immediate threats, “Hurry it up, think they’re gonna have the block locked down at this rate, they’re not playin’ around!”

Sen swept into the main hallway with his weapon raised, squeezing off several rounds the moment the first target came into view; an elephant, but barely recognizable from its extensive augments from head to tail, plated out in gleaming chrome that shrugged off the incoming fire, “Drek, this thing won’t go down to small-arms!”

The fox ducked into the doorway as a stream of shells tore past him from an attached rotary gun on the left arm of the barely sentient thing guarding the primary elevator system.

“I got this, find Angel,” Scythe promised without another word, slipping out from behind the kitsune with a deft whirling of her weapon about her. The mouse dove to the side as the gatling gun erupted with more fire down the hall, answering with a release of the spinning sickle to send it flying at the elephant-machine.

The scythe flew past, biting effortlessly into the ceiling above and behind the vat-made guardian only for the small female to pull herself forward in a swift slide just beneath the hail of gunfire. Without a wasted motion and while gliding along the smooth plasti-crete floor, Scythe tugged free the embedded weapon backward again.

Just as the mouse slid below and through the braced legs of the hulking guardian, the gleaming edge of her sickle cleaved through its neck like a razor to silk. With a rolling recovery to stand, Scythe once more pulled on the chain of her weapon to yank backward into a catch before it could ever kiss the ground. The head of the machine-thing thudded into the floor with oil coating everything about it in a spray. 

Sen had already thudded down the opposite hall, rapidly checking the flickering door-code of each frame until he came to the correct digits. He slammed his palm against the console, chiming the door and almost tearing it open with his aug-arm, “Angel?!”

“Here sugar, we’re good! Well, one of us anyway!” The retriever barked from the far corner of the cell, debris strewn out from the entrance blast. The transfer was unconscious on the cot behind where Angel was sitting, a firearm drawn at the door before seeing it was the kitsune, “He wouldn’t stop freaking out, had to nap him.”

“Okay fine, we gotta slot and run!” Sen growled, “You got him alright?” He nodded at the wageslave even as Angel shifted him up and across his shoulders skillfully, “Guess so.” 

They wheeled out of the room in proper formation, Sen leading them forward with his pistol drawn up, scanning the space from any possible opening with trained eye and augmented sweeps alike. Two ways out, the stairwell leading to the roof-access with the lower steps being scurried up by guards; or, the security elevator at the back for private personnel. 

Only the mouse, who was kneeling by the open stairway door, was in the space with them, with all other doors or limited windows sealed once the alarms first blared. She shook her head at the approaching males.

“This won’t be easy, Mantis says they’ve got the whole lower tier locked down. We can only go up or try that damned shaft.” Scythe scowled over at the elevator bay, the idea of cramming into a metal box and trusting machines with her fate didn’t sit well.

“Rooftop it is, you’re gonna have to move your ass though, got it?” Sen barked the order without thinking, tapping into their link with Wheels as he checked over his weapon, “Bonnie needs to be at LZ two in three minutes, or we’re fragged, copy?”

“Oh c’mon, I’m out here dodging patrol drones and a real ugly piece of-” The rat tried protest, clearly agitated from the constant maneuvering of his prize under the hail of fire, and the barking fox in his ear, but Sen snapped a rebuttal.

“Stow that drek and move, Wheels, I don’t care how but be ready for our drop!” The kitsune didn’t see the way Angel was grinning at him for the authoritative tone taken, but the retriever’s tail wagged in a blur, pleased to see some of Jane rubbing off on the fox.

“There’s no way we can scale this in time, are you crazy? Angel especially, but I can’t keep pace with-” Scythe squeaked mid-sentence as Sen hoisted her up by his natural arm, sweeping up the smaller mouse to roll into a laying drape over his shoulder, “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?!”

“Just watch our flank, I’ll carry you.” A paw firmly slapped down on the mouse’s backside for better purchase, making Scythe growl out from being handled so.

“Get your paw off my ass, fox!” Scythe flailed, clasping her namesake in one paw as the other grasped at Sen’s side for any kind of hold.

“Angel, you ready?” Sen smirked over his free shoulder, aug-arm holding up his firearm as the other canine grinned with a final shift of the VIP’s form across himself. “Let’s move!”

Even with military training, the swift ascension of stairs was taxing for Sen after a whole flight of them already, now with the mouse on his upper half he felt the burn of his muscles. Level by level the team climbed, most of the doors forced shut with Wheels e-war suite broadcasting from Bonnie, but those that opened were met with a burst of fire to suppress the guards into place.

“Not how I pictured feeling y-your damn paws on me!” Scythe chittered in laughing frustration with no choice but to endure being carried ever upward with a paw planted on her round backside for support. Deftly though, she kept a quick raising barrier behind the team, not allowing for a single round to get near fox or dog, instead deflected toward a doorway or the ever-gaining squads of security below.

Finally, the trio reached the rooftop access, letting Sen ease down the mouse from his shoulder to slam his aug-palm into the door panel. 

“Get enough of a feel or what, don’t think I didn’t notice you rubbing?” Scythe huffed up at the kitsune, who offered a knowing grin as the door chimed, hissing open only for him to step back for Angel to huff past them.

“Left corner, go go!” Sen pointed with two digits in a signal gesture for them both, “I’ve gotta seal this door back, cover Angel while he gets into position!” The fox said while stepping outside just after the shaman, but instead embedded his jack-knife into the door panel over a palm scan.

With a few twitches, Sen got the hatch to slide shut with a thudding hiss, withdrawing his aug-tool to stride after the mouse and retriever toward the corner drop point. “Okay Wheels, we’re in position, you there?”

“Where the fuck else would I be?!” Wheels snarled over the comm, the faint sounds of pattering heard in the background as the rat drifted Bonnie into place with a grav-brake drift just below the team, “C’mon, now or never!”

Sen watched Angel skillfully fall away from the ledge with their package secured to himself in practiced fashion, the same way he’d done for the fox not long ago. Scythe stared over the edge for a minute, then leapt off with a sound Sen couldn’t tell was terror, glee, or something of both.

“I hate this.” Sen cursed to himself before diving off the plextop, joining his squad in free fall before the cycling chimes of their chutes registered the proper velocity and distance to the beacon inside Bonnie. The grav-chutes coalesced like black wings to guide them downward in gliding swoops toward the van.

“One of these days, I’m going to actually spend my damn bonus!” Wheels punched a few key-up panels before a holo-emitter rippled the silhouette of the van, then with metallic releases, two other ‘Bonnie’ vehicles sped off to the left and right of the alleyway. The powercell in the front of the van whirred from the draw of two hard-light projections as twin drones carried away the signal to give chase.

Sen, Scythe, then Angel each landed with a few skidded steps behind the grav-car with a quick recalling of their chutes, wasting little time helping secure the new employee from the aching arms of the retriever to the back of the van. The squad froze for a moment as two Kamui cruisers drifted around the corner, only to gun it past to break off and follow after each of the sensor ghosts.

Sen hopped into the van after Scythe, tugging closed the door even as the vehicle lurched forward as Wheels stepped on it toward the rendezvous coordinates. “I…I really hope, Jane pays well for this drek…that was…ugh.” The fox laughed in a breathless growl.

“Couldn’t have been that bad, ha…you had your paw on my ass half of the time!” Scythe smirked with a pant, then looked to Angel as he waved tired paws about at them both.

“Nu-uh, don’t wanna hear no complainin’ from either of you! I carried that damn cackler, guh…up SO many damn stairs!” Angel groaned with a pained laugh of his own, tail thumping against the flooring, “Gods, I see another…flight, more than like…five steps, frag that!”

Wheels stepped out of the cabin, but it was clear from his hesitation and closed eyes he was still focusing mostly on the driving. “We got any astral heat, Scythe?”

She was still panting as she slumped back against the wall of the van and closed her eyes, focusing for a few seconds before giving a shrug. “They’ve got some beasties on their payroll up in the sky according Mantis, she picked them up during our freefall, I was able to shield our presence during it, so I think we’re clear in that regard.”

“Wiz,” Wheels said as he folded his arms and leaned against the side of the entryway between the cabin and main body of the van. The team felt small lurches and heard the grav engine speeding up, then he sighed out, “Hold onto something.”

Just as soon as the warning came, the van rocked violently, Sen and Angel having grabbed hold of something, but Moon squeaked out as she had been just focusing astrally so her reaction time was off. The mouse stumbled forward before Sen scooped her up with his free paw, catching her fall as she slapped up against his chest.

“Tch… just can’t keep your paws off me tonight, eh Tanto?” She huffed out against his chest, feeling him flex his paw against her hip and hold her secure as the van shifted hard again.

“Fuck… will you give it a rest?!” Wheels shouted as the van juked again, then seemed to level off.

“Should we do anything?” Sen asked, none of them seeing much of anything going on outside of the cabin of the van.

“The decoys pulled most of the heat off our tails, we’ve got a flying drone that I can’t shake though, little bugger is sticking with me like stink on a corp ceo,” Wheels grumbled then nodded to Moon. “Scyth, can you have weasel scrap that thing or something?”

She didn’t seem like she wanted to pull from the fox’s grasp, huffing against his chest, her own scent of obvious heat tickling at his nose as well. Reluctantly she pulled back and trotted over to the side of the van calmly shoving the door open.

“Yes, no it’s not manned, sounds good,” Scythe cooed out and gripped the side of the opening with one paw, leaning out, seeing the little drone zipping and bobbing about in pursuit, occasionally laying down fire that made the van have to lurch to the side to avoid.

“Whoa!” She squeaked as the van juked while she was hanging out of it, then grunted as Sen was over to her holding onto the back of her jacket she wore. “Tch… I didn’t say I needed your paw holding me, but as you wish.”

Moon stared at the small flying drone and nodded a few times then lifted her free paw, making a finger gun as she squeaked out, “Got you.” The drone's rotary blade just flew off on one side, a chunk of its vector wing snapping off cleanly as if cut by an impossibly sharp knife. The drone went into a tailspin and fell to the earth as she swung back in and calmly slid the side of the van close, looking up at the kitsune with a smug look in her eyes.

“Was that you or weasel?” Sen asked with an impressed look.

“Both, but it was Mantis, not weasel,” She responded cooly.

“Thanks, bitch,” Wheels hummed out with a grin.

“You’re welcome, drek-for-brains,” Moon fired back with her own smug grin.

—♥🌙—

Once the lucky employee was dropped off with incognito agents of his new employer, the run was complete and Jane transferred credits to all involved for a job well done.

Angel’s synaptic feed pinged as they were riding back to Moon’s place, Wheels dropping everyone off. “Good job, my good boy, is your boyfriend still going on that hot date of his tonight?”

“To my knowledge, he is, yes ma’am!”

“Well, I can’t have my hard-working dog being left all alone after a job well done, and you know what it does to me when you efficiently follow orders, yes?”

“Yes ma’am!” He practically barked the words out loud, Moon and Sen seeing the retriever standing there with his tail wagging in the van, looking giddy.

“Have Wheels drop you off at the hotel coming up in half a mile, I’ll pick you up in five.” The feedback halted just like that.

“Hoi, Wheels, can you drop me off at the hotel coming up in about half a mile?” Angel barked out excitedly.

“Sure thing, guess you’ve got another job?” The rat asked him with a grin.

“The best kind of job!” He barked out with that goofy grin on his muzzle.

“Heh, have fun fetch, tell the boss I said hello, huh?” Sen smirked.

“Oh, you breaking off now? Come here then,” Moon sauntered over to him and grabbed his left arm. “Dog said she isn’t sending anyone on her team off with cuts or bruises,” Moon shoved a paw over his arm that had been gnashed open and quickly wrapped up after the extraction.

Angel grinned as he felt the odd arcane energies he’d just gotten used to from her touch fill the limb, removing the ache as he rubbed and even squeezed the area after she withdrew her smaller paws. “Thanks, Moon, you’re the best!”

“I know,” She hummed out and poked her nose up, then grunted and put a paw onto her hip. “No, they know that… no… I said- Fine… Dog said she wishes to be thanked as well.”

“Thanks Dog, I appreciate you and Moon always patching my stupid ass up!” Angel grinned as he thanked them both, then wagged his tail as the van shifted to slow and came down to the road.

“You have a good night, sugar!” Angel quickly lapped the kitsune’s jaw with a huff and leaned close, whispering softly so only Sen would catch it, “Give that juicy ass of hers a nice firm smack for me, love!”

Sen yipped at the lewd words as the retriever hopped right out of the van, the mouse and fox watching him give a cute grin with that one missing tooth as he offered them a wave before the door slid shut.

“We’ll be back at your place in just a few minutes, Moon,” Wheels looked up from leaning on the wall then turned to trot back into the cabin of the van.

“Thank the spirits… ugh…” The mouse sunk down to the floor of the van and rubbed her head before giving a wide yawn.

“You okay, Moon? You know if you’re too tired from the run…” Sen spoke gently as he smiled at her, his twin tails wagging slowly. He was trying to be polite but he’d had her scent in his nose all night, so it was a half-hearted courtesy at best.

“You know what, I think I might be, babe. The spirits help me, but it takes a big toll on me too, each bullet I deflected, each baton or punch I had blocked, they add up and-” She bit her tongue as she looked up at the fox who had a slight frown on his muzzle but was trying to remain neutral.

He realized she was staring and perked his ears, shaking his head rapidly. “Oh, shit I understand, I mean, can we get a rain check then?” He asked hopefully.

“Damn right we can, tomorrow sound good? Fuck waiting until the night, just come to my place around noon, I’ll make it worth the wait.” She offered him a weak grin as she lifted her round ears. “I’d say I’d power through tonight for you, but I think you’d end up banging an unconscious bitch.”

Sen felt his tails fluff out and cheeks grow warm. He’d still never been with a girl, and as horny as he was, it didn’t seem like a fun way to do it for your first time. With a resigned huff, he gave a nod, then offered a grin. “That sounds wiz, Moon, I probably should wash the blood and grim of the street off anyway, so noon tomorrow?”

‘Yeah, I think that sounds wiz, sorry again, Sen, really.“ She frowned as she felt the van dip before she moved over to the door as it slid open.

He met her at the door, both of them staring at one another for a long moment before Moon reached up and grabbed his collar. Sen yipped a little as she pulled him down to her and shoved her muzzle right against his own. His eyes widened as her tongue met his, the kiss heated and desperate, showing he wasn’t the only one who probably had some remorse over this.

After a few heated moments, Wheels cleared his throat, so she pulled from his muzzle, leaning nice and close to puff into his ear, “I like things natural, Sen, make of that as you will, baby.” She patted his jaw as he gave her a stunned look, his tongue still showing slightly from the kiss as she just hopped down out of the van, offering him a smug little grin as she rolled her painted-clawed fingers on her paw in a wave.

As the door slid closed, Sen took an exacerbated sigh and rubbed his face with his paws, his tails whipping about. “That’s rough buddy, you want me to drop you off near one of the red-light districts to take care of that tension?” Wheels asked with a sympathetic tone.

“Frag that! I only just started getting some credits flowing, I’m not wasting it on pros. Just drop me off at Angel’s place, I’ll just take a cold shower, only kind there is over there anyway.” Sen grumbled and shoved his paws into his own jacket as he took a seat in the van with a sigh, the taste of her still on his lips.

Moon gave a frustrated sigh as she trotted into the shop, locking the door behind her as she groaned and rubbed her head. “Fuck… maybe I should have used less mojo tonight… Still, I’d like to be awake to enjoy it and I’m barely being held up by your own power, Mantis.”

She grumbled then called out loud as she kicked her boots off and started for bed. “Anyway, good job tonight everyone, though you didn’t have to be such a drama queen and demand Angel thanked you, Dog, I know he’s cute but-” Moon frowned as she keenly felt the lack of presence with her.

“Wait a sec… Dog? Hey you guys, where is Dog?” Her ears shot up and her tail snapped to a point. “That… that sneaky little whore! I’m going to kick her astral tail for this!” Moon squeaked out furiously as she stomped a foot.

—♥🌙—

Sen got that cold shower and didn’t bother ordering or making any food, just going straight to bed. He didn’t want to chance to put food on his stomach after the combat high had worn off and the nerves settled back in.

He was still fraggin’ horny as hell, but as he settled into bed, the night caught up to him. Sen remembered seeing the brief glimpse of the poor drek he shot down in the stairwell, a corp security guy like he had been, once in the chest, then right in the head.

With a snarl, he hugged Angel’s pillow and huffed into his own, rolling over onto his belly to try to push the thoughts out of his head. Of course, he also thought of that fool Jane had sent him to erase, ‘you never forget your first’, they say. Had he been with Inari, they’d have had a counselor at the ready for the new members the first time they geeked someone, ready to help talk away the drek that came up, but he was on his own now.

He thought about how Moon took out the big guy in the hallway, she did it so efficiently, but she’d been doing this a lot longer. Then again, that elephant was so chromed up, it was debatable if anything was left in him. Your body can only take so much before that line of existence and machine really starts to blur.

Holding his augmented paw up, he looked over the faux fur, a few nicks from the run showing chrome beneath. He shouldn’t have been able to see it in the darkness, but his one augmented eye made it look as if he were just under low light.

“Frag it, maybe I’ll get a drink,” Sen huffed out loud as he laid his alpha-ware over his eyes, mulling on the idea for a few seconds. Almost instantly, he felt awash with comfort, like the idea of drowning the issues in synthol was a moot point. Before he knew it, sleep had taken him and the thoughts of the day bled away to the inky black void of unconsciousness.

He felt himself stir in his sleep, his ears twitching to a sound, it was humming, gentle, melodic, as if a lullaby with no words. There was pressure upon his head, a paw, stroking his hair, and even rubbing one of his large orange-black ears.

In that odd moment, he felt like a puppy again, felt like he did when his mother used to hold him and when his father didn’t look upon him as just a disappointment to the family. The humming grew louder, and the touch seemed more real before everything seemed to coalesce into reality.

“You should keep your eyes closed for a while longer, my sweet fox, lest you grow disoriented, understand?” As the words came forth, he felt a paw gently settle upon his face, shielding his eyes.

“What is going on?” He asked in a calm voice. He wanted to be surprised, he wanted to jump up and bark out at the prospect of waking up with his head in a strangers lap, but it was a soft warm lap, a rather comfortable place to lay his head to be sure.

“Think back to those days, my sweet fox… the sway of the blossoms, the firm packed earth against the pads of your paws. You rushed about, and tried your best in those days, you had an open heart. My sister of the forests would come to you in dreams when you rested under the shade of trees.”

“How… do you know that?” Sen felt his heart rate pace up, the scent in his nose reaching him on a primal level, instantly recognizing the odor of another canine, a female one.

The paw gently moved from his eyes, returning to stroke his ears. Sen heard the humming return as he slowly blinked them open, seeing the underside of a sandy-colored muzzle above him. She was a dog with short little ears, smaller than his, and long flowing brown hair that seemed to come all the way down her back, pooling around them where she sat on her knees with his head in her lap.

“Who are-” He bit his tongue before shaking his head and slowly rising from her lap. She let her paw linger on his ears for a moment later before he fully righted himself, sitting upon his own bent knees, not unlike how he used to position himself before the altar of the shrine.

She met his eyes, her own a deep blue like the brightest of skies far from the choking smog of the sprawl. Her slightly curled tail showed in a wag as she leaned back. She wore an ancient-looking dress of simple white fabric, almost Roman in nature as if it were a toga. Tucked behind each ear he half expected to see laurels, but they were small branches of cherry blossoms.

She showed him a lazy grin, her eyes half-lidded as she felt him assess her figure next. Soft round hips with warm soft thighs and as his gaze moved up her, he could clearly see she wasn’t quite as endowed as Moon or Jane would be, but she seemed to have a rather large chest that pushed against the dress she wore, clearly showing the outline of peaks against the fabric.

Sen gave a small huff at the view of her, she looked to be a Shiba Inu breed given her tail and the slightly ‘fox-like’ muzzle she sported. He mulled on the sensations in his heart, already knowing the answer as he finally spoke once more, “You’re Dog, aren’t you?”

“I am,” She answered in a soft almost motherly tone as she rested both paws on her lap.

“Where-” He looked around, everything further past them was fuzzy as if covered in a miasma, as if her presence pushed back the smog of aether all around. Shaking his head, he thought back to his training in the shrine and spoke out in realization, “This is the Astral, isn’t it?”

“It is, my sweet fox,” She cooed out, sounding proud that he was able to answer all his questions before she could.

“I’ve never been in the Astral plane before,” He looked around in wonderment, even though it was just a haze pushing against them, nothing to be seen all around them but a few tatami mats they were kneeling upon.

“I know this, and that is why I beseeched you to remain still prior, to allow your spirit to finish adjusting,” She perked her smaller ears and gently turned one paw up to open her palm. “How do you feel?”

“I feel oddly… whole?” Sen waved his paw over his face, seeing clearly from both eyes, feeling the muscles flex and tissue stretch slightly as he moved his normally augmented arm. “I always expected the Astral to be more… ethereal or something, I feel very corporeal right now.”

Dog showed him an amused grin that reminded him of how Moon would look at him, then rocked back off her knees, her breasts jiggling a little in her top as she took a seat and leaned back. He could see her shapely soft looking thighs slide against one another, the dress only coming to her knees and even now hitched up slightly to offer more of a view.

“My sweet fox, this is why coming into the aether without a guide is so dangerous. Rest assured were you to stray from me, into the mists around you, there is no end of horrors that might snap you up!” She barked the words out as if she were telling a scary story to a pup at a campfire.

“Oh come on… is it really that bad?” He countered, unable to help but show a smile as she relaxed before him. He’d heard some of the one-sided arguments she and Moon had in his presence, so he wasn’t fully falling for the mystical act she had put on.

Dog rolled her blue eyes and shook her head before relenting, “Perhaps not so foreboding as that, but the aether is deadly to the untrained. There are threats within if you were to explore alone, and as you lack fortitude, you would be but a pup against even the most basic of them.”

“Alright, but why did you bring me here, Dog? Now that I’m feeling your presence, I can sense you’ve… been with me before. You were with me that first night after I met Moon, weren’t you?!” Sen lifted his ears, barking the words as realization finally started to catch up with reality.

“Very astute, my sweet fox,” Dog hummed out with a bright grin, her eyes shining, the way she looked in this moment making his stomach twist. “I offered to follow along with you, to see if you were worthy of my partner’s time.”

“Partner?” Sen asked as he cocked a brow.

“Why yes, we are partners, associates… friends,” Dog pushed a paw to her bosom as she shifted her gaze squarely to his eyes. “Moon and I would be what you all would consider, friends, yes. We are not lovers, we are more than business associates though. Sometimes I even do things without requesting a reward.”

“A reward? What does Moon even give you all?” Sen tilted his head, sounding more curious by the moment.

“Her lifeforce usually.” Dog said simply.

“Wait- You’re killing her? Like you’re taking time off her lifespan or something?” Sen growled and lifted his ears.

Dog offered a surprisingly loud laugh as her chest bobbled a few times, making Sen bite his tongue, trying to keep his eyes up as her breasts swayed in the loose top of her toga-like dress. She offered him a knowing grin, as if an older woman knew the intentions of a younger male, then shrugged a shoulder to let some of the strap slip down.

“No, my sweet fox, we are all viciously protective of Moon, and we do not seek to take the time off her clock. Lifeforce as in…” She frowned as she leaned back on her paws, trying to explain to a non-ascended being. “You see… uh… beings like us, we feed upon willpower, it sustains us, it is-” She put a paw to her muzzle in thought.

After several moments of silence, her ears perked up as she barked out, “Ah! Do you remember how exhausted Moon was, but you and Angel did most of the running, fighting, and… hauling?” She offered a grin, keenly aware of the fox getting his feel on with the mouse’s backside when he carried her.

“Y-yeah, I can recognize exhaustion when I see it, that’s why I didn’t kick up much of a fuss when she said she was too tired.” He nodded with a frown.

“That is because, each bullet she deflected, each blow she shielded herself or you from, chipped away at her willpower, which is like your stamina. Imagine having to do a pullup for each bullet she batted away, for each time she looked into the Astral to see if magical threats were looming.”

“Damn… I know she must have easily shielded off a hundred bullets last night,” Sen spoke with newfound respect in his voice.

“Correct. You see a small curvy mouse with little muscle on her form, but she is just as rigorously trained as you are but in another way. When she and Mantis took down the drone, that would have been as you sprinting at full speed for a full minute.”

“Whoa… I need to show her more appreciation, but what about her life force or whatever?” Sen circled back around.

“It is as with you when you train and push to exhaustion. You are not shortening your life, simply spending your energy. For us, we use her willpower to sustain ourselves, but we also use it to perform what we do. It is as if you were to purchase a cup of soykaf, yes? The credits do not just go straight to the store, they are used to pay the employees, keep power on, restock supplies, and many other things. That is the simplest way I can explain.”

“That makes sense to me, so why do I have my normal meat and eye back? Shouldn’t they just be missing in this space?” Sen asked as he pointed to his eye with his normally chromed-up arm.

“The flesh and the spirit are not so intertwined my sweet fox. Though as you modify your body, you will start to see ramifications in the astral, well that is to say, your form here would not be possible. Take your friend Wheels for example, I could not heal any wounds his flesh took, because his spirit is too far gone.”

“But me and Angel are okay?” Sen looked confused.

“You are… stunted, but you are within my… touch,” Dog offered him a surprisingly hungry grin as she just dropped to her front handpaws and started moving over towards him on all fours.

“Uh… So if I’m stunted, how can you pull me into the Astral like this?” Sen perked his ears, biting his lower lip as the female the same size as him stalked over, her tail wagging. He gulped as her muzzle moved right up to his own, just inches away.

“You may have rejected your heritage and upbringing, but your spirit has not, my sweet fox… I can sense within you, that you have not fully turned your back upon this, despite the butchering of your body…” Dog whispered against his lips, practically kissing him.

Her scent was in his nose, it felt so real. The lingering of her muzzle near his, the heat from it, the touch, it all was as if it were happening in his flesh. “D-Dog… why did you… bring me here?”

“Because I like you, I like your spirit, I like your heart… You are a good fox… I like good-hearted creatures like you and your Angel, and so… I brought you here, to offer myself unto you, Sen,” She whispered against his lips, but before he could respond, she pushed to him, tilting her head, locking her muzzle to his own as his eyes widened.

Sen offered a shocked yip as her muzzle pushed to his own, his eyes fluttering closed to accept the forced kiss. He could taste her so plainly now and when her head turned to deepen it, he did the same, their tongues meeting to explore one another.

He heard a soft rumbling growl come from the other dog’s throat, her arms wrapping around his neck as he did the same. Before he knew it, she was sitting upon his lap, both of them heatedly kissing, her scent all in his nose and taste in his maw.

With a hesitant huff, he broke the kiss and blinked into her blue eyes with his own blue ones. She ran a paw through his dark hair as she cooed, “You have beautiful eyes, my sweet fox… You should let me fix the one you have lost.”

Sen felt a shiver roll up his spine at her touch and drew closer, shifting to rub his muzzle against the spirit’s jaw, the touch, scent, and taste of her every bit as real as if he were in his own meat. “Huff… You smell and taste really good… Your body is so warm too…”

“Do you enjoy how my body feels, Sen?” Dog whispered out as she pushed nice and close, letting her breasts push into his chest, then she moved in to nuzzle against his own jaw, both dogs now scent marking one another in the aether of the adjoining plane of reality.

“I do, is it okay to touch you more?” He asked childishly, this being his first time with a female.

Dog hummed and leaned back to grip the hem of her dress, then peeled the whole thing right off, her long brown hair flowing down her back as he watched those perky round breasts bounce into view, her peaks a soft dusky rose against the sandy-colored fur.

“Touch away my sweet fox, I crave it…” Dog cooed as she moved to grip his paws, bringing them up to cup the swells of her chest, feeling her peaks hard against his pads. Sen wagged his twin tails and began to eagerly knead against the mounds in a curious touch.

“I’ve never touched a girl’s tits before, they’re really soft…” He huffed out curiously, his fingers moving to gently pinch at the nipples as she gave a giggle of a bark.

“Oooh well, Moon’s will be even softer, my sweet Sen… Hers are a little bigger, but I hope you’ll still like mine once you have some time with her tomorrow,” Dog offered him a loving motherly smile as her soft round hips ground gently in his lap, feeling his eagerness growing against her bared crotch.

“So I heard something about my astral v-card the other day, you wanted to break me in for her?” He showed a small grin as his paws shifted to her hips, now curiously rubbing at the fur of this spirit-shiba as she kept grinding on his fully slid free length in his sleep shorts, seeing that curled tail wagging eagerly.

“Hm hm… is that what we should say, Sen?” Dog licked her chops as she slipped back off his lap enough to grasp his boxers, tugging them down as she showed an excited grin, her own blue eyes sparkling. His length jumped to attention, the virgin nerves having been worked out more or less with Angel.

“In truth, I fell for your spirit when I stayed with you the first night, Sen… I’ll be happy to help you work the awkwardness out so you and my friend have a better time, but rest assured, I simply desire you…” Dog cooed as she shifted back to his lap, grinding herself against the jumping length, panting out as she felt him move his own hips awkwardly, making that length pump up against her clearly soaked petals.

“Y-You’re really wet… damn, I didn’t know a girl could get like this…” Sen stammered out with a pant, still trying to process this as he looked into the eyes of the motherly dog grinding upon him. “So is this the same as having real sex though?”

“My sweet fox, this mating will be just as real as if you were in the flesh, everything about you is here… When you project yourself into this reality, it is another body all of its own, with all the pleasure and pain that will come with it,” She sighed and lifted her hips, guiding one paw to grip the kitsune’s shoulder, her other moving between them to grasp his length, positioning it herself, his own paws resting on her hips curiously as he panted.

“Pain?” He huffed out with lifted ears, then gave a small grunt as she ground against him once more, feeling his tapered tip guide right into her entrance as she huffed out.

“Well, I won’t hurt you much, my sweet, but I might be a little tight, it has been some time since I found a proper mate…” Dog met his eyes as he bit his lower lip hard, his own ears folding as she slowly lowered herself, his length pushing up into her, forcing her walls to part to accommodate.

“Fuck… fuck… it’s really… fragging… tight and hot in you…” Sen panted the words out, then gasped as his tongue showed, blinking into the other dog’s eyes as she slapped her hips down hard, licking her chops, looking smugly proud as he fully and completely settled inside.

“Oooh… Moon’s going to love you, my sweet Sen… but for now, you’re mine to enjoy… Do I feel good?” She cooed and rubbed at his jaw, his tails a blur behind him as this motherly shiba skillfully started to grind him deep inside her.

“Dreking…” Sen gritted his teeth again, then let out a soft gasp as he felt her crush against his length as if milking him. He looked stunned, feeling honey slicking his length as he stared into her sky-blue eyes.

Dog licked her chops again and rested both paws on his shoulders. “I’ll take that as a yes…” She gently ground her hips while sitting in his lap, feeling his own paws clinging to her soft round hips, humming proudly as she took this young kitsune’s first time for herself, feeling him jump and grind at her core while she kept moving.

“D-Dog… fuck…Is, Dog really you’re name?” He asked with a pant as he shifted his paws up to cup her own jaw, another moving to rub her soft ear.

“Hm hm… waited until you were buried to your hilt to ask a girl’s name? So much for romance, eh, Sen?” She cooed out as she kept grinding herself, sighing out and shuddering as he barked, feeling her crush him once more.

“Ngh… H-hey… you started this, I wasn’t rushing nothing, lady… fuck… is that… you cumming on me?” He asked with a pant.

“Uh-huh… that’s me feeling good. This isn’t some dream world where I can just will things, Sen. This is my body, this is what I am, and while you are here, what you are…” She sighed and resumed her grinding, then licked her lips as she offered him a grin. “We spirits do not need such things as names, we are what we are, and I am yours in this moment, are you happy to be mine?”

“I- I actually am… yeah! Fuck you feel good and, I can feel your comfort, your… love?” He stammered out as the odd sensations washed into his soul.

“I am a spirit of love and loyalty, my Sen… to be with me, is to love me, but you may not feel it after the fact… That is well and good though, if you wish to say you love me, I shall return it…” She hugged close to him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she ground faster, puffing against his large ear, “I fell in love with you the moment I joined you…”

“Is this what love feels like?” He shuddered and couldn’t help but groan at the words, hugging her close. Dog grinned as she felt his hips starting to figure things out, grinding himself deep, feeling himself pushing into her core as she panted out.

“Yes… ngh… does it make you think of Angel, my sweet kitsune?” She giggled and tangled her paw into his hair again, huffing against his jaw as she felt him grinding himself deep. “It is well I am not a jealous spirit… you certainly seem to have enough love to spare…”

“W-Wait… Angel?! I don’t… ngh… love that- Guh!” Sen barked out, sounding fussy but then yipped out into a moan as his ears folded, shuddering as he felt her crush him and grind against him, making his twin tails wag harder.

“My mistake, my sweet Sen… but you love me?” Dog asked cutely while blinking her blue eyes, her large breasts bouncing against his chest, now clinging to him with a grin, feeling his own hips just as eager to move, spearing up into her tight little pussy, the showing of a knot starting to kiss at her entrance.

“I- Y-Yeah I think I do! But… that’s crazy, I don’t even… know you…” He whimpered as he felt himself losing ground quickly to her rippling walls, the spirit seeming to grow more tight and ravenous at his confession.

“Ha… it is just as well! I love you too, Sen! That’s what I am, what we are in this moment, do not think on it heavily, just focus on me, focus on me and our pleasure!” Dog barked the words excitedly, her own hips grinding with his, both of them eager and desperate for the other, the sounds of their excited mating filling the air around them.

He barked out in panic as he panted into her face while his paws slapped to her round backside, feeling his knot grind at her entrance. “Fuck… fuck… it’s happening to fast… S-sorry… this is-”

”Ngh!” She growled and slapped her hips down hard into his lap as he barked out loudly, looking shocked as she forced his knot to lodge deep, licking her chops as she sighed out, “Do not think!”

His thoughts scattered as he nodded then howled out in a throaty moan as he shouted his love for her. The spirit moaned in her own cry, returning his love, “Ha! And I love you, my sweet sweet… ngh! Foooxxx…” She slurred the last as she felt his heat wash into her at last, feeling all the energy and will that came with it.

“Oh my fuck… oh fragging…. Gods!” Sen barked out, clutching to her, panting desperately into her face as Dog just cooed and nodded, holding him close as each thick rope erupted into her.

“Yesss… yes my love… all of it…all of it…” She petted his jaw as he panted into her face, this older experienced female taking his first time. Each thick rope spread his heat into her and by the time he finished, she felt awash with energy and love.

“Huff… huff… good fox… good fox…” She panted into his large ear, grinding her hips, greedy to milk every drop in, to get all the energy, all of her due. Sen shuddered and gave a weak little moan as the last of his stamina went and he collapsed back to the ground.

Dog stayed perched in his lap as he looked up at her panting in fatigue, seeing her lick her chops, looking proud and loving as she brushed a paw over her belly, enjoying feeling so warm inside for her new lover. “I can taste your love and adoration, my Sen… Ha… my fox…”

—♥🌙—

Sen groaned weakly as he squirmed in bed and slowly stirred from his sleep. He was still clutching Angel’s pillow, the vivid memories of the dream coming back to him. He huffed and rolled over onto his back, then frowned as he felt the sticky mess in his shorts, biting his lower lip.

“You fancy it a dream, but it was not. The Astral is no dream space for succubi, my fox.”

“Whoa!” Sen barked out and looked around, then huffed as he realized he was alone. He hesitated before thinking to himself, “Wait- You hear this?”

“I do, and I can hear you when you speak orally as well. This is how Moon talks to me.”

He rubbed his mussed hair and frowned as he looked up at the dinghy ceiling of the room. “Damn… so that happened, but uh… you said it was its own thing, why am I a… mess?”

There was a giggle in his mind as the words of Dog came to him, “Silly, I said the pleasure was very real, but your meat body here in the prime plane can still get excitable as well. I suppose it felt like a… I believe they call them ‘wet’ dreams, to your physical form.”

“Huh…” Sen held his chrome arm up, looking at it with his normal eye closed, peering at it through the magnified vision of his augmented one. “So my eye, huh?”

“I would very much enjoy restoring it, come my fox, it would grow back stronger, and would only take a few seasons, maybe a few months if you keep fueling me with your love!”

“M-My love?!” He barked aloud and felt his cheeks grow hot, keenly remembering how he readily confessed to her and she returned it.

“I did warn that the feelings may not linger after, but yes, your love, our love. I love you, Sen.” The voice came out cheerfully as he swallowed hard.

“It feels odd to return that in this moment, but I think I’m starting to like you a lot, Dog,” He thought to himself as he gave the empty room a smile.

“I am grateful and may I stay with you for a time? I promise to only speak out if a situation demands it or you call out to me.”

He bit his lower lip at that, thinking about how he’d have her eavesdropping on all his thoughts, but she had been doing that all along anyway. Nodding to himself he spoke aloud, “You know what? It’s kind of nice… Yeah, you can spend more time with me, Dog.”

“I am grateful, and now you should get moving, my sweet kitsune, for you have only a pawful of hours before you meet with my friend, and you best freshen up, as you have my scent upon you.”

Sen frowned at that and moved an arm to his snout, giving a huff as his ears perked up. Sure enough, he had the odor of a female dog upon him. “How is that possible?” He asked.

“Because we can manifest our will and mine was heavy upon you during our lovemaking. Just as we can heal wounds and summon plagues, we may bring forth our pressure upon another. In this case, perhaps I was grinding myself upon your crotch as we did that in the Astral.”

“So you’re the reason I blew it in my shorts!” Sen barked out awkwardly.

“Guilty as charged, and I pray I’ll have the opportunity to do so again, and again, and… again, my fox.” Sen felt a shiver roll down his spine, but couldn’t help but grin as he pushed himself out of bed to start getting cleaned up.

—♥🌙—

Next Episode:

I wish I could have known you before, known your body unchanged. Still, your touch fills me with warmth. Yes, I think we can look beyond our biased views, this is so much more than a carnal embrace, but don’t for a second hold back.

An extended olive branch, a hope of atonement, a burned bridge built anew, or are the tinders too desiccated now? Yes, you are my chosen one. Let the world turn its back upon you, I will be your guardian, your love. Take my power and find a way in the turbid waters you call your life, for now, it is our life.

Episode six: Turbid Currents

I'm not going to lie, I kick my tail writing these! A single episode can take me twelve to fifteen hours or longer to make after conception, writing, editing, and proofreading! If you enjoy this, support me, please? It doesn't have to be financial either, just share my stuff and get my name out there. Vote, Fave, Comment, offer feedback, anything. Thank you, and as always, I'm nothing without your support!

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Chapter Text

Being a writer is my dream job but it has full-time hours and this is where I'd normally pitch my ways to support me, but I've been told Ao3 doesn't vibe with that, so maybe just follow me on Twitter or BlueSky to see what I'm up to?

And with that out of the way…

—♥🌙—

Episode 6:

Turbid Currents

The v-cab ride to Moon’s place was an interesting affair as always. At one point he thought the junky cab was going to have its vector thrust fail part way there; angry sputtering and popping coming from the engine most of the ride.

When he climbed out of the vehicle and slammed the door, the thing even made an audible bang as if backfiring like older road-bound vehicles would do, but the deathtrap haphazardly sputtered away, off to pick up the next victim as he sighed.

“At least it didn’t stink or blare thrash metal?”

His ears perked at the voice in his mind as he thought to himself, “True, you could pick up on that stench when you were with me during that time?”

“I’m not just a dog in name, Sen. Yes, we spirits can feel all of the sensory exposure you feel if we are… joined with you,” the last of the words came out in a sing-song tone as the kitsune felt his heart speed up.

“Right, uh… Well, sorry I had to subject you to all that then!”

“Such a gentlefox! I didn’t mind. Basking in your spirit is quite pleasing, my fox… Ah, but we are both avoiding the approaching storm, yes?”

“Maybe…” Sen sighed as he looked up at the small shop with the half-lit neon sign. With an awkward stirring in his belly, he pushed the door open, unsure if he should expect Moon to throw herself into his arms, or throw something at him.

He received neither as when he pushed the door open, he saw Moon seated at her small table, a lithe older black cat sitting across from her, a smaller female that was almost as short as the mouse was.

The mouse cast her eyes to the kitsune and offered a nod before returning to her customer, her voice already shifted into a mystical tone as she continued, “Of course, of course, I’ve scried the aether and I have good news and bad news for you.”

The black cat frowned deeply as Moon continued, “It would appear your ring has fallen into another’s paws. The general location is the east side of the city, but it would take time and resources for me to narrow the location, not to mention if it is in possession of a nefarious sort, you would need to find a solution to procure it. Perhaps it is best to… let it go?”

“I- I can’t! That was my wedding band and without it…” The cat hissed out and looked away.

“Tut! Very well, I will need time to narrow my focus, but that effort will not come cheaply. As to acquiring it once the location is found… Well, I know some professionals that might be willing, but I can’t negotiate for them,” Moon darted her eyes over to the fox once more, the cat turning to look upon him. Her own gaze widened to see it was a kitsune, clearly sporting a large handgun at his side, just faint showings of chrome dotting the fur of his augmented arm.

“Y-Yes… perhaps… Uh, yes, please do that, Moon. I’ll happily pay whatever needs to be paid!” Her eyes lingered on the lovely fox for several moments before finally darting back to the mouse who was looking a little territorial before slipping back into her act.

“Very well, return on the morrow, I will have the location narrowed by then. Let’s say… eleven a.m.?” The mouse opened her paw expectantly as the cat quickly took out a personal credstick for her to scan over her payment terminal.

“That will be fine, yes. Thank you again, Moon.” The curvaceous mixed-breed cat collected her credstick before hopping up from her seat with a slight wobble of her rather sizeable chest. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Naturally, safe travels,” Moon called out in her mystical tone of voice as the cat strode out of the shop, hesitating and looking up at the fox one more time before leveling her gaze and quickly slipping from the shop.

“Oh, I believe she found you rather handsome,” Dog’s voice called out in his mind as the little copper bell tinkled when the door closed.

“No shit, even I could tell,” Moon spoke candidly as Sen shifted his gaze back to her, seeing the mouse had risen from her table, paws already on her hips with a look more in-line with what he expected upon arrival.

“Wait a sec, you can hear Dog even when she isn’t, uh…” He trailed off, not sure what to even call what was happening in his brain right now.

“A tag-along? Yeah, if she’s close enough I can hear her, especially in my home, Sen. Anything that crosses the threshold of my shop is in my astral domain, I’m fully in-tune with it,” Moon explained with a shrug, then stared right at him, but seemed to be looking past him as she clicked her tongue, “You, come here, we’ve got a chat to have.”

“Ah, he, he… I’ll be right back, love!” Sen grit his teeth, a chill rolling up his spine, then an overwhelming sense of loss suddenly bared down upon him, as if he were alone in a void with no one to call upon. The sensation quickly passed a heartbeat later though.

Moon folded her arms, a snarl showing on her muzzle as she closed her eyes, lowering her head as if she had nodded off on the spot. Sen frowned as he saw he wasn’t getting to eavesdrop on this conversation like he had her one-sided ones of the past.

Not thirty seconds later he felt a rush of warmth rush into him and could swear he felt hot breath on one of his ears as the words filled his mind, “All done, we’re squared away, my love.”

“Woah, that was fast!” he spoke out in surprise as he saw Moon open her green eyes and cock a brow.

“Oh, right… I forgot to explain that to you. When you’re communing one-on-one with a spirit in the aether, time is uh…” Moon frowned as she scratched a painted claw against her jaw before shrugging as she continued, “It’s weird, let’s just leave it at that. An hour can pass in a minute, a minute can pass in an hour.”

“So what do you mean when you say, ‘squared away?’” Sen asked aloud as if Dog were standing before him.

“We’ll sort all that out after our little errand,” Moon pointed at him with a business-like glare.

“Errand? Is that what we’re calling it now?” Sen gave her a silly grin, his twin-tails wagging behind him.

“Hardy har! You think I’m just going to assume the position right out of the gate after the little stunt you two pulled?” The mouse squeaked out with a half-glare at him, still looking to the distance over his shoulder.

He heard an exasperated sigh in his mind as Dog spoke once more, “Moon, you were exhausted and Sen was strung up for release, I was overwhelmed with your energy as well, would you prefer we both had just suffered to satisfy your ego?”

“Yes,” Moon said pointedly with drooped ears, but then rolled her eyes before shrugging. “What’s done is done though, let me get changed, we’ve got work to do.”

“Work?” Sen asked, sounding slightly annoyed now.

“Well sure, that dumb cat was off turning tricks and got her wedding band swiped. She’s going to ask me to get it back so I’m just saving some time. I’ve already scryed its location and I’d rather go retrieve it before some drek-face sells, steals, or loses it.”

“Turning tricks… So that’s why she was so worried about getting it back, huh?” the kitsune rubbed his jaw as he repeated the words.

“Uh-huh, you didn’t think that rack she was sporting was real did you? Then again that’s not the only thing that’s been modified, if you know what I mean!” The mouse offered him a smug grin.

“Wait, how in the world could you even know that, Moon?” Sen followed up, perplexed by how confident the mouse was in the matter.

Moon offered him a flat look as if he were stupid. “I was literally touching her paw and within inches of her proximity. You think I wouldn’t sense someone’s butchering of their sacred flesh?”

“So what all was fake?” Dog barked out curiously, apparently not having been privy to the details during their discussion.

“Ever the little gossip whore, huh?” Moon grinned then rolled her eyes before continuing, “Tits were bioware enhanced, plumbing was too. Even her eye color was manipulated. I guess some just aren’t happy in their own flesh and fur, eh?”

Sen snorted at that and flexed his augmented arm at the words, seeing them as the jab they were but not rising to the bait. Moon looked a little pouty that he didn’t bite, then turned with a snap of her tail. “Tut… anyway, help me out with this, I’ll make it worth your while, okay, sweetie?” She looked over her shoulder at him as she asked in earnest.

“So I’ve got to do this to sleep with you?” Sen frowned as he put a paw on his hip.

Moon scowled and glared at him. “No, drek-for-brains! I’m going to put out for you regardless, I’m asking you to fraggin’ help me do this and I’ll pay you, like Jane would!”

“Oh! R-right, sorry about th-”

“Yeah, yeah, I see what kind of mouse you think I am already,” Moon snorted and trotted toward the backroom as Sen barked out.

“Hey, wait a sec, I didn’t mean it like that! I’m sorry, okay?”

“Relax, love. She’s messing with you, she doesn’t think that,” Dog spoke out gently to him.

Moon called out from behind a curtain of beads, “Dog, you’re going to ruin me harassing him, don’t make me send you to time out while the adults talk!”

—♥🌙—

The edge of the crumbling rockcrete sidewalk shifted under Sen’s boot heel as he climbed from the v-cab, the small mouse already coming around from the other side in her gear she’d wear for a mission. He was actually wearing ballistics-nano-weave, but apparently, Dog was making him appear to just be in jeans and a jacket, likewise, Mantis was doing the same, Moon appearing to be in casual street gear.

“Listen up, this is as much to break in that new mutt of yours as it is to help my whore-client out, understand? You take the spirits seriously, even the sluts like Dog, or you can forget about my own tail later,” Moon grumbled under her breath standing next to him adjusting her gloves.

“I thought there wasn’t a stipulation on getting your tail?” Sen fired back, his tone already sounding full of bravado and clearly in his “mission-mentality” mode.

“Hmph… disrespecting the spirits is the biggest turn-off to me anyway, so take that for what it’s worth, puppy.” The mouse poked her nose up with a haughty little huff.

“Don’t worry, love. I won’t make this too complicated on you, just don’t go geeking anyone and if I have anything to offer, I’ll speak up. Do be safe though, even the most simple errands can turn into life-threatening ordeals to the unprepared,” Dog’s voice called out to him, and given the unfocused look Moon had, she wasn’t hearing her now that they were out of the shop.

“Y’know Moon, sometimes you really sound like- ah, nevermind.” Sen sighed at the brief resurfacing of some lessons he got as a pup, then gave a glance down at the mouse, “So, how does this work then, with you and I working in the Warren? Is something like this strictly off the books, or what?”

“Of course, this is off the books, think this small-time drek would be worthy of her time? Tch.” The mouse flicked her tail at the idea, already able to picture the look on the bunny’s face for even entertaining this little “mission,” let alone using her shiny new tool for it.

“Alright, alright, just figured I’d ask. Training and all that.” Sen rolled his eyes as he continued, “Anyway, where is this thief at, you said you already scryed it, yeah?”

Moon gave a nod toward the annoyingly-lit up walkway, leading to the area most could consider a middle-class district. That didn’t mean it was free of the usual suspects they’d deal with, only that they’d be better concealed or using more endorsed wares.

“About two streets down, nice little hole-in-the-wall place. Apparently, they met a few times there before this ordeal, we shouldn’t have much trouble if you don’t step on too many tails,” the mouse said with a grin up at the two-tails, already stepping off and toward the location.

Sen gave an appreciative glance at the walking mouse before stepping up to join and walk beside her, placing himself street-side, “C’mon, don’t make it sound like I always say the wrong thing, I’m not that bad.”

“You do have a tendency to bark before you think, my dear,” Dog spoke gently, interjecting her observations and reminding Sen that it wasn’t just another stroll.

“Alright, starting to understand the self arguments now, I think,” Sen said aloud with a dry chuckle. “Going to take some getting used to, someone else in my thoughts.”

“Oh, you don’t get used to the spirits, you see how I am at times.” The mouse offered a knowing grin as they padded along the recently rain-wet sidewalk, “but, adjustment is possible. There’s far more benefits off-setting any early unease or mistrust, if, you pay them proper respect!”

“Yeah, yeah, you think I didn’t hear the words ‘respect’ or ‘duty’ enough in training or back at the shrine? Throw me a damn bone, I’ll treat Dog with respect,” Sen growled slightly, feeling his fur rise for a moment as more past recollections tried to resurface.

The walk was short enough at a good pace, before Sen took point with a quicker stride toward the entryway of the place. It didn’t matter Moon could likely sense or read any threats ahead of time, training dictated the kitsune secure the area.

“So, this was your idea, so you get to call the shots, lady.” Sen looked over his shoulder at the mouse, grinning through the military stance of his face and body alike, “How do you wanna handle this?”

“For starters, if you call me ‘lady’ at all once I get you alone, I’m kicking you out of my bed,” Moon fired her own lazy look at him before drawing forth her scythe. She nodded her head as if listening then looked back up at him. “Weasel says the drek that has the ring is squatting here with a few other lowlifes from the group he runs with. That cat must have one of those ‘bad boy’ fetishes.”

“Understood, I’ll follow your lead then, including the talking.” He huffed at both the mouse and Dog for the earlier jab about his mouth running too much, “This shouldn’t be anything we can’t handle, so on your call.”

“Guess it just took two girls to get through that thick skull of yours, huh?” Moon smirked and slung the scythe over her shoulder casually rounding the corner upon the small group of four gangers that had seemed to be in the middle of an impromptu meeting amongst themselves, perhaps to just gossip or plan something.

“Hoi, chums, I’m afraid you’ve got a little problem and I’m not in the mood for any overly macho bullshit today, so eyes up here, even if I’m short!” Moon shouted out, all four of the gang members drawing handguns.

“Drek…” Sen snarled under his breath, reaching for his own gun before feeling a sensation of comfort wash over him.

“Hold on, she’s got it under control, or more to the point, Mantis does,” Dog explained and at that very moment, there was a faint whining sound of cutting metal that only rang out for a microsecond before the barrels of each of the guns simply fell to the ground, the gangers looking panicked as they were left holding just the grips of their former weapons.

“Got your attention boys?” The mouse lifted her paw out that didn’t have the scythe held, snapping her fingers a few times. “You, the pretty one, ring, now or I’ll take your hand off like that!”

“Oh drek me!” the ganger yelped out as he padded paws on his outfit, the mouse rolling her eyes before pointing to his left hip.

“It’s in your pants pocket you stupid fuck-face, now toss it here!” she squeaked out as a wind started swirling in the air, everyone’s clothes flapping as if a storm was setting upon them inside the small enclosed space.

“Dude, give the bitch the ring already!” another ganger pleaded as the one fumbling in his pants finally retrieved it and practically threw it at Moon.

The mouse gave a snort as the little silver ring stopped in mid-air, just hanging there for several moments for the theatrics of it before she snatched it and turned her back on the four of them.

“You three can take up the cost of your guns with that drek-for-brains there. You keep your paws off a certain cat going forward, or you won’t have them or a tongue if I have to come back!” Moon squeaked out as she strutted right around the corner, Sen just standing there a few  moments awkwardly with a paw on his still-sheathed gun before ducking around the corner after her.

“So… That was pretty wiz, Moon, but… Why did I even come along then?” Sen asked with a grin.

“Gave me something pretty to look at while I worked,” she fired back with a small grin, then huffed and leaned against him with a slump, taking a puff of breath as if having just finished sprinting.

“Oh drek, here we go again, gonna be too tired and I’ll have to go home, right?” he laughed but held her by a shoulder as the mouse slumped against him a little as they walked back to the waiting v-cab.

“I’ll be fine, that wasn’t so bad,” Moon squeaked out as she pushed off him to walk herself again.

“Tch… I wasn’t saying you-”

“Just put your arm around her shoulder and hold her against you,” Dog’s voice called out.

Sen kept his tongue bit and just did that, his arm reaching out to grasp Moon’s shoulder, drawing her back to him so he could support her. The mouse offered a small protesting grunt, but didn’t squirm out of his grip as they walked.

“So my spirit girlfriend and my wingman, eh?” Sen thought to himself while grinning, but then frowned as no response came to his words. He kept looking back behind them as if worried the gang members would regroup their senses and try to come back for petty revenge, but it never came and before long, they were back at their waiting cab, the meter still going for their ride.

“Easy,” Moon scoffed aloud as she slid into the seat.

“Sorry, my love. If you and Moon are touching, she would have heard my response, and I’d not make a very good ‘wingman’ were I to spill the beans, no?” Dog’s voice filled his mind once more, sounding amused.

“Noted, and uh…thanks Dog, for softening my edges so to speak.” Sen smiled to himself after closing the door, settling beside Moon as the nerves of possible combat already waned thanks to that comforting presence, grateful it hadn’t escalated thanks to the impressive if dramatic display.

They rode along for several moments before he called out conversationally, “You always ham it up like that?”

“Only when I’m trying to impress the guy I’m gonna let fuck me senseless,” Moon shot him a look, saying the words as cooly as if she’d been saying what she wanted to pick up from the buy-or-die.

Sen felt his heart start to pound as the mouse gave him a confident smirk then just as casual as could be, slumping against him, enjoying the contact and his scent. This time Dog didn’t have to prompt him as he snaked an arm around her, drawing the mouse close for the remainder of the cab ride back to her place.

          —♥🌙—

“I’m grateful for your accompaniment upon my little errand, our eager cat will be happy to get her ring back. I will be sure to lecture her upon perhaps avoiding the drek-face in the future,” Moon hummed out as she opened the door to her shop, leading the kitsune back in with her.

“I was happy to tag along, even if I didn’t do anything.” Sen offered a small grin to her as Moon shut the door, then glanced over her shoulder as he saw her throw the deadbolts, arm the panel, and turn the neon sign off.

“You were… insurance and something pretty to look at…” She turned and padded over to him, her small paws reaching up to grip his jacket, jerking him down with a confident motion, the fox taking a knee as she met him nose to nose.

“I’ll give you a cut of the fee I charge her for the ring and scrying, least I can do, troublemaker…” Moon slid a paw under his muzzle, scratching with her green-painted claws, showing her teeth in a grin as those tails wagged behind him.

“That’s not necessary, Moon. I was happy to just accompany you and watch your ass in those jeans,” Sen said playfully then cocked a brow. “Also, what happened to finding a more endearing pet name?”

The mouse stepped back with a grin and shifted a paw to her hip, her other lifting as flames danced on her fingertips. “I believe I said I would if we got through the night without me setting your tails on fire,” she cooed the words confidently seeing his surprised look as she snapped her fingers, the flames snapping out of sight.

“Whoa… you can control fire too?” he asked, sounding impressed but still grinning like an idiot, her heady scent of heat just as strong as it was the last time.

“I cannot, for that is Hawk’s domain. I simply produced an illusion to complete the visuals.” She turned and started walking deeper into her shop.

“It was still pretty wiz seeing you with flames dancing off your paws like that,” Sen confessed as he followed her, admiring her rear in those snug jeans yet again.

Moon lifted her ears and spun on her boot heels, her gaze growing a little fiercer as she pointed at the fox and squeaked out, “Get out!”

“Wait- What did I do?!” Sen barked out, his heart sinking as he frowned deeply.

“Not you, you.” Her painted claw shifted a little to the side of his face. Through the eyes of the mouse, she could see the buxom shiba clinging to the fox, hovering there in the air with her arms wrapped lovingly around his neck like she had been the whole day.

“You would cast me out, Moon?” Dog’s voice came out in a playful pout.

“Go dick around in the astral for a while, all of you!” Moon stomped her foot with a fussy snarl, her own shiver rolling down her spine as she felt Mantis and Weasle also depart. She cocked a brow as she watched Sen give a little shiver of his own even as Dog was still upon him.

“Wait… Did you feel Mantis and Weasle depart?” Moon asked with an impressed tone already in her voice.

Sen rubbed his meat arm with his augmented one and gave a shrug to the mouse. “Uh… I can’t say? But it just suddenly felt… cooler in here?”

“You are impressive, my love… I chose wisely to take you as a mate and partner…” Dog cooed into his ear, her breath hot upon it. Moon twitched an eye, seeing the shiba clearly cupping the fox’s jaw, her muzzle right at his ear.

“Get moving already, you had him all damn night!” Moon squeaked out again and waved her paw, as if making a ‘shooing’ motion.

Dog gave a little pout and gracefully slipped off the kitsune’s back, hovering there in the air for a moment, her flowing gown swaying as if there was a breeze. “Do enjoy him, my friend… You can thank me later for working the virgin nerves out of him,” Dog cooed in a sing-song tone as Sen bit his lower lip, feeling his cheeks burning under his fur.

“Have fun, my love. I shall long for you…” Her words filled his mind then he shuddered and snapped his teeth together from the sudden rush of loneliness slamming into his soul, feeling very cold for a moment, his tails thrashing about a few times.

“It gets worse the longer they’re with you,” Moon explained sympathetically, “Even worse when you’ve got three of them around constantly…”

“Did you have to?” Sen asked curiously.

“Did you want viewers, doggy?” Moon asked with a lazy grin as she peeled her ballistics jacket off, tossing it on her table.

“Would they have stuck around?” Sen asked while slinging his own jacket off and approaching the smaller girl who was giving him a hungry look.

“Weasel was begging me to let him leave, he’s not much of a voyeur. Mantis didn’t care one way or another, she’s used to being around when I would scratch an itch or something.” Moon shrugged and gave him a level look. “Dog would probably have started masturbating, the whore…”

“Spirits can masturbate?” Sen barked a laugh at that.

Moon gave him that look she had a few times now, the one that pretty much said “are you stupid?” before following up, “You literally had sex with her, Sen… She probably gushed all over you a few times, yeah?”

“Oh uh… Yeah, I guess that was pretty silly to ask, huh?” He chuckled then saw the mouse smile as she shook her head.

“Yeah, it was, now come on…” She gripped his paw, not touching the chrome one as she started pulling him past the small beaded curtain. He felt a small snap of power as he was pulled deeper into her personal sanctuary, a location visitors to her shop weren’t allowed to tread upon.

She glanced back with an approving grin as she pulled him through the small hallway. “You felt the threshold grow in strength, didn’t you?”

“Is that what that was?” He bit his lower lip, trying to focus, knowing he was finally about to get this mouse he’d been lusting for, but also feeling a little confused from all the new sensations.

“Mhm! Any chum just tries to waltz in past that curtain, they’ll be in for a shock… literally… It magnifies the strength based on their intent.” She led him into a small room that he assumed was her bedroom.

He looked around, seeing a small trid display for watching shows and a queen-sized bed. There was a closet full of those silky gowns she wore in various colors along with some gear she used on her runs. The scythe she sported had its own stand on a small dresser.

“Yeah? What happens if the intruder's intent is really bad?” he asked while glancing around her living space.

“Go ask that one ganger that said he was going to rape and murder me. Last I heard he was heading to the morgue,” Moon offered a shrug as she explained coolly, a little smug grin showing on her muzzle.

“Damn… uh… that’s kinda hot, Moon…” He laughed awkwardly, then gave a little yip as she slipped right up to him, pulling him down by his shirt once more. The mouse was clearly done talking as his blue eyes widened, feeling her muzzle push to his own.

Sen wasted no time returning the kiss, dropping to his knees, his paws on those curvy hips as their heads tilted. Her tongue met his eagerly, the small mouse huffing her approval as her paws tangled into his dark hair, rubbing his large ears, their tongues playfully flicking as if vying for dominance.

His paws eagerly explored her small curvaceous body, rubbing her hips and drifting to the front of her jeans, starting to work them open as the mouse pushed from his lips with a squeak and gripped his paws. “Hey, sweetie, I only have one request…”

“Sweetie?” he asked with an eager grin.

“Shut up, I’m working on it… Anyway… uh… just try not to over use… that arm on me okay? I know you gotta use it, but just don’t like, try to give me a pawjob with it or something, deal?” She gave him a somewhat stern look, even as her heady scent of heat mingled between them.

Sen grinned and didn’t say anything as his paws gripped her hips, the mouse offering a protesting squeak as he jerked her right around to face away from him and pulled her to his chest. The kitsune licked his chops and popped the button on her jeans open, jerking the zipper down and parting them, the heady scent of mouse sex seeming to double as her panties came into view.

“So you’re saying… you want a pawjob but with my meat, paw, right?” he growled out as his left paw shoved right down past her panties, the mouse offering up a soft squeak at his confident touch.

“Gah! That’s not what… I’m… oooh fuck…” He felt her slump slightly into him as his padded fingers started stroking right at her pearl. His touch was clumsy, but he was making up for it with confidence.

For better or worse, Dog had done her a service, he was much more determined than he would have been had he not gotten the nerves out with his spirit girlfriend. “Huff… yeah, right there, baby…” Moon panted out, one of her paws moving up above her head to tangle back into his hair, her other gripping his meat arm while he worked her pearl. She was absolutely soaked, his pads slippery as they stroked her mouse sex, feeling how wet her panties were as well for him.

“You’re drenched, mousey… fuck, you been this soaked since I hit the door?” He puffed into her round ear, hearing her breath growing heavier as her curvy hips squirmed, pushing back into the obvious bulge in his own pants.

“Y-you like to dirty talk don’t you?” she panted out, biting her lower lip as he started to shred those barriers she had, her body rapidly building up.

“You were doing all the teasing talk yesterday, guess tit-for-tat?” Sen licked his chops, having gotten a quick crash course in how to touch a woman properly, Dog even giving him some insider tips on how Moon would touch herself whenever she snuck views of her doing it.

The kitsune listened to the mouse panting and moaning, then offered a pinch to her pearl when he thought she was close. Moon lolled her tongue, looking shocked and seeing stars from the pinch, it was rougher than she usually got with herself, but it did the job in spades as the mouse belted out a throaty squeak of a moan, being thrown over the edge by his clumsy pawjob.

“Spirits aboooove…” Moon slurred out as her claws dug into his head and arm, so hard she almost broke the flesh under his fur as he shuddered to hear how she sounded. Her orgasm wasn’t like Dog’s was, he actually felt her gush on his fingers and drench her panties as she came.

“Whoa… girls can shoot like that?” he asked curiously as he kept stroking her.

“S-shut up…” Moon panted out awkwardly as she felt herself slowly coming down from the rush with a little sigh of relief.

“Heh… Sorry, babe… I wasn’t making fun of you, just surprised.” He felt her squirm from his paws before turning to face him, a little wobbly on her legs before she gave him a cock of her brow.

“Babe?” she asked while hopping up to the side of her bed, hastily pulling her boots and socks off, then starting to work her open jeans down her hips.

“You called me baby, figured it was fair?” Sen kicked his own boots off, peeling his socks off, then as he walked over to the mouse, he reached down and peeled his shirt right off, tossing it aside.

Moon bit her lower lip as she looked upon him, seeing the toned muscles through his fur, a defined set of abs showing above those jeans that were clearly showing a bulge. She shifted her hips a little, now just in her own t-shirt she had thrown on for the job and a pair of soaked panties.

“Spirits be blessed you’ve got a bod on you, don’t you, baby? I just wish I could have seen it before you butchered it!” she squeaked out as she calmly hooked her painted claws into her panties, casually dragging them down before offering a grin and kicking them off right at him.

The fox caught the soaked fabric and offered a smile before tucking them into his back pocket. “Hopefully it’s not too offputting to know it’s there?” He flexed his augmented fist a few times as he tilted his head.

“Ha! Are you fucking stealing my panties as a trophy you little pervert?” She giggled and then shook her head, tilting it as she offered a grin up to him. “I’m not a romantic or some femme fatale, Sen… So I hope you don’t expect me to do sexy things like give you stripteases?”

“I think you’re sexy as fuck, Moon, and yeah I’m keeping them!” he barked out with his own grin as the mouse showed him a grin, her eyes glittering as he called her sexy.

“Maybe see if you can get your boyfriend to wear them, and if you do send me pictures!” She giggled, then with a flourish, hopped right up and peeled her top off, dragging the bra off with it as he finally got to see those ample mousey breasts spill forth in all their glory. Her peaks were hard against her soft brown fur, the dark almost brown areolas looking right at home with her fur.

“Worth the wait, baby?” She folded her arms, squeezing her large breasts together with an almost childish grin as she stood before him now fully nude.

“See, I knew you could do sexy things, Moon…” He huffed out in admiration as she offered him a surprisingly bashful grin, but then her green eyes darted down as he started to work his own pants open.

“Let me give you a hint as to if I think it was worth the wait…” he huffed out and jerked his pants open, the mouse offering an approving squeak as she saw that tapered crimson cock spring forth, jumping eagerly and even dripping with a nice thick string of precum.

“Oh my goodness…” Moon whispered as she moved right over and slid a paw down to grasp his length just like that, offering a needy huff as she started to pump him curiously, his prelove just gushing forth and dripping off her fingers. “Hgn… you are a blessing from the spirits themselves, aren’t you, baby?”

Sen lolled his tongue as her soft warm paw pumped his jumping length, the first time a girl had touched him in the flesh like this. “Damn, Moon… your paw is really warm…”

“You know what else is really warm, Sen?” She chewed on her lower lip and released him offering a frustrated huff. “Okay okay… that was a really good lead in to me just dropping to my knees and giving you head, but uh… Hey I’m in heat, so…?” She offered him an apologetic grin as she backed up towards her bed.

“Fuck, don’t apologize, Moon! Get on the bed and let’s do this, I’ve been dying to be inside you!” he barked out as he quickly kicked his pants off, now both of them fully nude, his twin tails a rolling blur behind him as he followed after her.

“Hey, Sen… Remember I said I liked it natural?” Moon ask as she slid back onto her silky sheets.

“Uh-huh?” He growled while moving onto the bed with her, nose to nose, stealing a few kisses from her lips, the mouse shuddering and biting his lower lip a few times, even suckling on it as her paws roamed his chest, then she pulled from him.

She rolled right over, lifted to her knees, and rested on her elbows, letting him get a good look at her plump round rear and those dripping petals. She looked over her shoulder and lifted her wiry tail. “I’m a bitch in heat, baby… so fuck me like one? In a position, nature intended one to be fucked in?” she asked with a whimper, rocking her hips back and forth invitingly.

Sen looked dumb-struck at those words, the need in her voice, that scent overwhelming his senses, but growled hotly with a bristle from ears to tail, “Ghh…you’re so damn hot, Moon!” The fox didn’t waste another second, shifting up close to nestle that achingly hard spire to those dripping petals, a few slick misses from excitement and inexperience before that shaft slid inside.

“Ahh, that’s it…ease it all inside, baby!” Moon panted over her shoulder, eyes gleaming with a look Sen would never forget as her hips rocked backwards, urging inch after inch of that throbbing spire further inside.

The twin-tails grasped those sloping hips in both paws for purchase, rolling forward in time with those shifts to sink fully into the snug heat of the gasping mouse, “Ngh…y-you feel so good inside, Moon…!” Sen groaned, feeling those walls clench, grasp about his arousal for her even as she gyrated to encourage more.

“Ha…show me how good, fox!” Moon huffed out, now able to almost fully take that entire length inside, only to squeak when Sen tugged on those curved hips with a buck forward, “oh! Fuck…you’re so big!” Her center felt that tapered tip kiss, that wet channel shaped about his twitching cock.

Sen hunched down atop the mouse, drawing his hips back only to thrust forward and make her round backside bounce nicely, “Ngh…because of you, babe…you drive me crazy, ha…!” The fox rocked down against the smaller mouse, building into that natural pacing in that feral position.

“Oohh spirits! S-Sen, that’s it…fuck…fuck me like…your bitch!” Moon squeaked out, tongue lolling out as that fox-cock plowed her depths, drooling precum profusely as she stoked the twin-tails further. She was pounding her ass back against each hard buck now, getting them connected as possible in this primal posture.

Sen lowered himself further on top of the jostling mouse, growling into an ear even as he nipped at it, “Gnnnff…fuck, Moon I’m…so c-close already, you feel so good!” His paws raked along that silky fur, leaving soft trails in an upward migration to grasp those ample mouse-tits. He clasped them, squeezing and kneading as that canine knot made itself known in ever more audibly wet impacts to her stretched petals.

“Haa…then, do it! Give it to me, ngh, my fox! Fill your…ahhh fuck, little mouse bitch!” Moon demanded in a mixed tone of commandment and pleading, shoving back hard each word until with a gush, that canine bulge plunged inside to tie the fox with her.

“Ohhhhfuuck! M-Moooonnnnghhh!” Sen snarled hotly, ears pinning back with his snout burying into her neck when they coupled like that, unable to help his peak wracking his whole body. His whole frame tensed, shuddered as that lodged spire jumped each time it fired thick rushes of seed into that hot core, giving Moon a new pleasantly full sensation.

“Oohhhyeessss…haaaa…all of it, nnnhhh good foooox…!” The mouse slurred her words in a moan as her eyes rolled up as pleasure coursed through her a breath later, clenching down hard about that erupting shaft to milk that orgasm from the fox. Her tongue lolled out with a hot panting as the fox filled her at last, giving them both release that left the mouse feeling so warm within after having gushed all over her sheets so many times.

“Huff…ohh, fuck…Moon, you’re…mmmf…” Sen exhaled in bliss, nuzzling his snout to her soft neckfur before giving a growling lap of her cheek, enclosing his arms about her to shift to their sides, curling into the mouse as they came down from such a high together.

“Heh…yeah, I know…you’re welcome.” Moon gave a breathy giggle, smiling smugly to herself as her paws patted those large arms about her, coiling her tail over a leg and about his own in a musing exhale, “Not too bad, mm, yourself babe…”

—♥🌙—

Moon insisted he stay the night with her, but the invitation was two-fold. She was in heat after all and the two of them ended up in another frantic bout of sex after dinner. The other reason became apparent as Sen woke from his sex-induce slumber, but not in his own meat.

He sat on his knees as if he’d been back at the shrine but now with the haze of the astral all around. Next to him was Moon, dressed in one of her silky flowing gowns, even though in reality she was very naked, both of them clinging together fur to fur.

Dog was also present, wearing her white and gold toga-style robe, cherry blossom laurels in her hair. “Are you ready to thank me for breaking him in for you, Moon?” She asked in a sing-song voice.

“I wouldn’t have had a problem breaking him in, thank you very much!” the mouse squeaked out and poked her nose up.

“Ladies, let's not fight about it, I really… I really adore and appreciate both of you, I hope it was uh… alright?” Sen spoke rather bashfully now that he was before both of his newest lovers.

“Love making with you is blissful, my darling, rest assured of that.” Dog pushed a paw to her chest with a loving smile.

“It wasn’t bad, puppy, let’s do it again when we wake up, okay?” Moon leaned back on her paws, grinning over at the kitsune who showed her a grin.

“You mean we're not here to have an astral threesome?” He offered a chuckle but a little part of him was serious.

“Perhaps another time if my associate is willing,” Dog cooed out in a lusty tone.

“Tch… you know I’m not really into girls, Dog… But if Sen is with us… Well, I’ll think about it, I know you’ve wanted to jump my astral bones for a bit now, so we’ll see.” Moon grinned at the dog, both her and the spirit seeing the fluffed up wagging tails, the fox no doubt already imagining the whole thing.

“Sen, my love, let me cut to the heart of the matter before you get too horny to listen if I may?” Dog asked with a motherly tone.

“Oh, y-yes, sorry…” he said sheepishly and offered his focus to the shiba before him.

“Moon is already aware of my intentions and that is why she is here. I wish to… well and fully bond with you, as your totem spirit,” Dog said matter-of-factly.

Sen’s large ears perked at that. “Wait a sec, I thought you were already with Moon?”

Moon spoke up to field his question, “Sen, Mantis is my totem spirit. She and I have forged a bond that transcends the others. Weasel and Dog assist me but I can’t fully embrace their power as I can with Mantis. It is very common for a shaman to be in communion with multiple spirits, but exceptionally rare to find one bonded with more than one.”

He nodded at that and looked back to Dog who was offering him a proud motherly smile while clasping her paws together in her lap. “But… wouldn’t you lose your connection with Moon if that happens?”

“I will always love Moon, Sen, she is very dear to me. I will still be able to commune with her when we are in proximity, but I was never to be her totem and we both knew this.”

“It’s true. I also love Dog, she has been with me since I was a teenager, but I also knew the day would come she would find the right one. Every shaman prays that the spirits will find their true chosen companion.” Moon shifted her gaze back to Dog’s the shiba offering a loving grin at her, tail wagging behind her.

“So what would this entail for me?” Sen asked as he looked between the two girls he called lovers now.

“Nothing will change to an extreme, you would still have my presence, but you would be able to utilize my protection fully as your own.” Dog barked out lovingly as she pushed a paw to her bosom.

“You’d also be able to see her with your meat eyes,” Moon said casually as Sen perked his ears at that.

“Seriously? I’d be able to just see you hanging out around me?” The tone of eagerness in his voice was evident.

“Why yes, my love… Why? Do you wish me to offer you strip teases while you are locked in important business?” Dog ran her paws down over her shapely breasts, offering him a seductive smile as she pushed her arms together, letting her breasts push out more through the top, seeing the small hard peaks in the fabric.

“You’re such a slut…” Moon groaned as she rubbed her face while Sen barked out awkwardly and squirmed on his knees.

Dog giggled before settling her paws in her lap then met Sen’s eyes with another smile. “What do you say, my love? There are rules to have me, but if you are willing…”

“Well, what are the rules?” Sen asked skeptically.

“Hmm… First off, you may only kill when necessary, second you will need to create a focus for our love!” Dog explained, showing him an eager grin at the ‘love’ part.

“A focus? Like Moon’s Scythe?” He looked to Moon for confirmation as the mouse nodded.

“Correct, a focus or foci as they sometimes call them, is a way to channel your partner’s powers without wearing yourself out… It’s like the difference between digging a ditch with a shoe or using heavy machinery.”

“Okay, all that’s reasonable, anything else?” he asked while looking back to Dog who was frowning now.

“Yes… that is to say… uhm…” She frowned deeper and rubbed one paw against her arm as she looked away, as if trying to choose her words.

“You gotta let her fix your eye and keep any other bullshit out of your meat, lover boy,” Moon squeaked out with a laugh.

“I have you?” Sen asked with a cock of his brow.

“You technically do not have to, my love… but if you kept replacing your flesh, your spirit would grow weaker and with it, our bond. If you did too much, you would not be able to even see or talk to me, let alone draw my protection further,” Dog explained with a forlorn look on her face.

Sen felt his heart drop at the idea of never seeing her again or being able to talk to her. Dog seemed to sense his emotions and wagged her tail with a weak smile, happy to know how much it affected him.

“This isn’t some stupid game, Sen. The spirits have real feelings and emotions. When you bond with one, they will feel pain when you do, if you die… They will too.” Moon set him with a strong glare as she hissed the last of the words.

“Whoa! You can’t just make that kind of promise with me then Dog! Getting my stupid tails geeked shouldn’t be a risk for you as well!” Sen barked out in protest at the prospect of it.

“It is just as well this way, my love… Were you to fall, I would be stricken with grief and slowly fade from this plane. All the better to follow you in death so we may continue our bond in the next world,” Dog spoke solemnly as she clasped her paws together at her chest, as if praying.

“This is the way of it, Sen. Likewise installing more of that shit would effectively poison Dog. She wouldn’t stop talking to you because of your spirit alone, you would also be chipping away at her own essence if you did any of that while sharing a bond. She would quite literally lose the power to speak with you or anyone else as she grew weaker and withered.” Moon wagged a painted claw at him as she took on a nagging tone.

Sen felt a cold chill settle against his spine before shaking his head. “Does that mean I would need to remove my augmented arm?”

“No my love, I wouldn’t be able to heal you since you willingly removed your original arm. The damage is done and bonding with you in your present state would not hinder me, only dictate how hard it will be for you to… adapt.”

“Adapt?” He looked to Dog then to Moon who started explaining.

“It’ll be harder to fuel her power since your spirit isn’t whole, Sen. You can do it, and with time you’ll do it well, but you’ll always have a handicap, do you understand?” Moon asked, the kitsune offering a small nod.

He liked how Dog felt with him, it was nice having the constant companion and her overwhelming love flooding into him. It wasn’t a hard decision as he’d already decided he wanted her to help with his eye.

“Well, I had entertained fantasies of having lots of chrome and being a walking armory…” He saw Moon starting to glare at him, but then shook his head before continuing, “But you know what? After meeting you two and feeling what I do? I think… the arm is good enough then!”

“Ah! Does this mean you will accept me, Sen?” Dog barked out as she leaned forward, her tail already a blur.

The kitsune rubbed his head as he gave her a bashful little smile. “Yeah, I think it means I-” He yipped, unable to finish as she dove atop him, her muzzle crashing into his own, her head already tilted. Sen’s eyes widened but drifted closed quickly, tilting his own head as their tongues met in a fervent kiss.

“Whore… are you forgetting something?” Moon grumbled as Dog parted from the kiss and frowned at her.

“Uh… there’s more?” Sen stammered, feeling the shiba pushing close, her breasts squeezing into his chest, now practically sitting in his lap.

“Moon is my patron shaman, she has to willingly release me into your care, then we must strive to complete our focus within one month's time,” Dog explained as she circled a paw against his chest.

Moon gave a shrug and smiled. “Of course, I’m going to let you do what makes you happy, Dog. Just promise to give me and Sen some alone time now and then when we’re together, deal?”

“Deal!” Dog barked out and leaned close, nuzzling under the kitsune's jaw, Sen huffing and grinning like a puppy. He had been worried Moon might want this to just be a casual one and done thing, but she had just confirmed she wanted to keep seeing him.

“Geeze, that stupid look on your face… Thinking how lucky you are to have two hot magical bitches and that eye candy of a retriever?” Moon teased with a grin.

“Pretty much! I’m not complaining though!” He barked out with a laugh, then grunted as Dog huffed hotly against his throat, offering him little love nips.

“Dog! Don’t go giving him astral sex while he’s literally spooning me right now! He’s got his paws dug into my tits and everything for fuck sake!” Moon stood up with a snarl, whipping her wiry tail about as the spirit pouted but gave a nod, rocking back from Sen a bit in his lap.

Sen took a few moments to compose himself, his heart pounding before he asked, “So what’s the plan then? How do we make this happen?”

“It’s already happened,” Moon said with a shrug.

“Wait, there’s no ceremony or something?” Sen frowned.

“No my love, I am wholly yours now.” She leaned close and puffed hotly into his ear, “All of me, whenever you wish it… Once you have grown stronger, why I might even be able to use our love to temporarily form a physical body to please you…” She nibbled his ear as he huffed out excitedly.

“Yeah, yeah, slut… In the meantime, your tail needs to get to work on that focus, then you need to rip that shit out of your eye-hole so Dog can start working on a new eye for you. Good news is, with you two being bonded, she’ll be able to do it much faster,” Moon explained with a grumble as she slowly stood up, putting her paws on her hips.

“Must we part already?” Dog whimpered as she looked up at the mouse from Sen’s lap.

“You’re going to literally be moving in with him once that focus is done, you’re practically getting to live with two hot guys, give me a fucking break and let me wake up to get a little more cock before you go dragging him off on your crusade for your stupid love-relic!” Moon squeaked out as she jabbed a painted claw at the two of them.

“Tut…” Dog leaned in and shoved her muzzle to his own, drinking deeply of her new bonded lover before puffing against his lips. “She likes spankings too, my love…”

“Hey! Don’t just say shit like-” Moon’s protests were cut off as the astral plane went dark, both of them being ejected back into their meat.

          —♥🌙—

Sen had been lucky enough to get a drop-off from Wheels instead of another junkyard-bound taxi, wanting to avoid the awful odor that clinged afterward in his visit home. After he stepped out, the kitsune gave a double bang of his fist to the side of the hover-van, letting his friend speed off.

Standing before the old estate gave Sen a whirlwind of emotion, the butterflies in his stomach made him frown that even after a few years, there was still so much anxiety. With a sigh, the fox took a final long look at the exterior of his former home.

As traditional could be allowed and managed, a large Japanese-style home sat among a generous surrounding of flowers, trees, and stone statues. Columns of red-painted wood were placed along an ascending flight of stone steps toward the shrine at the top of the estate.

Sen had started up toward the shrine with both paws in his pockets, mind rolling over what he could possibly say to the parents he’d burnt a bridge with. His ears pinned back with a tight frown thinking of the looks each would have; mother, with a sad expression, and his father more disappointed than ever.

“I believe they’ll be happier to see you, than you think, my love.” That soft warmth caressed his mind, easing the building anxiety enough Sen exhaled with gratitude.

“Yeah? What makes you say that, when you don’t know what drek I shouted before running away?” The two-tails shrugged in self-defeat as he strode up each step of stone, making decent time thanks to that military conditioning.

“Because it’s in my nature, and at least for your mother, I can say she’s missed you terribly…” Dog softly replied. “And a reminder, our bond allows me to glance through your memories. There was…regrettable exchanging of words from both sides, but this is a courageous step to mend that, dear.”

“Mmn…I’ll trust you then, it’d be nice not to get a door shut in my face, at least.” Sen chuckled bitterly, then smiled with a glance up to the rarely clear, sunny day above. It made the red of the Shinto-style markers stand out even more against the greenery of the gardening.

More out of nerves than fatigue, the kitsune reached the top with a huff and hesitated a moment at the final stair to see his mother across the stone courtyard making her way back from tending her favorite flowers.

“S-Sen..?” The vixen froze in place, eyes wide in shock to see her son standing there suddenly, dropping her gardening tools before running over to embrace him in a tight hug, “Oh my son, I-I’m so happy to see you!”

“Ah…good to see you too, mother.” Sen stood there awkwardly for a moment, arms unsure what to do before almost feeling them nudged to return the embrace with the now crying fox-mother.

“What a gift this is, you must come inside, I’ll make you some tea and we can talk!” She sniffled up at Sen happily, before stepping back to clear her features of tears and black-silver hair, “This will make your father so happy too, our family needs to be whole again.”

“Not so sure about that, mother, but I hope you both can forgive me…I was uh, well, stupid before…” Sen rubbed the back of his neck with a paw, only for his mom to grasp and tug along the other to get him toward the shrine house.

“Oh hush, that was already a couple of years ago, we will make amends! I knew you would come home, I always had faith the spirits would guide you back to us!” She already had that motherly, wise tone back in her voice despite still sniffling between a word or two.

Sliding aside the outer screening door, the fox mother called out, “Osamu! Come downstairs, you will not guess who’s here!”

“Eh? You know I dislike surprises, who is it…?” A voice came down the stairwell at the end of the hallway that gave Sen a flurry of unease, making him feel like a pup all over again just standing in the doorway.

“It’s alright, my dear, you’ve already done the hard part by making the effort,” Dog said reassuringly to Sen, helping him relax his shoulders with a slight nod to himself. He blinked as he noticed his mother looking…past him, offering a brief knowing smile before looking to the stairs again.

“Sen has come to see us, come down here and give him a proper greeting!” the kitsune mother huffed impatiently, but her voice never rose above a polite tone, even as her five tails swished in a show of her own nerves.

There was a long pause before the soft creaks of the floor signaled someone crossing the study above, then the soft footfalls of paws down each wooden stair that made Sen’s ears twitch each time.

“Well now, this is a surprise,” the male grunted in a seasoned voice, arms folding into the black sleeves of his kimono in thought, “And what do we owe this visit, mm?”

“Well, uh…I’ve just had a lot to think about, show me I was an as-, I mean disrespectful before.” Sen corrected his choice of words, then offered a bow at the waist to his parents, eyes closing to complete his apology, “I said hurtful things, acted foolishly, and I wanted to apologize.”

His mother covered her muzzle with a paw, eyes gleaming with tears again before glancing to her husband with an almost pleading stare, but he only offered a soft grunt.

“An interesting summary of what you spat last we saw you, and I see you went and disgraced your body with those.. things.” The older male growled, his keen and trained eyes able to see the diminished area of spirit of Sen’s false arm and within his head, “So you walked that path after all, yet you come back?”

“Osamu, please, he-” his mother started only to jump and lower her gaze when the male of the house glared with a shout to cut her off.

“No, Kazue! You will not smooth this over for him, he can hear what I have to say, or flee like before.” He narrowed his eyes at the still bowing son before him, “Well, did you fail and come back hoping we would take you in, as if you hadn’t turned your back on our whole way of life?”

Sen flinched, clenching his jaws tightly with a growl being suppressed for it to come to this after all. His paws balled into fists at his sides, before that gentle caress came to him once more, easing the heat of his temper.

“Don’t give him what he wants, Sen, you have come a long way. Show him you are the one who has grown, like your mother has.” Dog’s smile could be felt in his heart, and the kitsune slowly stood straight again.

“I did fail father, but I got back up again. I found people who care for me, got me back on my feet and head straight, and…you were right.” Sen saw the flash of emotion across his father’s face, not expecting such a response before it was gone again, hidden beneath that disapproving scowl.

“About what, exactly?” Osamu said shortly, six tails fanned about behind him in the complete display of control of his home.

“The spirits, our family line and the duties I disrespected…I had dreams, but that doesn’t excuse how I trampled on tradition, so…I’m sorry,” Sen replied calmly, even if his heart was pounding in his chest and ears.

“Tch, words now to make up for words before? The dishonor you brought to this family, the years wasted on your schooling and privilege, only to hack off part of yourself in defiance!” Osamu snarled, only to exhale slowly and shake his head, “With that, you can never commune as you did, the spirit that tried to bond with you in youth…squandered.”

Sen did the only thing he could think of left to him, dropping to his knees and placing himself in a bow with head pressed to the floor, palms flat as he spoke one more time.

“Please, father. I hurt you, both of you…I want to rebuild the bridge I burned. I-” Sen hesitated to mention the whole reason he’d been able to come, the help at his shoulder even now before she seemed to understand.

“Go ahead, they more than most will know what I am and our bond,” Dog encouraged without missing a beat.

“I bonded with a wonderful spirit, father, mother. She’s helped me see so much, just like you taught me, more good than I deserve, and the bad I did…I want to make the most of it, heed her wishes and our connection, but…I need your help.”

“Whatever you want from us, you can get from your mother. I want no part of this farce, I told you those misguided ‘dreams’ would only see you disfigured, and this display doesn’t prove anything to me.” Osamu waved a paw before turning away, ascending the staircase to his secluded study once more.

Sen shut his eyes tightly as emotion wracked him, only to jump slightly and sit up as his mother gently urged him to.

“What is it you need, my son?” Kazue said softly with a smile, eyes gleaming with forgiveness and eagerness to help alike.

“I uh…our family bonsai tree, could I take a small branch?” He felt stupid asking, as if it was just another insult to his family but his mother only nodded and rose to head out to the back screen door.

“Your mother is a kind woman, I see where you get your softer nature.” Dog spoke gently, “and, where you get a temper, you had a strict upbringing…but, you’ve done well here, my love. I’m proud of you.”

Sen fought the knot in his throat with a hard swallow, nodding to himself for what his spirit lover said, then got to his feet as his mother returned shortly after holding a small piece of their tree, offering it to him with both paws.

“I hope this will do? From the branch you always tended to growing up, it will bring you good luck…go with it, and my blessing. I love you, my son.” Kazue smiled up at him, cupping his face with both paws before giving a close embrace, “Now go, I will do what I can with your father…keep in touch, and thank her for me.”

Sen accepted the branch, turning it over for a moment before leaning in to embrace his mother again, feeling almost proud warmth around and inside him from two motherly figures.

“Thank you, mother. I’ll talk soon.” The fox grinned in a way that made her smile brightly, then stepped out of the shrine house and headed to the stairway with a mixed feeling in his gut. It wasn’t the retreat he expected to be making, but it wasn’t the victory hoped for.

“Keep your chin up, my fox. Many don’t take the risk, but at least by extending a branch, you got one in kind, no?” Dog mused affectionately.

“Yeah, that’s true. Thanks for being there for me, never would’ve dared come back… if I hadn’t met you and Moon.” Sen exhaled in relief before sending a synaptic signal in his ware to dial up Moon, “Hey Moon? Heh, yeah…it went- okay, okay, you told me so.” The fox rolled his eyes as he made good time down the stone steps, “So uh, wanna get some dinner?”

Sen froze in his stride partway down the descent of stairs, feeling Dog’s overwhelming will to do so grip him. “Whoa… that was weird…” he barked out aloud.

“My apologies, my love. I wished to halt you abruptly before you left the threshold… May we return to the grounds for a moment?”

“I just got halfway down these fraggin’ stairs and she wants me to go back up…” Sen chuckled aloud as he trotted back up at a brisk pace since Dog seemed to have some urgency to her tone.

Once finishing his ascent, he felt a pull to move toward a collection of cherry blossom trees, but it didn’t feel like it was Dog’s will, more like his own, or that’s what he thought as his footpaws seemed to already be in motion.

Pushing a paw up to the trunk of one of the trees, he frowned as a sense of nostalgia once again overtook him. “You should sit down, love…” Dog’s words came to him, almost sounding distant as he nodded and took a seat right down at the base of the tree like he’d do as a puppy. The moment he did, the world seemed to wash away.

He was in the astral, standing in nothingness. This was not like the comfortable aura that was usually with him when he was with Dog, it was cold and… raw. His arm and eye throbbed, as if stabbed with countless needles as he winced, his other paw holding the aching one.

The void of darkness suddenly showed wisps of blue flame that danced about like fireflies before coalescing into larger spheres that spread out before him, surrounding him in a ring of blue fire.

“The pain will pass, but you will understand a fraction of my sorrow before the flames beat it back. To see my child in such a way before my flames, truly my heart and soul aches…” A stern motherly voice rang out, a foil to Dog’s kindly tone.

Sen winced again but couldn’t muster words forth, tears running from his one lost eye that was made whole in this reality, but unable to see from it through the pain. The blue flames grew to a white-hot before rushing towards him as if he stood upon a field of dry grass being consumed in a wildfire, throwing his good arm up to shield his eyes as they washed over him.

Just like that, the coldness of the void was gone, warmth filling him as he blinked the tears out of his eyes, standing upon perfectly pristine blades of grass, a babbling brook nearby, with cherry blossoms drifting from the massive towering trees above him.

A familiar presence filled his soul as he looked to the side, seeing Dog standing there, her paws clasped before her, dressed in her white-gold robes with the cherry blossom laurels she sported. Her hair looked nicer, in a bun with cherry wood sticks holding it up, but parts of it escaping to cover her neck.

“Dog? What’s going on?” Sen called out, his voice sounding distant as he looked around at the impossibly large blossom trees, the view stretching as far as he could visually see.

“I requested to see you before you departed, my sister obliged to halt your flight,” the stern voice called out once more as Sen saw a large white paw appear to step out of nothing onto the grass before a massive white fox appeared before him, blue runes scrawled over the snow-white fur as he saw a myriad of tails fan out behind the beast.

“Holy gods…” Sen whispered as he took a step back, the white fox setting its blazing blue eyes upon him squarely. He knew instantly what it was, who she was as his knees dropped to the grass in shock and reverence.

The massive spirit-fox was easily bigger than a vector-rig and her jaws looked large enough to easily devour him in a few snaps if she wished to do so. She snorted through her snout as she looked down upon him as he felt her breath bluster against his dark hair before she shifted her gaze to the stoic spirit who stood before her, still looking dignified and proper.

“I smell you heavily upon him, you have bonded with my child not only in the ways of cooperation but as his wife,” the fox spoke out in a booming voice that sounded annoyed at the prospect of it.

“Wait, what do you mean, wife?!” Sen barked out, looking back at Dog.

The other spirit's lone tail wagged as she pushed a paw to her chest, offering the massive kitsune before her a loving smile as she proclaimed forthright, “I have… It is my hope that our love can heal his pain, and give him the mettle to be a strong fox worthy of your lineage.”

There was real heat in the massive fox’s words as she loomed over the kneeling kitsune. “I communed with you at an early age for a reason, you were to be mine, Sen. You were to be my scion when your father finished his duty, yet you turned away from me and-”

“And I have returned your straying child to a path that will not just be yours, but of his own choosing as well!” Dog barked out in her own stern motherly tone as she walked right over and grabbed Sen’s arm with a growl. “Stand, you are no puppy!”

Sen blinked at the words but did as he was told, feeling Dog link her arm with his own, poking her nose up and looking proud as he felt her pull him more possessively to her as she continued, “Plans change, do not make me regret indulging you in this, sister.”

“A street-bound wandering vagabond of a spirit such as yourself could never understand,” the fox spirit countered, but that got Sen’s ears to perk as he finally shook off the awe to speak.

“Hey, don’t go talking to Dog like that! I don’t know about this whole wife thing, but she is my lover and also my teammate! Did you just ask me to come here to tell me how disappointed you are in me, like my father?” Sen thrust a padded finger at the massive fox, showing his own sharp teeth as Dog just snuggled up to him with a proud growl in her throat at his demeanor for her.

“Hmph… You have the spirit of your mother, it is no wonder that Osamu had such trouble with you,” the fox flopped down upon her haunch, sitting before them with an annoyed look on her muzzle, massive ears folded.

“Yeah, and father seems to have picked up your bad attitude, maybe you’re the reason he’s always such a pain in the tail to deal with!” Sen fired back as he barked the words.

The spirit inclined her head with a haughty huff escaping her maw before she spoke out matter-of-factly, “I have never spoken to your father, nor will I. He will tend this shrine until his dying days, but he will not hear my voice.”

Sen frowned, looking like he’d been sucker punched. He always assumed his father was in constant communion with the spirits, especially the guardian spirit of their family shrine. The massive fox seemed to pick up on the shock and capitalized on it to continue her explanation.

“A fish would not climb a tree, and a bird would not swim in the briny depths. He was never a conduit to our kind, nor will he ever be. The power lies with your mother, a secret she has sworn to take with her into death as he will take his shortcomings to his own grave.”

“But… that makes no sense! Father told me he could hear them, could hear you!” Sen retorted, thinking back on all the lectures of feeling the spirits and listening to their words.

“You mundane have a tendency to more easily fall victim to large lies, more so than simple easy ones. You especially delight in lying to yourselves until you’ve firmly rooted your own belief in the fable to the point you believe it fact,” she shifted her gaze back to Dog while she left the stunned kitsune to process things.

“What will you do with my child?” she asked pointedly.

“I will support him, I will protect him, and… I will love him!” Dog stated without hesitation.

“And so you came here to mend bridges, but also wished a token of my divinity for your little symbol of power, eh?” The massive fox rolled her flaming blue eyes before looking upon the smaller kitsune once more. “My present scion has already deemed you worthy, my child, but if you wish my blessings, there will be a condition for it.”

Sen shook his head to dislodge the shock of his father, then met the massive spirit’s eyes as he nodded. “Alright, what is it?”

“You must promise to return and tend to my shrine when you have finished… sewing your wild oats as it were. Go live your life and burn brightly, but return before your flame gutters out, you may, of course, bring your wife with you,” the spirit fox shifted to give Dog a side-eye.

“You would have a butchered imperfect guardian of your shrine?” Sen asked, sounding skeptical.

“Whom else would I ask, my child? Your parents are beyond rearing more pups. Is a scarred but dutiful guardian better than a liar whom plays the role and steals the title from his own wife more suited?” The fox flicked her tails and scoffed, “Pah! We tread upon semantics. I need you to return lest my shrine be swallowed up by the advances of the mundane’s ever-unquenchable thirst for power. There, is your ego sufficiently stroked?”

Sen frowned and mulled on that before pushing a paw to his chest. “I always felt the most at peace when I was feeling you with me, I had promised you even as a puppy I would protect this place. I thought I was cast out, but now that I have spoken with you and mother, I know better.”

“Do not cast your fool of a father in too negative of light, my child. How grizzled would you be over a lifetime folly? He has still been a dutiful and dedicated tender of my shrine, I look upon him as a…” She seemed to have to pluck her thoughts to think of the proper modern term before she continued, “manager… yes, I see him as a manager of this place.”

Sen snorted a laugh at that, picturing his father with a name badge attached to his robes. “Ha! Fine, you’ve got a deal then. So long as Jane or one of those other pals I’ve made doesn’t get me geeked, I’ll see about coming back once the old man retires.”

“Hmph… so it shall be. Upon waking, you will find the branch is now molded to a proper tsuka for the little foci you desire.” She shifted her gaze to Dog and lifted her muzzle. “Use my power well and have the blade smithed of whatever preferred metal or stone you wish to use in your own name. Know that if innocent blood ever falls upon my sacred gift, both of you will find it inert and must return to me for it to be cleansed.”

“Such a magnificent boon! You have my heartfelt gratitude and rest assured I shall protect your scion with everything I am. Protect his life and his heart!” Dog barked out with a blurring wag of her tail, giving Sen an eager if not sultry look.

“Thank you, I don’t have a taste for killing anyway, so rest assured I will only use it on whatever drek-face is trying to geek me first!” Sen offered a grin as he put a paw on his hip.

“Hmph… go then, you have your road ahead of you, and though it may twist and wind in many ways, you are oathbound to see that it returns to here.” The massive fox moved in, bumping her muzzle against his side as if to spur him into movement. 

“Wait a sec!” Sen barked out as the scene started to fade but then halted, the haze of the astral looking like it was ready to swallow up everything.

“Our pact has been made, what more is there to say, my child?” The massive spirit lifted her muzzle.

“My father! Why can’t you- I mean to say, won’t you speak with him? Surely it is within your means to do so after all these years!”

The fox let out a loud boisterous laugh at that. “Truly? You prostrated yourself before him, begged for his forgiveness and he turned his back upon you. Yet here you stand, making the same plea Kazue has made to me throughout the years! Truly the acorn does not fall far from the oak, yes?”

“It is, of course, your choice to make, but he did the best he could in his training of me.”

“Pah! You would have been better served frolicking in the glade with me watching you, that was all the training you needed, not sweeping the walkways and polishing the bells,” the massive fox huffed out in response.

“Then perhaps you should have told father that!” Sen barked out, stabbing right to the point of the matter as Dog offered a laugh of her own. The massive fox snapped her jaws together, a loud angry growl filling her throat that sounded like distant thunder as she rose back upon her paws.

Sen saw the circle of flames spring forth around him and Dog anew as the massive spirit of his family shrine stood to all fours once more. “Impertinent child, do not think receiving my blessing grants you authority to speak so disrespectfully towards me and my wishes!”

Dog barked out as if ready to protest for him, but Sen spoke out himself through the flames around the three of them, “Do you get your tails in a knot like this when mother asked as well?! He deserves to have some sort of reward for the years of duty!”

“You are foolish, and I pray you are not so rash upon the battlefield, my child… I commend your bravery and duty unto your father though.” The fox spread her tails and snapped her jaws with a loud crack of energy as the flames washed away, leaving them in nothing but the cold void of the astral, his eye and arm throbbing as he glared upon the massive spirit fox.

“I will consider your plea, now begone from my sight!” she barked out in commandment as the doors of reality seemed to be flung open and he was cast out in a flood of darkness.

Sen gasped out, his artificial eye spasming to focus like his meat one had before he winced and rubbed his head with his augmented paw. Looking down he could see he gripped the blossom branch now turned tsuka in his other paw. The wood had burned runes in it that were similar to the ones the spirit wore, the handle looking ready for a blade to be mounted into it.

“Shall we be off, my love?” Dog’s voice hummed out.

“Yeah, lets go see the Doc and get this thing out of my skull, but I swear if I hear any pirate jokes over wearing an eye patch, I’ll lose it,” Sen claimed to his boots to head back down the steps.

“Aye aye, Captain!” Dog barked out with a giggle.

—♥🌙—

Next Episode:

Why do you look upon that reviled creature with such awe? Surely you do not wish to be like her. You are more than just a tool that follows orders, are you not? Still, the threat of losing everything again weighs heavy, and when one threatens to upend your life, what recourse do you have left?

Different paths can part lovers to make them bitter rivals, but when forced to still work together, the pain and resentment can easily boil over. That story may have concluded, but ours is just beginning. I’m not sure I’m ready for this, but the two of you won’t wait for me, and so the wheel turns.

Episode seven: Ex’s and Operatives

I'm not going to lie, I kick my tail writing these! A single episode can take me twelve to fifteen hours or longer to make after conception, writing, editing, and proofreading! If you enjoy this, support me, please? It doesn't have to be financial either, just share my stuff and get my name out there. Vote, Fave, Comment, offer feedback, anything. Thank you, and as always, I'm nothing without your support!

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Chapter Text

Being a writer is my dream job but it has full-time hours and this is where I'd normally pitch my ways to support me, but I've been told Ao3 doesn't vibe with that, so maybe just follow me on Twitter to see what I'm up to?

And with that out of the way…

—♥🌙—

Episode 7

Ex's and Operatives

"You don't get to make these kinds of calls on your own! That is below your paygrade, -that- is not what I bought your tail for!" The bunny snarled, making Sen flinch as Ms. Jane slammed down her glass, cracking the clear frame as her eyes glowed hot amid the dimly lit area, "I don't pay you to think, you're a weapon in my arsenal, that's it. Tch...of course, the moment you're back trouble starts, making my runner find religion!"

"Don't get your panties in a wad, I didn't coerce him and now you've got a better agent. Not all upgrades are hacking off meat for tech, not that you'd know." Moon puffed air with her arms folded beneath her chest, tail flicking in annoyance at the expected reaction from the bunny about recent events.

"Uh, look, if I could just say-" Sen started before once again jumping to attention in place as Jane shot him a violet-eyed glare.

"You may not!" The rabbit hissed, then exhaled and sat back into her black leather seat, one leg crossed over the other to cool herself, "Look, that was an expensive implant, your little eye replacement, and now you want it removed? There better be some damn good incentives for all I see is a downgrade and credits pissed away."

"Not that I think you'll listen, but yes, there are several benefits to Sen's change. You'll have a far more capable samurai on your paws, not just some half-metal drone." Moon glanced at the two-tails standing at her side, offering a grin before frowning back at Jane, who was tapping her claws along the rests of each arm of her chair.

"Right, whatever, say I believe you haven't hosed part of my investment in him up-" The rabbit shot a glare between the mouse and fox, "-what ridiculous rules is he bound by now?" 

Sen blinked, not realizing Jane would know about any of that side of things before remembering that she had history with Moon.

"He's not to geek anyone without justifiable cause, like self-defense. No straight-up slaying just because you or he decide to, otherwise, he's still on your leash, alright? Chill out." Moon rolled her eyes at having to handle all of this, seeing Sen standing stiff as a fresh recruit at boot camp, getting dressed down by a superior officer.

"Oh good, might as well neuter him then, for fuck sake!" Jane growled at them both before rubbing a paw over her face slowly, only to sigh and shake her head, "Fine...but this is the final time you think for yourself, got it? Your ass is mine, fox, I paid for it and you can be replaced."

"Y-yeah, okay, I got it. Crystal clear, sir. Uh, ma'am." Sen corrected himself, feeling the dull memory of her claws across his muzzle the last time he'd pissed off the bunny. Clearing his throat as he got some spine again, "It wasn't Moon's fault, I want to be...well, a better asset. I've shed some baggage, I won't let you down Ms. Jane."

"See that you don't, Tanto. I don't care how many spirits you two befriend or fuck, but remember they're not paying your debts." Jane huffed, snapping a finger for a new drink even as she moved on to new business, "Now that I've wasted enough time, on to why you're even back here, Moon."

“We’ve got a little chum that’s been trying to dig up dirt on the Warren, bring things into the light, and I don’t appreciate that, as I’m sure you would guess.” Jane brought up a vid-display as she explained.

“Sorry, what? Warren?” Sen lifted his brows, frowning to see Jane once more annoyed with him before Moon squeaked up.

“Wait, you’ve had him working for you, and he doesn’t even know where or why?” The mouse scoffed, “You really have gotten so secretive, almost paranoid, it’s sad.” 

“With good reason, not that I need to remind you.” Jane flicked her one ear with a look that wasn’t quite anger or disappointment, but it was gone before Sen could register it further, “regardless, I needed to see his mettle tested before knowing about it.”

As a new glass was brought over and placed into her paw, the rabbit snapped a finger on the other for the table to flicker once more, changing to a schematic, "Alright, pay attention fox.” Jane waved her paw about in a few directions, calling up the grid-laced view of the club they were currently inside, but several shafts extended below it toward a far larger structure.

“This place is a front, where I can do all the business I want and keep a low profile for the riff-raff, but the sweet spot?” Jane smirked with pride as her index finger pointed down, plunging the digital architecture downward swiftly. What came into view was an immense complex beneath them, a sprawling compound like a fortress deep in the ground.

“The Warren, an immense underground plex built as my seat of power, my hub to operate all I desire.” Jane saw the confused awe written on Sen’s face, offering a snort, “Any idiot with a lot of scrip or megacorp can show off their wealth with an over-compensating tower, but it also makes them a target just like the Inari job.” 

Sen frowned to himself as that painful memory resurfaced, but nodded with a personal understanding of the reasoning.

“The Warren has become known for some of the cleanest, specialized runs, but just as feared for it because I don’t waste time measuring dicks.” Jane sipped from her gleaming glass, “The less anyone knows about me the better, I like keeping everyone on their backpaw, and that’s why you didn’t know until now.”

“I understand, need-to-know was stamped on nearly everything back at Inari,” Sen growled, knowing the needs and annoyances of being kept in the dark for military operations.

“I thought you might, and now you know. If you behave for a while after this little fuck up, I’ll let you actually go down the rabbit hole, so to speak.” Jane took another long sip of her specialized drink, “Back to my point, this cretin has been trying my patience in spreading information about the Warren, we need him found and shut up. I don’t care how, but make your spiritual asses useful and solve it.”

“My love, neither I nor Mantis can approve of the two of you going off on some wetwork mission like this,” Dog’s voice came to Sen’s mind sounding worried and frazzled.

“Jane, ma’am… uh, we just told you we can’t geek someone unless they mean us harm?” Sen chanced to speak out.

“You think threatening the very foundation you stand upon does not mean you harm?” Jane snarled out, then the rabbit’s right eye flared bright purple as a text message popped into Sen’s synaptic feed. ‘Fox, you are trying my patience, but I know your stupid spirits don’t mind circumventing their rules to keep their conscience clear, so… Oh, and we will speak privately about the… liberties you have taken, I assure you of that.’

“Marcus,” Jane hissed out a name Sen hadn’t heard before as she sipped her cocktail with a snarl on her muzzle, red lipstick clinging to the glass.

Sen swore he heard servo hydraulics humming as the chromed-up rabbit stepped forward and lifted his head, his own right eye shifting from green to purple. “Ma’am?” His deep heavy voice betrayed the small frame his body sported, sounding gruff like the Doc’s did.

“Once these two locate our little magician and neutralize his tricks, make an example of him.” Jane shot her eyes over to the rabbit who only looked maybe a head taller than Moon. “I want to hear about it when I watch the evening news, understand?”

Marcus’s eye shifted back to green, not even giving a nod as he simply paced around the table to stand next to the mouse as if just a member of the team there for a job.

“A sufficient clause in the contract for the two of you fairies?” Jane snarled out as she looked back to the fox and mouse, but it was clear who she was addressing as Sen heard Dog growling in his headspace.

Maybe it was all the chrome, but the temperature simply felt cold now, as if radiating off the small rabbit next to them. He had that same no-nonsense look in his eyes, staring right at Jane with a look like her word was the absolute law of the gods and he’d stand before an entire battalion in her name.

“The cold you feel is the lack of spiritual energy,” Dog explained in his mind.

“Like that big guy Moon had to dirtnap during the run?” He thought back.

“Correct. There are advantages to being so out of tune though. It means mind-affecting tricks won’t work very well, but it also means that beings like him couldn’t be healed by me. It’s similar to your pal Wheels, they are very much alive in the meat, but may as well be-”

“Tanto!” Jane snapped out as Sen shot his ears to peaks and the focus returned to his eyes.

“Ma’am!” He barked out, almost throwing his arm up in a salute like he’d do at Inari.

Jane twitched an eye but played a smirk at the corner of her muzzle as she saw his arm jerk as if ready to salute her like an officer. “As I was saying before you started daydreaming… Get this drek sorted and I’ll have the Doc waiting to rip that tech out of your meat, but if you end up fragging up one of my missions over being half blind while you regrow your damned eye, I’ll carve the other one out myself, are we clear?”

Dog barked out in offense, “How dare she speak to you in-”

“Ma’am, yes ma’am, I understand, Ms. Jane!” He barked out respectfully as he straightened up, hearing Dog growling her disapproval with him in his head. He had a feeling Moon had a similar situation happening to her right now, though knowing Mantis, it was probably with much more swearing and threatening since Moon said she had a temper.

A few data-slates flickered to life on the gleaming table between them, displaying profiles of several high-ranking marks against Jane's plans, one instantly earning a squeak from the mouse.

"Ah ha, thought you’d be interested...” Jane gestured with a knowing grin at the left closest slate, which responded to her by enlarging and highlighting a list of recent incursions, “This journalist has been getting cocky, trying to dig up dirt on any corp worth a damn, and my Warren has recently enticed his filthy nose.

“I trust you understand why I went to so much trouble to recall you, and tolerate all this spiritual nonsense now?” Jane fixed the mouse with a knowing stare, nodding slightly towards the returning data-slate of the intended mark, “See if those nasty rumors are true, and we can all come out on top of this.”

Sen looked at Moon who stared hard at the trid-capture of their target, not having seen the mouse clench her fists and carry such a serious glare before.

“Yeah, we’ll handle this filth, of that you can be sure.” Moon huffed, then turned to go without another word or dismissal, making Sen blink toward Jane with a torn expression, but the bunny only made a ‘shooing’ motion with a paw before sipping her drink.

“Hey, wait up!” The twin-tails called out with a quick boot stride to get alongside the mouse who was storming off, “are you okay, do you know that guy?”

“I know of him, yeah. He’s a bastard, a spellworm, and if the rumors are true…I’ll tear his fucking throat out.” Moon growled to herself as the pair made their way out of the light-strobed complex to begin preparing for the new assignment. 

“A spellworm is a nasty way of saying a mage, to us…that could mean he’s forcibly using a spirit for power he can’t get through the proper means, enslaving them for selfish, harmful gain.” Dog said in a soft, almost agonized way to think of that fate for any spirit.

“Got it, just lead the way then, drek like that isn't worth a bullet, but we’ll end whatever it is.” Sen growled with a punch of natural paw into the false other, giving Moon a grin of reassurance that eased her boiling blood a little.

Marcus walked up behind them without a word, but after hearing the conversation his head tilted as he spoke between the two, “If you’ve suddenly got the stomach for this-”

“Might as well stick around, Jane didn’t pull you back, and we might be able to use your soulless tail.” Moon rolled her eyes.

“You shouldn’t be such a…” Sen trailed off, trying to not piss his new lover off more than she already was.

“A bitch?” Moon cocked a brow to finish what he started.

“Yeah, it’s just another lifestyle. Doesn’t make someone any lesser or better, just a different way of living.” Sen thrust a finger out as he started his own lecture up.

“Let’s just get moving if we’re going,” Marcus grumbled out, sounding like he’d rather stay at the club as he purposefully pushed between the mouse and kitsune, moving toward the waiting van.

—♥🌙—

Somewhere along the way to the Van, Marcus had exchanged his shotgun for an anti-material rifle. The monstrosity was taller than the rabbit was if you laid it down on its stock but right now it was across his lap as they rode to the mission site.

“You expecting something big to deal with over there, terminator-bun?” Moon asked with a lazy grin as she leaned back on the wall of the van.

The rabbit darted his eyes up from checking over the gun, pulled the lever to open the slide lock, and withdrew the massive pointed bullet from the chamber. “Have you ever seen a target hit with one of these?”

“Oh for sure, that’s my favorite fraggin’ show to watch each day, the shoot random people in the head with an anti-tank rifle one! What kind of question is that?” Moon grumbled as she folded her arms over her chest.

“We haven’t, why do you ask, Marcus?” Sen offered a calm foil to the mouse’s fussed-up mood.

The chromed-up rabbit locked the shell back in place with a loud shink of metal before meeting the fox’s eyes. “Goes through like a hot knife. Makes a clean hole like if you shot a sheet of paper with a nine-mill, no shattering, no explosive mess, just crumple to the ground and let it all leak out.”

“Eww… I’m glad I skipped lunch…” Moon grumbled at the detailed imagery.

“I guess if you didn’t want their head exploding that works…” Sen nodded before shrugging.

“Head? Jane wants him to know it’s happening, she wants him to-” Marcus grunted as he rubbed his muzzle in thought, then shrugged. “Anyway, I’m aiming lower. The point is it’s going to go through and destroy anything in its path, kidneys, lungs, whatever. There’s no last-minute patching up a two-foot hole straight through you, but you get to enjoy the last moments like she wants.”

“I don’t like this rabbit very much…” Dog’s voice sighed in Sen’s head.

“Look, robo-bun, if the guy has enslaved spirits, go for it, blow his dick off for all I care, but if not, how about you aim for his fraggin’ skull and we’ll call it a day, alright?” Moon grumbled as she pushed her paws into her lap.

“Is that really the only reason you’re going to haul that huge gun around?” Sen asked, not sounding convinced.

“Obviously I’d rather have it at the ready if we end up with some sort of drone on our tails, standard ammunition from a typical sniper rifle would just pink off the armor,” Marcus explained in an almost mechanical tone.

“We should sort out the details and choose a lead for the mission,” Sen leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

“Sort it between you two,” Marcus said coolly as he turned back to check the massive gun over.

“You’ve got officer training, but this is your first real dive into a mission where you’ll be part of the spiritual backup, you’re also still a puppy without a fully completed focus, try not to let it hurt your ego to follow my lead, got it? I’ll make it up to you in bed later,” Moon squeaked out with a playful grin, bumping her shoulder against the kitsune.

“What are we doing, Scythe?” Marcus asked point-blank as he looked up at the mouse, his right eye purple now.

“Well, Jane said she wanted it on the news, we’ll do it during the live broadcast this drek-face is doing about one of the local go-gangs that’s been nipping at his corp-bosses profits. Me and Sen will deal with any supernatural stuff, you can blow the worm away once we give you a clear. Even anti-material rounds won’t do shit against a magical light screen.”

“Understood. I’ll take up a rooftop position and await firing orders,” Marcus drolled out and returned to his work.

“I uh…don’t talk like that all the time, do I?” Sen leaned in closer to Moon and asked, casting a dry face and nudge of his head toward the chromed-up bunny.

“Just when you get into serious-mode, yeah.” The mouse smirked up at the fox, “Don’t worry though, you at least sound cute when you do it.” She reached up to pat a cheek with her paw reassuringly. 

“Wiz.” Sen grinned then leaned in to give her jaw a quick scent mark before he straightened up and she saw the focus in his eye dial in as he nodded. “Okay, what do you mean by, ‘deal’ with any supernatural stuff?” His tone had instantly taken on a more precise inflection.

Moon offered a smile, seeing he wanted to see what she thought and give a last bit of affection before he went into soldier-fox mode. “It’s hard to say until we get there, but if this piece of drek has spirits under his control, we’ll need to deal with them before Marcus can take the shot.”

“What do you mean by deal with them? We don’t have to kill them do we?” Sen asked with concern in his voice.

“A mage that binds a spirit does so at their own peril. The spirit will do what it’s ordered to do, but no more. It’s kind of like trapping a demon to make it serve you. You can bet your tail it’s going to do the bare minimum and the gods have mercy on you if it ever gets free.” She explained simply.

“Wait a sec, so can we just break his control and they’ll turn on him?” Sen asked.

Moon shook her head before continuing, “It’s not that simple, the surest way to free them would be to just stop the fuckers heart, if you know what I mean. Once he’s done, the spirits will be free and go about their way to whatever they want to do.”

“Hmm… but I’ve seen what you can do with your-” Sen stopped as he was about to say ‘her spirits’ and then continued, “partners.”

Moon gave him a wide approving grin before explaining smugly, “You can’t get that kind of mileage from a confined spirit. They’ll do what you make them do, but it's like putting a hamster in a wheel. It won’t be able to do much else in that situation. You’re not working together, you’re using them as a weapon.”

“Our bond isn’t complete, so I can offer a little protective assistance to you, my love, however, any threats from the astral are best left to Moon.” Dog’s voice filled his mind, Moon nodded since the two of them were touching and she could hear the spirit as well.

“Dog is right. You should focus on keeping my meat body from getting geeked if I have to slip into the astral to fight something. Otherwise, Dog will assist you with dealing with any earthbound threats like summoned demons.”

“Demons…” Sen muttered aloud and shook his head. “Wait a sec, demons? Like with batwings and claws?”

“Eh? Probably more like gargoyles or hellhounds, but yeah, lesser demons. It’s entirely within the realm of possibility depending on this guy's level of power and what spirit or spirits he has bound,” Moon shrugged as she explained, then waved a paw. “I’ll know more when we get there, for now, follow my orders, listen to Dog, and treat the mission like you normally would, shoot things and stab things with that stupid arm of yours.”

“Cool… shooting hellhounds and punching gargoyles in their face. Yep, totally trained for that…” Sen nodded to himself, the words sounding as ridiculous to him as they probably were.

The van came to a halt a block down and around a corner for the trio to hop out, allowing their exterminator to vanish and find a suitable sniper perch. Sen was grateful it wasn’t raining for once, letting it be a night op that allowed a sizable crowd for the broadcast that had just started minutes ago.

It wasn’t often that many bodies huddled together unless it was a mob or to see the aftermath of a go-gang shoot in this area, but Sen was already profiling the living cover the group would be for them, seeing where it was best to stand and peer from.

The center of the group looked up at a weasel, doing no favors for stereotypes, who was already live with mic in paw, flashing a knowing grin about the faces gathered as he worked his charm. Ronny was a slender male who stood on a specialized platform that kept him a head above all but the tallest onlooker, with a myriad of small tech additions from signal boosting to a low-level repulsor field for those angry or pawsy fans.

“Yes that’s right you chromatic addicts, you heard it here first,” The weasel smirked with a sweep of a paw about the many faces, standing knowingly in his sharp suit and hat in the styles of reporter meets mobster, pin-stripes going down the sleek fabric, “it’s a literal bitch to crack, but I got the inside info to follow up as promised!”

Most of the onlookers were usuals to these on-sight broadcasts, with only a few random stragglers for the promised delivery of some information on what was the most elusive corp. The weasel was a thorn in the side of all major operations and players, always able to slip into the backdoor and snatch just enough secret or volatile data to cause havoc.

“The Warren!” Ronny exclaimed with a snap of his free paws fingers, “That’s right, the place people say don’t exist, no one leaves alive, or all that back-alley mess! Well, it does, and I’ve got my claws on the proof, ladies and worms!” 

Ronny snapped a finger again, calling up a holo-vid of a rough, grainy schematic of what was an immense complex, “See this? Not easy to get folks, and some of you might be on a hit list just for seein’ it now, ha ha!”

Some of the mob shifted uncomfortably, pulling up hoods or visors to obscure faces and snouts at the mention. Whether the facility existed or not, everyone with a brainstem knew about the reputation of the bitch-bunny, Ms. Jane who took no prisoners if you crossed her path.

Sen and Moon crossed the street and padded along toward the gathering even as the weasel worked his crowd. There was a soft chime in their comms as Marcus signaled he’d found a suitable position and was ready for their call.

“I don’t like this…there’s a heavy feeling about that weasel, I think he knows we’re coming already…” Dog muttered to the twin-tails, seeming weary of their approach.

“Can you tell the same thing?” Sen asked the mouse at his side without glancing at her, seeming like a casual pair walking toward the broadcast, “Seems that would’ve been nice to know, we might be compromised before we started.”

“If this drek-face can dig up info on the Warren, I’d not be surprised if he knew we were coming, then again if he’s got his entrapped spirits casing the area, he could be having the whole area under surveillance for anything magical, and like it or not, you’re sticking out like a sore thumb right now since you can’t repress your new bond,” Moon grumbled the words pointedly as she continued her pace undaunted.

Her paw brushed to his meat one, her fingers interlocking with it as if they were a couple just holding hands, but then her thoughts filled his mind, then he realized, it wasn’t hers. The voice sounded different, having a slight hiss to it as she spoke, “There’s indeed a screen up over the target, don’t shift your eyes to look but we also have two gargoyles perched on buildings flanking the area, you should probably make your partner aware on comms though if you don’t want him ripped to shreds, chrome doesn’t mean shit to magical claws and teeth.”

“Sen, my love, you should make Marcus aware but remind him not to look at them, gargoyles can sense when a gaze settles upon them, he should maintain his visual contact with his target and not look around,” Dog’s voice responded, Moon offering a small nod as she looked straight ahead.

Sen quickly relayed the information to Marcus through the secure synopsis network, the spirits, and Moon unable to hear the chatter since it was done with their headwear, not over live mics.

“So what about that screen?” Sen thought to himself now that he had a psychic connection established with his new girlfriend and two spirits.

“Scythe and I will dive into the Astral to disable the spirit with it up, you keep her meat from collapsing in a heap, dream boat.”

“Dream boat? What kind of nickname is that?” Sen practically grumbled in his head, even hearing Dog chuckle at the other spirit’s banter.

Mantis’s voice filled their minds, “That heavy sensation you feel is the screen, as soon as you feel it fade, tell Marcus to take the shot, then throw me over your shoulder and run like hell, once he drops those gargoyles are going to be free and will tear apart anything they-”

“What about the crowd?” Dog responded.

“Ugh! You and your semantics again, shiba?” Mantis hissed out. “Fuck em, wrong place at the wrong time, it’s not like we summoned them.”

Dog retorted, “But we’re turning them lose, we can’t just-”

“I agree, we can’t just let these innocent dreks get ripped to shreds over our job,” Sen glared straight ahead as he added his own interjection, feeling a sense of warmth fill him from Dog approving of his mentality.

“Whatever, the road to the nine hells and all that drek. Scythe, let’s go!” Mantis hissed out.

“Wait- How do we deal with Gargoyles?” Sen asked.

“Shoot and punch them until they rip you apart since you can’t throw spells at them.” The spirit fired back smugly before Moon just went limp and slumped up against the twin-tails.

“Drek…” Sen muttered aloud as his meat arm grabbed the mouse, holding her close, his augmented arm twitching at the large handgun holstered in his jacket.

“I can’t manifest anything combat worthy but I can shield and draw their attention to us for a time, at least until Mantis and Scythe return, at which point Mantis and Weasle can pull out some tricks to neutralize them… hopefully.”

“Hopefully?” Sen snarled out loud again.

“Well, different spiritual creatures can have different traits, experiences, skills, etcetera… They aren’t summoned from a program or blueprint, they’re living creatures and the older ones are much more powerful than the young ones.”

Sen sighed but gave a nod as that reminded him of schooling as a pup, ever since his visit back home with Dog, more of it had come back to him. He shifted closer toward the corner wall of the building just ahead of the enthralled listeners, easing Moon down into a comfortable knees-to-chest position while standing over her.

“Fine, we’ll just take it as it comes, how my life seems to go anyway, heh.” The fox grinned to himself before giving the crowd another once over as he thought to Dog, “Just give me a warning before something smacks me in the face, yeah?”

“I’ll do my best, my love!” 

Ronny hadn’t let up on spilling the details at his disposal, “If you think you know tech, you’re dead wrong, just like the stiffs who tried to take some from the Warren! They’ve got drek in there you can’t imagine, even Inari is behind on some of the advances in that place!”

Wide eyes stared at the flashing images as the weasel quickly scrolled through stolen pict-vids, blurry and redacted profiles on weapons and personnel alike. Some among the mob were of course rival agents, weighing the odds if Ronny had credible finds or just had another sensational show to keep the drek-heads entertained. Those with knowledge were realizing, this time was the real deal, somehow the weasel had gotten important fragments from one of the most secure places in the world.

“And…” Ronny sneered as he cast a glance over the onlookers, lifting a slender digit toward the twin-tails and slumped mouse, “...we have some fine folks that know just what I mean, don’t we?”

A lot of things happened all at once in that moment. The oppressive weight of the area seemed to lift, but just as soon as it did a loud shrieking cry echoed out, reverberating against the synthcrete of the buildings as two stoney creatures with massive spread wings seemed to just shift right into reality, each one easily twelve heads in height.

“Now or never!” Sen practically shouted in his commlink as a loud clap sounded out from the anti-material rifle going off. There was a burst of light as the massive shell ricocheted off a smaller screen the weasel was projecting in his off paw.

“I knew you were there all along!” He declared as a literal bolt of lightning shot from his finger he had outstretched towards Sen, Dog offering up an angry bark as another field of light seemed to make it cascade across the ground in an angry current of bolts.

“Frag it!” Sen barked out as he drew his large handgun and trained it on the mage, squeezing off several rounds even as the two gargoyles were blurring towards him, the mouse slowly starting to recover her senses as her teeth clenched.

“Oh, I could do this all day!” Ronny sneered out as the crowd scattered, bullets bouncing off the makeshift screen the weasel was producing on demand now.

One of the stone giants bore down on the twin-tail as he clenched his teeth, his good eye wide as he saw a massive stone palm with razor sharp hooks for claws tear at him before slamming into another barrier as he ducked to the side just in time for the torso of the hulking gargoyle to simply sever as the creature collapsed in two parts from a well placed invisible slash of wind.

“Nice save, weasel, now do something about that mother fucker!” Moon shouted aloud as she rose to her boots and dove back as another massive clawed fist smashed into the rockcrete of the street, uplifting debris and chunks in all directions.

“Can it ever be fraggin’ simple!?” Sen barked out as he fed a new set of bullets from his autoloader into his gun, opening fire on the mage again while sprinting to the side of the melee, more screens of light deflecting the rounds, the weasel looking smug.

“Oh, you took out my friend? I’ll just have to call four more!” He shouted out with a grin as he lifted his other paw up, then his eyes suddenly widened as he watched the aforementioned paw and most of the arm from the elbow down suddenly sever as the spirit weasel took it off.

“What the-” Ronny hissed out, the moment all it took as another loud clap of sound rang out, the weasel’s entire head pretty much just not existing on his shoulders anymore as the anti-material round tore it off in a clean gory cleave.

“Frag… Scythe, you okay?!” Sen turned back to see the mouse snorting as she held her namesake weapon over her shoulder, the other gargoyle toppled over with what looked like hundreds of slashes all over its stoney carapace.

“Heading to the EZ,” Marcus’s voice called out coolly to the secure channel as the fox and mouse gave a quick nod before rushing away from the area and back towards the alley they came from.

Moon leaned against the inside of the van’s wall with a fatigued groan, sweat dripping off her as she panted. Sen also was panting, he realized in the moments after, that wasn’t just Dog, she was pulling his energy to make those shields and it felt like he’d just finished a five-mile run with weighted gear on.

“What happened to a body shot and letting him revel in it?” Moon finally asked with a winded tone after a few minutes.

Marcus looked up from his rifle, one eye shifting to purple as he lifted his muzzle. “It could have compromised the mission, not to mention he may have had headwear someone else could have used to dig the information out of his dead brain. Would you have rather taken the chance on him levying a death spell on you?”

Moon looked surprised and Sen looked confused. “Color me surprised, terminator-bun. Didn’t think a guy like you would know drek about the arcane.”

Marcus shrugged and broke down the stock of his rifle before setting the pieces in his lap. “Knowledge is power and can be much more effective than a bullet. I’m sure our late friend thought the same.”

“I’m sorry, what is a death spell?” Sen barked out.

“A death spell, or curse, is something that a divinator of the arts can levy in their dying moments. What it does can largely depend on what kind of practitioner they are. Everything from taking you with them to hexing you for life so everything you eat tastes like dirt. There’s all kinds of them.” Moon explained calmly.

“So you did it to protect us, Marcus?” Sen asked with a grin.

“I did it to protect Jane and the Warren, you two being safe was a byproduct of that,” The bunny shrugged as he answered simply.

“My hero,” Moon drolled out with a smirk and then lifted her rounded ears. “Marcus, what’s your deal anyway? If you’re this competent, why are you just playing guard-bun and not out there making the credits?”

“That’s not my job, my job is following orders for Ms. Jane, credits be damned.” Marcus leaned back and closed his eyes, the words holding a finality to them that it was enough and she’d not be getting more information than that.

—♥🌙—

“I read the mission report from Marcus on your way back, good job both of you.” Jane seemed to be much more relaxed than before, rolling her cocktail about in her paw.

“So you’re not sore he didn’t get to suffer?” Sen asked dryly.

Jane showed a wicked little smirk before taking a sip of her synthol, then looked over to Marcus who was once again next to her in his stoic guardian position. “Marcus, why don’t you let them know what I had you do before the operation began.”

The brown rabbit, if you could call him brown from all the chrome in his fur, looked up at the other two and simply said, “I dropped a secure message on the studio feed telling them they needed to invest in a new anchor. He knew it was coming the moment we hit the rockcrete.”

“Wait a fragging minute! You sent us in fucking hot?!” Moon snarled out and slammed her paws to the table of the booth, rising up and glaring at the rabbit who smirked up at her.

“I did,” Jane said coolly with that same predatory smirk. “You wanted a chance to let your new boyfriend prove he wasn’t useless to me, I gave it.”

“Cunt!” Moon grumbled and flopped back down into her seat.

“You’re awfully quiet over there, Tanto, got an angry doggy snarling and barking in your head right now?” Jane looked over to her samurai with a smirk.

“Uh… no ma’am, erm, yes ma’am I do, but I understand your methodology of it.” Sen explained, then winced visibly, the rabbit showing an amused smirk, his new spiritual lover no doubt barking and chewing him out for his response.

“So it is, Scythe, I’ve wired you credits for your services, Tanto, you’re not getting drek,” Jane showed the kitsune a challenging look.

Sen frowned but nodded. “I assume that’s to cover the Doc’s fee?”

The rabbit gave him a wide approving grin. “This is why I like you, fox. That officer training means you’re not some short-sighted drek-for-brains. Yes, good dog. The cost to rip that out of your meat will be three times what you’d gotten paid, but since you were a smart doggy, I’ll not add the rest to your tab and we’ll call it even there.”

“T-thank you ma’am…” Sen barked out awkwardly, the proud smug look she gave him making his heart thump a little harder even as he heard Dog growling in his headspace since she was also sensing how he was reacting.

“You fucking tell me if we’re going in hot from now on, or don’t call me for another run, you got it, rabbit?” Scythe snarled as she drummed her painted claws on the table.

“Oh? Here and I thought the bonus would have made it worthwhile for you,” Jane cooed out as she laid her drink down and folded her paws on the table, offering another grin.

“Frag your bonus, and frag you if you pull that drek again!” The mouse snarled and shoved a pointed finger in the rabbit’s face, both the guards behind her clearly shifting paws to their weapons.

“Relax you two, she’s fine.” No sooner than the words came forth, the rabbit and stallion shifted back to their normal postures. Jane’s mismatched eyes met the mouse’s glaring ones, the two girls staring off for a long moment before she smirked and asked, “You think you can pay your bills without me?”

“Better to be a broke bitch than a dead one, I’ll have your word, for whatever that’s worth, or this is our last run together,” Scythe lifted her muzzle, still glaring. Sen frowned at the thought of that, but let the girls have their space.

“I respect your attitude, who needs augments when your spine is already reinforced stronger than any chrome could make it? That makes me hate you all the more as well…” Jane hissed out as she snatched her drink and leaned back with a slight bounce of her chest in her suit, taking a long sip of it before flourishing a paw. “So be it, I’ll warn you if you go in hot again, just don’t try to convert my Angel to your silly cult as well.”

Moon gave an annoyed snort but plopped back with her own chest giving a bounce in her fatigues, saying nothing but seemingly satisfied with the exchange.

An awkward silence hung in the air for the small group as the low thrum of thrash metal from below filled the air, Jane sipping her cocktail, Moon drinking on a drink of her own, Sen’s already polished off and still waiting on a refill.

“I’ll call you when I’ve got more work, now piss off, mouse,” Jane finally spoke out.

“Go fuck yourself, bitch,” Moon fired back as she pushed from the booth, gave Sen a parting nod of a glance, and stomped away.

“You two go watch the stairwell, I want to talk to Tanto and his little doggy alone,” Jane hummed out with a grin, the two guards saying nothing and just walking over to the stairwell that Moon had just stomped down.

Sen watched them go before frowning at her and tilting his head, “What’s going on, ma’am?”

Jane snorted and put her cocktail down before presenting her paw to him, open and showing off the small crimson claws that had dug into his jaw fur the other day. “Take my paw with your meat one, I have words for you both.”

“You can uh…” Sen hesitated as he reached his paw out, not having been allowed to touch her this whole time, their only interaction having been that jaw grab of hers.

“Are you seriously nervous about holding her hand? Gosh, just take it already, I didn’t realize you had such a thing for your boss, Sen!” Dog’s voice barked out, annoyance clear in it. Sen snorted and grasped the rabbit’s paw, it was surprisingly warm and soft, not like the vicious death grip she had the other day.

“You want to mouth off at me like your buddy just did, spirit?” Jane cocked her head, Sen hearing her thoughts thanks to the tether of Dog.

“I won’t be so crass as Moon was to you, but I do not appreciate you disrespecting the fox I’ve formed a bond with! He is my partner now, which means I’m also a member of your team, you should-”

“If you’re a member of my team, then follow my damn orders when he does. I’ll tell you like I tell the mouse. You don’t have to like me, I don’t give a frag if you hate my guts, but if you’re part of this operation, you do as I say.”

Sen could practically feel the exasperated mood fill his spirit girlfriend as she scoffed, “I don’t need anything you have to offer.”

Jane showed her teeth with a smirk. “No, you do not, but your little boyfriend does.”

“How do you even know we are a thing, anyway?!” Dog barked out in annoyance.

“Because you just confirmed it. It was an assumption prior.” The rabbit lifted her muzzle with a smug look.

“Uh…” Dog seemed to be at a loss for words at that.

“Anyway, ma’am, what do you need from us, or was this just a… point you wanted to make?” Sen asked her out loud.

Jane pulled her paw from his and collected her drink, taking a few sips to finish it off before setting it down once more. “Make it purple.” She pointed to her augmented eye as it shifted colors.

“Uhm… What do you mean, ma’am?” Sen asked with a frown.

“I’m telling you, if I’m paying to have that tech ripped out so your doggy can heal you, make, it, purple.” Jane tapped the side of her head where her glowing eye was before it slowly shifted back to green.

“Why?” Sen asked.

“Because it’s my favorite color, and I said so,” Jane smirked and folded her arms, leaning on the table slightly as he watched her large breasts shift to press against her suit, just a lone button freed but not enough to really show any cleavage.

Sen felt his cheeks grow hot as he averted his eyes, hearing a disapproving huff from Dog in his head before she spoke, “I don’t like her just ordering you to do that with your body!”

“Also, if your little spirit is grumbling about it, need I remind you, she’s the one that wants you to put off slapping that alpha-grade eye into your skull I had picked out. She’s the one that wants you to literally walk around half-blind for a few months… Don’t think my request is such a terrible one, but as I do own you, it’s a simple token I request, something to show your loyalty and perhaps…” Jade trailed off, picking up her empty glass and snorting at it before setting it back down.

“I don’t mind, ma’am.” Sen nodded to her with a small smile.

“Is that right?” The bunny leaned back, giving him a calculating look.

“I think your purple eye is wiz, I thought that from the start,” Sen confessed with a wag of his tails.

“I can’t believe I’m stuck here watching you awkwardly flirt with this… this… horrible rabbit!” Dog barked out in protest, Sen frowning a bit.

“Well, you know just what to say to a doe, now don’t you?” Jane cooed and drummed her claws on the table before meeting Sen’s eyes, her other purposefully made purple now. “Young, impressionable, I’m not the one to emulate, Sen, but I’m also the perfect one for you to emulate at the same time.”

“My apologies ma’am if I spoke out of turn just now!” He huffed out and frowned again as Dog gave an exasperated sigh but said nothing.

“Nothing to apologize for, my fox. There’s a time and a place for admiration, just remember that the Warren will always come first to me, Angel knows this, and Moon learned it the hard way,” Jane folded her paws in her lap while she sat there.

“Moon learned it? You mean…” Sen took that in, his ears perking a bit as Dog spoke with a sigh.

“Yes, Moon was drawn to her in similar ways you were. They were together for a few cycles but a series of events and decisions made them part. I won’t disrespect my friend and elaborate further.”

Jane smirked as if she knew he was getting told the details, leaning there with her paws clasped. Sen frowned and shook his head before looking straight at the rabbit, “Can I ask you a personal question… Jane?”

She twitched an eye at him not calling her ma’am but gave a nod. “Go ahead.”

“Do you actually care about Angel, or is he just a fun diversion for you?” Sen asked in a strong stern voice.

“Interesting… In this candid moment, you asked about him, eh?” Jane tilted her head as her eyes shifted back to green. “Love is a liability, Sen. To love someone is to let your guard down, it’s to open yourself up, and it to expose a weakness others can capitalize upon, do you understand this?”

“I do understand, yes ma’am. In Inari, we were allowed to fraternize and form relationships with other employees to an extent since it was ninety percent of our social circle, but we were always taught we don’t let love become a liability. Even if your spouse is shot dead in front of you on a mission, finish the mission, grieve, or whatever once the bullets stop flying.”

“This is why I like you, this is why I tolerate some of your drek, fox.” Jane showed him a grin and lifted her muzzle. “Angel is mine in a very different way than you are, Sen. Angel is one of only two that I would… die for. Is that sufficiently answering your question?”

“Yes ma’am, thank you, ma’am.” He barked out and straightened up, giving her a nod.

She gave him that sadistic smirk and lifted her muzzle. “But that also means I’m viciously protective of him. So do keep taking care of him, Sen. Go be a little foxy whore, sleep with whoever strikes your fancy, the gods know my Angel gets around, but just don’t hurt him.”

“I’d never dream of hurting him, ma’am! Angel is already very… special to me,” Sen gave an awkward grin as he spoke.

“You already love the dopey little mutt, but I can’t blame you!” Dog barked out cheerfully in his head.

He watched her eyes shift back to that cold calculating stare as she folded her paws on the table. “I’ve already scheduled you with the Doc, he’ll be expecting you, so get a move on, or was there something else you wanted to ask in this moment of… semi-privacy?”

“Are you really upset about the eye thing and me forming a bond with Dog?” Sen asked point-blank.

“I was upset the reins were not in my paws, but now that they are once more. I will adapt and I see the merit of having you multi-task in such a way. You will be more adaptable and I am nothing if I’m not also adaptable to changes. So no, Sen. I will not lord this over your head, you are still within my good graces.” Jane offered him a predatory grin, her paws shifting back to her lap as she sat there.

Sen felt his tails wagging at that as he frowned and parted his jaws to ask another question, but Jane shook her head. “You’ve had enough one-on-one time and I’m a busy doe, get your tails moving, there will be time to talk more later. You and Angel are after all my personal dogs.”

He stood and gave a nod. “Yes ma’am, thank you ma’am!”

As he was pacing towards the stairwell, he heard her call out, “Don’t forget, purple!”

—♥🌙—

Doc gave him a lecture about taking the cheap eye out of his skull, fussing and grumbling the whole time while Sen was there on the table. “Never trust a spirit… reversing installations is the worst… I had to pull strings to backorder that alphawear eye that was coming in…”

Even Sen was a little apprehensive about this. He was giving up alpha-grade tech after all, but Dog had presented him with an intriguing path to not only pursue his own goals in life but also somewhat keep the traditions of his family alive. Also, he couldn’t say for certain how good a magically grown eye could be. Regardless, the moment Doc had dressed over the hole in his head, he could feel an odd tingling of energy in his socket, so whatever was going to be, was already proceeding.

Getting back to Angel’s pad, it was a relief to step into the familiar space, the scents of the two of them lingering in the air. It’d been a long day and he was exhausted. Thankfully, Doc had tuned his headwear to just ignore the pain receptors in that area of his skull for the next few weeks, so he felt no pain from the surgery.

Exhausted or not, it didn’t stop his eager boyfriend from greeting him at the door with a playful growl, practically shoving the fox back first to the wall. Sen dropped his duffle bag of gear, a little shudder rolling up his spine as the other boy just pushed into a kiss with him. His knees felt weak from the attack, Angel’s own eager growls rolling down the kitsune’s throat as their tongues met to flick and tease for a moment.

“Missed you, sugar. Glad you’re home safe from your little adventure!” Angel showed that cute grin with his missing canine, the prosthetic tail blurring in a wag behind him as he stepped back.

Sen tucked his tongue and reinforced his knees before pushing off the wall. “Damn, fetch… you really can’t help yourself, huh?” He chuckled as he leaned up on the tips of his boots to bump his snout against Angel’s jaw, giving him a little mark before grabbing up his bag again to go unpack.

“You’re looking pretty good for a guy with a hole in his fraggin’ head!” Angel barked out playfully from behind, Sen giving him a comfortable grin.

“You two are so sweet! I can feel the love you both have blooming for one another, it’s… thrilling…” Dog huffed in his head gently as Sen perked his ears.

“There’s that word again, huh?” Sen thought to himself.

“Love is nothing to be afraid of, my love!” Dog giggled cutely then huffed out, “Jane is bitter and-”

“Within her rights to feel how she does. We don’t know what pain or loss she had experienced to get to that point.” Sen fired back with a furrowed brow.

“Fine… Also, incoming.” Dog cooed.

“Incoming?” Sen thought, then yipped as his boyfriend just slapped his chest into the twin-tail's back, a hungry growl coming from the retriever.

“I missed you in a lot of ways, sugar…” Angel puffed into Sen’s ear, his left paw rubbing at the fox’s chest, his right one snaking down his belly towards his cargo pants.

“Whoa… Angel, uh, I’ve not even gotten cleaned up from the run yet!” Sen protested, then gave a small fussy bark as the larger boy deftly popped the front buttons of his pants open.

“Who caaaares? The smell of your sweat and musk is fucking hot, Sen…” Angel puffed against his ear, then started kissing down the side of his neck, offering little love bites and laps of his tongue to taste his lover.

“C-Come on, fetch I still gotta…” Sen snapped his teeth together as Angel just plunged his paw right down into his boxers from his opened pants, that strong but soft grip wrapping around his already sliding free length.

“Oooh… someone’s excited, eh baby?” Angel cooed into Sen’s ear, his paw pumping against the other dog’s quickly growing length.

“Fuck…” Sen puffed out with a pant, slumping back into the retriever’s chest, Angel humming victoriously as he hastily jerked the boxers and pants down, now able to fully work his boyfriend's jumping length.

“Looks like you missed me too, sugar…” Angel gave Sen’s orange-black ear a playful nip, his paw shifting down to cup and squeeze the kitsune’s sacs, teasing and squeezing as prelove just dripped from the tapered tip with each eager jump from the smaller dog’s length.

“Geeze, Angel, at least let me turn around!” Sen barked a laugh and turned to face him, but then his one eye widened as the retriever jerked him back around and forced him forward to topple to the small bed on his knees and paws.

“Nu-uh! I want you just like this, sugar…” Angel growled the words in a surprisingly dominant tone, Sen biting his lower lip and looking back, his two tails shuddering before he awkwardly lifted them.

“Is that right? Planning to be all alpha doggy tonight, babe?” Sen showed him a grin, but then blinked as Angel jerked his own pants down, that large jumping retriever cock shamelessly at the ready as the other boy showed a crooked grin and waggled a small bottle of lubricant in his paw.

“Uh… Wait a sec, Angel, I’m not sure if-” Sen yipped as the larger dog climbed over him, the small bed creaking as the retriever huffed out and squirted some lube all over the fox’s tailhole as well as his own jumping length against it.

“Sorry, love… I’ve made my mind up, and if I keep letting you avoid it, we’ll never get around to it!” Angel declared with a growl as he tossed the capped bottle to the sheets and grabbed both of Sen’s firm cheeks, claws digging in as he started stroking his jumping cock against the kitsune’s entrance just below his rolling tails.

“Fuck man, I- but-” He growled as he couldn’t think with all the stroking, grabbing a pillow and wrapping his arms around it, yipping slightly as he felt that tapered tip start to push in.

“This is… really hot…” Dog whispered into Sen’s mind as the kitsune dug his claws into the pillow, feeling his boyfriend that punched his V-card now slowly taking his tailhole for the first time as well, feeling that length jumping as it started to work in.

“Fuck man! That monster of yours isn’t gonna fiiit, stooop!” Sen barked out, the last part slurring as he felt the retriever still pushing forward slowly.

“You’ll be fine, baby… I promise you’ll love it…” Angel snarled as he climbed over the smaller dog, mounting him as Sen blinked up and back at him, his tongue peeking out slightly as the fox looked at him with his lone blue eye, feeling the retriever slowly keeping his movements up. He didn’t just plunge in, he was rocking, pulling back then pushing forward, adding a little more with each stroke.

“Oh! this is lovely! Huff… I’ve been fantasizing about seeing this!” Dog barked out lewdly with what Sen could only assume was a pant, or moan?

“W-wait a sec! That’s right, you were snooping during our pawjobs and when I gave him-” His thoughts scattered as Angel snapped down on his ear, growling as the retriever finished his approach, the smaller dog’s tongue lolling as he felt the last inches just slide deep into him.

“Yessss… that’s my foxxx…” Angel hissed against the twitching ear trapped by his teeth, Sen unable to help but moan out, his tails fluffing as every inch managed to somehow get inside, an odd bump to something inside that made him see stars, shuddering as his own cock just throbbed and jumped.

“Ah! T-that’s toooo muuucchh…” Sen could faintly hear Dog’s own slurring words followed by the spirit-shiba moaning in his mind as he panted against the pillow, feeling his boyfriend praising how tight he was before starting to move.

“Gods… you’re so tight… and feel so good… Okay, sugar… hold still and just enjoy…” Angel shifted to grip Sen’s paws with his own, laying over and slightly dwarfing the smaller fox as his hips ever so gently started to move.

“Wait! D-Don’t start moving already!” Sen barked out in panic, then lolled his tongue again as he felt the movements making that deep jumping length start to kiss and bump at that spot inside, the fox shuddering before collapsing chest first to the pillows in another groan.

“This is sooo hot, I’m gonna encourage him to fuck your little foxy ass even harder!” Dog barked out with a pant.

“Don’t you fucking dare!” Sen barked out loud as Angel gave a bark of a laugh.

“Whoa, you okay, sugar? Need me to slow down? I’m barely moving ya know?” He growled and kept his hips barely shifting as Sen puffed out in response and shook his head.

“Not you, man… You… huff… can you stop fucking moving so I can think!?” Sen barked out as he glared over his shoulder, the retriever giving him that cute grin with a missing tooth as his hips stilled.

“Sen is talking about me, you did remember I’m riding shotgun with him from now on, yes?” Dog’s voice came forth in both the boys’ minds as Sen grumbled, Angel’s ears perked, hearing the faint sound of fatigue in it.

“Oh, yeah, it’s been a while Dog. I know I talked to you once before, when I had my head in Moon’s lap while she was healing me up from a pretty bad scrape! Heh… You enjoying the show?” Angel laughed out as he spoke the words aloud, Sen groaning as he felt the larger boy start to rock against his rear once more, plunging inside to bump at that spot.

“So much… my goodness so much… Have you ever been to the Astral? I’d quite love to be between the two of you sometime, Angel!” Dog barked into both the boy’s heads in a husky-sounding huff, clearly panting.

“Damn… are you like… astrally projecting your fingers to rub on that pussy of yours, babe?” Angel growled in a surprisingly smooth voice as Sen shook his head and tried to protest, but the retriever just bucked his hips, stabbing hard into that spot as the fox shuddered and flopped back down into the pillows.

“I am! Huff… I hope you don’t mind I’m watching you two and… enjoying it?” Dog panted the words sheepishly.

“I think it’s hot, and apparently so does this guy down heeereee…” Angel cooed as he kept pumping, Sen looking stunned as the retriever kept hitting that spot.

“S-stop talking… like I’m not part of this… Kyah!” Sen panted out, then yipped as Angel licked his chops and shoved hard into his body, the kitsune seeing stars as he felt his length jump hard and gush thick ropes of his fox lust all over the bedsheets beneath him.

“Oh my gods, yes!” Dog barked out in a throaty moan of her own, Angel huffing eagerly and wagging his tail as he kept pumping, hearing one give in and seeing the other do it as his length kept plunging into that tight tailhole, his knot swelling against it.

“Ah… come on Sen, I can taste your love! You two are glorious to behold… You want him to pump your tailhole full, right?!” Dog asked with a breathless pant, as if trying to coax her lover to talk dirty for her.

“M-Moon was… right… you are a little w-whore…” Sen panted out, feeling those strokes keep coming despite his release, his cock twitching and jumping still as if his body was eager for more.

“I’m your whore, Sen! I’ll be a little shiba-slut for both of you if you want me to be! Huff huff…” Dog moaned out in a lewd saucy tone as she enjoyed the show.

“Damn man, your girlfriend is hot… Come on, let’s keep going, I know you’ve got more and I wanna make Dog jizz in her astral panties one more time!” Angel barked out proudly, the spirit-shiba barking a moan at the declaration as the fox just groaned helplessly at the strokes that proceeded.

“Dude! I… I already came… fuck… fuck….” Sen groaned out, his body jerking, sticky fox spunk all over his belly and crotch but his cock just jumping hard in the sheets.

“You’ll be fine, here!” Angel jerked the dog closer as he barked, reaching a paw around to grasp his sticky length, licking his chops as he pumped the fox’s eager cock, his own pumping deep inside. “Like this, sugar… feels good, and it’s hot, right Dog?”

“Y-yesss… it’s soooo hot, please cum again, love! I wanna see you explode and Angel pump you full while I gush for the two of you!” Dog barked out breathlessly in both their minds.

“I… can’t…my body won’t…” Sen panted out, looking stunned and drunk, his tongue lolled, feeling his boyfriend pumping him hard while pounding at that spot inside.

“Oh yeah you can, sugar, just need motivation, right?” Angel barked out and drove his hips forward rapidly, really digging in against the other boy’s spot. Sen’s eyes widened, rolling up as he was fucked and pumped at the same time.

“Frag! Drek! Fucking… Gods…” Sen gritted his teeth then right as he felt himself at the breaking point, he felt Angel make a final slap to his tailhole, that knot bulging against it as the retriever's cock jumped hard, sending a thick rope deep inside.

Sen just saw stars, his tongue hanging out of his jaws from the sensation, not even able to muster up a howl or moan as his body just crashed again while tears rolled down his cheek fur from the intense release. Angel’s paw pumped proudly as another series of thick ropes gushed all over the bed sheets. The sound of Dog’s own throaty moans sounding distant for both the boys.

Angel ground his hips, sending every last drop into his fox, groaning in approval before he rocked back to just sit down, pulling Sen against his chest as the kitsune leaned into his boyfriend.

“Damn, Sugar… that’s some of the best sex I’ve ever had with a guy… You okay there?” He huffed into Sen’s ear, the fox groaning, his cock twitching and dribbling a bit more lust, still reeling from his first back-to-back release.

“Yeah… I can’t… brain…” Sen panted weakly as he leaned against Angel, still feeling the retriever jumping inside him, feeling warm and full with his boyfriend's love.

“Ngh… still awake over there, babe?” Angel barked out playfully to their voyeuristic spirit companion.

“Mhm… that was wondrous… Not just the sex, but the love and passion. Gods you two… your love for one another is so glorious…”

“Love huh? You love me, sugar?” Angel grinned down at Sen who just shook his head.

“S-shut up, fetch… don’t ask me questions right now… I’m barely keeping my eye open…” Sen grumbled as he felt his boyfriend hug him close, knowing his life was even more complicated now thanks to Dog getting involved with them. The kitsune certainly wouldn’t be bored in the coming days.

—♥🌙—

Next Episode:

Justice can take many forms, from a bullet to a magical hex, or even one of divine digital retribution. When the crusader falls though, an angel must save them before the claws of the underworld can seize them, but will this angel simply deliver them into the clutches of a different devil?

Vengeance is a road to the nine hells they say, but when you have nothing left, why not walk that lone road all the same? Will you be the one to give me a new lease on life? Your eyes say you know the score, so frag the details, perhaps this saber isn’t quite ready for retirement just yet.

Episode Eight: Rogue Saber

I'm not going to lie, I kick my tail writing these! A single episode can take me twelve to fifteen hours or longer to make after conception, writing, editing, and proofreading! If you enjoy this, support me, please? It doesn't have to be financial either, just share my stuff and get my name out there. Vote, Fave, Comment, offer feedback, anything. Thank you, and as always, I'm nothing without your support!

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Chapter Text

Being a writer is my dream job but it has full-time hours and this is where I'd normally pitch my ways to support me, but I've been told Ao3 doesn't vibe with that, so maybe just follow me on BlueSky to see what I'm up to?

And with that out of the way…

—♥🌙—

Episode 8

Rogue Saber

The thick wooden doors slammed open with a well-placed booted kick. It had taken only a few swings of the massive war-ax to bust the sturdy iron lock that had been holding it in place. As the iron banded doors swung wide to let light flood into the keep, the figure of a towering deer loomed in the doorway.

He had large sweeping antlers that sported various charms or war painting spatters, looking sharp and easily able to gore if needed. His frame was powerful with large broad shoulders with bulging muscular legs and arms. The buck was shirtless but wore a fur-trimmed leather kilt and sturdy boots. The fur on his body had several gashed scars that showed pink flesh through the deep brown fur.

His eyes were so blue they nearly glowed as he scanned over the entrance to the keep, a snarl on his scarred muzzle as he kept his massive war-ax shouldered. As expected, within moments of busting the door open, he had company as a large winged griffin leaped from one of the spires in the keep, screeching as it dove upon him.

“Heh… wouldn’t be any fun if I didn’t get company, yeah?” He shouted out in a confident voice, shifting the ax into both of his paws. The griffin slammed into the cobbled stone floor, bits of stone and dirt scattering from the massive talons that had torn through the stone like paper, but the buck was nowhere to be seen.

“Slow!” He roared out, already to the beast's side, his massive ax moving with an unreal speed as if a weapon a fraction of its size. There was a flashing gleam of steel on feathered flesh, blood spraying over the deer’s chest before the beast screeched in a death cry and collapsed to the ground.

“Tch… weakling.” The buck shouldered his ax before making his way into the keep proper, ascending a spiraling stairwell that led down into the depths of the structure before finally coming upon the hidden library he was looking for.

Once in the library, a small glowing fairy seemed to just shimmer into reality as it called out in a high-pitched titter of a voice, “Syntax error, please refine the search query.”

“Oh, what the fraggin’ hell…” The buck slammed the ax blade down into the stone, paw resting on the shaft of the weapon as he nodded to himself.

The fairie’s light shuddered before it zipped off into the library to search, then a voice called out into his ear, “Turbo, we got problems, these drek for brains got deeper pockets than we figured!”

“How about you elaborate on the ‘problems’ portion of that statement,” The deer ground the words out in a hiss of a voice.

“This op is backed by Fujin, or at least one of the directors it seems. I just had the whole grid go live with activity, we’ve got- Oh drek…”

He sucked in a breath through his teeth, seeing the pixie, which was just a persona avatar of the search diagnostic program pouring over the files in the current nodes archives. “What are you drekin’ about now?”

“We gotta withdraw, Turbo, your intrusion attempt was detected and your meat position is compromised, you need to jack out!”

“I’ve almost got the damn data and if my position was compromised I’d have noticed the security trigger, the ICE I knocked out threw no such alarms!” The deer hissed out and watched his little fairy icon flying through the bookshelves that were just constructs to suit the visual spectrum of the web.

Silence followed and a quick query search showed the rigger’s position was already lost, no doubt having hauled tail out of the zone. He swallowed hard and then lifted his ears as the fairy called out, “File secure!”

“Fat lot of good it’ll do me if I can’t get out of here…” The deer hissed out as he downloaded the file and quickly retreated back to the entrance of the node. He didn’t walk up the stairs or across the stone tiles, just a quick recall program that made his avatar pass through the floors, walls, and other visual spectrums to the entrance of the ‘keep’.

Log out? Y/N

Y

…

Reality flooded back into being as the medieval setting was washed away by the grimy rockcrete wall at the side of a nearby building, an access terminal point blinking with a red light. A small paw ran through the sweat-soaked locks of golden blonde and purple hair, the soft brown eyes of the deer focusing as she let out a winded huff. As she was jacking out she felt the ICE from the node suddenly intensify, having to struggle to dump her connection, feeling like she’d run a marathon. That was Black ICE, an outfit like this shouldn’t have had access to something of that caliber.

The small doe felt the world stop spinning and yanked the cable out of the terminal that had been attached to her data jack near the back of her neck on her spinal column. She preferred wireless work, but had to get up close and personal to get to this site, only a block from the location.

Her ride out was gone, having been abandoned. She’d have to just blend in and try to make her way out amongst the denizens of the sprawl. Gripping her cyber-deck, she spun around to shoulder it and find a way out when she saw a massive towering wolf looming over her with an assault rifle trained on her chest.

“Ah uhm…” She stammered out, her ears perking in panic.

“Hey, you’re not a bad-looking bitch for a cyber jockey, might be able to put your tail to use before we frag you!” The wolf declared with a clearly hungry grin on his muzzle. The doe widened her eyes, her paw twitching to go for her sidearm, but with unreal speed from the larger wolf’s wired reflexes, the stock of the rifle slammed into her head as her vision clouded to black, not even feeling it when she hit the dirty street under her hooves.

—♥🌙—

“Let me ask you a question before I offer you this job, Tanto,” Jane folded her paws on the table as she gave the kitsune an annoyed gaze.

“Of course Ms. Jane,” Sen frowned as he stiffened. She still wasn’t thrilled with how things had gone down over his eye and Dog, but she couldn’t deny he was more versatile now, especially since the blade of his focus was now complete. Almost the moment the blade had been etched with runes and attached to the tsuka his family’s spirit had blessed him with, things changed.

Dog’s presence had been a sort of haze, a fuzzy shadow in his mind when he wasn’t in the astral, but once their focus was complete, she could be felt in all her glory. Her voice was crystal clear in his mind as if she were next to him in the meat, and he could perceive her fully with his eyes, or eye as it were. It had only been a few weeks since he had the old one removed, but it’d still be at least one more before his new one would be usable, so he kept a patch over it.

His bond strengthening with Dog had other ramifications as well. She could speak more clearly to others near him, and when he snuggled at night with Angel, the shiba was keen to bask in their love. She kept saying she was priming Angel’s spirit for the astral and wanted them together in it eventually, but it’d take time since Angel had a lot more chrome than Sen did.

“Will your partner have an issue if I ask you and Angel to brutally murder a small gang of BTL producers?” She asked simply.

“Eh? I get better than life simulation chips are bad news, but why would you care about that, Ms. Jane?” Angel asked curiously, Dog already giving a shocked bark in Sen’s head over the idea of it.

“I uh… think that might be a bit much, Ms. Jane…” Sen said respectfully with a clear apology in his tone.

“What if I told you they were a gang of rapists and murderers that specialized in making snuff-themed BTL’s? Would that motivate your little spirit girlfriend more?” Jane showed her teeth in a calculated grin.

Both the dogs before her sprang their ears up at that. BTL’s could record the sensations of the actors wearing them when they were made. So any sensations or feelings the actor was having during it were able to be shared with anyone who slotted the chip into their neural interface. This made the homemade trid-porn industry really take off in the early days, where as dedicated trid-porn actors quickly became obsolete, as you couldn’t fake the sensations and emotions.

Likewise, if someone slotted a BTL from an underground producer like that, they’d get to experience all the fear and terror of the victim forced to wear one. On the other paw, they could also experience it from the other side of things, getting to be in the shoes of the rapist and murderer.

“I can see your tails shuddering, guess I hit a nerve?” Jane asked coolly.

“M-ma’am… I’m happy to put a stop to something like that, but why are you getting involved?” Sen asked, already knowing Dog wouldn’t have issues dispensing justice against drek like that.

“Can I not want to do a good deed, Tanto?” Jane asked with a condescending tone.

All three dogs frowned at her, even if she could only see two of them doing it. She gave a roll of her eyes and sipped her drink. “I don’t approve of such things, and this group is starting to get a little too brazen, also it’s happening in my zone of control. I don’t need serial killers operating in my turf harassing the redlight district when we’ve got girls just trying to make a living.”

“So it makes you look weak,” Sen said dryly.

“Smart dog. I had a rigger I used to work with come in earlier, yowling and pleading with me to shut them down, something about losing a few friends to them a few hours ago. Told him he owed me some work for it, but I’d see what I could do.”

“Drek like that deserves the worst, I’m happy to put a stop to it,” Sen growled as he made a fist. Dog cooed her approval at his chivalrous stance.

“You’re hot when you’re getting all hyped up on justice, sugar!” Angel barked out and put a paw on his artificial hip. “Count me in, Ms. Jane. This kind of drek doesn’t sit well with me either. Some of my favorite informants are pros.”

“Good dogs. Also, Fujin is involved with them,” Jane said coolly.

“There it is…” Sen sighed.

“Well, more specifically, one of their higher-up execs is involved. A real sicko that wants to get his kicks, but doesn’t want to risk raping and killing his own victims. These boys are just the middleman who makes the BTLs for him while also selling copies on the side.”

“Are we geeking the suit too?” Angel asked.

“Nah, well not yet anyway. I wouldn’t mind having a plant in Fujin, and if we can get info linking this back to him, I can tighten my grip on that corp through the sicko.” Jame mused as she finished off her drink.

“While letting him just find a new outlet for his sick fantasy?” Sen growled out distastefully.

“You’ve been at this for over a month now, Tanto. The shadows are dirty and vile. You go on a crusade hunting down every murderer and rapist out there, you’ll never get any sleep. Be thankful you’re getting to do some good,” Jane snarled with annoyance in her voice.

She rolled her eyes as she saw both her dogs not happy with the words before following up, “Once I’ve got him in my grip I’ll make sure he keeps those wiles to himself, how’s that? Once he’s outlived his usefulness I’ll even see all the evidence gets dumped to his superiors so they can go through their corporate justice system to save face. Better?”

“It’s something I guess…” Dog muttered into Sen’s mind, still not happy with it. She was clinging to him like she usually did, her arms thrown around his neck, just floating there as if suspended in water. He could feel her presence and see her there with his eye, but obviously, she didn’t have any kind of actual weight upon him.

—♥🌙—

As always the information Jane provided was scarily accurate and invaluable, allowing the canines a deployment close to the targets without so much legwork. Sen checked over the gun in his paws a final time, more so as without the aug-eye he had to fall back on training than a readout.

“Got you as close as I could without the obvious drek, nail ‘em to the wall, will ya?” Wheels gave the pair a thumbs up and a dry smirk, “These bastards don’t have honor even among thieves, no mercy!”

“So ka, Wheels!” Sen grinned enough his fangs showed, nodding to Angel who slid open the door for the pair to step out, no sooner did he close it with a fist-bang after their ride was already withdrawing from the district. 

“You seem more eager now that we’re here, sugar. If I didn’t know better I’d say even excited?” The golden retriever cocked a brow as they started down the street, both in civilian attire with tactical suits beneath, just the usual segmented armor and strapped small arms.

“You could say that, yeah. It sounds like drek to most, but I was taught growing up, experiencing visions or dreams was sacred.” Sen shrugged and shook his head, as if it sounded more ridiculous out loud, but Angel nudged him to continue with that damn smile and wagging tail. 

“What these people are doing, it’s a perversion of the astral to me, to Dog. Trapping experiences and forcing them, those emotions to be replayed however many fragging times!” Sen snarled as their boots lightly echoed off the rockcrete sidewalk.

“You’ve really been taking this to heart, huh? Learning, erm, re-learning all this spirituality from your new friends?” Angel smiled, understanding and curiosity in his voice.

“Of course, it’s like.. Moon and Dog are a second chance at the life I walked away from, only they’re on this path with me too. I want to make it the best of both!” The fox clenched his fists at his sides.

“We’re gonna shut this down, sugar. Don’t you worry about that.” Angel gave a confident grin while he fished out a small device, “These guys are expecting two dogs wantin’ some of their drek for sale, so for now we gotta stow our emotions.”

“Affirmative,” Sen growled to himself as the pair walked down an alleyway that soon opened up into an area of the barrens, at least where they joined the more industrial district. This was where the truly desperate, bad-off, and twisted resided, by choice or not.

“This is our credstick, Jane set up a real gem this time.” Angel had a rare sinister glint in those soft eyes, thumbing a panel Sen couldn’t see now without an aug-eye, “once they verify the scrip, it’ll upload a trace through their comms. We’ll bag this place, and get a trail to all the other paws they’ve shaken.”

“Woah, that’s wiz! Ms. Jane really meant all that, huh?” The kitsune seemed more at ease knowing that watchful gaze had seen to likely every detail of the operation.

“No drek, sugar. She takes these matters to heart, now get ready and follow my lead.” The retriever barked with a wag of his tail, only to make Sen blink as Angel almost instantly seemed to sag. The dog tugged up a faded black hood, stuffing his paws into the center pocket with a drooping tail.

Sen took the hint, quickly giving a few quick tears to his own coverall, then shoving a paw into each cargo pants pocket. The two canines lost their stride in exchange for varied, more sluggish steps like some of those wandering about them did, adopting the wary yet semi-defeated look they witnessed.

Passing a few makeshift stands and shops in the downtrodden area, the one decent building was the clear outlet and source of credits changing paws. The pair shuffled up to the front where two males stood on alert, twin pitbulls that had been eyeing them since coming into view.

“That’s close enough.” One called out with a paw held up, the other going to an earpiece, “state your name and business.”

“Renz, we already made a call, man. We’re expected.” Angel spoke with a kind of accent that made Sen internally double-take, surprised the retriever could change his speaking pattern and tone to sound so street-born.

“Like we’ve never heard that before, let’s see your ‘credentials’. Renz.” The first pitbull snorted, allowing his twin to hold out a large open paw, both dressed in rather sharp suits for such a starving area.

“Sure man, chill.” Angel huffed, searching himself a moment as if he didn’t already know where the credstick was, finally producing it to drop into the impatient paw of the bouncer. 

“If this is a screamer, you’re both dead, and no one’ll think twice around here.” The second muscle-bound dog growled, withdrawing a slender reader and slotting their payment.

“Tch, we ain’t lookin’ to cause any static man. You give all your customers this much drek?” Angel huffed with a shrug while Sen kept quiet, looking about the area like a bored, irritated friend just along for the potential high.

“Scum like you? Always.” The first dog scowled, “half of your asses can’t pay for a damn bath, let alone afford the fine merchandise in there.”

A few seconds went by before a soft chime confirmed not only a valid credstik, but one well-connected made the twin dogs blink, stiffen up and clear their throats.

“Hmph, guess you’re not such street drek, enjoy yourselves.” The first said as both stepped aside, letting the kitsune and retriever step toward a set of auto-doors that hissed open then swiftly shut behind them.

Within was a different story, with cool-lit panels of smooth plasteel from floor to ceiling, clearly showing where the credits flowed. Ms. Jane had given them extensive detailing of the personnel they’d be meeting, so the pair expected an interior to match the surrounding hub, but instead met refined materials almost matching their benefactor’s club.

“Alright, the appointment says Unit H-3, that way five doors, then a right. Should be easy to find, especially with our sense of smell.” Sen stated quietly, giving a grin as the fox meant their extrasensory boost thanks to Dog, his snout already twitching in curious repulsion at the myriad of scents in the building. 

“Don’t think so, nature-boy. I’m going for the meet-up, you scope out the rest.” Angel shook his head curtly, seeming rather serious and heckled inside such a place.

“Uh, alright then, tap me on comms if you get into trouble.” Sen blinked but gave an understanding nod, partly feeling the obedience training to a more experienced officer, but seeing the kind-hearted dog tense gave an air of no-nonsense for once.

“Watch your tails, who knows what’s in here.” Angel gave a more familiar smile, then turned off to wander down the hallway toward their primary goal.

“He’s right, but I can’t sense any astral threats at least. Far too much butchery in a place like this…” Dog growled, sounding almost ill at the kind operations, jobs, and experiences that transpired behind closed doors.

“No kidding, let’s see if we can bring back more info for the task-mistress.” Sen sighed, wandering down the central hall as it went past various archways for a few open-air spaces. Inside each were all kinds, some motionless while jacked into whatever BTL they’d forked over for, others clustered at some of the bartops that gave Sen a judging glance.

In one of the back rooms, one far less well-lit housed a variety of what Sen knew militarily as ‘undesirables’: deck or chipheads too far gone, used-up subjects who’d been fried or overstimulated in ways Sen couldn’t begin to imagine.

“They seem hollow, even ones without chrome, like their spirit is burnt out almost,” Dog whispered with a frown, looking across some visible faces, seeing almost lifeless expressions of face and eyes among most.

“Probably are, the mind is just a meat PC after all, can only take so much.” The two-tails nodded with a bitter tone, “Hopefully Angel hits this thing off right, get our package so we can slot and run.”

Sen narrowed his working eye when movement to his left caught it, making him glance toward a doorway at the end of the hallway that hadn’t appeared to be there before. When no one came out of the elevator-looking space within, the fox padded inside and looked over a small panel of buttons.

“Hm, seems someone expects us for real, or we’ve got some help already.” The fox said under his breath, Dog nodding as they both hoped it was the infectious program Ms. Jane had them plant and was already at work, giving them underlying access to the facility.

“Huh, that’s funny…” Sen remarked before pressing the basement-level floor of the numbered keypad.

“What could possibly amuse you here, or do I want to know?” Dog asked in slight worry before looking where he pointed at the missing digit ‘4’ on the panel.

“Owner must be superstitious, the number four can sound like the same word for Death in the spiritual areas I grew up in. Wonder if they’re a kitsune, or just a paranoid arse.” Sen shrugged as the lift silently closed its doors and slipped downward into the lower levels.

A brief moment later the doors hissed open to let Sen out into a sprawling lounge with strobe lighting and music playing. Several embedded couch-type indentions were in the floor, with a pole mounted onto a smooth obsidian-black table in each center. 

“It reeks in here, so many chemicals lingering and mixed in the air…” Dog whined, with Sen nodding with a frown to himself with his own sense of smell heightened because of their bond.

“Yeah, worse than a damn chop-shop in here.” The kitsune agreed, mostly grateful it wasn’t happy hour and a full-house at the moment, letting him look about the place unfettered.

—♥🌙—

Angel took his own time scoping out the interior, wandering with a purpose the security feeds didn’t realize, just ignoring the next potential or returning addict among their halls. Several doors were surprisingly left open, either out of careless eagerness or the ‘show’ being over.

It made his stomach roil, heart clench going by some of the sights: victims of ranging species and body types were passed out, or trying to gather and clean themselves up after Gods only knew what kind of depravity.

“Hey, you lost or what?” Came a voice from an open doorway, a female cheetah with a towel about her neck, panting with a sheen of sweat across herself, “Haven’t seen you before, so where you headed?”

“Waiting on an appointment, was just curious about where I’m spending, y’know?” The retriever gave a shrug after turning in place to face the slender, tall cat.

“Well, we don’t care for that, no free drek. I don’t care how much you’re suckling from a corporate teat and blowing in here, now buzz.” The spotted feline growled, a muffled groan behind her in the room sounded like a male not just exhausted but in pain.

“Like I told the doorman, I ain’t here to cause static, I read you.” Angel kept his head low, submissive to the aggressive cheetah, but on his backtrack glanced underneath his hoodie into the room. Another cheetah lay half off a disheveled bed, holding an ice pack to his groin while trying to reach for a cup of water.

The level of abuse and degradation within the place gave Angel a sick, angry feeling he wasn’t used to having. It was one thing to get your kicks, but within safe boundaries and mutual understanding, not in some underworld where one is given a label or price.

The retriever double-checked the unit label, giving a fingerpress to a pad to alert the occupants someone was waiting outside. What went from a silent and expectedly scented corridor instantly washed Angel with a small crew of growling, order-barking, and various musks that made his fur crawl.

“Drek, finally, you were almost late!” A large wolf answered the sliding door, “Tch, where’s the other one, supposed to be two of you drek-heads.” He peered out into the hall with a sniff, “I can smell him, a fox.”

“Dude needed to piss, his loss, yeah?” Angel shrugged in his hoodie, looking up at the scrutinizing male with suppressed disgust, the two meeting eyes in an unspoken contest before the golden broke it off in a false concession. 

“Yeah, whatever. Counts against his time, so hurry up or I’ll strike yours too.” The wolf growled and stepped aside just enough for Angel to step into the space. It was a private studio with a wealth of differing tech, all for perverse use from cameras to improvised set pieces.

“Swag. Where do you want me at?” Angel shuffled inside, eyes peering over everything beneath the shadowed rim of his hood to gather surroundings, only for his heart to freeze spotting the figure sprawled onto a disheveled bed toward the back corner.

“Wait your turn dreckhead, we haven’t even recorded drek yet, so the physical stuff is ours.” The wolf barked, padding over to where another male stood half-dressed, a jackal that was rubbing one of his paw knuckles. “Don’t worry though, your tag gets you front-row seats, nothing less for such a free spender, heh!”

“Tch, this one’s already broken, won’t make a damn sound even when you beat it.” The jackal mused with a disappointed smirk.

“Just gotta know what buttons to smash, Carrion. She’ll make some music when I’m done with her, heh…” The wolf licked his chops, brushing past Angel impatiently.

The doe on the bed had clearly been abused on several levels, clothing torn up to show markings or smudged paw prints on her slender form. She trembled and kept her eyes closed, head turned away from the room as yet another male apparently came to torment her.

“Like you’d know how to legit please a woman, Carno. Not a real one, anyway.” The jackal scoffed, stretching his well-built arms about, fur displaying several scars.

“Frag off, you’ve had plenty of time with the bitch, not my fault you couldn’t get your kicks before I got back. Spend less time tenderizing the meat before you shove your cock in it, eh?” Carno smirked, kneeling on the edge of the large bed with a growl, “Right, you little thorn in my boss’ side? Thought you were hot drek in wonderland, huh Tinkerbell?”

Angel remained quiet, watching the two in a study of posture, room layout, and any visible weapons as they hungrily moved in on the terrified doe. Either they were arrogant enough to believe any chiphead wandering in wasn’t even a slight threat or overestimated their own prowess dealing with just anyone.

Carno grabbed the doe by the jaw, jerking her to look at him, her brown eyes looking fearful, tears rolling down her cheek fur. They darted to the retriever squatting there, a pleading look in them even as the wolf shoved her back down and wrenched his cargo pants open. “Time to make a star out of you, bitch!”

‘Tanto, things are about to get hot, so I hope you’re still frosty.’ Angel relayed to him on their secure synaptic network.

‘Angel, I’m still looking for-’

‘I’m not gonna sit here and watch these fucks fraggin’ rape this girl, frag the mission integrity!’

‘Got it, sod the rest, get her out of there, I’ll see you at the EZ!’

The wolf ripped the doe’s shirt the rest of the way open, her perky breasts spilling out, spots along them that were a little darker than her fur but clearly sporting bruises from the jackal’s attention earlier.

“Oh you’re a cute little bitch, this’ll be fun!” The wolf tugged his fully slid-free length out as he loomed over the smaller girl.

“My thoughts exactly!” Carno heard the unfamiliar voice scream out but didn’t have time to look up as a large serrated knife sunk right into his collar before raking across his throat, a spray of blood gushing out as Carrion screamed out before producing a small caliber handgun from his pants.

He didn’t even have time to sight it before a heavy slug from Angel’s much larger gun painted his brains on the wall behind him. The jackal crumpled to the ground in a silent heap as the wolf gurgled and gasped for air through his cut throat.

Angel snarled and leveled his gun at the wolf’s head, seeing the fear in his eyes, then he pulled it back and holstered it in a sheath that slid out of his chrome hip. “Sorry, this Angel isn’t one of mercy, not for drek like you, enjoy those last moments!”

The doe blinked at him wide-eyed as he loomed over her; the wolf’s blood spattered over her muzzle and chest before the retriever shoved his paw out. “Come on, we need to slot and run!”

She bit her lower lip and timidly grasped his paw as he hefted her up, her legs throbbing with ache as she wobbled to stand, feeling light-headed before she fell forward onto his chest. “Hey, can you walk?” Angel called out in a whisper into her ear.

“Y-yes, I think so… my deck… I can’t leave without my deck…” She gave a controlled huff before stepping back, trying to pull her torn shirt back into place to save some modesty.

Angel jerked his gaze around the room as he shrugged off his jacket. “I don’t see it, doll and we can’t be hanging around!” He barked as he tossed her the jacket.

Turbo fumbled to slide it on, looking more like a trench coat than a bomber jacket on her small body as she zipped it up. “I- I have to have that deck, I can’t afford to replace it! It’s got all my programs and-”

“Drek! F-Fine, any idea where it was stashed?” Angel snarled as his ears perked.

‘Hoi! You might want to move your tails, I don’t think they liked you geeking their actors!’ Sen called out in the secure line.

“Uh… I- I want to say it might be in the storage room across the hall, I recall seeing them put my stuff there before that jackal started using me as a punching bag,” Turbo said timidly.

“Fine, but if it’s not there, we’re ghosting, I’ll buy you another damn deck!” Angel barked out as he grabbed her smaller paw and started pulling her along.

“No cover, asshole!” One of the security goons roared out as the kitsune sprinted through the hall straight into a trio of guards, one of them aiming a Roomsweeper point-blank at him.

“Think so?” Sen barked out with a wide grin as he brought his own heavy pistol to bear, his namesake sword in his off-paw right as the Roomsweeper clapped out sending a cone of flechette rounds right into the fox’s proximity.

He felt Dog’s energy blast forth, the buckshot from the heavy blast hitting an invisible screen that sent most of it back nearly at the same velocity it came from into the trio. The heavy armor they wore absorbed most of the rounds but still left them yelling out as it peppered them, giving Sen enough time to fire one shot straight between the eyes of the guard that held the Roomsweeper, two more slugs landing home in the chests of the other two, the armor taking most of the blow but the powerful kick of the gun handily sending them staggering back.

“Faster now, love!” Dog sang out musically as Sen felt her power rush into him, blurring forward with enhanced speed, his blade flashing before taking the throat of one of the remaining guards with his tanto, his Predator heavy pistol shoving to the forehead of the other as he yowled out.

“C’mon chummer! Please, I’m just doing a fraggin’ job!” The coyote threw his paws up.

“You’re just as guilty as the fuckers running this show! I don’t owe you shit!” Sen barked out with his sharp teeth showing before bringing the elbow of his chrome arm up, slamming it into the coyote’s temple as he collapsed against the kitsune.

“I would not have objected had you passed judgment, my love,” Dog cooed out as Sen shouldered the coyote in a fireman’s carry.

“Yeah yeah, let’s get going!” Sen barked as he started rushing down the hallway. As he passed the rooms with the various dregs of society, he shouted out to them, “You value your hides, best vacate, this place is about to go up, chumps!”

“Oh! Oh, here it is, fuckin’ wiz!” Turbo fumbled as she found the beat-up-looking cyberdeck, quickly shouldering the strap before fumbling through a bag and withdrawing a small handgun.

“You going to be okay to haul that and the gun?” Angel asked while slapping an explosive charge on the wall of the room.

“Y-yeah, I’ll be okay!” The doe held the gun up, her right eye showing a brief flash as the smartlink system kicked in, then she rushed over to the retriever, biting her lower lip as she waited for him to finish setting the explosives.

He turned around to see the small deer peering up at him in his jacket, her face specked with wolf-blood before she folded her perked ears and darted her gaze away. “Uh… what’s your name?”

“It’s Angel, you got a handle, babe?” He showed his wide grin, showing that gap where a canine was missing, his own cheeks spotted with a little blood as well.

She felt her heart throb as she shivered but clutched the deck to her chest. “Uhm… my handle on the job is, Turbo…”

“Good to meet you, Turbo, now let’s get the hell out of here!” He gave her a toothy grin as she showed her own bashful one and they ran back out into the hallway.

“Angel! Status!” Sen barked out into the com directly as he reached the exit of the makeshift ‘studio’ and dumped the unconscious guard on the rockcrete.

“Give me thirty seconds, sugar, I’ve got a pretty banged-up doe in tow, and she can only run so fast!” Angel responded.

“Doe?” Sen asked out loud to himself.

“Make it twenty or I’m leaving your tail behind! Carry her if you gotta! I’ve got a heatwave of about half a dozen Stars closing in fast on us!” Wheels’ voice shouted onto the secure line as the van peeled around the corner, to the extraction point.

“You heard him, Turbo, let’s move!” Angel grinned at the doe who was stumbling to keep up.

“Hear wha- Eep!” She squeaked out as the retriever ducked and grabbed her right up into an over-the-shoulder carry. “H-hey, put me down I can walk fine!” Turbo shouted out.

“We aren’t walking, babe, hold on tight, this leg does more than help me stand!” Angel gave her a grin and then sprang off it, the servos of the chrome whirring to life as he propelled off it, the leg letting him cover the space of three to four other steps before his meat one gracefully kicked off to continue the movement as he sprinted down the corridor.

Rushing out of the building the retriever had to dig his boots in to not come crashing into the open van before he jumped in, the deer giving a protesting gasp as she rolled off his shoulders and flopped into the corner with a groan.

“Eighteen seconds, not bad…” Wheels grumbled before the door slid shut on the side of the van right as several explosions rocked through the makeshift studio, distant sirens wailing in the distance.

“Woo! That was awesome!” Angel barked out as the adrenaline rush hit him, his synthetic tail blurring in a wag as he grinned over at Sen.

“It damn near was hosed, but we neutralized the facility at least. Still, Ms. Jane won’t be thrilled we didn’t get any more data,” Sen sighed and flopped down, Dog moving to him and giving his jaw a lap of her tongue, kissing her lover as he felt her soothing energies starting to heal the aches and bruises he got through the various skirmishes on the way out.

“It’ll be okay, sugar. More importantly, we shut it down anyway!” Angel barked out as he moved over to Sen on all fours, leaning in to peck the kitsune’s lips before flopping down next to him with a tired sigh.

“Uhm…” Both dogs turned to the timid voice as the deer called out to them.

“Geeze, you’re pretty tore up… Dog, can you give her some attention?” Sen asked, the deer looking oddly at him talking to himself.

“She’ll need to give me permission, she looks confused so you may need to explain.” Dog cooed out as she was already moving over to the deer sitting on the ground.

“Hey uh, you mind if Dog works on those wounds a bit? The spirit I mean, I’m sorta like a shaman in training,” Sen offered a smile to the deer.

“Magic?” Turbo looked around, as if she’d see the spirit in question, then frowned as she looked back at the two dogs. “Is it safe?”

“Of course! Dog is a spirit of protection, she’d never steer you wrong, Turbo! She’s hot too!” Angel barked out cheerfully.

“Ah… I guess it’s okay…” She whispered awkwardly, then gave a cute gasp as she instantly felt the spirit-shiba’s power start to wash over her.

“You poor thing… your soul aches with sadness…” Dog cooed in her motherly tone as she hugged the deer from behind and the bruises started to ease in their deep colors.

“So uh… you were saying?” Sen asked, giving the deer his full focus now that Dog was tending to her.

Turbo closed her brown eyes as if relishing in the bliss, taking several seconds before she finally opened her eyes and answered, “I pulled several files worth of data on them before they caught me. I could share it with you, depending on why you want it. But If you guys are just some rival start-up wanting to use it, frag off and just throw me out of the van right now, I’ll take my chances with the moving asphalt.”

Sen and Angel looked upon one another before Angel answered her, “We were there to shut those guys down because our boss wanted them to stop their horrible drek, but also wants info on them to make sure the ones that were funding them get what’s coming to them.”

“So, your Mr. Johnson is a good guy then? Tch… I find that hard to believe.” The doe folded her ears and clicked her tongue, seemingly shifting into her street-mode now that she was somewhat safe and not about to be raped.

“Our, Ms. Jane is not the nicest rabbit in the world, but she isn’t interested in letting that kind of operation go down,” Sen explained simply.

“A Jane… rabbit? Wait-” Turbo perked her ears and shook her head. “I only know of one Jane that’s a rabbit in this area…”

“Why don’t you just come talk to her, you have my word no harm will come to you, Turbo.” Angel pushed a paw to his chest as he met her eyes. The small deer swallowed hard as she looked into his bright green eyes and gave a small nod.

“A-alright… I guess I can trust you. I’d be raped and dead right now if it wasn’t for you, so I can afford you that at the least.” She sighed out and looked down over her deck, as if inspecting it for damage.

—♥🌙—

Jane was already speaking as the three of them walked up to her at the nightclub, “Well well, what have we here?” The rabbit-doe showed an amused grin, her right eye shifting to purple, already no doubt pulling whatever information she could on this newcomer.

“Ms. Jane, this is Turbo, we sprang her before they could uh… make a new show with her,” Sen explained politely.

“That… is a Raijin Emissary in your paws, now how did you get a hold of that I wonder…” Jane hummed with amusement as the deer clutched the deck to her chest with a frown before she stepped forward, both the guards behind her tensing slightly.

“Does that matter? Your runners said you’d want to meet me as I’ve possibly-” The doe’s ears perked and she showed a snarl as she stepped back.

There were a few awkward seconds of the two girls seemingly standing off in a blank stare-down, neither even blinking before Jane flourished a paw and giggled, “Not bad… how did you get caught?”

“Hmph, was that my interview just now? I got caught because I was too stubborn and my small team ditched me,” Turbo said flatly, looking annoyed already.

“I’m sorry, what just happened?” Sen asked.

“I’ve a feeling she tried to use an intrusion program to see if Turbo could keep up,” Angel said simply.

“Good dog,” Jane cooed with a grin, then refocused on the deer before her. “I’m no decker, but if I could backdoor your program, I’d have just brushed you off. You responded to that rather well, but are you looking for a new job or a payday? I’m not interested in getting involved with Yakuza.”

“Wait- You’re a yak?!” Angel barked out in surprise.

“Former yak, Angel,” Turbo said coolly before shifting her gaze back to Jane.

“Last I heard, when you’re with a family, you’re with them for keeps, Turbo. So is this just a payday for you or what?” Jane repeated herself as she sipped her synthol cocktail as three more were quickly placed before the trio, no doubt having been ordered upon their arrival.

“I just wanted to ruin the bastards for what they did to a friend of mine. She was a good girl that worked the red light district, I don’t think I need to go into more detail than that.” Turbo took a seat and scooped the drink right up, giving it a scrutinizing sniff before sipping it.

“And your family?” Jane tilted her head, purple eye fading back to green.

Turbo shrugged and met her eyes directly. “Yaks are just like any other crime group, when gangs fight, not all of them come out alive. My Oyabun and most of his retainers ended up being hamburger for the streets, so I took my deck and fragged off.”

“Not interested in rebuilding your family legacy or any of that honor-bound drek?” The rabbit asked with a smirk.

“I tried talking sense into them and they didn’t listen. There’s no one left to come after me, I’m basically a ronin at this point.” Turbo gave a casual shrug.

“Well then, as it happens to be, I do need some more cyber muscle on my team, are you interested?” Jane offered simply, both Sen and Angel looking shocked at her casual nature on the matter.

“I know you, I’ve heard how you operate. You only use elite runners. I’m just a street-decker with a decent deck, I’m sure you can find better. You can have the fraggin’ files now if you swear you’re not planning to start another chip studio up or something.”

Jane leaned back and grinned. “Are you finished?”

Turbo narrowed her eyes and clutched the deck to her chest. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Well, it took a few minutes, so I had to entertain you, but information is what I live and die by, deer.” Jane’s voice shifted into a melodic story-telling tone, “A Raijin security specialist that went rogue, you were part of their Thunder-Sabers cyber security squad. Cutthroats that used Black ICE to enforce their corporate master’s will.”

Turbo looked like she’d been slapped by that before snapping her teeth and glaring at the rabbit. “Are you making some kind of point?”

“I am. I need an elite decker and right now I’m using a street doc to fill the holes. You know my rep, you know I’m not some blood-thirsty doe, but I’ll geek whoever gets in my way. Not far removed from how yak’s work, no?”

“Tempting offer, but I’ll pass. How about you pay me something to keep my bills paid for a few months and we call it even. The bastards that killed my friend are dealt with, I-”

“You think that? What if I told you they were sponsored by someone much higher up the food chain?” Jane smirked as she saw the doe instantly perk her ears and show a snarl.

“Who?!” Turbo demanded with a glare.

“Someone I’ll deal with for you, so don’t worry your pretty head about that one. Contrary to popular belief, I’m also a fan of justice and comeuppance with those that deserve it.” Jane cradled her drink with a lazy hum, knowing it wouldn’t satisfy the deer.

“If I could, Ms. Jane?” Sen cleared his throat and then looked to the doe, “Second chances are hard to come by in this life, if at all. I can vouch for this place, for what that offer stands for.” The fox gave a smile, trying to cool off the situation some, “You think someone as good as Angel would work under anyone less?”

“Tch, anyone could say that, you all might be bought and paid for to tell me as much. Even if I didn’t believe half of what I’ve heard, half is enough to know those who refuse.” Turbo shook her head, seeming torn to the kitsune so he pushed once more.

“I didn’t say it was heaven, and it’s far from perfect.” Sen swallowed as a glare came his way from the rabbit swirling her drink, but he exhaled, “It’s better to make a deal with a devil you know, and this situation isn’t too far from mine. I was at death’s door too, heh.”

“Yes well, we’re going to have a talk after this about turning this operation into a charity case, you two.” The rabbit rolled those gleaming eyes with a sip from her drink before setting it down on the table, only to clasp her fingers together with a fixed look at the doe.

“I thought you smelled like a suit, you carry yourself like a corp samurai would.” Turbo looked to Sen in acknowledgement then shifted her gaze back to the rabbit. “Why should I?” The question sounded childish, almost defiant.

Jane cracked a grin then giggled before shaking her head. “Oh, you’re precious, I like you… How’s this sound… I’ll offer you steady credits, and more than that, I’ll offer you sanctuary. You’ll have null perspiration of worrying over Raijin ever finding you with me, and to sweeten the pot, when I find and settle things with the little corporate backer for Fujin that was orchestrating that whole project… I’ll let you pull the trigger.”

Turbo lifted her muzzle and rubbed it with her paw that wasn’t clutching her Emissary deck. “... My retainer fee is five thousand per month to keep me on your payroll.”

“I’ll give you seventy-five hundred and not a credit more,” Jane showed her teeth in a predatory grin.

“I didn’t-” Turbo lifted her ears before clicking her tongue, “Huh… so you are serious… Fine, seventy-five it is. So what’s this about sanctuary?”

“Oh, believe me, we’ve got just the place, even my confused kitsune over there that can’t make up his mind on what he wants to do with his life hasn’t visited yet!” Jane declared with a smug grin.

“Wait- Ma’am… Sen’s been on the payroll for over a month and you hadn’t, but you just met Turbo and you’re going to let her in on this?” Angel barked out obviously confused, even Sen looking one part shocked, another part irritated.

“You clearly thought she was worth the time and I’ve thoroughly dug through her past, I’ve no reason to deny her, but…” Jane shifted her piercing gaze back to the deer’s soft brown eyes. “You only work for me.”

“Hence the retainer fee, yes,” Turbo said flatly in a business-like tone.

“You’ve got my information, give me the data dump at your leisure, runner.” Jane sipped her cocktail then shifted her gaze to Sen. “As for you, Tanto, stick about, I want a proper debriefing over your side of things. Angel, Turbo, feel free to slot and run, you’ve got your pay.”

Turbo’s ears sprang up at the credits that hit her personal account, stammering out awkwardly, “T-thanks…”

“For the data, and your retainer fee, a bonus too for signing on,” Jane gave the deer a wink before shifting her gaze to the kitsune.

“Thanks ma’am!” Angel barked out happily and spun on his heel to trot off.

Turbo didn’t look convinced of everything, but nodded to Sen. “Nice to be working with you, Tanto, thanks again for the save.” The doe turned and perked her fluff of tail up inside the bomber jacket and dismissed herself.

She waited until the two left and then looked to Sen as she offered her paw. The samurai frowned but reached out with his meat paw, grasping the rabbit’s soft warm grip. Jane clicked her tongue as she seemed to look past Sen. “So, what do you think of the bitch?”

“Am I your magic eight ball or something, Jane?” Dog offered an exasperated huff, her paws on her hips.

“Yes, now spit it out,” The rabbit showed as playful a grin as she could muster to the spirit.

Dog rolled her eyes and threw her paws up dramatically. “My sources point to, she’s just fine, so stop worrying. She’s not got any kind of heavy negativity hanging on her but vengeance and sorrow.”

“Sorrow eh?” Jane cocked a brow.

“Well, you said it yourself, she’s a corporate runaway, and she lost her yak-family as well. Raijin has a strict loyalty structure, I don’t foresee her going rogue just for the hell of it, and then losing her new family as well. No wonder it’s twisted her spirit a bit.” Sen joined into the conversation, but of course, all of them were just staring at one another in the club, not orally talking.

“Whatever drove her from the Big-R is so wrapped up and locked tight, I’d have to pay a small fortune to find out. Maybe it wasn’t of her choosing and she had to run away. Whatever, did you see how she was looking at my Angel? You might have competition, my fox!” Jane showed a wicked grin as she took a moment to gossip.

“Fetch can chase whatever tail he wants, Ms. Jane, we aren’t exclusive or something and… we are fine!” Sen protested while furrowing his brows.

Jane pulled her paw away and leaned back, peaking her fingers as she looked over the kitsune, seemingly satisfied with the exchange. “Thank you for indulging me, Dog. You are a valuable asset to my Warren.”

Sen realized why she pulled away first to say that, as Dog gave a happy bark at being praised, she loved getting thanked and praised no matter who it was.

—♥🌙—

“Hey there,” Angel called out as he looked back at the doe approaching him from behind.

“Did you think I was coming to talk to you?” Turbo asked in a soft tone.

“I figured you’d at least be giving me back my jacket, but should we stop by a clothing store first?” Angel turned to her and put a paw on his hip, showing his gapped grin.

Turbo frowned and drooped her ears. “Ah, yeah that’d be wiz. Also, sorry about earlier, I kind of just shift into a different mode when I’m talking business or delving into cyberspace…”

“You don’t have to apologize to me, Turbo!” He barked out playfully and wagged his tail.

“Call me, Tarah when we’re not working, okay?” The doe gave him a timid look as she told him her name.

“Ah, okay Tarah, well, my name is actually Angel, so you can just keep calling me that!” He showed a grin and then lifted a paw. “Hey, come on, I know a local place where you can get some threads, they’ll even be able to custom-fit them!”

The doe gave him a nod and followed after him, some of the denizens of the street giving her less than reassuring looks given the jacket was barely coming down past her knees, showing plenty of leg with no bruises or cuts to speak of thanks to Dog’s healing.

“Uh… Thank you for earlier… I’ve never been in a situation where someone saved me like that… I’m still a little shell-shocked about the whole thing…” Tarah whispered as she walked next to him, the retriever’s presence seemingly keeping the eyes on her at bay.

“Of course! I can help get you squared away while my boyfriend is getting chewed out by the boss!” Angel barked out with a laugh.

“Oh, are you guys dating? I thought you might be when I saw you kiss him earlier,” Tarah said with an awkward smile.

“Yeah, he’s got a few side flings too though, he’s dating that spirit following him around too, Dog. He’s also seeing the team Shaman, but I’m not sure how serious they are!”

“Oh my, so you guys are uh… open?” She asked curiously.

“Yeah, we are.” Angel hummed as he led her to a small hole-in-the-wall location that specialized in fabricating synthetic clothing based on various fashion trends. This kind of place could digitally scan your frame and basically print you new clothes within minutes.

Once they got sorted, he was waiting outside when Tarah came trotting out in a full new wardrobe, snug tight legging hugging her hips with a form-fitting top that hugged her chest and midsection, showing her lean physique off, the top compressing slightly to hide the plump swells of her breasts to give her a more boyish look with her short hair.

“Oh, you look great, Tarah!” He barked out with a silly grin on his muzzle, keenly noting she still had his jacket on.

“Thanks, uh…” She fondled the zipper of the jacket before giving him a small grin. “Can I keep it on a little longer?”

“Sure you can, babe…” He gave her a suave grin and huffed as he put a paw on his hip. “Like smelling like me?”

Tarah cleared her throat and perked her ears, “Ah, uhm… it’s rude to have a girl make the first move, Angel…”

“Oh, is that right?” He perked his ears and then nodded. “Okay, well, don’t think you owe me for shit, babe. I saved you because I wanted to, not for the date I’m about to ask you out on.”

“Well, we can’t have the date unless you officially ask, but I’ll say yes in a heartbeat if you do,” Tarah gave him her own shy grin as she pushed her paw through the pink and blonde locks of her hair.

“Then let’s get going, I know a cute ramen joint that actually lets you sit down!” He barked out and hooked an arm with hers pulling her along.

“Ah! B-but you didn’t actually ask yet!” She stammered out, stumbling over her own boots before catching up to his pulling, her deck slung over her shoulder in a new bag that hid it from sight.

—♥🌙—

If Jane had ever truly wanted to display just how sprawling an empire she’d fought, carved, and created behind the scenes, it was now with Angel, Sen, and Tarah gathered before her. The rabbit wore a smug yet piercing expression as she looked them over.

“For you newbloods, what you’re about to see is the tip of the iceberg, but if you ever think of uttering a word of it for a credstik or favor? I’ll see to it you're erased in every way that matters: mind-wiped, spiritually neutered, and your body made into a nice, blank chrome puppet. Are we clear?”

Sen and Tarah swallowed with a glance at each other and the grinning Angel between them, whose tail refused any kind of restraint in wagging to already know what lay behind the elevator doors.

“Yes, ma’am.” The two newbies replied in close unison, causing the rabbit to smile.

“Good, now step into my parlor.” Jane cood as she turned away, the two smooth obsidian doors opening without a button or voice command, likely keyed to her and authorized personnel only the kitsune guessed, following inside for the small group to look about the surprisingly spacious cabin.

Jane faced the opposite wall as they began moving, the smooth material inside lit with soft shadow-limiting light, with several small ports that scanned over each for a myriad of security parameters. 

“Anti-emitter LED…no personal cloaking in here…” Tarah muttered while peering at some of the narrow strips of lighting.

“Hmhm, very good, you do know your tech.” Jane said without looking back to the doe, who stiffened a bit realizing she’d nerded out loud, “That’s right, not even a shadow walks inside without me knowing.”

It felt like several moments went by only for the ‘walls’ to shimmer away to reveal what had to be the most immense structure Sen had ever seen, just underground. On it went in several directions from the central shaft, with connecting levels they could’ve stopped at that went on to gods only knew how many facilities, sectioned-off departments, or secure data-vaults. 

Tarah pressed up against the screen-wall with wide eyed awe, rattling off state of the art equipment or work stations beneath her breath, the tech-savvy doe unable to hide the rapid flicking of her tail at the wealth of machinery. 

“Impressed I take it?” Jane looked at the awe-struck Turbo, arms folded across her center while watching the ceaseless activity of her domain.

“Hate to admit it, but yeah…you’ve basically got your own arcology, this must’ve taken-” Tarah started but was interrupted by the boss bunny.

“A fortune of credits and bodies alike, yes. And not quite true Arcos, but close enough.” Jane mused, clearly savoring the flex of achievement before the descending group.

“There’s no way- I mean, to keep something this size secure, secret even?” Sen shook his head, rubbing the back of it with a paw as Angel gave a proud bark.

“Oh yes, there is, sugar! Haven’t you learned a thing yet by how Ms. Jane filters each team-member? Every detail has a reason and protocol to keep this place air-tight.” The retriever grinned as Jane gave him a knowing smile, “At any duct, door, or bay is a team of paw-chosen security that can handle whatever threat, even astral intruders!”

“Urf, that might explain why I don’t feel so good down here…” Dog draped herself across Sen’s shoulders with a soft whine, making Sen frown and look to the rabbit who waved it off before he could question it.

“She’ll get used to the dampeners built into the superstructure, as long as you two behave. See, I had a special web setup alongside the internal network, any hostile mojo-business means a nasty backlash.” Jane glanced from Sen to the approaching base floor below, her eyes reflecting the many thin lights moving along the shaftway. 

They followed the rabbit out of and into the central hub, a vast hexagonal space laced with walkways, sub-enclosed offices, mono-personnel or material tubes, and light but carefully placed security installations.

“Well frag me, this is…so damn wiz!” Sen laughed out a bark of amazement, circling in place as Tarah nodded a few quick times, staying close to Angel with wide eyes.

“Speak for yourself, this place feels like a robotic tomb…” Dog whined.

“Ah, sorry lovely…this is just a quick tour, we’ll be out soon.” Sen comforted the adjusting spirit with a quiet, comforting tone.

“Anyway, this is my Warren.” Jane splayed both paws up and outward to gesture to the several storied space, more detail to take each time the fox and doe looked, “This is my life’s work, the reason your information is always so thorough, and the bane of many competitors. This is my, our, home, so use it wisely and remember…I own you and any memory of it, so keep your maws shut.”

Sen and Tarah gave a firm nod of understanding even as Jane gracefully strode away with a dismissive wave back at them, already getting a few approaching employees with data-slates and updates deemed worth her time.

“Well, I promised to show Turbo some of the high-end port domes we’ve got, lady needs to see where she’ll be taking names after all!” Angel barked with a grin, looping his arm with the doe’s to lead her off.

“Damn, Fetch.” Sen shook his head, chuckling at the pair happily wandering off only for his fur to bristle, “Oh right, sorry Dog! Let’s get you outta here, I’ll have to get Moon to watch you when I’m down here…”

“No! I’ll be fine, I will acclimate in time, our bond is just settling and time apart would be much worse than…this feeling.” Dog huffed and clung tighter about the two-tails shoulders, rumbling and focusing on his aura and scent over the static gnawing at her senses.

“Heh, you got it then, thanks for toughing it out for me.” Sen smiled at the effort his bond-mate would go to for his sake, looking about the under-empire his boss had forged with who knows how much blood, sweat, and tears.

“Of course! We’re all stronger together!” Dog barked matter-of-factly. 

Next Episode:

A near-death experience is quite a catalyst to springboard a new romance, of course, you’ll fall into the white knight's arms, yes? Even if the knight did make you ask first. That knight’s touch that drives you wild though, brings out another side of you, and perhaps another side of him? A good dog you say? Hmm… Yes, I think this will do just fine!

Is it a test of my skill or a test of my faith? Of course, I’ll do it, I’m the best! Just remember you get what you pay for, bitch! In the shadows, credits talk and I’ll happily spoil my new prize with them, and happily flaunt it before you to boot!

The way you make me feel, it shatters my confidence and reinforces it all at once! I’d rip a mountain down for you but struggle to take a step without your direction. I don’t care, let come what may, this is a drug I’ll happily take so long as it comes from your paws! Call me your good fox one more time, please…

Episode Eight: I like What I like

I'm not going to lie, I kick my tail writing these! A single episode can take me twelve to fifteen hours or longer to make after conception, writing, editing, and proofreading! If you enjoy this, support me, please? It doesn't have to be financial either, just share my stuff and get my name out there. Vote, Fave, Comment, offer feedback, anything. Thank you, and as always, I'm nothing without your support!

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