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Since we're moving bonus stories to two months of timed exclusivity, this one's ready for the release window. So here you go.\n\nMind the content warning. No sex, just some plot and backstory that will become relevant Soon™.\n\nIf you'd like to support our continued writing and get the next mainline story early (along with other perks), consider supporting us on subscribestar! https://subscribestar.adult/squirrelfox", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Heyo, watcherland. Since we're moving bonus stories to two months of timed exclusivity, this one's ready for the release window. So here you go.

Mind the content warning. No sex, just some plot and backstory that will become relevant Soon™.

If you'd like to support our continued writing and get the next mainline story early (along with other perks), consider supporting us on subscribestar! https://subscribestar.adult/squirrelfox", "writing": "[center]Shattered[/center]\n\nCONTENT WARNING: Yeah, another one of these where it isn’t “obligatory.” It might not necessarily be required but we figured we’d err on the side of caution. This one is emotionally heavy and includes themes of INTERNALIZED RELIGIOUS HOMOPHOBIA as well as the emotional scarring from sexual abuse. For some readers this may be a lot, so prepare yourself appropriately if these things might be triggering for you, or even give this one a skip.\n\n\n\nIsaac sighed as he packed up his bag for the trip out to Boston. He’d found out two weeks ago that his dad’s company was moving him out there, and this week the whole family was flying out to look for houses. Part of him was excited: new town, new place, new experiences to be had, and of course getting away from the creepy choir teacher. But part of him felt guilty, too. He hadn’t told his best friend and neighbor Teddy about it.\n\nHe finished packing his bag and laid back in his bed. Tomorrow they’d be heading out early, earlier than Teddy usually got up. They’d be out in Boston for a week looking for houses. Dad’s job offered him a company apartment until they could find something more permanent, but he was eager to get a house, and he wanted the family to be part of that process. Maybe if he was lucky, they’d just stay out there so he wouldn’t have to say goodbye for good to Teddy.\n\nThe fennec had been acting different ever since their last private lesson. He wanted to play games that gave them excuses to take off their clothes. On days where both his parents were out, he’d invite Isaac over, and again try to get naked with him. It was weird and made Isaac uncomfortable, but he didn’t want to say “no” to his only real friend. Sure, he had a few friends from his grade at school, but they never wanted to hang out after school or anything, so summers were quiet except for Teddy.\n\nA knock on his door tore the kitten away from his musings. His mother opened the door and peeked her head in. “Isaac, are you all packed for our flight tomorrow?”\n\n“Yes, mom,” Isaac said. He pointed to his suitcase over in the corner.\n\nThe female cat went over and took a peek inside. “Shirts, pants, underwear… alright, I think you’re good. We’ll pack your toothbrush in the morning after you brush your teeth.” She looked back at him, then sat down at the foot of his bed and rubbed his leg. “You doing okay, sweetie?”\n\nIsaac shrugged. “I guess.”\n\nShe smiled sadly at him. “You’re going to miss your friend, aren’t you?”\n\nHe nodded. Even though Teddy was acting weird lately, he was still a nice boy. “Yeah.”\n\n“I’m sorry, sweetie. But don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll make lots of new friends in Massachusetts.”\n\n“How far away is Massachusetts?” Isaac asked.\n\n“Oh, it’s pretty far,” she said. “It’d take over a day to drive out there. That’s why we’re flying.”\n\nThat made sense. They flew when they went to Florida to go to Disney World, too. “Will I ever get to see Teddy again?”\n\n“I don’t know, sweetie,” his mother said. “Maybe. But you’ll always have your memories.”\n\n“Always?” Isaac asked.\n\n“Always,” his mom said.\n\nGreat. He wouldn’t be able to forget the choir director either, even though he really wanted to forget about those photos. “Since we’re moving, can I stop doing choir?”\n\n“Oh, but you love choir!” his mother said.\n\n“Well, yeah, but we’re gonna be gone soon,” Isaac said.\n\nHis mother sighed and patted his leg. “I suppose you have a point. We can stop the private lessons. But promise me you’ll keep singing when we move? You have such a beautiful voice.”\n\nIsaac shrugged. “I guess I can.”\n\n“That’s my boy.” His mother got up and gave him a quick kiss on his forehead. “Rest up, now. We need to get up early to get to Columbus. I love you.”\n\n“Love you too, mom,” he said.\n\nThe next morning, Isaac’s mother got him up extra early. His dad was rushing about, getting all the suitcases packed into the car. His mother made breakfast, and then they were off. As Isaac had feared (hoped?), Teddy hadn’t gotten up yet when they left. He stared out the window at his house until it was out of sight, then settled in to watch the scenery fly by on the drive to the airport.\n\nHe tuned out through going through the airport and getting on the flight to Boston. It all felt so unreal. His family was really moving.\n\nThe whole next week was a blur. They got in, checked in at the apartment that Dad’s company was providing until they finalized a deal on a house, and Dad immediately took them out into the city. It was so much busier than their old hometown. But Dad was craving city living again, so they were going to try it out.\n\nAt his mother’s insistence, in addition to looking at condos in the city, they looked at houses out in the suburbs of Boston. One house really caught her eye, in the suburb of Oakfield. There was a planned Green Line extension out there, which Dad liked since it meant having city amenities close by. Mom liked it because it still had the small town feel they got out in Ohio. Isaac was ambivalent. It was a nice house, sure, but it was also far away from his friend. But there didn’t seem to be a lot of other cubs in the neighborhood, either.\n\nBetween house hunting trips, they went all over the city. Restaurants, museums, the aquarium… honestly it was pretty nice. And it was Isaac’s first time in memory of getting to see the ocean. They always stayed close to Disney when they went to Florida so he’d never gotten to see the ocean. His parents promised him a beach trip once they were settled out in Massachusetts, which was nice. He had something new and positive to look forward to.\n\nMuch to Isaac’s surprise, his dad stayed behind when the week ended. He was eager to start his new job, and he wanted to be close by to seal the deal on their new house (they settled on the house in Oakfield). Plus, the apartment was very close in to the city, and Dad wanted to soak in the city life for as long as he could before moving to the suburbs.\n\nIt was with a heavy heart that Isaac boarded the plane with his mother to fly back to Ohio. He’d probably have to face Teddy again, and have to explain why he wasn’t there. He wasn’t looking forward to that in the slightest.\n\nFlying was the best part of the trip. Isaac liked being up in the air, seeing nothing but sky and clouds and occasionally a bit of the world beneath him. Dread started to fill him as the plane sank lower towards Ohio, though. He’d have to break his best friend’s heart.\n\nIt was early evening when he and Mom got home. They had already started packing the week before, so half of their stuff was already in boxes. Isaac was thankful that Teddy only ever wanted to play outside or at his house. It meant he didn’t have to explain the move yet.\n\nAlmost as soon as he settled in to watch TV, though, there was a knock on the front door. Isaac decided to answer it.\n\nTeddy was standing there, the fennec’s eyes wide. “Isaac! Where’ve you been?” he asked.\n\n“Oh, uh…” Isaac had to tell him the truth now. “My family… went out to Massachusetts last week.”\n\n“Oh. Why didn’t you tell me?” Teddy asked. “I was worried about you.”\n\nIsaac bit his lip. “It’s because… we’re moving.”\n\nThe fennec blinked. “Moving?”\n\n“Yeah,” Isaac said. “Dad’s job is moving him out there so we’re gonna be moving soon… probably in the next couple weeks…”\n\n“Oh…” Teddy’s ears and tail drooped. The boy looked utterly heartbroken. “So you’re leaving…”\n\n“It’s not my choice,” Isaac said. “I really like you, and-“\n\nBefore he could finish his sentence, Teddy leaned in and kissed him, right on the lips. Isaac stared blankly at him. Had that really just happened? He took a step back.\n\n“Isaac… I…” Teddy said. He seemed to be struggling with words. “I love you,” Teddy said.\n\nThat was… was that why Teddy wanted to see him naked all the time now? It seemed like a weird way to express that. But love? Did Isaac love him, too?\n\nNo. He didn’t. He couldn’t. Teddy was a BOY. Boys don’t love other boys. The pastor said that all the time, and that they’d go to hell if they were like that. Isaac didn’t want to go to hell.\n\n“But… i-isn’t that… bad?” Isaac asked. Surely Teddy knew it too.\n\n“I don’t care,” Teddy said. “Think about Mr. Andersen. He told me he loved me last week, too, and he works for the church! So it can’t be that bad, right?”\n\nMr. Andersen. That was the last fur Isaac wanted to think about. And to love a boy was wrong. Isaac wasn’t about to let his best friend drag him to eternal damnation.\n\n“I… Teddy… I…” Isaac stammered.\n\nThe fennec’s eyes brightened. He looked… hopeful.\n\n“I don’t think we can be friends anymore,” Isaac muttered. Before the fennec had a chance to respond, he closed the door. Slammed it shut, really. It was the hardest thing Isaac had ever done, but it was better than watching his friend cry.\n\nHis mother came out of the kitchen, where she had been starting to pack away dishes. “Isaac, is everything alright?” she asked.\n\nIsaac didn’t respond. He just walked up to his room, curled up in his bed, and cried. He had lost his only friend. He spent the rest of the night in his room.\n\nThe next day was weird. Isaac worked diligently helping his mom pack up everything that wasn’t absolutely necessary. She had arranged for a moving van to come the following Friday to pick everything up, so they had a deadline. There was a lot to pack without Dad, but Mom was sure they could manage.\n\nTeddy didn’t stop by that day, or the next, or the next. They didn’t even look at each other at church on Sunday, and Isaac refused to sing with the choir. His mother didn’t push the issue at church, though when they got home she questioned him.\n\n“Did something happen between you and your friend next door?” she asked when they got in the house.\n\nHis friend next door. Not even his name, his friend next door. “I told him we’re moving.”\n\nShe nodded. “I take it that he didn’t take it well?”\n\nIsaac shook his head. “Nope. I guess we aren’t friends anymore…”\n\n“Oh, sweetie…” His mother hugged him. “I’m sorry. But you’ll make lots of new friends out in Massachusetts. I’m sure of it.”\n\nAt least one of them was. Isaac wasn’t so sure. It was hard making friends. But she’d just have to trust her. Not like there was any other choice. They were moving whether he wanted to or not, and now he’d destroyed his one friendship here in Ohio. Nothing was left linking him to this place. Now he just needed to get out.\n* * *", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
Shattered


CONTENT WARNING: Yeah, another one of these where it isn’t “obligatory.” It might not necessarily be required but we figured we’d err on the side of caution. This one is emotionally heavy and includes themes of INTERNALIZED RELIGIOUS HOMOPHOBIA as well as the emotional scarring from sexual abuse. For some readers this may be a lot, so prepare yourself appropriately if these things might be triggering for you, or even give this one a skip.



Isaac sighed as he packed up his bag for the trip out to Boston. He’d found out two weeks ago that his dad’s company was moving him out there, and this week the whole family was flying out to look for houses. Part of him was excited: new town, new place, new experiences to be had, and of course getting away from the creepy choir teacher. But part of him felt guilty, too. He hadn’t told his best friend and neighbor Teddy about it.

He finished packing his bag and laid back in his bed. Tomorrow they’d be heading out early, earlier than Teddy usually got up. They’d be out in Boston for a week looking for houses. Dad’s job offered him a company apartment until they could find something more permanent, but he was eager to get a house, and he wanted the family to be part of that process. Maybe if he was lucky, they’d just stay out there so he wouldn’t have to say goodbye for good to Teddy.

The fennec had been acting different ever since their last private lesson. He wanted to play games that gave them excuses to take off their clothes. On days where both his parents were out, he’d invite Isaac over, and again try to get naked with him. It was weird and made Isaac uncomfortable, but he didn’t want to say “no” to his only real friend. Sure, he had a few friends from his grade at school, but they never wanted to hang out after school or anything, so summers were quiet except for Teddy.

A knock on his door tore the kitten away from his musings. His mother opened the door and peeked her head in. “Isaac, are you all packed for our flight tomorrow?”

“Yes, mom,” Isaac said. He pointed to his suitcase over in the corner.

The female cat went over and took a peek inside. “Shirts, pants, underwear… alright, I think you’re good. We’ll pack your toothbrush in the morning after you brush your teeth.” She looked back at him, then sat down at the foot of his bed and rubbed his leg. “You doing okay, sweetie?”

Isaac shrugged. “I guess.”

She smiled sadly at him. “You’re going to miss your friend, aren’t you?”

He nodded. Even though Teddy was acting weird lately, he was still a nice boy. “Yeah.”

“I’m sorry, sweetie. But don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll make lots of new friends in Massachusetts.”

“How far away is Massachusetts?” Isaac asked.

“Oh, it’s pretty far,” she said. “It’d take over a day to drive out there. That’s why we’re flying.”

That made sense. They flew when they went to Florida to go to Disney World, too. “Will I ever get to see Teddy again?”

“I don’t know, sweetie,” his mother said. “Maybe. But you’ll always have your memories.”

“Always?” Isaac asked.

“Always,” his mom said.

Great. He wouldn’t be able to forget the choir director either, even though he really wanted to forget about those photos. “Since we’re moving, can I stop doing choir?”

“Oh, but you love choir!” his mother said.

“Well, yeah, but we’re gonna be gone soon,” Isaac said.

His mother sighed and patted his leg. “I suppose you have a point. We can stop the private lessons. But promise me you’ll keep singing when we move? You have such a beautiful voice.”

Isaac shrugged. “I guess I can.”

“That’s my boy.” His mother got up and gave him a quick kiss on his forehead. “Rest up, now. We need to get up early to get to Columbus. I love you.”

“Love you too, mom,” he said.

The next morning, Isaac’s mother got him up extra early. His dad was rushing about, getting all the suitcases packed into the car. His mother made breakfast, and then they were off. As Isaac had feared (hoped?), Teddy hadn’t gotten up yet when they left. He stared out the window at his house until it was out of sight, then settled in to watch the scenery fly by on the drive to the airport.

He tuned out through going through the airport and getting on the flight to Boston. It all felt so unreal. His family was really moving.

The whole next week was a blur. They got in, checked in at the apartment that Dad’s company was providing until they finalized a deal on a house, and Dad immediately took them out into the city. It was so much busier than their old hometown. But Dad was craving city living again, so they were going to try it out.

At his mother’s insistence, in addition to looking at condos in the city, they looked at houses out in the suburbs of Boston. One house really caught her eye, in the suburb of Oakfield. There was a planned Green Line extension out there, which Dad liked since it meant having city amenities close by. Mom liked it because it still had the small town feel they got out in Ohio. Isaac was ambivalent. It was a nice house, sure, but it was also far away from his friend. But there didn’t seem to be a lot of other cubs in the neighborhood, either.

Between house hunting trips, they went all over the city. Restaurants, museums, the aquarium… honestly it was pretty nice. And it was Isaac’s first time in memory of getting to see the ocean. They always stayed close to Disney when they went to Florida so he’d never gotten to see the ocean. His parents promised him a beach trip once they were settled out in Massachusetts, which was nice. He had something new and positive to look forward to.

Much to Isaac’s surprise, his dad stayed behind when the week ended. He was eager to start his new job, and he wanted to be close by to seal the deal on their new house (they settled on the house in Oakfield). Plus, the apartment was very close in to the city, and Dad wanted to soak in the city life for as long as he could before moving to the suburbs.

It was with a heavy heart that Isaac boarded the plane with his mother to fly back to Ohio. He’d probably have to face Teddy again, and have to explain why he wasn’t there. He wasn’t looking forward to that in the slightest.

Flying was the best part of the trip. Isaac liked being up in the air, seeing nothing but sky and clouds and occasionally a bit of the world beneath him. Dread started to fill him as the plane sank lower towards Ohio, though. He’d have to break his best friend’s heart.

It was early evening when he and Mom got home. They had already started packing the week before, so half of their stuff was already in boxes. Isaac was thankful that Teddy only ever wanted to play outside or at his house. It meant he didn’t have to explain the move yet.

Almost as soon as he settled in to watch TV, though, there was a knock on the front door. Isaac decided to answer it.

Teddy was standing there, the fennec’s eyes wide. “Isaac! Where’ve you been?” he asked.

“Oh, uh…” Isaac had to tell him the truth now. “My family… went out to Massachusetts last week.”

“Oh. Why didn’t you tell me?” Teddy asked. “I was worried about you.”

Isaac bit his lip. “It’s because… we’re moving.”

The fennec blinked. “Moving?”

“Yeah,” Isaac said. “Dad’s job is moving him out there so we’re gonna be moving soon… probably in the next couple weeks…”

“Oh…” Teddy’s ears and tail drooped. The boy looked utterly heartbroken. “So you’re leaving…”

“It’s not my choice,” Isaac said. “I really like you, and-“

Before he could finish his sentence, Teddy leaned in and kissed him, right on the lips. Isaac stared blankly at him. Had that really just happened? He took a step back.

“Isaac… I…” Teddy said. He seemed to be struggling with words. “I love you,” Teddy said.

That was… was that why Teddy wanted to see him naked all the time now? It seemed like a weird way to express that. But love? Did Isaac love him, too?

No. He didn’t. He couldn’t. Teddy was a BOY. Boys don’t love other boys. The pastor said that all the time, and that they’d go to hell if they were like that. Isaac didn’t want to go to hell.

“But… i-isn’t that… bad?” Isaac asked. Surely Teddy knew it too.

“I don’t care,” Teddy said. “Think about Mr. Andersen. He told me he loved me last week, too, and he works for the church! So it can’t be that bad, right?”

Mr. Andersen. That was the last fur Isaac wanted to think about. And to love a boy was wrong. Isaac wasn’t about to let his best friend drag him to eternal damnation.

“I… Teddy… I…” Isaac stammered.

The fennec’s eyes brightened. He looked… hopeful.

“I don’t think we can be friends anymore,” Isaac muttered. Before the fennec had a chance to respond, he closed the door. Slammed it shut, really. It was the hardest thing Isaac had ever done, but it was better than watching his friend cry.

His mother came out of the kitchen, where she had been starting to pack away dishes. “Isaac, is everything alright?” she asked.

Isaac didn’t respond. He just walked up to his room, curled up in his bed, and cried. He had lost his only friend. He spent the rest of the night in his room.

The next day was weird. Isaac worked diligently helping his mom pack up everything that wasn’t absolutely necessary. She had arranged for a moving van to come the following Friday to pick everything up, so they had a deadline. There was a lot to pack without Dad, but Mom was sure they could manage.

Teddy didn’t stop by that day, or the next, or the next. They didn’t even look at each other at church on Sunday, and Isaac refused to sing with the choir. His mother didn’t push the issue at church, though when they got home she questioned him.

“Did something happen between you and your friend next door?” she asked when they got in the house.

His friend next door. Not even his name, his friend next door. “I told him we’re moving.”

She nodded. “I take it that he didn’t take it well?”

Isaac shook his head. “Nope. I guess we aren’t friends anymore…”

“Oh, sweetie…” His mother hugged him. “I’m sorry. But you’ll make lots of new friends out in Massachusetts. I’m sure of it.”

At least one of them was. Isaac wasn’t so sure. It was hard making friends. But she’d just have to trust her. Not like there was any other choice. They were moving whether he wanted to or not, and now he’d destroyed his one friendship here in Ohio. Nothing was left linking him to this place. Now he just needed to get out.
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