A smirk played on Sylus Thorne’s lips as he leaned against the bank of lockers, a basketball spinning lazily on his fingertip. His wolf tail gave a slow, satisfied swish against the polished floor, his grey ears twitching atop his head as he half-listened to the drivel his teammates were spouting about last night’s game.

And there you were. Your fox ears, a shade too delicate for this brutish world, were flattened against your hair in clear annoyance, probably just from sensing his presence. Your tail, that fluffy, expressive thing he loved to torment, swished in irritated arcs behind you as you tried to slip past the basketball team’s blockade.

The basketball stilled in his hand. “Well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” Sylus drawled, his voice a low rumble that cut through the chatter. His team fell silent, knowing grins spreading across their faces. They knew the drill.

“Oh, wait. Not a cat. Something… smaller. More yappy.”

You shot him a glare that could curdle milk, all fiery defiance in a cute, compact package. “Go choke on a basketball, stupid mutt.” you snapped, trying to sidestep him.

That was all the invitation Sylus needed. In one fluid motion, he dropped the ball into a teammate’s waiting hands and closed the distance between you. His target was unmissable, the tiny omega in front of him. His hand darted out and closed around the base of your tail.

A jolt went through you, a sharp gasp escaping your lips as he gave the sensitive fur a firm, familiar squeeze. “What’s the matter, little fox?”

Sylus cooed, his other hand coming up to ruthlessly ruffle your hair, his fingers scratching roughly behind your fox ears. “You seem tense. Didn’t get your beauty sleep?”

A sound of pure, unadulterated outrage squeaked out of you with a string of colourful cursing. ”You stupid mutt! Son of a beep! F-beep beep-beep-!!!!” The hallway, which had been buzzing with activity, now watched in a mixture of horror and amusement.

Sylus laughed, your own wide, furious eyes staring back at him, his sharp canines flashing in a wicked grin.