The greasers drove out of the theater and onto the main strip of town, where Felix began to do some reflecting on the events of the day as he watched the lights go by, changing a failing restaurant into a diner that changed humans as if it were an automated machine, breathing new life into a crummy bowling alley, and making new friends, figuratively and literally, the list could go on for the badger.
Felix had initially felt proud of what he had been doing, but after a mishap at the drive in which he had put an innocent person in grave danger with one of his changes after they had a severe allergic reaction, as well as himself being battered suddenly with the stress of all these changes seemingly hitting him at once, It had forced Felix to realize that he had been going too far with his changes, all in a childish attempt to stop his nephew. having finally come to his senses. He realized that his selfish pursuit of domination in the name of stopping Asher had caused a lot of pain and hurt to those around him, himself included. He knew he needed to make things right with his nephew.
“Jacky-boy, take me to Benji’s place, It’s right next to mine. I got some business to finish with that posh square that is my Nephew.” the Badger requested to the bulldog driving the automobile.
“No problem babydoll, be quick in there with that nancy boy, don’t want that soc’ rubbing off of ya.” Jack obliged, and he hit the gas as the car made its way past the mix of the posh Victorian era and 1950s Suburban homes.
As he pulled up to the front gate, he stepped out and adjusted his leather jacket as he reached the front steps of the illustrious manor, feeling the weight of his actions weighing heavily on his shoulders. He knocked on the door and he was greeted by a well-dressed stoat at the door.
“Greetings sir, and welcome to the Grey estate .” Jonathan greeted Felix, as he was distracted by the dried nosebleed Felix had on himself.
“He gave this fella staff too? Damn, he spoiled the hell outta this boy.” the American badger thought to himself
“Anything I can help you with?” the butler asked in his Brummie accent.
“Is Asher here right now? I need to speak with him” He asked.
“Yes, He’s in the sitting room with Master Benjamin at the moment, I will let him know he has a visitor waiting for him.” And so Felix waiter for the stoat butler to return and soon after followed him into the room where he would see his posh nephew sitting down reading a periodical with Benjamin sitting in the chair next to him. He began to think through what he would say to Asher in order to patch things up with the younger badger, knowing he had to regain his trust and get rid of all the strain brought on by the rapid fire of changes and reality shifts he had done before things would worsen for him.
“Glad you could join us, Felix,” Benjamin said with a smile. “Glad to see you are okay, not too proper of an appearance though.” unaware of what he was about to tell Asher
"Asher," Felix said as he approached him, His nephew looked up from his reading to be met by his uncle, taking off his glasses and his ears flicked as he saw him. "I’m sorry. I screwed up, and I shouldn't have let my ego hurt my own goddamn nephew. I felt so worried about what you were doing to the neighborhood and I felt like I had to step in. Instead, I just made matters worse in the process. I hope you can forgive me."
Asher looked at Felix for a moment, studying his expression. He could see the sincerity in Felix's eyes and knew that his apology was genuine. He had come to realize what both of them were doing was wrong, he had felt guilty for what he had done as well, from unwillingly changing Benjamin from a human to his proper mate, to trying to mold the entire town his way. He started this and his uncle followed him and took it to the extreme.
"Uncle Felix…" Asher finally said. "I’ve been worried sick about you! What happened over there?"
Felix shook his head, explaining his folly to his nephew. "It turns out I got too ahead of myself and lost track of reality ‘cause I kept changing it so damn much, I had this sudden burning sensation and lost focus when I was trying to warp reality and I got someone put in the hospital ‘cause of it. Turns out humans have allergies to certain animals." Felix said. “Sorry I didn’t understand what you were going through earlier.”
Asher's expression softened slightly at Felix's words, and he stepped forward, placing his book down. "Uncle Felix," he said, his voice catching. "I am so sorry for making you feel this way. It's my fault that you felt this way and it's because I started it all. I understand that you were just trying to protect the neighbourhood, but I was hurt and angry when I saw what you were doing. but I still love you, and I just want us to be a family again and not a petty rivalry."
Felix and Asher then turned to Benjamin, “We’re sorry for all of this trouble we’ve brought upon you and your town, Benji,” The older badger told Benjamin, feeling the stress and pain melt away from his body. “We shouldn’t have roped our neighbors into all of this and we should've kept things the way they were, If we could make everyone humans again, we would, but we don’t know how without making things worse.”
“Uncle Felix, I told him about that already.” Asher chimed in. “Anyway, Benjamin told me he liked his new life,” he said with a smirk along his muzzle.
“Already more responsible than I am huh…” He chuckles, “Your an honest, and smart badger, and I give you a lotta credit. Let’s keep things the way they are going forward.”
“It’s a deal. You have what you love and I have mine, and we shouldn’t act like batty loons over it.” he hugged his uncle before he bode the younger badger goodnight. Asher would sit next to Benjamin, snuggling up to him as the night fell.
“This might be the second night I spend with you at the estate,” he says charmingly to his mate. “I still haven't properly unpacked everything back home.”
“Take your time love, I appreciate the company you give me” Benjamin replied in his lovely Received Pronunciation accent, as he and Asher embraced each other in their arms.
Felix stepped back in the car, once again joined by his posse of 50s throwbacks, driving off into the night, the cool breeze blowing on his coarse brown fur. He realized that the changes he and Asher had made to the neighborhood were not just physical, but emotional as well. Though it was divided between the two badger’s interests, they had brought people together, in ways that he never thought possible, and for that, he knew he could be proud. He was grateful for his nephew who had joined him in this new town, what they had built together, and the friends they (quite literally) made along the way, one he wouldn’t have any other.…