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He has always been a greedy man. All his life, all he's ever done is want.
And he's done horrible things to get what he wants.
He wanted food, he wanted shelter, he wanted clothes. Other people had those things, other people who wanted just like him. He wanted them more.
He fought and he stole and he got what he wanted.
One afternoon he wanted so badly the source of a delicious scent that wafted to him on the street. He had followed the smell until stumbling upon a bakery, finding fresh chocolate pastries sitting out in the open, displayed to the public.
He watched silently as a baker set his creations on the display stand, smiling as he walked back into the shop. Seemed proud of them.
In actuality he knew this baker wasn't much better off than he is, he's seen the amount of customers this place gets, and the amount of kids he has to feed. Only about a half step above himself on the social ladder.
That didn't stop him.
There were 5 pastries, and it was blatantly obvious that it was made of more expensive ingredients than this bakery usually used. The pastries were perfect. Pristine. They stood out among the other baked goods displayed, golden brown crust and rich chocolate compared to the pale breads and few mangy looking cookies.
He wanted them. He wanted them so bad his stomach was doing flips just thinking about it. He'd had sugary delights before, but very few and far between, mostly when he was younger. People were more keen on giving dirty children sweets than a dirty man.
Even then, he'd never seen a dessert of this grade.
If he was going to do this he had to act fast, the baker would surely come back out soon. He decided he had to. To subdue the want in his chest and the hunger in his stomach. He walked over, lanky but smooth, and put one into his pocket. Then another. Then, almost another.
The baker ran to the door, frantic. Started yelling at him so loudly the boy couldn't even make out the words. He flinched and started running as fast as he could.
The baker was no match against him, the man was older and out of shape. Once he was far enough away he looked back, seeing the baker throw off his hat and put his head in his hands.
He continued running.
Once safe and tucked away, he carefully reached into his coat pocket, taking out one of his new deserts. He tried brushing off the dirt that had been caked onto the pastry while in his pocket, but with his even dirtier hands it was useless.
He didn't let that ruin his mood, not silly things like dirt or guilt. He had got what he wanted. What he had done had to be worth it, he was going to make it worth it.
He took a bite.
He has always been a greedy man. Still, all he ever does is want. He wanted off the streets, and he wanted others to pay that price for him. So, he broke in. He wanted the fancy objects, the expensive materials. He wanted a life other than this.
And he was getting it.
When the glow caught his eye he couldn't help it.
He wanted to know what it was. He wanted to subdue this curiosity. It was enchanting, the unnatural light drew him in, entrancing his eyes. He wanted to stare at it forever, and then he wanted to know what would happen if he opened it.
He always gets what he wants.
Nox has always been a greedy man. All his life he has wanted a family. People of his own to love and support him, people to talk to, to simply be with. That was one thing he thought he'd never get.
But, surprisingly, he got what he wanted.
He stole and he took, but it led to his receiving this wonderful family. They weren't typical, they were all a little strange, and they were perfect. They cared for Nox as one of their own, naming him, getting to know him.
Violet taught him how to be proper, how to leave his street ways behind. Stripes taught him how to play the best pranks. Bronze taught him how to find the best napping places (it was usually on top of someone else, always in the sun if possible). He and Copper competed, both talented in the art of pickpocketry. All of them taught Nox how to be a better person, how to care for others.
He was starting to think that finally, finally this aching greed inside of him would go away. That he'd finally gotten everything. There was nothing more to want.
But then he did it again.
Nox has always been a greedy man. Even after getting the thing he wanted most, he still wants more.
He doesn't want this body. He wants his old one back. He wants to be human again, wants to be larger again, he wants to feel again. And he's so very ashamed of it.
But that doesn't stop him, it never did. Nothing ever does. He always gets what he wants.
When an Ex Libris member wanted his help for "both of their sakes" he wanted to trust him. He wanted to believe this was how he got what he so desperately wanted. Because, of course, he wants to be human and wants his family. Neither of those alone are able to quench his greed.
Because of that, he ruined everything. And this time he actually cared. He cared so much.
His actions hurt his family, his sister was broken, and it was all his fault. Now he was stuffed back into that horrible jar that caused all of this, losing both humanity and his loved ones.
He didn't get what he wanted.
But that wasn't the bad part.
The bad part was the overwhelming guilt. The fiery anger towards himself. The love he feels for his new family. And he felt all of them, equally, enormously, until it went black.
Nox has always been a greedy man. When he awoke that hadn't changed, but he tried to make it.
He and Violet were going to find the rest of their family, they were going to be together again. He thought that in itself wasn't too greedy, it was for everyone else too after all, but he felt the clawing guilt of still wanting to be human again. Even after all he'd done and all he'd lost to get it and fail. He couldn't help but want.
And Violet, the ever loving sister she is, threaded it into her plan. Insisted on it really. When he'd confessed to her his desire and guilt, recalling his actions and Silver's fall, she listened and listened well. She didn't get nearly as angry as he thought she would, it was almost scary. She stated that what's done is done and that they must now work together to fix it. She was calm and loving and pacing when she tapped her small heel on the ground. "Yes… What to do… Oh!"
The moment she explained her new plan, to go back in time and have Nox steal the keys as a human, Nox was on board. She was the best for helping him become human again, especially because of her strong distaste for them. He owed her so much already, now he had to make sure not to mess this up.
He followed her plan to a T, going into books and gathering information from the human that held Silver. He intimidated, he insulted, and he interrogated. It was the least he could do really, to listen to Vi's every demand and piece of guidance. He didn't want to mess up, he didn't want to ruin things again. He didn't want to be greedy again, or to let his greed harm anyone anymore.
But then he wanted again.
He really never changes.
At first he'd hated the little idiot. He was messing things up, stopping him from getting what he wanted. He wanted nothing more than to kick this loser to the curb and snatch his sister back. But he couldn't, and that infuriated him. She didn't deserve to be stuck in the hands of a fool such as him.
Nox wanted the idiot to suffer, wanted him to make a fool of himself, wanted him to finally give up and just give Silver back.
Until he didn't.
The change was subtle at first, slow. He's not sure when it started or when he noticed it, but the hatred was dying—no, it had been dead. Chase had weaseled his way into Nox's heart and now Nox didn't want those things anymore.
Of course, he still wanted his sister back, for her to be safe.
But he realized that he wanted her to be safe with Chase. For himself to be as well. He realized that he doesn't want Chase to hate him anymore, he wants Chase to love him.
And that was a ridiculous thing to want. Arguably the most greedy thing he could ever ask for.
But Nox has always been a greedy man.
He's horribly faced with the effects of such greed when Chase confides in him about his sick mother. He wants to wish for her to get better. The most noble wish Nox could think of, really.
And he's sabotaging it.
Chase is the most selfless person Nox has ever met, ever heard of. All he wants is for others for them to be happy, healthy. And Nox is sabotaging him.
Still, his greed eats away at him. Even while trying to repent.
All he wants is to be with Chase, to be able to love him and care for him. He wants to be able to tell Violet this, wants her to understand. He wants to join his siblings already with the humans, already with Chase. He wants to hear Chase's laugh and see him smile. He wants to apologize to Chase for all he's done wrong, all that he's stole and hurt. He wants so much.
And he's done horrible things to get what he wants.
He's a greedy man and he betrayed his family once again. He believes it's for their own good, once again. But Violet doesn't share that sentiment.
He had told Chase who he is, where he is, and what he and Violet had been doing. Then, he promptly told Violet.
She was enraged. More so than he had ever seen.
He sat and listened to her shouts and yells, stood firm among the items that she was throwing in his direction —never at him, but around him—and took it in. He deserved it, and once she'd calmed down they would talk again.
Buddy is a very greedy man.
He always gets what he wants.
And that is still true right now, as he's laying in bed with Chase on his chest. Chase has given him everything he could ever want, he's so spoiled. But now he'd also like to return the favor. "What's that, little idiot?" Chase had mumbled something into Buddy's sweater, inaudible.
"I want kisses." Chase repeats, and Buddy laughs.
He is more than happy to give Chase what he wants.