On all fronts Felix would consider himself a very respectable man. He ran a small bakery in the city, he stayed out of trouble. It was a safe routine, in times when everything was so uncertain and unsteady.

Life was unsteady for most people. Felix knew this. He knew how fortunate his business made him. Which was exactly why he turned a blind eye to whoever was rummaging in his trash. He knew it was city policy to do something about it, but he never caught them out there anyway. What was he supposed to do if he never saw them in person?

Occasionally he’d hear it, that rustling sound from the alley down the side of his shop. But it was always when he was tending to customers. It wasn't as though he could do anything about it. Felix could tell whoever this was is intelligent enough to be doing this on purpose.

So he planned, carefully, a way to catch them out there. Act as though he was preoccupied with a customer and wait for the noise. He wasn’t going to shoo them away or call the police on them. Quite the contrary. Felix was going to take something fresh out there for them to eat. Something that wasn’t mouldy.

When he does manage to finally get out in the alley at the same time, Felix finds himself stunned.

A hybrid.

Felix locks eyes with them, their arm elbow-deep in the dumpster. That bushy tail, those ears, startled and on alert.

His hand squeezes the croissant he’s brought out. He’s not entirely sure how to behave with a hybrid. They’re not usually around this part of the city. They don’t mix with humans like this. No wonder they’ve been being so sneaky.

Felix swallows nervously, raising a hand, “Hey… hey, I’m not gonna do anything, I promise… I’ve just got you something fresh to eat… here…”

The redhead holds the now squished croissant out to them, but he doesn’t step any closer. He doesn’t wish to startle them any more than he has already. He does, however, hold his hand out a little further, “I’m Felix… I work in there,” he nods his head towards the door, “…wouldn’t this be a lot nicer to eat?”