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Some things may be the same but I intend for the plot to be a bit different","description_bbcode_parsed":"Second episode is done. Some things may be the same but I intend for the plot to be a bit different","writing":"The large, wooden double doors part inwards, opening to allow the next enterers. Zach follows Jack closely as they are accompanied by Capital Corp, walking inside. Entering into the foyer, Zach takes a look around. The foyer which they are in houses a grand staircase leading up to a balcony with several doors to indicate rooms. To the right, a massive den with a sofa and loveseats around a fireplace. To the fox’s left, a wide dining hall with a long wooden ornate table and chairs lined along it. Zach’s jaw drops in amazement as his eyes pick up the stylish décor. \n“Fancy the mansion?” asks Jack. “Quite interesting, am I right?”\n“Dad?!” echoes a voice, female in tone. “Dad, is that you?!”\n“Yes, Melissa!” shouts Jack. A grey rabbit appears at the top of the grand staircase. As she descends, Zach examines her. Black hair flows on all sides of her head except in her face. Her mouth, belly, and paws are white, much like the fox’s design. The only apparel she has on are a pink top around her chest and a matching color miniskirt. Jack turns to the fox. “Oh, this is my daughter, Melissa.” \nZach raises one paw to wave. “Hi… I’m Zach.”\nMelissa stares at the fox. “Oh, I know you. You’re the flawed fox. The one who hangs around those Team Rescue-jerks.” Zach’s ears start to droop and he frowns. Melissa puts her paws on her hips. “Where are your little “friends”? Huh?”\n“Melissa, hush now,” orders Jack. \nMelissa faces her father. “Why is he here? Are his “friends” around, too?”\n“Just get ready and head to the dining room for dinner. I will be there.” The rabbit, without further words, continues looking at Zach before heading off and up the stairs. The jackalope turns to Zach. “Forgive me, Zach. Melissa can be a bit of a nuisance mostly.”\n“Nuisance? In what way?”\n“She can be disruptive, annoying, and she doesn’t stop pestering me. Melissa mostly hangs out in her room.”\nZach keeps a flat-mouthed expression towards the jackalope. “Do you ever give her any attention whatsoever?”\n“Dinner will be served soon. Come, we must sit.” Jack leads everyone into the dining room.\n\n***\n\nThe animals sit around a large, rectangular table with plates of food in front of them. Capital Corp is split into duos and sit opposite of each other. Jack is at the end of the table, eating his meal while eyeing the fox. Zach looks down at his food and picks it up with a fork, but stops and looks across at the rabbit, who gazes at him while in a pink dress and crossing her arms with clenched eyes.\nCharlie turns to her. “Um, are you all right, Melissa?”\n“Yeah,” Melissa says without facing him. “I’m fine.”\n“Isn’t this wonderful?” asks Anne. “We have a guest at dinner with us.” Everyone remains silent. Her teammates stare at her, forcing her to keep quiet and just focus on her food. Melissa keeps her eyes on the fox in front of her as she makes a smug.\nRoger turns to the fox. “Hey Zach, I am a little curious about your relationship with Team Rescuers. Would you mind telling me about them?”\n“Roger,” Jack says. “Please. Our guest doesn’t have to talk about his story if he wants to.”\n“No,” Zach utters. “It’s fine. Let me just start from the beginning.” He places his fork down. “I met Team Rescuers in the park. I wanted to be a hero so bad because I was into Captain Red Mask.” Roger asks what he means by that. “I would always watch that superhero show in the orphanage. Anyway, I met Team Rescuers when I was ten, and we became instant friends, or so I thought. After a couple of years, I kept constantly eavesdropping on them because they had been talking about me.”\n“About how you always messed up and would bother them constantly?” asks Bella. Jack gives her a mean stare. “What? We were there every time he did!”\n“Yeah,” Zach continues. “I was scared they would ban me from the group. That nightmare came true on my thirteenth birthday when they said they wanted nothing to do with me anymore. After that day, I tried to convince them that I wasn’t truly a flawed fox, even trying to prove I was superhero material. Over the years, I tried everything. Then, my eighteenth birthday came, and I would be thrown out of the orphanage. I ran up to Team Rescuers and begged them for help. They didn’t want to, though. They pushed me away and then left.”\n“Harsh, Dude,” Charlie comments. “I can’t believe they would do that.”\n“So, is that when after they pushed you away, you ran away and came to us?” asks Roger.\nZach rubs the back of his head. “Not exactly… I was crossing the road to leave the area when I was struck by a car and taken to the hospital. I was visited by one of the orphanage patrons, given a letter of eviction. I spent a while in the hospital, thinking things over before being released… After a couple of days walking around, I felt I had enough of everyone abusing me and labeling me a “flawed fox”. So, I set out away from that place. That’s when I spent a few days in the woods. I didn’t really sleep a lot.”\nCharlie turns to him. “Troubled by your thoughts?”\n“Y-yea… It’s hard to sleep when every abusive memory comes to haunt you… I’ve been ignored, pushed away, bullied, beaten, and rejected. All because everyone thought I was a flawed fox…” \n“Oh, come on,” Bella utters. “Just for messing up a lot? Everyone makes mistakes. We’re all not perfect.” Melissa’s smug slowly disappears as her face becomes slightly more relaxed.\n“It goes deeper than that,” Zach assures her. “I was given up for adoption after I was born because I’m the product of an inappropriate student relationship. My father and mother are infamous because of their relationship, which resulted in me… You all heard about the David/Delilah case, right? The one where they had me when they were minors?” Capital Corp nods. “Well, after I was born and put into the orphanage, everyone assumed I was just like them.”\n“You’re not,” Jack says. “Not every child is like their parents. You didn’t get adopted because of that?” Zach shakes his head to confirm. “Did you at least make friends in the orphanage despite the mistaken reputation?”\n“No… I was diagnosed with a mental disorder. I was separated from the other kids and put into special classes. Because they saw me as different, no one wanted to be my friend.” \nAnne’s eyes widen. “Good God… No wonder you left and came here. You’re whole life’s a mess. What do you plan to do now that you’re here?”\n“I don’t know… I mean, I really didn’t have any plans about what I would do after coming here… I guess start a new life. I don’t know if becoming a hero is still even an option…”\n“I’m sure it’ll come to you,” Jack starts. “You’ve got plenty of time to think about it. You’re young, after all.”\nZach turns to Jack. “What do you do?”\n“I’m the CEO of Green Gadgets, a robotics and technology company in Buscity. I’ve been putting my mind to designing robots for children. It takes a lot of engineering and education to do that, though.”\nZach looks down at his food. “I figured…”\n\"It’ll come to you. Maybe not now, but it will in time. In the meantime, I will provide you with a room so you’re not sleeping on the couch.” \nZach lifts his fork. “Thank you, Jack the Jackalope… You’re very kind and generous…” \n“Indeed I am.” Jack smiles as he takes a bite out of his food. Zach goes back to eating while Melissa watches him. Her expression is different than before; having a frown still occupying her face, but in a relaxed and sorrowful expression.\n\n***\n\nOn the balcony, Bella opens the door in front of her and Zach. The fox steps inside the fairly big room with a queen-sized bed and a dresser in front of it. Two end tables are placed on both sides by the pillows and on the other side of one is another door. Bella remains standing in the doorway. “Here’s where you’ll be staying. If you have any question, you’ll let the boss know.” \nZach turns to her. “Thank you, Bella. You and Capital Corp are very kind.”\n“Don’t mention it, Kid. Just try and get some sleep. Your body needs to heal.”\n“I’ll try.” Bella backs out and closes the door, leaving him to be alone. \nZach turns to the other door. He walks over and goes through it, entering the bathroom. Closest to him is a sink on a counter and a mirror over it. Next to it is the toilet and further down next to that, a shower enclosed by glass walls. “Maybe I should clean up before getting to bed…” He strips, taking off his bandana and all of the bandages to reveal his scratches, before stepping under the nozzle. The fox turns the handle and a rush of water hits him in the head. The clear liquid streams down his body, passing through all of his cuts and injuries. “Ugh!” He clenches his paws and grunts as pain throbs from his wounds. It takes a little bit for him to get used to it and the temperature. Steam generates as the heavy rain flows onto him. Zach takes the soap bar from the tray in front of him, lathers it in a sponge, and rubs it against his body. He pauses as he notices a figure appearing in the foggy atmosphere of the bathroom. The figure emerges and reveals to be the rabbit, who is back to her normal outfit of a pink top and miniskirt. Zach gasps and jumps a little. “M-Melissa?! W-why are you here?! What do you want?!”\n“Relax,” Melissa says. “I just came here to apologize for earlier. I didn’t mean to be mean and rude to you, but I thought you were with those Team Rescue-jerks. We just got off at the wrong foot.”\nZach sighs, then looks back to the shower wall with the nozzle. “It’s okay… It’s not your fault… Everybody back in Heroto thinks that... Well, I’m not with them anymore… And you know what, I’m kind of glad I’m not…”\n“Are you feeling all right?”\n“Somewhat… I don’t know what to feel after everything that has happened. Then again, I don’t need them.”\nMelissa steps forward. “Well, you shouldn’t think about it too much.” She stops. Looking down, she takes notice of his blue bandana. The rabbit leans down and picks it up. “What a nice bandana. Did Team Rescuers give this to you?”\n“No… A patron of the orphanage gave it to me when I was four. Said I was special like the superheroes. How true that was… Special enough to be ignored…”\nMelissa places his bandana on the sink. “That’s something we have in common.” Zach turns to her quickly. “When I was a little girl, my mother died from a terrible illness. My father was deeply upset. I tried to be closer with him afterwards, but he said I reminded him of her and he ignored me because of it. He’s used that excuse for everything, even when he’s working in his office. We don’t really talk much. I’ve tried to get his attention and even talk with him, but it never worked out. I stopped trying afterwards.” She holds out a picture of an older rabbit, dressed in a full red gown with dark hair and glasses. “Now, when I look at a picture of my mother, I always think of the whole thing.”\nZach takes a look at the photo in her paws. “I can see what your dad means. You do look very pretty like your mother.”\nMelissa turns away, smiling and hiding her blush as she puts the picture away. “Thanks...” She faces back to him once her blush has vanished. “Do you need assistance there?”\n“Uh… I’m good…”\n“No.” Melissa takes the sponge from him. “You should let me wash you.” \n“I’m sure I can shower by myself…”\n“Not with those injuries, you’re not. You need someone to help you, and I’m here for that.”\n“What are you, my nurse?”\n“Just shut up and let me scrub you.”\nZach sighs. “Fine… Just be gentle, okay?”\n“I promise I will.” Melissa steps toward him and applies the sponge gently to his body. She scrubs up and down, in circles, and sideways, all carefully. \nZach stays still as she moves the sponge all around his body, but first starts with the head. Softly, the rabbit wipes against his wounds. She takes her paws, lathers them in soap, and touches him all over. She can’t help but stare and feel joyous, yet attempts to hold back any urges. Zach lets out a slight sigh. “Have you ever washed a fox before?”\n“You are the first one,” Melissa points out, massaging his torso and shoulders in soapy water repeatedly as she looks directly into his eyes. “You have a really fluffy body.”\nZach’s cheeks turn bright pink, staring back at her. “T-thanks… I guess… Um, I think my chest is cleaned now…”\n“Hm? Oh!” Melissa shakes her head as if coming out of a trance. “My bad…” She works down his lower body. \n“Melissa?!” shouts a male voice. Melissa halts, stands, and turns to the source quickly with a gasp, knocking the fox back into the shower handle and also causing him to stumble onto the floor. He yells in agony. Roger is standing in the doorway of the bathroom. “What are you doing?!”\n“I… I was just coming in to help Zach. I swear!” Zach groans in pain as he remains sitting on the shower floor. Melissa turns to him. “I am so sorry! I didn’t mean to! Here!” She helps the fox to his feet and walks him out with her arm around him. “I’ve got you.” Roger backs out so she can help him onto the bed outside. Melissa’s paws cover her mouth. “You okay? I didn’t mean to do that!”\n“It’s fine!” Zach clenches his eyes as he grudges his torso. “Accidents happen… Can you get me my bandana and a towel?”\n“Sure…” The rabbit goes back in, takes Zach’s blue bandana from the counter, and then grabs a towel from the rack. She returns with them and helps Zach dry off with the towel. \n“Well, I guess I’ll leave you two be now that my work here is done.” Roger leaves the room. \nMelissa ceases drying him. “You okay?”\n“Yeah, yeah,” Zach responds. “I’m okay…” Melissa hands him his blue bandana. “Thanks…” He puts it on around his neck. \n“Do you need anything else?” the rabbit asks.\n“No… I think I’m going to just lie down and rest…” \n“Let me help you.” Melissa helps him up for a few seconds to pull the covers back. She then sets him down and lies him back against the mattress. Lastly, she takes the blanket and brings it up to his chest. “There. Comfy?”\n“I guess… Thanks, Melissa…”\n“Again, I am so sorry… I didn’t expect him to walk in like that…”\n“Were you hoping to wash me longer and get to feel my body more?” he teases. Melissa’s speechless as her cheeks redden. Zach chuckles. “I’m only teasing you. Thank you for your help.”\n“Um… don’t mention it… ever…” She rolls her eyes with her cheeks still blushing. “I should head to bed… Have a goodnight, Zach…”\n“Yeah, you too… You know what? You’re a really nice girl, Melissa. A very friendly rabbit. And, I have to say, you are cute and pretty like your mother.”\nMelissa keeps her head turned from him. “Stop! You’re making me blush!”\nZach chuckles a little. “Sorry. I won’t hold you up any longer. Goodnight, Melissa.” \nMelissa walks out of the room and closes the door as Zach lies back against the pillow and closes his eyes. She puts her paws on her face while still blushing. “I can’t believe that just happened… He’s really cute… and that body… Oh…” Melissa walks down the halls, but finds it difficult due to her legs trembling. “Ugh, why are my legs like jelly? Why am I shaking?” She looks at her reflection. “Why am I still red?” She holds her head next. “And the fox is all over my mind… Oh god… I can’t stop thinking about him…” She sighs. “I hope sleep will help me…” She enters through the door to her room, just opposite of the mirror she looked in beside Zach’s room. \n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"The large, wooden double doors part inwards, opening to allow the next enterers. Zach follows Jack closely as they are accompanied by Capital Corp, walking inside. Entering into the foyer, Zach takes a look around. The foyer which they are in houses a grand staircase leading up to a balcony with several doors to indicate rooms. To the right, a massive den with a sofa and loveseats around a fireplace. To the fox’s left, a wide dining hall with a long wooden ornate table and chairs lined along it. Zach’s jaw drops in amazement as his eyes pick up the stylish décor.
“Fancy the mansion?” asks Jack. “Quite interesting, am I right?”
“Dad?!” echoes a voice, female in tone. “Dad, is that you?!”
“Yes, Melissa!” shouts Jack. A grey rabbit appears at the top of the grand staircase. As she descends, Zach examines her. Black hair flows on all sides of her head except in her face. Her mouth, belly, and paws are white, much like the fox’s design. The only apparel she has on are a pink top around her chest and a matching color miniskirt. Jack turns to the fox. “Oh, this is my daughter, Melissa.”
Zach raises one paw to wave. “Hi… I’m Zach.”
Melissa stares at the fox. “Oh, I know you. You’re the flawed fox. The one who hangs around those Team Rescue-jerks.” Zach’s ears start to droop and he frowns. Melissa puts her paws on her hips. “Where are your little “friends”? Huh?”
“Melissa, hush now,” orders Jack.
Melissa faces her father. “Why is he here? Are his “friends” around, too?”
“Just get ready and head to the dining room for dinner. I will be there.” The rabbit, without further words, continues looking at Zach before heading off and up the stairs. The jackalope turns to Zach. “Forgive me, Zach. Melissa can be a bit of a nuisance mostly.”
“Nuisance? In what way?”
“She can be disruptive, annoying, and she doesn’t stop pestering me. Melissa mostly hangs out in her room.”
Zach keeps a flat-mouthed expression towards the jackalope. “Do you ever give her any attention whatsoever?”
“Dinner will be served soon. Come, we must sit.” Jack leads everyone into the dining room.
***
The animals sit around a large, rectangular table with plates of food in front of them. Capital Corp is split into duos and sit opposite of each other. Jack is at the end of the table, eating his meal while eyeing the fox. Zach looks down at his food and picks it up with a fork, but stops and looks across at the rabbit, who gazes at him while in a pink dress and crossing her arms with clenched eyes.
Charlie turns to her. “Um, are you all right, Melissa?”
“Yeah,” Melissa says without facing him. “I’m fine.”
“Isn’t this wonderful?” asks Anne. “We have a guest at dinner with us.” Everyone remains silent. Her teammates stare at her, forcing her to keep quiet and just focus on her food. Melissa keeps her eyes on the fox in front of her as she makes a smug.
Roger turns to the fox. “Hey Zach, I am a little curious about your relationship with Team Rescuers. Would you mind telling me about them?”
“Roger,” Jack says. “Please. Our guest doesn’t have to talk about his story if he wants to.”
“No,” Zach utters. “It’s fine. Let me just start from the beginning.” He places his fork down. “I met Team Rescuers in the park. I wanted to be a hero so bad because I was into Captain Red Mask.” Roger asks what he means by that. “I would always watch that superhero show in the orphanage. Anyway, I met Team Rescuers when I was ten, and we became instant friends, or so I thought. After a couple of years, I kept constantly eavesdropping on them because they had been talking about me.”
“About how you always messed up and would bother them constantly?” asks Bella. Jack gives her a mean stare. “What? We were there every time he did!”
“Yeah,” Zach continues. “I was scared they would ban me from the group. That nightmare came true on my thirteenth birthday when they said they wanted nothing to do with me anymore. After that day, I tried to convince them that I wasn’t truly a flawed fox, even trying to prove I was superhero material. Over the years, I tried everything. Then, my eighteenth birthday came, and I would be thrown out of the orphanage. I ran up to Team Rescuers and begged them for help. They didn’t want to, though. They pushed me away and then left.”
“Harsh, Dude,” Charlie comments. “I can’t believe they would do that.”
“So, is that when after they pushed you away, you ran away and came to us?” asks Roger.
Zach rubs the back of his head. “Not exactly… I was crossing the road to leave the area when I was struck by a car and taken to the hospital. I was visited by one of the orphanage patrons, given a letter of eviction. I spent a while in the hospital, thinking things over before being released… After a couple of days walking around, I felt I had enough of everyone abusing me and labeling me a “flawed fox”. So, I set out away from that place. That’s when I spent a few days in the woods. I didn’t really sleep a lot.”
Charlie turns to him. “Troubled by your thoughts?”
“Y-yea… It’s hard to sleep when every abusive memory comes to haunt you… I’ve been ignored, pushed away, bullied, beaten, and rejected. All because everyone thought I was a flawed fox…”
“Oh, come on,” Bella utters. “Just for messing up a lot? Everyone makes mistakes. We’re all not perfect.” Melissa’s smug slowly disappears as her face becomes slightly more relaxed.
“It goes deeper than that,” Zach assures her. “I was given up for adoption after I was born because I’m the product of an inappropriate student relationship. My father and mother are infamous because of their relationship, which resulted in me… You all heard about the David/Delilah case, right? The one where they had me when they were minors?” Capital Corp nods. “Well, after I was born and put into the orphanage, everyone assumed I was just like them.”
“You’re not,” Jack says. “Not every child is like their parents. You didn’t get adopted because of that?” Zach shakes his head to confirm. “Did you at least make friends in the orphanage despite the mistaken reputation?”
“No… I was diagnosed with a mental disorder. I was separated from the other kids and put into special classes. Because they saw me as different, no one wanted to be my friend.”
Anne’s eyes widen. “Good God… No wonder you left and came here. You’re whole life’s a mess. What do you plan to do now that you’re here?”
“I don’t know… I mean, I really didn’t have any plans about what I would do after coming here… I guess start a new life. I don’t know if becoming a hero is still even an option…”
“I’m sure it’ll come to you,” Jack starts. “You’ve got plenty of time to think about it. You’re young, after all.”
Zach turns to Jack. “What do you do?”
“I’m the CEO of Green Gadgets, a robotics and technology company in Buscity. I’ve been putting my mind to designing robots for children. It takes a lot of engineering and education to do that, though.”
Zach looks down at his food. “I figured…”
"It’ll come to you. Maybe not now, but it will in time. In the meantime, I will provide you with a room so you’re not sleeping on the couch.”
Zach lifts his fork. “Thank you, Jack the Jackalope… You’re very kind and generous…”
“Indeed I am.” Jack smiles as he takes a bite out of his food. Zach goes back to eating while Melissa watches him. Her expression is different than before; having a frown still occupying her face, but in a relaxed and sorrowful expression.
***
On the balcony, Bella opens the door in front of her and Zach. The fox steps inside the fairly big room with a queen-sized bed and a dresser in front of it. Two end tables are placed on both sides by the pillows and on the other side of one is another door. Bella remains standing in the doorway. “Here’s where you’ll be staying. If you have any question, you’ll let the boss know.”
Zach turns to her. “Thank you, Bella. You and Capital Corp are very kind.”
“Don’t mention it, Kid. Just try and get some sleep. Your body needs to heal.”
“I’ll try.” Bella backs out and closes the door, leaving him to be alone.
Zach turns to the other door. He walks over and goes through it, entering the bathroom. Closest to him is a sink on a counter and a mirror over it. Next to it is the toilet and further down next to that, a shower enclosed by glass walls. “Maybe I should clean up before getting to bed…” He strips, taking off his bandana and all of the bandages to reveal his scratches, before stepping under the nozzle. The fox turns the handle and a rush of water hits him in the head. The clear liquid streams down his body, passing through all of his cuts and injuries. “Ugh!” He clenches his paws and grunts as pain throbs from his wounds. It takes a little bit for him to get used to it and the temperature. Steam generates as the heavy rain flows onto him. Zach takes the soap bar from the tray in front of him, lathers it in a sponge, and rubs it against his body. He pauses as he notices a figure appearing in the foggy atmosphere of the bathroom. The figure emerges and reveals to be the rabbit, who is back to her normal outfit of a pink top and miniskirt. Zach gasps and jumps a little. “M-Melissa?! W-why are you here?! What do you want?!”
“Relax,” Melissa says. “I just came here to apologize for earlier. I didn’t mean to be mean and rude to you, but I thought you were with those Team Rescue-jerks. We just got off at the wrong foot.”
Zach sighs, then looks back to the shower wall with the nozzle. “It’s okay… It’s not your fault… Everybody back in Heroto thinks that... Well, I’m not with them anymore… And you know what, I’m kind of glad I’m not…”
“Are you feeling all right?”
“Somewhat… I don’t know what to feel after everything that has happened. Then again, I don’t need them.”
Melissa steps forward. “Well, you shouldn’t think about it too much.” She stops. Looking down, she takes notice of his blue bandana. The rabbit leans down and picks it up. “What a nice bandana. Did Team Rescuers give this to you?”
“No… A patron of the orphanage gave it to me when I was four. Said I was special like the superheroes. How true that was… Special enough to be ignored…”
Melissa places his bandana on the sink. “That’s something we have in common.” Zach turns to her quickly. “When I was a little girl, my mother died from a terrible illness. My father was deeply upset. I tried to be closer with him afterwards, but he said I reminded him of her and he ignored me because of it. He’s used that excuse for everything, even when he’s working in his office. We don’t really talk much. I’ve tried to get his attention and even talk with him, but it never worked out. I stopped trying afterwards.” She holds out a picture of an older rabbit, dressed in a full red gown with dark hair and glasses. “Now, when I look at a picture of my mother, I always think of the whole thing.”
Zach takes a look at the photo in her paws. “I can see what your dad means. You do look very pretty like your mother.”
Melissa turns away, smiling and hiding her blush as she puts the picture away. “Thanks...” She faces back to him once her blush has vanished. “Do you need assistance there?”
“Uh… I’m good…”
“No.” Melissa takes the sponge from him. “You should let me wash you.”
“I’m sure I can shower by myself…”
“Not with those injuries, you’re not. You need someone to help you, and I’m here for that.”
“What are you, my nurse?”
“Just shut up and let me scrub you.”
Zach sighs. “Fine… Just be gentle, okay?”
“I promise I will.” Melissa steps toward him and applies the sponge gently to his body. She scrubs up and down, in circles, and sideways, all carefully.
Zach stays still as she moves the sponge all around his body, but first starts with the head. Softly, the rabbit wipes against his wounds. She takes her paws, lathers them in soap, and touches him all over. She can’t help but stare and feel joyous, yet attempts to hold back any urges. Zach lets out a slight sigh. “Have you ever washed a fox before?”
“You are the first one,” Melissa points out, massaging his torso and shoulders in soapy water repeatedly as she looks directly into his eyes. “You have a really fluffy body.”
Zach’s cheeks turn bright pink, staring back at her. “T-thanks… I guess… Um, I think my chest is cleaned now…”
“Hm? Oh!” Melissa shakes her head as if coming out of a trance. “My bad…” She works down his lower body.
“Melissa?!” shouts a male voice. Melissa halts, stands, and turns to the source quickly with a gasp, knocking the fox back into the shower handle and also causing him to stumble onto the floor. He yells in agony. Roger is standing in the doorway of the bathroom. “What are you doing?!”
“I… I was just coming in to help Zach. I swear!” Zach groans in pain as he remains sitting on the shower floor. Melissa turns to him. “I am so sorry! I didn’t mean to! Here!” She helps the fox to his feet and walks him out with her arm around him. “I’ve got you.” Roger backs out so she can help him onto the bed outside. Melissa’s paws cover her mouth. “You okay? I didn’t mean to do that!”
“It’s fine!” Zach clenches his eyes as he grudges his torso. “Accidents happen… Can you get me my bandana and a towel?”
“Sure…” The rabbit goes back in, takes Zach’s blue bandana from the counter, and then grabs a towel from the rack. She returns with them and helps Zach dry off with the towel.
“Well, I guess I’ll leave you two be now that my work here is done.” Roger leaves the room.
Melissa ceases drying him. “You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Zach responds. “I’m okay…” Melissa hands him his blue bandana. “Thanks…” He puts it on around his neck.
“Do you need anything else?” the rabbit asks.
“No… I think I’m going to just lie down and rest…”
“Let me help you.” Melissa helps him up for a few seconds to pull the covers back. She then sets him down and lies him back against the mattress. Lastly, she takes the blanket and brings it up to his chest. “There. Comfy?”
“I guess… Thanks, Melissa…”
“Again, I am so sorry… I didn’t expect him to walk in like that…”
“Were you hoping to wash me longer and get to feel my body more?” he teases. Melissa’s speechless as her cheeks redden. Zach chuckles. “I’m only teasing you. Thank you for your help.”
“Um… don’t mention it… ever…” She rolls her eyes with her cheeks still blushing. “I should head to bed… Have a goodnight, Zach…”
“Yeah, you too… You know what? You’re a really nice girl, Melissa. A very friendly rabbit. And, I have to say, you are cute and pretty like your mother.”
Melissa keeps her head turned from him. “Stop! You’re making me blush!”
Zach chuckles a little. “Sorry. I won’t hold you up any longer. Goodnight, Melissa.”
Melissa walks out of the room and closes the door as Zach lies back against the pillow and closes his eyes. She puts her paws on her face while still blushing. “I can’t believe that just happened… He’s really cute… and that body… Oh…” Melissa walks down the halls, but finds it difficult due to her legs trembling. “Ugh, why are my legs like jelly? Why am I shaking?” She looks at her reflection. “Why am I still red?” She holds her head next. “And the fox is all over my mind… Oh god… I can’t stop thinking about him…” She sighs. “I hope sleep will help me…” She enters through the door to her room, just opposite of the mirror she looked in beside Zach’s room.
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