Cody learns to love

The one chapter where Fox is the most responsible person in the house

    The beggining of the last chapter but Fox's POV.

  When Rex asked Fox for help with setting Cody up with Kenobi, he quickly agreed. Cody deserved an evening out, Fox couldn't even remember Cody ever going out with someone who wasn't related to them or wasn't Waxer and Boil. Did they even count as not related? Probably not, looking like a copy of any Fett sibling, being born in Little Keldabe and not knowing who your father was a clear sign.

  But back to the point, Fox wanted Cody to go out. Because Cody was the best and he deserved it. Besides, he liked Kenobi. He could be a good friend and maybe even a good partner for Cody.

  Fox was just doing his math homework when Cody approached him. "Fox," Cody knocked on the door because he always did. He was the only one who seemed to know what privacy was. No one else ever knocked before entering his room. "Can we talk for a moment?"

  "Sure," Fox closed his textbook. What was this about? He didn't do anything, at least not anything he knew of.

  "Can I sit?" Cody asked because he knew Fox hated when someone touched his stuff without asking. Fox nodded and Cody settled on the edge of his bed. "First, I bought you something."

  "What?"

  "This," Cody handed him a bottle. Fox was confused to find out that it was a shampoo. "It's for dyed hair," Cody explained. "The color should last longer if you use this. I googled it."

  "Thanks," Fox accepted the shampoo gratefully. Cody was being too nice to him. It was as if he really didn't mind that Fox was weird and his hair was going white at fourteen. Maybe he didn't, Cody was always too kind to him.

  "You are welcome. If you ever needed more, or a new hair dye or help with dyeing your hair, just tell me. I'm here for you, Fox'ika."

  Fox loved it when Cody called him Fox'ika. Being called that felt like he was something special. Like nothing was wrong with him and he was a normal and lovable child and Cody loved him. Well, Fox was sure that Cody loved him but something else was to feel like he deserved it. Cody was the only one who called him Fox'ika but Fox supposed it would have the same effect if someone else called him that.

  "Thanks," Fox said, because there were no better words for what he wanted to say. There were no words to describe how much he loved Cody and how grateful he was to have him. There were no words to thank Cody enough.

  "Now the reason why I really am here," Cody sighed. "Fox, are you okay with me leaving for the evening?"

  "Yeah, sure."

  "Are you sure it's fine?"

  "Yeah," Fox answered. He didn't say that he was afraid Cody was going to leave them, leave him, for Kenobi. Because Cody would be right to do so, he deserved a better life, without kids, without Fox.

  "Thank you," Cody said like he had to thank Fox. He didn't even have to ask, it wasn't like Fox should get a say in the matter. This was Cody's life, not Fox's. He didn't have to ask Fox permission to go out. He probably just wanted to make him feel better about it. "I will be back in the morning," Cody promised, even if Fox didn't ask him to come back. And Fox hated how happy that made him. Hated how selfish he was.

  "You don't even have to ask me."

  "It's only fair I ask you. I expect you to ask me before you go out with a friend."

  "That's different," Fox protested. He didn't even have friends to begin with. And Cody always got worried when he didn't know where he was. Fox didn't want Cody to worry because of him.