He’s a Fox Ch 85

Chapter 85

“Aren’t you being a little too obsessed with your lover? You’re not exactly hiding the tiger in you. Try reining it in, will you?”

“Nam, mind your own business.”

Anyone overhearing might have thought Kangwoon wasn’t a tiger the way he was accused. But the trait was undeniable—tigers were possessive, especially over those they’d claimed as theirs. Despite the barb, Kangwoon tugged Hohyun firmly back to his side, bodily cutting Amur out of the space between them. His displeasure lingered visibly, the air vibrating with the promise of a brawl if provoked further. Amur wisely slipped to Yuwol’s side, half-sheltered behind the massive black dog.

For once, Amur’s smaller frame compared to most tigers worked to his advantage; entirely hidden, he vanished behind Yuwol’s bulk. Still, Yuwol’s eyes narrowed at his so-called ally. Dragging a civilian into their investigation, and then pressing on him after he’d already agreed to help—how reckless did that look in the eyes of a steadfast rule-follower?

But Amur ignored his coworker’s critical stare. He knew he’d been brazen—yet with results in hand, why not embrace it to the end? Still peeking over Yuwol’s shoulder, he calmly rattled off details: the location, the precautions, what to expect. He mixed field data from investigations with deductions of his own, then sauntered out with infuriating poise.

Irritating as it was, a good opportunity was best seized quickly. In true Eastern fashion—strike while the iron is hot—Kangwoon set the very next day for their “operation.”

To emphasize his tiger identity to all eyes, Kangwoon chose his full bipedal beast form. And because they wanted to draw a reaction from those with ties to trafficking, Hohyun would accompany him in quadrupedal fox form.

——

Since the first snowfall, Hohyun had barely taken fox shape. To reacquaint himself with the gait and nuance, he practiced from morning onward. To baby Yuri, waking to find Moongmoo Oppa in fox form had been a dream come true; she exploded with joy—until she heard he was leaving without her. Her little happiness meter nosedived straight into despair.

Departure time arrived, but the cub’s sulk didn’t budge. In the end, clutched in the crocodile’s arms, mouth pouty, she only relented when Hohyun repeatedly promised that next time she’d come along too. He even matched his paw to her little hand in a solemn “pinky-swear” before she finally allowed them to leave, waving reluctantly.

Hohyun climbed into the car with face set grim in resolve.

——

Settling neatly on the passenger seat, he adjusted himself with small, dignified motions. Kangwoon eyed him. Vehicles were built for adult bodies; the fox’s petite frame would usually require special booster equipment. But Yuri’s car seat, stored nearby, wasn’t meant for a fox. After brief thought, Kangwoon simply scooped him up into his lap. Like lifting a ladle of soft sundubu tofu, there was no hesitation. And the fox—accustomed by now—just repositioned without protest.

This time, at least, Hohyun managed not to brush against the wrong thigh.

When the black dog driving confirmed everyone seated, the car rolled forward. Sensing the motion through his paws, Hohyun drew out the scarf he had carefully carried in his mouth since home and nudged it at the tiger. His blunt paws couldn’t manage tying it himself—help was obvious.

“Do I really have to…?” Kangwoon hesitated.

The fox let out a plaintive whine.

The sound was clear: Of course I do.

A collar would have been more convincing, but he refused to wear anything tight around his neck. The scarf was their compromise. Earlier that morning, Kangwoon had dug through his wardrobe to pick a color that would best complement the black-furred fox. Now, though, actually knotting it tight around Hohyun’s neck made his shoulders stiff. He tied it loose enough to rest easy, eyes checking constantly against the soft fur.

The fox’s tail swayed gently, touched by the care—but too much care risked slowing them the entire trip. There had to be something to distract him.

His eyes wandered out the window, and immediately caught the lights.

Every street tree wrapped in colorful bulbs, faint carols drifting through the glass—clearly Christmas was near.

Amur had given them the destination, but for someone not native to the East, terms of neighborhoods confused Hohyun. He’d assumed “department store” simply meant the one he’d been to with Kangwoon before. Clearly, he was wrong. This was new ground.

The drive lasted over thirty minutes. Finally, they pulled up.

——

Kangwoon stepped out first, fox in one arm, and attention slammed toward him. From crown to toes, his tiger form radiated power. Add to that the rare sight of a sleek black fox cradled like an ornament—it was only natural that all eyes turned.

“Isn’t that… a dog?” muttered someone.

Hohyun stiffened at the comment—being mistaken wasn’t rare, color and size as they were. But that was exactly today’s aim: to draw stares.

Feigning nonchalance, he lifted his chin. They strode inside the department store.

And there… the spectacle outshone the streets. Snowflake ornaments drooped from every ceiling beam, fairy lights glittered across the expanse. The fox’s eyes shone wide at what seemed fantastical.

Slowed by his gawking, Kangwoon stopped eventually, and Hohyun realized they had reached the men’s clothing floor.

Of course, they were in a store—they had to buy something. But in fox form, Hohyun couldn’t. Neither did Yuri need more clothes, not after the recent spree. Obviously, the only option was Kangwoon himself.

A clerk spotted him instantly, approaching with polished narration. Within that orbit of customer‑employee chatter, the fox crouched silently, scanning mannequins.

Catalogues were fine—but real fabric, real shine under light? That carried visions more vividly.

Then his eyes snagged.

A gray suit, shimmering faint violet when caught by light.

Every suit he had ever seen on Kangwoon fell into sober blues and blacks. Never had he seen this color. His heart raced—he wanted to see it on him now. But in this form, how could he say so? At a loss, he squirmed.

Tiny paws paddled anxiously against the tiger’s thigh. Kangwoon, still listening to the clerk, glanced downward—eyes crinkling as he witnessed the fox struggle to tell him.

Holding back laughter until it shook his shoulders, he finally couldn’t resist. Hohyun tugged insistently at his sleeve with small fox teeth. This one, please. Over there.

Hoots of laughter escaped Kangwoon’s chest.

“What, you want me to try that one?”

A determined whine answered.

“Alright then.”

At once, the fox leapt to the ground, bounding ahead toward the mannequin, paw planted firmly. The tiger followed with a smile still tugging his mouth, gaze matching where the fox pointed.

Together, their eyes fixed on the shimmering suit.