Such a Precious Little Fuzzball

--- Such a Precious Little Fuzzball ---

"I have another assignment for you, Print." 

The black and white striped tom glanced at the deformed figure of a feline who was stretched out across the floor. The cave they inhabit, dubbed as "The Dead Zone", was dark enough to bring comfort, with twinkling blue stones decorating the surface as if they were gemstones.

But, such a scenery wasn't enough to tame the flare of annoyance that crossed Print's face. His tail snapped to one side, but he kept his lips sealed. His thoughts, however, couldn't be contained.

What could you possibly want from me this time? To massage your pretend shoulders?

Paradox was used to the rude comments. Print was always that way, and it would be quite concerning if he went longer than an hour without having something witty to think about.

"I need you to gather some dire information for me," Paradox said as he lifted his head from his shadow-cloaked paws. "I want some personal information about the council."

"What?" Print tilted his head. He was a bit surprised to hear it. 

"I doubt that would be impossible for you to do," Paradox said.

"Not without questioning, I'm afraid," Print said. "I could ask Wire, but she might be curious on why I would want to look into them out of the blue."

"You know how to work your magic," Paradox said. "I'll tell you what you need to do once you get there. 

A small growl rumbled through Print's throat before he turned away. He was out the cave in just a short sprint, with his tail moving behind him.

Once he was gone, Paradox laid back down. He heard the rustling from outside, and could see the gravel blowing inside the cave and skipping across the surface. His matted fur budged ever so slightly against the gust that felt like a mere tickle against his skin. He never took wind for granted untill he could no longer feel it. He missed how gentle it felt, and how it soothed him whenever he was in a bad mood. It would take days, perhaps, until he could feel more than just a tiny tap.

Lifting a paw, he summoned the cyan cube to his side. It illuminated his face, and a small portion of the cave like the morning sun. He flicked his paw, and the cube spun in the air. Already, it was at work in repairing his broken body. Never before did he had to sit out for so long...

No. No. He did, once before. Back when he was "Phantascope", back when Signal of The Rich Top mountains scorched him with fire. He was humiliated, and refused to show his face to the world ever again. He adopted the form of Mimic, a black spider monkey, and laid low until he decided to have some fun with the subjects of Media.

But such fun was short lived. Signal...it was always Signal. A red mage...it made perfect sense why the flames hurt the way they did. It was hilarious, ironic even, on how the very Median who strongly opposed magic and would strike down anyone who did as much as touch it...was a mage himself.

Just the thought of it infuriated him. Out of all the hypocrites Paradox had met...Signal was perhaps one of the loudest he had ever met. How many of his kits inherited such magic? What about Video? 

Video... 

He has plans for her, specific plans just for the marbled tabby. He could hear her rambling about him just about every hour, and he was flattered, really. She just couldn't stop thinking about him. It wouldn't be long until she crossed paths with him, but it would be much preferred if she saw him whole. He couldn't wait to see her face. Until then, he would have his fun invading her dreams.

Until then, he laid low once again, in a form that wasn't Phantascope or The Jester, but an entirely new individual. He wasn't sure who he was. Maybe he was Phantascope, but the colors weren't vibrant, and his tail was twice as long. His paws, too, were still developing, and the idea of paws bothered him. They just couldn't grab things. He liked to grab things, especially the sorts who crossed him once or twice... 

His shadow-cloaked paws morphed into long fingers, and he smiled. Much better.

He rested his head once more and closed his eyes. It only felt like a few minutes had passed when he heard a rumble. His ears flicked, and he opened his eyes.

"Curiosity, sir?"

The soft and sweet voice was perhaps the best part about his slow and steady recovery. He stood up, ignoring his weak and trembling muscles. His heavy tail lifted itself from the ground, but it was unable to rise any higher due to its frail structure. All he could do was smile towards the manul that stood at the mouth of the cave. She held a vole in her mouth, and was waiting patiently for him.

"Consolidation." Paradox could almost purr. "Do come in."

Consolidation lifted her tail and strutted inside. She looked quite proud of her catch, and since she was closer, it was clear on why.

She caught two of them, and they were quite big on top of it. He almost wanted to ask her how long it took her to find the prey, but he considered the question too prying and sat down instead. Consolidation dropped the pair at his feet and stepped away.

"Hm?" Paradox was lost. "Aren't one of these for you?"

Consolidation shook her head. "You need to build your strength, sir. So I brought you extra."

Such a generous fuzzball. Paradox reached for one vole, but he noticed her watching. He morphed his hands back into paws before pushing the vole closer to his body. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her. She was too kind.

"You should consider eating yourself," Paradox said as he held the food down. "You've worked so hard. You'll need the energy, too."

"The difference between you and I is I can afford to skip a meal or two. Your appetite is growing, sir. It's fundamental that I provide you with the nutrition your healing body needs."

Oh, she almost sounds like a doctor. How sweet. He almost took her offer. Almost. He pushed the second vole closer to her, and he gave her the smallest of smiles. 

"One vole is enough for me."

Consolidation pushed the vole back. "One vole will not be enough."

He pushed it back. "But you've worked so hard for me all this time. You must."

She pushed it back once more. "Until you can catch frail prey, I will not take what I've caught for you."

Paradox pushed the vole, and she pushed it back. It was a silly and silent debate as the limp body continued to roll back and forth. Its dark fur was becoming a sandy brown from the gravel that constantly coated it with dust.

After the final push, Paradox pinned the vole down. "Please. Consider this an offer you can't turn down. I insist."

Please. He was begging. Why was he begging? 

It couldn't be that...no. He couldn't afford another loss. Every Median would soon perish, and he knew the chances of her surviving were slim to none. He told himself to not get attached but, there he stood, fighting with her on who gets the second vole. 

Consolidation took the vole at last, scooping it in her mouth. After tearing through the fur and getting her first bite, she spoke. "Then you'll have to promise me something."

Paradox was just beginning to eat as he replied. "And what would that be?"

"You're going to bed early tonight."

"Wha—?" He stopped mid-bite, and he looked at her in question. He only caught her teasing grin, but he knew she meant every word. 

"Sleep is another mandatory process to regain strength and energy, you see." Consolidation took another bite, and she didn't say another word after that.

He couldn't argue against that. It seemed that one way or another...she would always win in the end.

Once he was done with his meal, Consolidation took the bones and carried them outside. She returned, balancing a thick leaf in her mouth, and she set it down in front of him. She must had collected the rain water from the previous night.

He lapped it up, and he watched as she edged closert to groom his fur. He recoiled back, leaving her confused.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Your fur has been neglected too long, sir. If the fur gets anymore matted, it will be a suitable home for ticks and fleas." Consolidation kept her distance, watching him carefully.

He had neglected his self care for that long? Taking a look at himself, his fur almost rivaled a ram with how thick and tight the coat looked. It would take hours to clean. But, that wasn't what concerned him. His body was still thin, and it was gorged in many places hidden behind a skin of shadows. He didn't want her to get too close of a look, or she'll see him as a "walking corpse", a petty insult Print loved to use in his resentful thoughts. 

He was very much not a walking corpse. He was just trying to get better. 

"There is nothing wrong with you." Consolidation's soft words broke through his worried thoughts. "Whatever others say about you, they only see the outside. They don't see who you truly are in the inside. That is the part of you that truly matters. Maybe others see a broken spirit, but I see someone trying to pull himself out of a hardship, someone who just wants to be understood."

Stop it. Stop saying that. Paradox felt the corners of his eyes welling. He turned away, not wanting to look like a fool. Why was he feeling such emotions? Why did his body decide to have repaired his tear ducts now? He almost wanted to curse the cube, as if it had a mind of its own.

"I'm not afraid of you," Consolidation said. Her soft footfalls circled around his body. "And you shouldn't feel ashamed of yourself, either. You are strong to have strived this long, Curiosity."

Paradox wiped the blackened tears from his face. When was the last time someone genuinely treated him like that? Someone who didn't see a beast, someone who just...saw a person. Not once did she ever frown at him for being a mage. Not one sour thought ever crossed her mind. Her words were true and honest, and it hurt him.

He didn't want her to die.

I don't want her to die.

The words were true. He realized...he foolishly gotten attached when he told himself not to. With the spiraling web acting as a barrier outside, it was only a matter of time until...

No. He didn't want to think about it.

"Are you ready now, sir?"

Paradox nodded. "You have my permission."

He stood still, and he felt her grooming his horrid fur. Whenever she had to tug or bite through it, he winched, feeling a sense of embarrassment and shame. 

"As I said, there's nothing to be ashamed of," Consolidation said. "Your body is healing. That is all."

He nodded. He decided to no longer complain. She had a point. He was healing...and with how well she was tending to him, he would recover twice faster than he originally predicted.

She was such a kind spirit. He knew he couldn't let her see what he was doing. He couldn't let her know what he had planned ahead. It would only break her little heart.

So he just sat still and allowed her to tend to him as she pleased. He would need the comfort. In time when he was strong enough...he would pay Aureate City a visit. 

He would look perfect, all thanks to her.