“Shopping!”

Paxton Laughed at Raven’s disgusted mutter as they entered the 24-hour Memnar Cisco grocery store. He’d been repeating it every few minutes since leaving the house. At first he’d said the word as if he couldn’t believe he’d agreed to go. Then, as they’d driven here in his Jet Black with blue sparkled BMW, that dismay had turned to disgust. You’d think the man had never gone food shopping before now! Of course, judging by how empty his cupboards were, Paxton supposed he hadn’t. and he’d commented on the lack of food in his home on the way out of the house, he’d muttered something about not having replaced his housekeeper yet. Paxton presumed that meant he ate out a lot in the meantime.

He hadn’t bothered to inquire as to what had become of his previous housekeeper. His personality was answer enough. No doubt the poor women had quit. Paxton himself would have, he knew.

He led him to the rows of empty shopping carts. As he started to pull one out, Raven Grunted something that might have been “Allow me,” but could just as easily have been “Get the hell out of the way.” He then took over the chore,

In Paxton experience, men always preferred to do the driving- whether it was a car, golf cart, a space ship for the crazy’s, the man running it on top in the bedroom, or a shopping basket. He suspected it was a control issue, but either way it was handy; it meant he was free to fill the thing up.

Paxton began to make a mental list of what he should get as he led the way toward the dairy section. He would have to be sure he got lots of fruits and vegetables for Raven. The man was big and muscular, but far too pale. It seemed obvious to him that he was in dire need of some green leafy vegetables. Maybe vegetables would improve his mood, too.

Raven needed fresh bloody animal meat. That was the one thought pulsing through his mind as he followed Paxton Booth through the dairy section, the frozen-food section, and now down the coffee aisle. The cart was filling up quickly. Paxton had already tossed various yogurts, cheeses, eggs, and a ton of frozen gourmet dinners in it. Now he paused in the coffee aisle and considered the various packages before turning to ask,

“What brand do you prefer Raven?”

He stared at Paxton blankly. “Brand?”

“Of coffee? What do you normally drink?”

Raven shrugged. “I do not drink coffee.”

“Oh. Tea, then?”

“I do not drink tea.”

“But you-,” He narrowed his eyes. “Hot chocolate?” Espresso? Cappuccino?” Paxton continued to ask. When Raven shook his head at all his suggestions,

“Dogs can’t drink that crap…” Raven said as almost like a whisper.

Paxton didn’t hear exactly what Raven said all he got out of it was “he doesn’t drink that crap!” As Paxton continued to asked with exasperation; “Well what do you drink then? Kool-Aid?”