Cody learns to love

The one chapter where Cody helps Fox pack

  Cody didn't get an answer when he knocked on Fox's door. So he tried calling. Fox still didn't answer. So Cody did what he took pride in not doing. Just opened the door and invited himself in.

  "Fox? Wolffe told me you were packing."

  Fox ignored him but Cody had a feeling that he could hear him, he just chose not to answer.

  "Where are you going?"

  Fox didn't answer.

  "Fox'ika, where are you going? I won't let you leave if you don't tell me, I would be too worried about you."

  Fox still didn't answer.

  "Fox, where are you-"

  "Away."

  "Away where?" Cody asked.

  "I don't know," Fox admitted.

  "Why are you going if you don't know where?"

  "I want to go."

  "Alright. What about Waxer and Boil, then? I'm sure they could be convinced to let you stay at their apartment for a few days. Until you stop being angry with me."

  "I'm not angry with you." Surprisingly enough, it sounded genuine.

  "Then why are you going?"

  Fox didn't answer.

  "What? Is it complicated to explain?"

  Fox answered with a considerate nod.

  "Then we better make sure you have everything you need. Leaving home can be tricky sometimes. Did you pack your pajamas?"

 "What?"

  "What what? I'm just making sure you have everything you need."

  "I literally just told you that I'm leaving."

  "And you seem pretty adamant on leaving. Look, Fox. I don't want you to leave. You are far too young to be out there alone. So if you insist on leaving home, at least let me make sure that you have everything you need and that you are somewhere safe. Do Waxer and Boil really sound that bad?"

  "Yes."

  "Okay. What about Bly? Maybe you could convince him to let you stay with him and Aayla for a few days."

  "He moved out to get rid of us?"

  Cody chuckled. It wasn't the reason why Bly moved out but Cody didn't doubt that not waking up at six in the morning because kids had school was a plus to moving out. And Bly could enjoy a few months of someone not crying every hour or two, day or night. "You've got a point. I'm sure he wouldn't mind you for a few days."

  Fox didn't answer that.

  "Alright. Let's pack your bag first and then you can decide where you want to go. Do you have enough clothes? T-shirts, trousers, underwear, everything?"

  Fox looked at Cody with confusion written on his face. That was great, exactly what Cody wanted. He knew that begging Fox to stay, or even forcing him to stay, wouldn't do any good. Fox would probably stay but it wouldn't help their relationship and it wouldn't make Fox feel any better. Instead, he chose to risk it and give Fox an option. Leave if you need to leave but let me make sure that you have everything you need and tell me where you are going. If Fox was firmly decided on running, he would leave either way. Having him stay with an adult Cody approved of until things settled would be much better than Fox sneaking out at night.