Nox glanced down the narrow alley ahead, adjusting his scarf. “

Alright, time to get out of here.“

He made his way back through the mine, stopping at what seemed like a dead end before knocking on the wall blocking his exit.

Nox clears his throat.

“hem, ahem! Knock knock—Fox Scout Cookies for sale! Now open up before I freeze to death out here!”

A chuckle echoed from the other side of the boulder. A few seconds later, it shifted, rising just enough for Nox to slip back through the gap.

Nox dusted himself off as he emerged from The small crack.

“Thanks Mr Horn!”

Chet’s deep chuckle rumbled beside him.

"Took your sweet time. Everything go smooth?"

Nox noded

"Smooth as butter. I set up a scavenging run at a junkyard nearby. You in?"

Chet huffed, arms crossed.

"Mhm as long as you’re still good for the ride later, okay?"

Nox blinked.

"Later?"

Chet raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Don’t play dumb, Nox. The CoreCoaster. You’re coming. Zee will actually kill you if you flake."

Nox giggles dismissively raising a paw.

“Yeah yeah I know I was kidding of course we are going, these tickets were expensive you know!”

Chet shook his head, but his expression was more amused than disapproving.

"Just don’t make me regret vouching for you. And don’t be late."

"Late? Me? Never."

Nox clapped a paw to his chest in mock offense.

"when have I ever been late? No need to answer that though!."

Chet rolled his eyes, stepping past Nox toward the busier streets.

"See you at the station, fox."

Nox gave him a lazy two-finger salute as he turned on his heel.

"Not if I see you first, big guy."

He stepped out the alley past a few blocks, slipping seamlessly into a moving crowd.

A quick glance at his watch. 5:30. “Still got an hour left. I should pick up zee later I remember... “

His ears flicked as he looked around at the bustling streets, considering his next move.

“Might as well take the scenic route... and grab a coffee while I’m at it.”

As he neared a coffee stand, the warm scent of roasted beans filled the air, cutting through the usual metallic stench of Coreline’s streets.

Instinctively, his paw went to his pocket.

A few loose credits jingled inside.

His ear twitched.

“ Do I even have enough for a coffee? The next ATM is so far away… my favorite coffee shop down here only takes credits no cards…”

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He silently laughs

"Then again, they only take direct credits for tax evasion—easier to hide, harder to track. Ha, smart bastards.“

“I’ll have to get creative here.”

His sharp eyes scanned the area, already plotting.

A small merchant stand caught his attention.

Behind the stall, a young otter—barely two-thirds of Nox’s size—was struggling to rearrange heavy boxes.

His focus was entirely on his work.

And right there, on the edge of the counter—

A small pile of loose credits.

Quick and easy, Nox thought as he drifted closer, blending effortlessly with the crowd.

The young merchant grunted as he lifted another particularly heavy box. Nox smirked.

“Perfect.”

With a subtle flick of his boot, he nudged a small rock toward the merchant’s feet.

The otter stumbled, his balance thrown off.

“Whoa—!”

His foot slipped, and for a moment, the box wobbled dangerously.

Just before he completely fell over, Nox darted forward, catching the box with ease.

“Woah, slow down there, gotta watch where we’re stepping, huh?”

He said smoothly, offering a friendly grin.

The otter, visibly shaken, clutched his chest.

“T-Thank you, sir! I almost fell!”

Nox adjusted the box under his arm like it was nothing.

“ No worries, happens to the best of us. Lucky I was here, huh?”

The otter nodded quickly, still catching his breath.

“That was kind of you! he stammered, clearly grateful.”

Nox smirked.

“Here, let me help with the rest. No sense in you breaking your back over these.”

The otter beamed.

“Really? That’d be amazing! Just those two boxes left, and I’m all set!”

Nox quickly grabbed the last box, his sharp eyes flicking to the pile of credits on the stall.

With smooth, practiced precision, he slid four credits into his palm as he stacked the final box.

“Just a little payment for my hard work.”

As Nox turned to leave, the otter suddenly stepped forward, reaching into his own pocket.

“Okay mister Otter, this was the last one now phew. “

Nox’s paw brushed over his forehead.

“I’m actually kind of in a hurry now, gotta meet a friend very soon and I quickly wanted to grab a coffee on my way !”

"Wait! Sir!"

Nox hesitated, ears perking up as he was about to turn around.

The otter held out a few extra credits in his small paws- around five or six.

“Let me buy you that coffee! You helped me so much!”

Nox blinked.

For a moment, he just stared at the otter.

Something about the sincerity in the otter’s eyes made him hesitate.

He gulped slightly.

“Very kind of you, but you can keep it. Have a great day.”

Tilting his head the otter made a confused face.

“Really? You sure? It’s just a small thank-you...”

Nox waved him off, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“ Nah, it’s all good... You keep it for yourself. Maybe treat yourself to something nice later.”

The otter grinned brightly.

“Thank you again, mister! Hope you have a wonderful day!”

As Nox turned away, he could hear the genuine gratitude in the otter’s voice.

His tail flicked absentmindedly as he slipped back into the bustling crowd.

“Too soft, Nox. Way too soft.”

Nox stood by the coffee stand, the steam rising from his cup as he took a small sip.

The warm bitterness spread through his chest, cutting through the chill of the evening air.

He stared down at the coffee, watching the swirls of steam dance in the light.

"Four creds…"

He muttered to himself, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“ Couldn’t he just say thanks and let me go?”

He leaned against the stand, watching Coreline’s chaotic scenery move around him—constant, restless, yet predictable.

The otter’s stammering gratitude echoed in his mind.

The way his eyes lit up when he offered to buy him coffee.

For a moment, it had felt... good.

Like a small flicker of warmth cutting through the gray monotony of the city.

"I mean I sort of took even less than he actually would have given me for saving his ass there."

He took another sip, the heat spreading through his chest, and glanced at the passerby—

their hurried steps, tired faces, and clutching hands.

"But I also kinda got him into it myself...Guess it’s not all about the creds,"

He murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. Grip tightening slightly around the cup.

“Funny you do a small thing, and it comes right back biting you in the ass.”

His ears flicked as he glanced at the crowd—hurried steps, tired faces, restless hands clutching at their belongings.

“In a place like this, one good deed’s gotta count for something... right?”

He shook his head, straightening up.

The moment of introspection faded as quickly as it came.

"Alright, enough soul-searching. Gotta get going before Zee gives me an earful."

He flicked the empty coffee cup into the bin and melted back into the crowd.

His steps quick, deliberate—but a faint, lingering smile remained on his face.