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--Otto--

"Thanks, dad," I state, taking the cloaker he holds out and clasping it in my palm. Behind him stands Mrs. Varin; a normal-sized, white-furred fox and mother of the family we're indentured to.

"Going up," Mrs. Varin states as she reaches down to scoop my dad up. "It was a long day, Connor," Mrs. Varin says as she walks back towards her lounge chair, carrying my dad, an orange-furred fox, in her palm. "I'm thinking I want a new coat of claw-polish today. Any thoughts on the color?"

I watch her walk off, shifting my tail side to side before I slip the cloaker on and grow to a more normal height. I'm still short, only around five foot five inches but that's a stark difference from my regular four inches. I enter Rae's room, staring about for a moment at the familiar, minimalist design. A television on her wooden dressed, a desk, a bed, and a bookshelf filled with various academic texts. The door in the kitchen opens and I hear her walk in, quickly moving to get into place so I can be ready for her.

"Hey Mom, Connor," I hear her state as she walks through the hallway and enters to find me settled there in my usual spot. I see a light frown cross her face before she simply sighs.

"You don't have to sit there everyday, Otto. It's not like I'm going to get on you about not being ready when I get home. Loosen up," she mutters.

"I know! Maybe your parents'll notice and lighten up?"

"My parents have your parents to serve them. You're mine." She waves her hand through the air. "Nevermind, though. I guess I wouldn't mind you caring for my feet today, anyway. It -was- kind of rough. You'll just have to study right after you're finished."

I lower my ears a bit at the notion of studying. Everything she wanted me to do had to be against her parents' wishes. I know she means well and I'm happy to oblige but I don't really think there's much out there for me anyway. Not as a micro.

"Yes, ma'am," I say.

"You know what my name is, Otto," she snaps.

"Yes, Rae."

She sighs again and sits, bringing her boots out in front of her so that they rest in my lap. I unlace them and tug both the boots and her socks off, revealing her tired paws. There's a musk about them as usual after a day of walking. It's not strong, though, so I can handle it. My tongue glides against pads, pressing deeply and dragging upwards to remove any sweat that'd built up over the day. I can feel her tense then relax above, shifting her toes and splaying them a bit while my tongue works from heel to ball.

"I-I'll admit you're good that," she states from above, letting out a relaxed grumble while my muzzletip continues to press into her foot. I smile a little at the happiness it brings her and, while I don't really have a thing for feet, I do enjoy the subtle shivers and twitches she makes as a reaction to my work. I pull my muzzle up and press my nose and muzzletip between her toes to lick and clean there, dragging the texture, damp, warmth of the muscle about the fur before I pull back and wrap my lips about the toe to my right. I suckle on it and work my muzzle up and down for a while before I move to the next pair of toes.

This continues for a while as I lick and pay attention to every crevice. The taste isn't bad, just a little salty in places. She did have farily well-kept feet.

"So this isn't humiliating to you or anything?" She asks while writing. I can hear her pencil tapping against the desk every now and then as she does homework assignments, stopping only to shudder or flex her toes in reaction to my tongue.

"No, I've been doing this for you since we were kids," I state. "Why should I be humiliated?"

"Because you're licking someone's feet."

"I guess if it were anyone but you or your family. I like you, though. You don't think less of me because of it, do you?"

"No," she pauses for a moment. "Though I kind of wish you'd take your studying as seriously as you take this dead-end job of yours."

I smile a little and bring her heel up to my muzzle to lick firmly into the pad, planting a kiss or two against it before dragging my tongue firmly along its length. I then switch to her other foot, grasping it and starting to pay just as much attention as I did to the first.

"Why do you want me to study so badly anyway? I'm a micro. As nice as you are, I doubt anyone is going to be hiring me anytime soon for much more than a position cleaning their house or something."

"Because you don't know that. Maybe you'd be really good and they'd look past your stature. I mean, you do have that cloaker. Maybe we can find one just for you instead of the one your family shares," she responds, pausing again and writing at her work for a moment. "Plus I want you to go to Phalance with me over the summer."

"Your parents aren't going to let -that- happen." I chuckle, though my heart sinks a little at the reminder. Come this summer, she'd graduate from Mihoga highschool and I'd be assigned to her little brother. He's not particularly bad just... young, only twelve years old. And bound to want me to leave the cloaker off a lot, which normally means trouble around kids.

"Yea, well, I haven't given up yet." I feel her curl her toes around my nose and squeeze a little bit. "That's enough foot-licking for you. I'm done with my homework so now it's your turn to do it."

"Is it hard?" I mutter.

"Nah, I worked on it a few times today. I'd say it took me about an hour to an hour and a half tops to complete."

I shift a little and nod, bringing her foot up to my pelt to dry it a little against my torso before I move to crawl out from beneath the desk and stand up. Next to her, even with my cloaker on, I'm still rather short. She stands to let me sit where she'd been sitting; she's easily a foot taller than I am with a cloaker on. I feel her paw ruffle between my ears before I settle into her chair and pick her pencil up, staring at her calculus book and then at the blank sheet of paper in front of me.

This is how it'd always been-- at least, ever since I was assigned to her. She didn't understand why I couldn't go to school back then, so she vowed to teach me herself. Every day when she came home she'd do her homework and then make me do whatever she did from scratch. I don't know what she sees in me or why she even bothers. After all, no matter how much either of us wanted it, I'm not going to get any sort of "normal" job.

We sit there and I go through the problems. I will say that she's a good teacher-- I mean, she's the only one helping me and I can generally get through her homework with minimal assistance. She says I'm smarter than I think, I don't particularly care. Strangely enough, I'm happy to just be around her.

"Done," I say after about an hour and a half of integrals and differentiation. My tail flicks a bit and I settling the pencil down. We check her answers against mine and we seemed to agree for the most part on how to do the work. Just in time, too, as I hear her mother call us for dinner.

"Coming, mom!" she shouts back and I slip the cloaker from my finger. Dazed, I take a moment to gain my bearings before standing straight; the sign that I'm ready to be picked up. I feel her soft finger wrap around me and encase me in warmth before she pulls me into the air and carries me to the kitchen. Despite how it might sound, her family is rather nice to mine. Before this, we had to leverage the one cloaker we own fairly heavily. My dad had a job at a fast food restaurant since that's all he was really qualified to do. It brought just enough in that we could scrape by, but when he lost the job we could barely find clean, dry shelter let alone things to eat. My parents resorted to stealing food, which is how we ended up here. I still remember the night, we were worried sick that dad had been caught-- he had. Luckily, as part of Les Gardiens, Mr. Varin was understanding of our plight and decided that his family would put ours to work in exchange for a place to live and income. We're free to leave anytime we'd like, but leaving would only mean that we get sent back to one of the shelters that Les Gardiens runs. Once you're in their system, apparently it's hard to get out.

I smile a little as Rae lowers me to the table and jump off of her palms to begin the last hour or so of my job.

--Raelyn--

Hard-headed thing Otto is. I try to help him out and all he can do is complain that he'd rather 'do his job'. That's how he's always been, though. I hand the cloaker over to Otto's mom so that she can serve the food before I settle Otto down on the table with his father.

"Come, Otto," my younger brother, Nick, calls out, tapping his fingers against the table and causing the little orange-ish fox to jog over to his hands. Nick scoops Otto up and settles the fox on his head. I settle into my seat and slouch a bit, not expecting anything more from Otto. I don't know how he does what he does without complaining. Even if he is a micro.

"How was school, Rae?" dad asks and I give a little nod.

"It was fine, normal stuff. Guess I could've taken harder classes this semester but-- well, senior year." I shrug a little.

We talk about all of the usual things during dinner. Nick keeps Otto busy scratching behind his ears and smoothing out his headfur for about half the time and, even after he's satisfied, he forces Otto to help him clean bits of food and dirt from beneath his fingerclaws. He just likes bossing the smaller fox around, but I suppose I've grown a bit callous to it. Otto never complains so why should I? My mom keeps Connor, Otto's dad, busy as well. She has him on the table carrying lemon wedges or various other odds between their dish and my parents' plates.

"Ready for break?" my mom asks looking between both Nick and I.

"Yea!" Nick says without hesitation. "God I'm so ready to be out of school," he grumbles a little bit. "Only a few days left and I still have to do a stupid presentation."

"You'll get it done. We'll work on it tonight so you can be ready," my mom replies before looking to me.

"Of course I'm ready," I smirk. "Halfway done with my last year and I'm already accepted to Phalance; I'm more than ready."

"Have you decided what you want for Christmas?" my dad asks. Nick had already made a list of fifty things but I'd not said a word. I don't know what I want-- well, there is one thing.

"Dunno, really, " I answer.

"There has to be -one- thing you want, at least. Money for college?" my dad chuckles a bit.

"Well, you could let me take Otto with me," I state. I know the answer, though.

"Otto is going to your brother when you leave, hun. He doesn't have a servant yet," mom says calmly. I shrug a little.

"All Nick does it make him do useless things anyway," I say, watching the fox continuing to help clean Nick's claws.

"I do not!" Nick frowns, glaring at me.

"At least think about," I mutter.

"Do you want to go to college with Rae, Otto?" dad asks.

His ears wilt a bit at the question and I wonder why he seemed so unnerved all of a sudden. "Uh-- well, maybe it--"

"See? He doesn't even know if he wants to," dad cuts him off. "It's a yes or no question, Otto."

"He's just nervous, it'd be a new experience for him," I reply, giving Otto a little glare.

I hear my mom sigh but I don't care. The rest of dinner is fairly quiet except for my parents and brother asking Otto, Connor or Lilly, Otto's mom, to get them something.

Later that night I retire back to my room with Otto settled in my palms. I put the smaller fox down and begins to undress. Normally, I wouldn't undress in front of a guy but it's different with Otto. Maybe it's because he's a micro, maybe it's because I've known him for so long. Either way, he doesn't complain. I leave my panties on and scoop him up again, depositing him atop one of my breasts while I heave a sigh and try to relax.

--Otto--

I flail a little when she drops me, mumbling and grasping at the flesh beneath the white fur coat of the giantess. A sigh escapes my muzzle and I climb so that I can settle on top, letting my legs rest around the flesh of her nipple while she stares up at the ceiling. Honestly, I want to go to Phalance with her. God knows I'd rather be with her than Nick. I'd screwed any chances of that up a few months ago, though. I still haven't told her about it, partially because I'm too embarrassed.

"What makes you think you're going?" her mom asked me. It was August and Rae had just been accepted. Everyone was happy for her. She was out with some friends which left me here with her parents and mine-- I don't recall where Nick was that day.

"Well, Rae's really used to having me around, I figure it's only natural?" I asked her from my position atop the counter. My parents and I were helping remove stains and clean it up.

"When Rae goes to college you'll be reassigned to Nick, Otto. Didn't we go over this already?" She asks, walking over to a cabinet to put a few plates away.

"Well--"

"We did," dad piped up, peering at me a little sternly. Even after all this time he preferred not to get into arguments with the Varins despite us being on good terms with them.

"Yes, we did," I admitted, lowering my ears and continuing to rub over the countertop with the little cloths Mrs. Varin had given us.

"Alright, well, that's it then... right?" Mrs. Varin said, turning to peer down at me with an even gaze.

"It's just that... I'd like to. I've been with Rae my entire life. I'm used to her and I really like working for her. Plus it's gonna be a new experience when she gets there. Maybe having me there will make it easier on her?"

The white fox female stared at me for a moment, seeming to try and understand something without having to ask. "The answer is no, Otto."

I looked at Mr. Varin in hopes that he might have a different answer but he was staring down at the news paper. I'm sure he knew what was happening but simply didn't feel like getting into it.

"Pay attention, honey," mom says, peering at me as I move right past a spot without cleaning.

"Sorry," I say, twisting to clean it properly.

"Is there anything I could do to prove it's a good idea? What if Rae wants it too?" I ask, winning a slight sigh from Mrs. Varin.

"What did I say, Otto?" she asks.

I nodded a little, trying to keep a straight face. My heart had begun to sink lower in my chest, though. "Right... why do I have to stay here, though?"

"So that you can be with Nick. You'll get used to it, don't worry. It'll be just like when you started out with Raelyn. Do you dislike Nick or something, Otto?"

"No, it's not that..." I said.

"Then let it go, Otto," mom states, patting me on the shoulder. "Raelyn will come back during breaks, right? So you'll still see her every now and again. It's not like she's going away forever."

"Well, okay..." I continue cleaning the countertop, looking between my mom and dad for a moment. For the last 8 years we'd been here working for the Varins and it'd been nice. I knew how much this all meant to mom and dad since they'd lived outside for years. This was a much better place to be.

"Actually, I..." the words got caught in my throat, but when Mrs. Varin's gaze turned to me again I felt like I had no choice. "Well, uh..." my tail lowered and a blush appeared around my muzzle. "The truth is that I... think I love your daughter. I've been around her for so long now a-and... "

"And what?" Mr. Varin growled a little, sending chills down my back. I recall freezing up right then and there.

That's the first time I'd ever seen Mr. Varin angry. The rest of that night I was assigned extra duties to make up for the commotion I'd caused and my parents had to talk with them for a few hours before the Varins agreed to let me stay with Rae until she goes to college. My experience with Les Gardiens has been limited for most of my life, but that's the first time I'd actually heard, in detail, what some of their beliefs were. We're servants to them. Les Gardiens believes that micros and normals can live together just fine, 'mutual beneficence' is the term they use. The catch is that, as micros, we're beneath them and we have to acknowledge it. In exchange for housing, food, and consistency we give up some freedoms. Apparently, it's looked down upon to be in love with a normal. At least, if Mr. Varin is to be believed.

"What're you thinking about that you're just sitting there staring at my nipple?" I feel her chuckle a little beneath me, snapping my attention back to her looming face.

"Nothing," I smile a little, swishing my tail.

"Well you'd better be thinking about the G.E.D. test you'll be taking next week. You're studying in your spare time like I told you to, right?" she asks.

I had been, reluctantly. Only because she told me to. "Yea," I respond. "Why is it so important, though? Your parents will never let me go to school and it's not like I could just leave."

"It's to prove a point to them, for one. You're smart enough that you shouldn't be stuck here doing this kind of stuff even if you don't mind it. I'm going to find a way to get you to Phalance," she states firmly.

"Your mom and dad aren't going to like that, Rae."

"You want to sleep in my socks tonight?"

I go silent and sigh, leaning down to nuzzle into her nipple flesh for a moment. I feel a shudder run down her body and the flesh of her nipple harden up before her finger crashes into me and sends me tumbling down her breast. It's dizzying, but I recover quickly enough, blushing a little.

"Bad," she smirks before reaching down and scooping me up. "If only you were bigger," she mutters, sighing. I feel her finger begin to stroke along my back and I lean into it, giving off what I imagine to be a confused expression.

"What if I were?" I ask.

"Then you wouldn't have to listen to them."

"I wouldn't have to listen to you, either."

"But you would," she responds, peering down at me, seeming to dare me to disagree. I don't. She lifts me again and soon I hear the door to my cage opening. She slips me inside and I walk over the soft padding at the bottom towards the little collection of blankets I consider a bed.

"Get some rest, Otto. Have a good night."

"You too, Rae." I smile before curling up.

The days go by quickly enough for me. I wake up and help with breakfast, then we get a break while the family is at school and work. Generally, we watch television or I play Nick's video games. It's fairly relaxing until around four pm when it's time to start cleaning up and preparing for the Varins to get off of work. Dad and mom help around the house or massage while I tend to Rae and, on occasion, Nick.

As the holidays approach, everyone's mood lightens. Rae and Nick stay home due to their school breaks so we have a couple more people to hang out with during our time off. The Christmas tree and ornaments go up and everybody helps get the lights hung outside. With about a week left before Christmas, we have everything up.

John comes over the day after we've finished, six days before Christmas. He's Rae's boyfriend. I've met him before, he's one of the football players at her school. Large for a fox, much larger than I am even with my cloaker on. Since he's in her room when I'd normally be with her, I stay out and, instead, give my mom a break.

Sitting on an ottoman in the living room, I have Mr. Varin's paws in my lap. It's not a hard duty, I simply knead into the soles with my thumbs; circling and trying to relax them after another long day at his job. His feet are quite a bit larger than Rae's, so I have to adjust a bit.

"Mmmh, your hands are almost as good as your mother's, Otto." He mutters while clicking through channels. I give a nod and flick my tail a little.

"Thanks, sir," I state. I keep mostly quiet with him, not because he's particularly mean even if I'll never feel quite comfortable with him after that day in August. I stay quiet because I never know what to talk about with him. Or if he even wants to talk to me.

"How've you been, Otto? I don't get to speak with you much lately."

"I'm alright, sir," I state.

"Aww, screw the formalities. Call me Bill."

"Alright, sure," I look up at his face and he stares back into mine. I get an awkward feeling and stare down again. My fingers slip over his sole, moving down until I'm at his heel. I rub against it for a while, feeling even more awkward now that the silence had been broken.

"Are you still upset about what happened over the summer?"

My heart leaps a bit. Why would he bring this up? What am I supposed to say? I hesitate somewhat, shifting in my seat. Apparently, I wait a little too long because he speaks again.

"You can tell me the truth. I overreacted that day, I'm not going to get mad at you again."

"Yes," I say gently, waiting for him to tense up. It never happens.

"I understand. What was I expecting? You and her have been together for a long time now, it's perfectly feasible that you'd develop feelings for her over time. It's just not a good situation. Not for you and not for her. You're a micro and she's normal," he says gently. "You're too different from her. Now, I know you don't meet any micro girls... which is probably why you're angry at me. Am I right? I get pissed off at you for liking the only girl you ever see. That's not fair."

I don't really know how to respond. It is pretty unfair, but I'm not crying because I don't meet other girls. I like Rae and that's that. Do I say that, though?

"What... can I do about it?" I ask.

"Well, I was reading up on this group that meets up down at the community center every now and again. It's a small gathering for micro families that live with normal families. You can meet others kind of like you and maybe you'll even find one you're interested in. Does that sound like something you'd want?"

"Well-- maybe. I do still like Rae, but I don't have to be her boyfriend-- I mean, I know you won't allow it to happen and she has John now anyway. It's not like I stand a chance, s-so would it really be so bad if you let me stay with her? I wouldn't get in her way and I wouldn't try anything, I mean, how could I? John's huge... I just wanna be there, that's all."

Mr. Varin stares at me for a moment. I don't know what the look he's giving me is, but the fact that it isn't anger is enough to make me feel like my words have some sort of effect. Eventually, though, he shrugs a little.

"Don't have to decide yet, I know it's probably a hard decision to make. Let me know and we can try it one evening." He pulls his feet from my lap and leans to rub over my head a few times, perhaps somewhat demeaningly; like one might a pet. "Go get me a beer, please. I'll let you off early today so go get some rest after you bring it back.."

I nod a little, dissatisfied with his response but not willing to push it further. I walk towards the fridge to get his drink, tail tucked between my legs. He'd been telling me to do various chores for years and I'd never refused anything from him or any of the Varins-- don't I deserve a little recognition? I try to shake the thoughts out of my head; anger would only end poorly for me.

I grab the beer and walk back, stuck in my own thoughts until I enter the living room again and hand it to him. He takes it and gives a little nod.

"Thanks, Otto. Go get some rest and think about what we talked about, yea?" I can't help but feel depression starting to wash over me again despite my efforts to brush it off.

"Right, I will. Thanks, Bill." I twist to walk away, moving slowly as I don't even know if I want to go back to my room. Perhaps stupidly, I walk over to Rae's room instead, and listen to John and Rae talk. I can only make out a few words, but it seems like mostly gossip from school or plans for winter break. I want to walk in on them; just open the door and crawl into her lap for the evening. It sounds pathetic, I know, but the fact that I've known her for eight years and he'd only met her within the last seven months burns me up a little. What made him the right choice? The fact that he doesn't need one of those stupid cloakers? I growl a little.

"Who's there?" Rae shouts from her room, causing me to perk up. I take a step back, then dash away towards the guest room our home is situated in. The Varins had provided a place for us to call our own-- a large dollhouse. I duck into the room and sigh, rubbing at my ears for a moment before I remove the cloaker and return to normal. Maybe a little rest would help.

"Mom?" I call, looking into the makeshift living room after entering the dollhouse to find her sprawled over our couch. The cushions were all handmade by her and Mrs. Varin.

"Hmm? Oh, hey Otto. Done already?" She asks. "Guess he fell asleep today, huh? Usually takes him until dinner to dismiss me."

"No, he's still awake. He just let me go early," I say before shifting a bit. "Err-- hey, mom? What... do you think about the whole thing with Rae and me? Am I crazy for liking her this way?"

"Crazy? Nah, but it'd probably be better if you found a way to distance yourself. Sorry to say it, I know it's not what you want to hear."

"Mr. Varin offered to help me find other, uh, girls. Micros, I mean. I don't really want to but I don't wanna push my luck." I frown to myself. " Maybe I just don't get it-- If she were alright with it then why would it be an issue? It's not like I don't end up seeing her for half the day anyway."

"You're still a micro, son." She pats the couch and I walk over to sit next to her with a gentle sigh. "The Varins are part of Les Gardiens. As good as this has been for us-- having them to help us out, it's not all fair and that's just something we have to deal with for now. Your dad and I have really had to talk with them just to get the freedoms we have around the house now. When you were younger? They wouldn't even let us leave this room during the day. They were afraid we'd steal something."

My eyes meet hers for a moment. "You think I should give it up, then? Accept that I'll end up with Nick and take Mr. Varin up on his offer to take me to those meetings?"

She wraps her arm around my shoulder and gives me a gentle hug. I hug back despite the wrenching in my gut. I'd doubted my position in this household before. Sometimes what I did -was- humiliating, especially with them looking down at me all of the time. I'd always been able to brush it off before. This time, though...

"You should get some rest. See how you feel in the morning. I'll tell Raelyn that you're not feeling well, alright? I know it's hard but... you never know. Maybe something will happen."

I don't know whether that was supposed to make me feel better, but it doesn't. I let go of mom and nod a little, keeping my ears down. "Yea, maybe... thanks mom," I say even if the talk didn't really help.

--Raelyn--

"You're ready, then?" I ask, staring at Otto next to me in the car. "Calculator and pencils and eraser and all that?"

"How do you know your parents won't figure out the cloaker is gone?" he asks.

"I'll make something up. Anyway, you shouldn't be focused on that. You should be focused on passing this test," I state. He seems off today but I don't know what's bothering him. Maybe just butterflies, is he actually taking this seriously?

We arrive at the testing center and I walk him to the building through piles of snow and slush lining the slide of the parking lot. Apparently, they'd recently shoveled. Once there, I turn and lean down to kiss the little orange fox on his cheek. "You'll do fine, alright? I believe in you."

He perks up a bit at that and a smile even creeps over his face.

"Alright, I'll see you later..." he swishes his tail a bit and turns to walk into the center. I look after him for a moment before I go back to the car. Plenty to do today.

I'm supposed to meet up with mom and shop for gifts at the mall. I know it's last minute but I still haven't found anything for Otto, damned fox never wants anything for some reason.

"What do you think Otto would like?" I ask her while we shift past the crowd of last-minute holiday shoppers. There're a lot of people here.

"I dunno, why not just give him some money and take him out shopping after Christmas?"

"Because giving money is cheap. It doesn't take any thought!" I protest. I'm actually not opposed to the idea of giving money-- it's just I want to get something he'll like and be surprised at.

"Alright, alright... hmm, maybe something from the toy store? Some of the toys are pretty life-like to them," she offers. I just shrug it off, though.

"Nah, I wanna get something he -really- wants." I cross my arms and think for a moment, looking at the stores we pass by and getting absolutely no inspiration from any of them.

"I was thinking about getting him a Phalance jersey or something."

"Why would you get him that?" mom asks with surprising quickness.

"Hmm? I still want him to come with me," I state. "You're not going to change my mind, mom."

"That doesn't change the fact that he's staying," she says, furrowing her brow a bit. "Why do you want him to go anyway?"

"Because what's he going to do at our house? End up tormented by Nick and his games or sit around that doll house we gave them in his free time? He doesn't belong there, he should get to see more than just our house."

She rolls her eyes and seems to think about what she'll say next. "And you think you're going to take care of a micro at college? You have classes to think about and you'll probably want to go out on the weekends every now and then. What're you going to do with Otto, then? You'll get to campus, make new friends, hang out with old friends and spend time with John. You'll probably forget about Otto before the end of the first week. Besides, he'll be at home when you return and you can spend time with him there."

"Why are you and dad so against this idea, Mom?" I ask, frowning. It just doesn't make sense.

"Because we've heard enough of it, Rae. We've already said no to both of you and neither of you are listening."

"Both of us?" I ask, blinking a few times. "Wait, Otto was asking to come with me?" I thought so! He'd always acted like he didn't care much either way but, really, he -does- want to be there.

My mom frowns a bit, then nods. "Yea, he's asked. If you two have anything in common it's that stubborn-ness."

"Then let him come with me. Find another pet for Nick," I state, jabbing my thumb over at the pet store.

"Rae... your dad and I don't want him in there with you. He'll just be a distr--"

"Mom-- Otto is my best friend. I've known Otto since I was in middle school and I don't care what he is. I don't care if people give me weird looks and I don't care if I get pissed because I have to stay in some weekends and take care of him. Otto. Is. My. Best. Friend. And I want him in college with me when I go."

She just looks at me for a moment, then sighs a little.

I don't know if I convinced her, but it doesn't matter. I won't quit until they give in. I never did get Otto a present, maybe I will have to simply take him out to find something he wants after Christmas.

"How was it?" I ask as he jumps into the car after the test.

"I thought it was alright," he says, still seeming a bit distant. I nod a little and shift into third gear, wondering what could still have him bothered.

"What's wrong?" I ask. "You've been pouting all day and the exam is over! Relax, you did fine."

"It's not the exam it's just... stuff, that's all. I'll be fine, don't worry." He smiles a little, fingers playing with the tip of his tail. I shift into 4th and then 5th gear as I get onto the highway and look back at him again once I've merged into steady traffic.

"Mom told me that you really -do- want to go to Phalance. Why've you seemed so wishy-washy on the idea? My parents' objection to it really bothers you so much?"

"It's just stress," he mutters, shifting his gaze to stare out of the passenger window.

"Otto, talk to me! What's bothering you?"

My peripheral vision catches his head turn to look at me again. I wait for him to say something but the words don't come. There's only silence.

"Otto?"

"Leave it alone, Rae. I'm fine," he growls a little, shifting his head to look at the floor again. I've never heard him do that before. I start to snap back but decide against it for now.

"Whatever, pout if you want to," I mutter.

He's no better for the next few days. He does everything normally, but he has this sulky mood about him I just can't figure out. Maybe mom and dad said something to him? On Christmas Eve I shut my door and lock us both inside, staring at the little fox seated on the floor with a glare in my eye. This is gonna end today.

"What's your problem, Otto? You're done with the test, it's Christmas, you've had a lot more free time than you usually do... I don't get why you've been sobbing around and I'm pretty tired of it."

He just looks at me, keeping quiet like before. I've never had to force him before, but now I'm actually a little worried.

"Take it off," I say, looking down at the cloaker around his finger. "Now."

He hesitates for a moment, then lowers his head a bit. "I'm sorry, Rae, alright? I'm just stressed, I'll get--"

"Take it off."

He swallows and does so, removing the ring and returning to his natural height. I reach down to pick him up, bringing him to my face and staring down into his little eyes. "Now," I state, pressing him beneath a finger and pinning him to my palm. "Talk."

I can feel him struggling a little but, of course, I'm much stronger than he is. I can see him tear up a bit but I don't let go. He's going to get this out or I'm not going to let him up.

"I-it's..." he struggles again before slouching a bit, relaxing against the pressure I apply to his frame. "It's humiliating, Rae," he states, eyes shifting away from mine.

I perk my ears up. "What is?"

"It never bothered me before but now it does-- your parents talk about me like my feelings aren't even worth considering! And I've worked for you guys nearly half my life.. you're the only one who even cares to listen and they don't even want me doing that much. You're leaving over the summer and who'll I have left? I didn't care before because I always had you but now? And there's nothing we can do!" He shouts, closing his eyes and using his arm to wipe his face clean.

"A-and you're not helping! I'm sorry, but just leave it alone, okay? T-they're not going to let me and I'm tired of hoping and thinking it'll work out somehow only to have them remind me that it won't."

He sobs a few times and continues wiping at his face. "That's it, Otto, let it out," I encourage him, flicking my tail behind me.

"Rae... I appreciate what you've tried to do for me. T-the lessons and getting me to take that test and everything--telling me I'll go to college with you, but... maybe I should just accept it. Maybe it's time I just face reality..."

"Well, yea, it's about time you figure out that I'm not gonna let you end up stuck here while I'm at college," I respond, smiling a little down at him and now stroking along his body instead of pinning him.

"But they never say yes! Why even keep trying or hoping it'll happen? No matter what I do-- what we do, they just..." I can feel him quivering.

"You're coming, alright? Even if I have to just steal you or something. You're coming with me, Otto. No matter what. I'm not going to leave you here and that's that."

"...yea," he says gently, sighing and looking away. I use a finger to force his gaze up towards mine.

"I didn't hear you, Otto; you're coming with me, got it?" He looks at my face again and our eyes lock for a moment. "I wouldn't lie to my best friend in the entire world, would I? And have I ever broken a promise to you before?"

"...no," comes his answer. It's still soft, but stronger than before.

"Do you think I'm going to break my promise now?"

He smiles a little. "No, I... guess not."

"Good." I don't know how I'll make it happen, but I have to now. He'll be a wreck if I don't. I'll be a wreck, too. "Then it's settled. We go together-- agreed?"

He flicks his tail a little behind him. "Agreed."

The smell of food hits my nose in the morning on Christmas Day. I wake up to find Otto already splashing his face with water from a little container I attached to his cage. I sit up and reach over to open the door and hold my palms out for him.

"Good morning, foxy," I grin, watching him step out into my hands.

"Morning, Rae," he smiles and I bring him down to settle into my lap for a moment, pressing him to my bellyfur before giving a wide, toothy yawn.

"Feeling any better today?" I ask and he nods a little, swaying his orange tail behind him.

"Kinda," he looks up at my face. "I'm glad I have you, Rae. Thanks for last night..."

"No worries, that's what friends are for," I reassure him before petting along his torso with a fingerpad. "Lets go see what smells so good, alright?"

"Yea, alright." He braces himself and I stand up to walk downstairs after putting a shirt on. There're gifts sitting all about the living room but Nick, Otto's parents, and my parents are in the dining room.

"Merry Christmas!" I hear several times as we walk in.

"Merry Christmas," I return, smiling as Otto squeaks the same thing while I settle down to eat breakfast. Since it's Christmas, Otto's family is off-duty all day. Pretty much, everyone serves themselves and we help Otto's family out when we need to. It's the perfect Christmas day; there's snow on the ground and it's lightly snowing on top of that, the sky is bright white with clouds, and it doesn't look bitingly cold outside but I don't go to check.

"We only have a bit to open presents this morning, we're having the extended family over for dinner tonight so I have to get started on that as soon as I can. Eat up and we'll go get presents opened, alright?" mom states and no one disagrees. Nick rushes to finish his food and Otto pulls from my plate-- not that I mind. He did seem to be in a better mood at least.

We finally get to opening presents and Nick is all over his before we can even finish sitting down. Oh the wonders of being twelve years old. He gets a couple games for his console and a new calculator, all of which win exclamations from him that put anything I could ever muster up lately to shame. We go around, giving one another gifts that we'd bought. I will say that I'm a little disappointed when the only person who got me anything was Nick. Of course, Nick didn't really buy presents, he just chose what he wanted to give and mom or dad would buy it.

"Thanks Nick," I say, staring at the little necklace he bought me. The bottom of it is a harness that, it appears, Otto could fit into. I idly wonder if he recalls that I might not even have Otto come summer, but don't mention anything.

"Your welcome~" He says before going back to staring over his gifts.

"That's all for me," I say, looking to my parents. "Your t--"

"Well, there's one more thing..." my dad says, producing envelope from his pocket. The text on the front of it reads "To Otto and Raelyn."

"That's all we could think to give you, sweety," mom says, gently. I blink, then look at dad who simply heaves a little sigh.

"You're more trouble every year, it's a good thing you'll be out of our fur soon," he mumbles.

I smirk. "The feeling is mutual." I do have to wonder just what this could be if not money. I look at Otto, "Well, it's for both of us." Could it be? I try to conserve my excitement.

He just stares at it, shifting to get a closer look from my lap. I can feel his anxiousness. We're sharing it right now.

I open the envelope to see a slip of paper. After a good unfolding, I hold it low enough for Otto to see.

"Certificate of ownership"

I skip down the small text in an effort to try and figure out what it is without reading too much. I read the larger print at the bottom:

"We, the Mihoga Micro Shelter, hereby recognize Raelyn Varin, as the sole owner of Salem Pil." I stare at the line for a moment, then look at my parents.

"Who is Salem Pil?" I ask before looking down at Otto.

"This isn't another micro is it? I don't want another micro, I want Otto. Y-"

"That's Otto's name on paper," Otto's dad speaks up. Seems like this is news to Otto, too.

"My name on paper?" he asks.

"Yea, you were born like any other normal child would've been born. Your name, Otto Kelsch, is, as far as the normal government is concerned, the name of a Neotrian child. According to all state and national records, you're a norm. We couldn't use that name to register you as the Varins' indentured because it would've given away that you're not actually a normal. Mr. and Mrs. Varin were nice enough to let us make up a name for you. Salem Pil."

My ears remained perked atop my head and it takes me a second to realize what just happened. My head turns back to my parents, staring into their eyes to see all of the confirmation I needed. I can feel his little tail flicking against my fingers as he realizes too. Already I'm scooping him up in my palms.

"He's yours now, you can do what you'd like," mom states with a little smile. "You weren't going to leave us alone until you got your way anyway, so your dad and I figured it'd be alright. You'd better not drop the ball on your studies, though."

"Otto! You're going to Phalance with me..." I grin, holding the little laughing fox up to my muzzle and giving a little kiss to his belly. "Thank you! This is the best present ever!" I'm all grins, and so is he. Finally all that pouting paid off.

"Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Varin!" Otto shouts.

"What about me?" Nick asks, peering at me and Otto for a moment. "Wasn't I supposed to get Otto?"

"We're going to adopt another micro from the shelter," Otto's mom explains. "Most of them could use a home and this is a nice arrangement. Plus we can find someone your age just like Otto and Rae."

That seems to satisfy Nick. I get up and hug my parents and make sure to reward Otto's too; planting them against the couch and nuzzling softly. "You guys are the best, thanks." I smile and peer down at my little fox.

We finish opening presents and our parents go off to get dinner ready for our family. It's a wonderful night with all of that pressure lifted from my shoulders and I bet Otto feels the same way. Immediately after we got back to my room he requested the cloaker so he could go and properly hug both our parents. The extended family arrives after a few hours and the household fills with laughter and jokes.

Otto mingles with us using the cloaker since his parents were satisfied to simply remain stationary atop one of the tables and converse from there. I pull him aside at one point, tugging him into my room before grinning and pulling out the certificate I'd stashed and settling it down on my desk.

"See? I told you we'd get our way," I state.

"You did, I was wrong," Otto chuckles, flicking his tail behind him and staring down at the paper before he looks up at me. "Thanks, Rae. I'll make this all up to you, somehow. I don--"

"Nah, that's alright. Otto, you're the best friend I've ever had. I'd do anything for you, okay? So don't sweat it. Now we have to get your GED test results back and see if we can get you enrolled into Phalance somehow..." I mutter, thinking to myself.

"Let's relax first, though, before we end up stress-balling again," he chuckles, wrapping his arm around my torso. I smile and do the same, wrapping mine around his shoulders.

"Well, alright, I suppose it can wait. Back to the party?'

"Back to the party," he nods, smiling. We both walk back into the living room to mingle. He's right, I could use a break.

~Epilogue -- Otto ~

"This is a huge campus," I state, looking around from Rae's head. The collar around my neck is still a bit of an odd addition but I'm slowly becoming used to it. We'd just finished getting her stuff all settled into her room despite having moved onto campus a few days ago. I'm excited to be here, I never imagined a school looking like this.

"Yea, it's pretty big," she agrees, staring around while I cling to her ear a bit to keep from moving around too much. We'd heard of some group that's supposed to consist of Requorans, a word I'd only learned a couple weeks ago, and normals. I don't know why she wants to go, but she says that it'd good for me to meet other micros. I guess that much is true, even if I don't really feel attached to other micros. I'd only ever known my parents, I've never met another Requoran before.

I can make out Rae's smile from my position as she makes her way towards the center of the room where she sits next to a wolf Requoran. I can tell because of his collar. The room is pretty empty for now-- only about ten people. Including me, I count four micros. One is sitting in front while the other two are sitting next to Rae and I. I stare at the wolf from her head for a moment. It's a grey wolf and, as soon as he spots me, I notice his head tilt a little, seeming a little confused.

"Hi, my name's Rae." I hear her, watching as she reaches out towards the wolf. His gaze shifts to peer at her for a moment before he reaches to shake her hand in return.

"Uh-- mine's Fen. Nice to meet you, Rae."