fic prompt: broom conservatory au, Alex goes on a shopping run
Alex sits in her lap the entire drive to the store. Eliza shouldn’t let him do that — even if he can’t wear a seatbelt, him nuzzling at her stomach is distracting — but he looked so pathetic when John left for the airport, and she can’t deny him his small comforts. She places him in the child’s seat of the cart, and he curls up, resting his chin on the handle.
A clerk stops her in the cereal aisle. “I’m sorry? Miss? We don’t allow pets in the store.”
Alex bristles. “He’s not a pet,” Eliza says.
The clerk gives her a skeptical look.
“He’s a…” faerie, pianist, boyfriend “… service animal.”
“Is it even legal to own a fox in this state?” The clerk shakes his head. “Whatever. Next time put a service vest on him. And maybe a leash.”
Alex hisses as the guy walks away.
Eliza strokes his fur. “He might have a point. We could at least get you a collar, so people don’t think you’re a wild animal.”
A baleful glare. She can hear him saying, I am a wild creature.
“Well, yes. But would you rather explain the truth?” She tosses a box of Pop-Tarts into the cart. “Besides, I think you’d look nice in a black leather collar.”
He geckles. Behind her, a woman coughs and whispers “excuse me,” reaching for the breakfast bars. Eliza blushes and hurries to the next aisle to get rice. She’s thinking curry for dinner: quick, simple, and familiar. A nice first-time dinner in their new home. Which — oh, maybe she’ll add shrimp? She turns the cart toward the seafood section.
Alex sits up in the cart as they get closer, ears perked and whiskers twitching. He stares at the case of fresh fish and licks his lips.
“Alexander,” Eliza says, warning-tone.
“Can I help you?” the clerk behind the counter asks. She gives Alex a dubious look.
Eliza flashes her sweetest smile. She’s becoming like Alexander, she thinks, using charm to deflect human curiosity. “How much for a pound of shrimp?”
The woman rattles off a price. Eliza hums, considering. She could get more chicken for the same price, but then it’s just her and Alex this weekend. John is in Seattle doing a concert, even though he should be here with them, celebrating their move-in and eating curry and helping her line the windowsills with salt. Then again, she could freeze the extras and have lunch for the next week…
Distracted, she almost misses Alex leaping out of the cart.
Eliza grabs him by the scruff. He wails, a hideous noise that the whole store must be able to hear, and thrashes in her grip. She wrestles him back into the cart, keeping a hand on his neck. He wriggles and screeches, teeth snapping at air.
“Are pets allowed in the store?” the clerk yells over him.
“Service animal!” She’s already pushing the cart away with her elbows.
Forget shrimp, she’ll use tofu.
Alex doesn’t shut up until they reach the dairy aisle, where Eliza opens the package of Pop-Tarts one-handed and gives him a pastry. Then he hunkers down to gnaw on it, making churlish growls around mouthfuls of frosted strawberry. She grabs the tofu and soy milk and goes straight to checkout. She’ll come back alone, later, for the other things she wanted.
The kid working checkout coos at Alex. “He’s cute! And he likes sweets?”
“Oh, yeah, he’s got a real sweet tooth.” Eliza swipes her card.
“Cash back?” They lean over the counter. “And can I pet him?”
“Sure.” Alex is preening, so she figures he won’t nip. The kid climbs up onto the conveyor belt and reaches down to stroke Alex’s back. He purrs, arching into the touch. “No cash back,” Eliza adds.
She wrestles the groceries into the car, and Alex scrambles into the passenger seat, curling up into a tight ball. He sulks on the ride home.
“You really miss John, don’t you?”
Muffled grunt.
“But I’m still here.”
He buries his face in his tail.
She rolls her eyes. “Fine, be like that.”
He’s no help with the groceries in this form — she could swear he turns into a fox to get out of chores, sometimes — so she hauls the bags up the stairs to their apartment, him trotting ahead of her. He disappears under the couch once they’re inside, and she busies herself organizing the fridge and prepping ingredients for curry. Chopping vegetables takes the edge off her irritation; she hums along to her favorite playlist.
Something soft brushes against her bare leg. She looks down to see Alex rubbing his face on her calves. He turns those big dark eyes on her and gives an apologetic geckle. You’re here, I’m here, please?
Sometimes Eliza wonders whether she really understands him, or if she’s making concessions.
She gives him a piece of tofu.
