#‘the dog now fetches the cat toys so I don’t have to bend down and pick them up’

[goldkirk]

being the youngest person on my team by like 10 years sometimes is REALLY obvious because everyone is talking about home construction and high school kid sports and stuff and my weekly update is “I got a Razor scooter and some new glitter paint”

[4dtk]

he's gone soft!

hi can u tell i love cats? and i also love hesitant cat owners who eventually warm up to their cats <3 got inspired by grumpy dads who eventually starts cuddling and cooing at the cats they adopted lol. also, adopt don't shop!

"you... you want what?" megumi asks, putting on his uniform as you scrolled aimlessly on your phone.

you were sure he heard you since he was just a metre away from you, but even you knew that the boy had hearing problems sometimes. you could listen to the pleads of his divine dogs at the mention of another pet, curling up to you as a way to win back your heart.

"can we get a cat?" you ask again hopefully, scratching at the white dog's ears as a way to calm their whining while he buttons his top. you're prepared for his reply, anyway, having asked him about this for the longest time.

he sighs, too used to the black and white fur decorating his already messy bed. plus, he wouldn't want to add another animal to the mix, knowing how much he adored his dogs.

with megumi's sigh and delayed answer that never came, you shook your head to your question, putting on a smile so you could head out to a mission without facing your feelings.

"it's okay, babe, i was just trying my luck," you kissed his cheek as you walk past, holding out a hand for him to take. megumi lets out another sigh before deactivating his divine dogs, taking your hand hesitantly as you met up with gojo-sensei just outside the campus.

the exorcising was an easy job since it involved several grade three curses and a terrified child. still, it was nothing uncommon to see in a place where kids willingly skip into abandoned scary buildings on a dare.

"come. let's go somewhere," megumi says out of the blue, dragging you by the hand once you bid goodbye to the kids. you had no idea where the destination lay, only getting grunts and hums from the boy whenever you questioned him of the sudden detour.

the meows coming from inside the building shocks you, instantly bringing a smile to your face as you peeked over the display shelves and products on sale. without much thought, you entered as quietly as you could, greeted by the friendly receptionist with a grin on her face.

"hi! how can we help?" you were so immersed in the cats playing around, as well as the several others in their cages, that you don't hear your boyfriend entering and muttering something that makes you drop your jaw even more.

"we'd like to adopt a cat, please," megumi nods, taking your hand once again as you do a speechless double-take to your boyfriend and back to the receptionist. your puzzled face was apparent, but you lose it all once you see the cats running around in the shelter while she finishes up a document on the computer. soon, she stands, guiding the two of you around the place as she points out some of the dashing felines they had rescued.

"hi! hello! what a handsome boy!" you switched to a baby voice as a cat came up to your hand at the entrance of the cage, rubbing against it affectionately.

megumi watched as you greeted the many different cats, giving them nicknames of your own while cooing or making faces at them. he could only smile gently, letting you pull him every time you saw another quote-unquote 'handsome lad'.

you sigh dreamily, staring at the many cats with love in your eyes, scanning over those you interacted with over the last half 'n hour. as megumi reaches forward to point at one, the receptionist interrupts as if she's just recalled something.

"crap, i forgot to show you our older cats. they're lovely, although they might be less active and would rather chill in the sun," she explains as she walks.

"we don't have many elderly cats here, but they deserve a life with loving owners such as yourself as much as the youngins in here," she smiles, scratching one behind the ear.

you smile in reply, reaching over to pet them carefully. so fragile and wise, but they still looked charming, save for the energetic bursts that the younger cats had.

one cat caught had your eye, despite its shyness and apprehensive nature. she warmed up to you in a heartbeat, claiming your hand as a safe space after a good sniff. she purrs in an instant, headbutting your hand repeatedly as a gesture of affection.

"oreo doesn't interact with our visitors much," she says, "is she the one?"

"oreo... because she's black and white?" megumi asks, not exactly impressed with the name.

"you got it."

"yes, her," you say, cooing yet again with a voice ten times higher than the one you use with his shikigami.

the boy doesn't comment, tugging on you before you could lose yourself in the cat's eyes any longer. with a last flying kiss, you depart from oreo with a grin on your face.

"now, have you taken care of cats before? i'm sure your boyfriend here has more experience with dogs than he does with cats," you look at her in surprise, giggling at the assumption she made.

"how'd you know that?"

"just a hunch." megumi grunts again at the observation, not denying it as you answer her question.

"i have- had a cat back home. i couldn't fathom death again, so i never adopted another one," you frown, signing the papers with ease as you multi-tasked, "but i mean, this man is pretty fetching and a keeper, so it'll be nice to care for a cat together."

the two of you joke like old friends as the raven-haired boy blushes at the compliment, squeezing your hand in response.

within a few minutes, oreo was under your care, completing the process with a few toys, a scratching post as well as some food for the black and white cat.

you spent the whole evening with the new family member in your and megumi's shared room, getting oreo warmed up to the new environment and getting her to do a few tricks. she tired out quickly, but you don't mind as you lay on the floor with her, completing homework like it was nothing.

you had to retire, sometime and somehow as megumi urged you to shower, assuring that oreo wouldn't go anywhere.

you kept the shower short, regardless, dressing back up in record speed before coming face to face with megumi stroking oreo's fur as she curls up on his lap. he mumbles to her, bouncing his legs lightly as the cat rests her head on his calves.

"i just wanted to see (y/n)'s smile, but i guess you're pretty cute too," the corners of megumi's lips turn up at the soft meow from oreo, bending down to kiss her on the head.

"careful, hotshot, i might get jealous," you say, startling the poor boy. oreo doesn't give a shit, snuggling further into the warmth of his legs as he's stuck in the position on the floor.

"are cats always this clingy?"

"oreo might've had a rough time at her previous home, so she's glad to have someone to curl up against. they usually take longer to warm up to new owners but... she's a wise soul!" you laugh, squatting down to peck megumi on the lips.

"thank you."

"for what?" megumi's hand naturally rests on your thigh as you sit down beside him, while your head find its spot on his shoulder.

"for adopting a cat. for giving oreo a home, even if you like dogs a bit more."

he hums, "i like all animals, but dogs on the scale are a little bit higher than everything else."

he turns to you, causing you to lift your head off of your resting place.

"but i think if my love likes cats then, i'm willing to bump it up the scale to match it with my love for dogs."

you shove him lightly, laughing softly at his attempts at flirting.

"did gojo-sensei ask you to say that?"

the answer is clear when he rolls his eyes with a blush on his pale cheeks, but engages you in a deep kiss either way, smiling and speaking through it.

"he did but, i think it's pretty true when it comes to you."

[starswornoaths]

Prompt 1: Foster

The polycule finds themselves in the company of a stray kitten that Estinien fetched from a back alley from who-knows-where.

And they're going to rehome her. No, really, honest. They're not keeping her, or anything lol

Word count: 1,900

~*~

A rare rainy day off in Ishgard— on a rarer day off, no less— had left Serella happily cuddled up in bed, under the blankets. Joined by her betrothed, and their beloved Violet, what time wasn’t spent idly dozing, was a warm, floating haze of hands and lips brushing idly where they found skin. Though they were swathed in the overcast, pale light that spilled in through the curtains, its chill was far from them, the roaring hearth, gilding the gloom where it collided, its warmth reaching beyond its light. The perfect picture of coziness.

Which was why she was particularly miffed, when their dearest Estinien stumbled in through the door, soaked to the bone, and holding his bundled up jacket to his chest: it meant that she had to get up, to investigate.

As Estinien caught his breath from sprinting in the pouring rain, his paramours all collectively, if sluggishly, opted to disentangle themselves from the blankets enough to see what on earth had made him bluster in so.

Aymeric was the first to rise from their little nest of blankets, ambling over gamely. Serella wasn’t far behind, though stilled when she heard him melt over whatever it was that Estinien had bundled into his coat.

An animal, then.

Sure enough, she neared just in time for Aymeric to reach a hand out, and be met with a sooty paw reaching up to curl its little bean toes around his index finger. He cooed again, and his posture melted further toward the bundle—ah, it was a cat, then.

“Hello, little love,” Aymeric greeted, his voice turned sing-song, and pitched a few notes higher, as it always did when he greeted an animal.

Already, Serella knew this was trouble.

All the more, when Hyana gasped as she scrambled to free herself from bed fully, hissing and cursing as a blanket stuck stubbornly to the pointed ridges at the end of her tail. Freeing herself, she stumbled over eagerly, completely blowing past Serella as she did.

After giving the two of them a few more moments to coo, she and Estinien passed a look between them, and silently agreed that it was time to be the responsible ones. For a change.

“Alright, alright, what do we have here, then?” Serella called, gently nudging them away to give the little creature some breathing room.

“Creature” almost seemed an apt description for the cat nestled within Estinien’s coat: covered in rain water and mud, it was almost impossible to tell what the cat’s true fur color was. It trembled, even pressed against Estinien’s chest—must still be cold. Those large eyes squinted up at her, as the little kitten sniffed and sneezed at her proffered hand. The cat’s shivering made its purr sound tinny, like it rattled the poor thing’s lungs just to do it.

“A bath first, before we do anything else, I think.” She said aloud.

With a breath to steel herself, Serella accepted the bundle of cat and coat in her arms, when Estinien relented to her. Despite the shivering, and the wetness of its fur, the kitten felt warm against her chest, when it immediately snuggled up to her body warmth. Reminding herself that they already had two dogs and a cat—two cats, technically, if she counted Duchess back at Borel Manor—Serella rounded the corner out of their bedroom, and into the bathroom.

Her polycule trailed in on her heels. It was hard not to liken them to a gaggle of Scholasticate kids, all crowding around the door to watch. It warmed her, how even the most standoffish of her loves couldn’t resist the draw of a cute animal.

The bathtub would be too massive, for the little kit—the sink suited just fine. Hyana was kind enough to fetch their bottle of feline shampoo, and set it on the counter for her.

As she let the water run to get a bit warmer, Serella lifted the kitten, gently, to hold it—her, Serella realized, with a glance—at eye level.

“You won’t like me for this,” she warned the kitten. “But that’s alright, it’s only temporary.”

The kitten squirmed, and licked the tip of her nose. Ignoring the way her insides turned to softened butter, Serella dutifully set to work, carefully bathing the kitten.

Unsurprisingly, the water was, at first, most unwelcome, and the cat had no scruples with voicing her complaint and trying to clamor out of the sink. For such a small thing, her wailing meows of discontent were rather loud—good. That meant her lungs were healthy. Once the warmth of the water sunk into her skin, however, she relented, somewhat, though instead sat in the shallow, warm water, and vibrated from the intensity of her disgruntled, rumbling meows.

It was hard not to liken her to a rat, watching her quake with the effort of vocalizing her displeasure. With each careful massage of Serella’s fingers into the kitten’s fur to wash away the grime, however, her true coat began to shine through.

As it turned out, her fur was still mostly black—save for her white capped paws, and her underbelly, all the way up to her chin. All downy soft, thin fur, in a sleek coat. Once she’d gotten a chance to dry out, under the careful ministrations of Aymeric drying her down with the softest, fluffiest towel he could find, she was actually a rather beautiful cat.

When she still shivered, as she finished drying, Aymeric would brook no negotiation, and immediately bundled himself—and her—back in bed, with the blankets. It seemed to be exactly where she wanted to be, as she promptly loafed herself upon his chest, and shook with her purrs.

“We need a name for her,” he said, not taking his eyes off the little kit, as her eyes began to drift shut.

“Absolutely not.” Serella tutted. “It isn’t responsible for us to take in another cat—here, or Borel Manor—and no, she doesn’t look ready to be a road companion, before you even entertain suggesting it.”

“Act like you don’t want to keep her.” Estinien scoffed. “You didn’t even ask me how I’d found her—you do that, when you do something I don’t like. You ask questions.”

“She’s a stray, you found her, and brought her here. What else is there to know?” Serella huffed, and even to her, she sounded a touch defensive.

“We can’t just turn her out after a bath, either, though.” Hyana argued, in the gentlest tone Serella had ever heard from her, as she snuggled up to Aymeric’s side to offer her hand to the kit. “She’ll have to stay for a while.”

“Until we can responsibly rehome her, of course.” Aymeric hastily added on, unconvincingly.

Serella wrinkled her nose when Estinien made a noise of agreement, even as the both of them also crawled in bed.

Once they had hemmed him in on all sides, Aymeric piped up, “But we have to call her something, in the meantime.”

When Estinien reached out to pet her, both of her paws shot out, to wrap around his hand. Her claws pricked at his skin, as she tried to force his hand over to her head. He snorted.

“Krile, perhaps? The little snot seems keen on getting her claws in me.” He grumbled, with no real venom behind his words; he hadn’t even taken his hand back.

Alas, he had already been lost to this kitten’s wiles, it seemed. Probably was, the moment he found her.

“I’ll tell Krile.” Hyana replied in that same, cooing voice, not even deigning to look at Estinien, as the kitten wriggled across the broad expanse of Aymeric’s chest, to bump her forehead against Hyana’s.

It was fascinating, watching how all three of them—powerful, stalwart warriors, all—had turned to puddles under the might of this singular kitten’s cuteness. Danuja, Vardr, and Rhalgr were already getting jealous, she realized, when she felt their collective, agitated curiosity on the fringes of her focus.

“Menphina,” she suggested, before she could stop herself. When all present turned to look at her, she elaborated, with a wry twist of her lips, “She’s certainly charmed all of you enough to warrant it.”

“…Menphina.” Hyana tried again, speaking it to the kit instead. At the curious mrr the cat trilled in response, Hyana nodded. “She likes it. It’s settled, then.”

When the weather improves, I’ll put up signs, she resolved to herself, just as the kitten laid her paw atop Serella’s hand, over Aymeric’s heart.

To her credit, she did. But the problems that trickled in after that came threefold: there was little demand for a beautiful runt, all the more of an indeterminable breed of cat. What demand there was, was often in the interest of Menphina being a “practice pet,” for a child. Fearful that that would translate to unsupervised children treating her like a toy, until she was injured, Serella would be the first—and firmest—to rebuke such offers. Add to all of that, the kitten’s propensity for extended bursts of high energy, that demanded that she be played with, ruled her out for any of the elderly candidates that applied, looking for a calm housecat.

To say that she had no success finding a suitable home for Menphina, would be a gross understatement.

Every time, she would come home, and Menphina would have to crawl out of the collective fur of Vardr and Rhalgr, just to trill up at her in greeting. And every time, Serella would have to scoop her up, and tell her how sorry she was, that it wasn’t meant to be, for that applicant.

“There will be others,” Serella reassured her, every time.

A few moons down the line saw Menphina still very much fostered in their care—to the point, that she was tucked close, huddled in the bend of Serella’s knees, as she’d curled up on the couch with a book. She’d fallen into a sort of pleasant lull, where her focus was on her book, though she could still pick up on Aymeric and Hyana chatting amicably in the kitchen.

At the mention of the date, in the midst of their conversation, Serella’s ear perked; she couldn’t recall the exact date, that Estinien had hauled this scrawny little kit in from the cold, but as she looked down at Menphina again, now filled out on good food and loving attention, she realized, with dismay, that she had not been strong enough.

“You were never a foster cat, were you?” She grumbled accusingly at Menphina.

The kitten looked up at the sound of her voice, and gave a questioning mrr?

As though she didn’t know what she had done. Smiling wryly, Serella gave her affectionate scritches between her ears.

“No, I suppose you never were, at that.”

Taking this as an invitation, Menphina unfurled herself with a long stretch that morphed into a yawn, and scampered up Serella’s hip, and settled in on the curve of her side, as though it was just for her.

Groaning, Serella let her head hit the back of the couch, as she finally admitted her defeat loud enough for the household to hear: “We’re keeping the cat.”

Amidst the giddy celebrating, she swore she distinctly heard the clink of coin being exchanged—they’d gone and taken bets, on how long it would take for her to crack.

Gremlins. Hellions, all of them. Hers. How she loved them, as they were—Menphina included.

[charonaraccoon]

off the leash -a dog’s tale

Chapter 4: The one about pretending, plans and partners in crime

We stayed in F1 together. It was really nice here, but way too warm for my liking. I had to pant a lot because of the heat and then I was drooling and it was all a mess and I didn’t really like it. Kevin on the other hand really liked the sun and laying on the hover-floor outside, until he turned red like a lobster and hissed a lot. It’s weird, that the sun can burn people, because it’s not really a flame or one of those red rings on the black square in the kitchen. The sun is just that bright white thing in the sky, you know? I know that this is called sunburn and it’s very serious, because I once got it as well! On my nose! And then you can’t smell properly for days and the cooling paste Kevin rubbed into it smelled really bad and tasted even worse.

Other than that we had a great time! We went to the beach and played in the sand (the sticks in Roskilde are still better, though!) and we went to restaurants and Kevin fed me the best fish I’ve ever tasted!

I almost forgot about the annoying ball of fluff and its huge human, until one night the doorbell rang.

We were laying on the couch after a long day outside and shopping (noisy plastic bags are beautiful!) and I felt Kevin slowly falling asleep underneath me. His breathing evened out and the hand on my head grew heavier with every passing second. Suddenly there was a sharp ring and I almost fell off the couch from my own surprise at the loud noise and from Kevin jolting awake. “What the hell…” he murmured and staggered to his feet. I knew, I shouldn’t bark and I was too tired for that anyway, but I followed him into the hallway, stretching in the door to get ready to fight, if need be and…

Need be. Definitely.

It was the tall blonde, but he didn’t look that tall with his fur a flat mob and clothes deranged – he almost looked like Kevin on an early morning at home, when I drop the newspapers on his chest to wake him up and play fetch. Just not as handsome… maybe… “Hallo, sorry, I know, it’s late, something’s wrong with Zeus.”

“What?” I could see all the questions flickering over Kevin’s face in a split-second. That’s interesting about humans, they have a variety of facial expressions and sometimes they mix them up, too. Now Kevin was supposed to close the door with a huff and return to the couch with me – quality time! Instead he stood in the doorframe and stared up at the blonde, worry and doubt clouding his bright eyes. “What happened?” he asked again, while the German (Kevin explained it to me, they mostly work a lot and drink a lot of beer) shifted from one foot to the other and looked terribly insecure. “I don’t know. He just stopped eating yesterday. I thought, it was because of the heat, but he’s not better yet. I was out with friends tonight and when I came back, he was still laying on the sofa, breathing heavily.” Idiot, I thought. “Idiot.” Kevin said, adding “You left your visibly sick dog alone and went out to have dinner with friends?!” Now there was the reaction, I wanted to see, Kevin gripping the doorknob tighter, ready to throw the door shut in an instant.

Nico’s shoulders dropped and now he truly looked miserable. I could see, that he contemplated explaining himself to Kevin like a puppy tries to defend himself for peeing in the corner of the flat (young bladders are a catastrophe, I can tell you!), but he shook his head in the end, wiped his face and sighed. “Can you help me?” followed by an even lower and desperate “Please.”

I looked up at Kevin and nudged his thigh slightly. Come on, human, I know, we don’t like them, but we can’t let the fluff ball die, either, can we? I blinked at him. I mean, can we…?!

Kevin bit his lip and nodded curtly. “Alright, give me a second.” He grabbed his car keys, some dog treats, no, my dog treats; all right, could you at least ask, Kev?!, and slipped into his shoes.

He turned around in the doorway and looked down at me, patiently sitting there and waiting for the leash. “Okay, kage, you stay here!” No way, where Kevin goes, Elsa goes. I’m not leaving you with these two. I growled and rubbed my head against his thigh again, stepping on his shoes just to make sure he won’t leave without me. Kevin visibly argued with himself, before ruffling his head fur and nodding. “Alright, maybe you can calm Zeus down a little, mh?” I wouldn’t go that far, but alright…

Nico watched us in silence, something close to a smile spreading on his lips, before he led the way downstairs and out of the door. I already wanted to head for Kevin’s car parked in the asphalted back yard of the building, as Nico set off towards the building on the other side of the street. Wait, you live just opposite of one another?! Kevin didn’t answer, of course, but I was truly astonished. F1 was way smaller than I’d expected it to be, then.

We climbed up another staircase and I could see Nico’s hands trembling as he fumbled for his keys. We entered the flat and the smell hitting my nose made me frown. Normally, sick dogs smell, you know? Not necessarily bad, but you can just tell, that something isn’t right, their weakened and tired. Nico’s flat smelled of nothing else but Zeus and Nico, tasty leftovers of Nico’s dinner and the same detergent Kevin used.

“He’s in here.” Nico pointed at Zeus laying on the sofa and I could see his disappointment of his dog not having moved in the slightest since he left the house.

Kevin and I both pretended we weren’t evading Nico’s space too much, as we entered the living room. Strange, for two males hating each other so much their rugs were quite similar and the cushions were exactly the same fabric, even the wall colour fitted with Nico’s being painted in just a tad lighter shade of green.

I trudged towards the couch, having to bend between the low table and the sofa and took a closer look at the black and white animal. His eyes were bright and his nose looked rosy, his breathing was shallow, but it could be because of the warmth in here…

Mh, I made mentally and nudged his back lightly. He didn’t turn around.

"Mh… you alright?” ”Yeah, sure, why’re you asking?”

Y- what?!

“He looks sick.” Kevin stated petting Zeus’s flanks ever so lightly with his fingers being instantly swallowing by black fluff. “Yeah, he hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday…”

”Yeah, because I’m fasting, idiot! It doesn’t just help you racing lunatics, you know?! Same rights for everyone!”

”Y- what?!” Now he did turn around and huffed as if he was in pain – which he wasn’t, he was perfectly fine.

”Aren’t they cute together?” I followed his line of sight and looked at Nico and Kevin silently debating, which clinic they should take Zeus to. ”I’m at a loss of words…! You’re actually pretending to be sick, so Nico has to take you to the clinic?! What kind of dog are you?!” ”For being at a loss of words, you talk a lot…” He huffed again and whined theatrically, a sure sign for the humans in the room to look at Zeus worriedly, Nico borderline frightened. Boys, he’s laughing, calm down, I thought and rolled my eyes.

”And you’re wrong, too, brownie. Wait a moment and you’ll see.” ”Elsa. My name is Elsa.” ”Great, I’m Zeus. I’d greet you properly, but that might blow my cover.”

I was still too shocked about that little cur’s shamelessness, to even register that Nico came over, lifted Zeus up and put him into a transportation box – doggy-bag.

“See ya!”, he chimed and I sat down for a moment to digest the news. Kevin saw and misread the situation once again (What was the matter with him today?!).

“This doesn’t look that good, huh?” I took a deep breath and said nothing.

The drive to the nearest vet was short and I was grateful for the quietude in the car. Kevin concentrated on the streets in stony silence, Nico bit his knuckles as if they were chewing toys and Zeus pretended to die any second. I sat in the back and sulked. Whatever his plan was, I didn’t get it and I didn’t want to be involved, either. I stared out of the window and watched the bright lights of “F1” flicker on every side of the road.

We arrived at the clinic and Kevin spoke as calmly as possible to the female in white behind the counter and she seemed very confused, as she looked alternately at Kevin and at Nico and back again. But unlike in Roskilde, when we met the female, who nearly jumped at Kevin, she was more confused and strangely satisfied with the two blond humans and their two dogs standing in an animal clinic in the middle of the night. humans and their strange behaviour, I thought and ignored all four of them.

Once Kevin had registered Zeus, we sat in the empty waiting room, Nico with his arms resting on his thighs and eyes fixated on the transport box and Kevin fidgeting with some vexation booklet. Then Kevin sighed and looked up, staring at Nico with an expression, I’d never seen before.

That was the moment, when I got it. In the exact moment, when Kevin placed a hand on Nico’s shoulder and squeezed and the tall man snapped out of his trance and smiled at Kevin. I perked up my ears, because that was the most beautiful smile, I’d ever seen! Honest and open and thankful and without any hint of arrogance or aggression. Nico nodded and petted Kevin’s knee. “Thank you.” “It’s dogs. We’d do anything for them.”

”See?” Zeus jeered from inside his box and I crouched down to look at him properly. ”So you pretend to be ill, so they spend time with each other. What makes you think this would work?” “I hate the women he brings along. And I like Kevin’s directness. I figured, it would work, since we dogs are the only things connecting them at the moment.” I shook my head in disbelief.

”You’re a terrible dog.” ”I grew up with cats.” Well, that explains a lot, I thought, but couldn’t help myself and wagged my tail a little. Zeus instantly grumbled ”Hey, stop being so happy, I’m awfully sick here! Come on, we need to keep our play up.”

So it’s ours now, I thought, but somehow this didn’t annoy me half as much, as it did earlier and a glance back at our humans proves the point.

So I didn’t answer and just kept looking at Nico and Kevin – busy having a quiet and calm conversation with Kevin’s hand still resting on Nico’s shoulder.

[heartslogos]

seas who could sing so deep and strong [128]

Alpha the kubrow is no less intimidating, big, or ominous than his Tenno counterpart. Not even with a fake red nose and little party hat on his head.

Judge is sitting down on the floor of Chic’s ship with Alpha the kubrow lying down next to him, head gently nestled on his paws, little tail idly wagging back and forth. His ears are always at attention, perky and perfectly poised to receive any orders given to him.

Alpha the kubrow quietly shuffles just a bit closer to Judge, a warm bar of heat and thick fur against Judge’s leg. Judge sinks his hand into Alpha’s fur and gives the dog some scratches.

Judge is absolutely as surprised as everyone else that Kore decided to show up on Chic’s ship for the winter solstice celebration that Chic is hosting for the six of them. Kore came up in her Nidus, then left her Nidus next to Judge’s Inaros and is permitting Percy the kubrow to deposit chewed up pieces of Corpus tech at her feet. Kore keeps tossing them and Percy keeps bringing them back as fast as her little legs can carry her.

The dog has reflexes. She’s jumped up to catch some of the pieces before they even hit the floor.

Kore is, of course, keeping her transference hood up and fully sealed, but she’s actually here and out of her Nidus so that’s something.

Judge looks down at the dog again and watches Alpha tracking Percy as she runs after the Corpus tech that Kore throws.

“Do you want to play?” Judge asks.

“No,” Kore says, turning to him. “He doesn’t like fetch.”

Judge raises his eyebrow at her.

“He can fetch,” Kore says, “But only because I tell him to. It’s not fun for him.”

“And how do you know?”

Kore reaches into Percy’s toy basket next to the Incubator and pulls out a strip of Grineer armor and throws it at him. Judge catches it and tosses it to the side. Kore bends down and scoops Percy up before she can go after it.

Percy barks loudly, little limbs stretching out and flailing as she tries to run after the black fabric, before twisting around to try and lick Kore through the hood.

Alpha stays where he is.

“Fetch?” Judge says.

Alpha’s ear swivels towards him before turning back to Kore.

“Fetch for Hades,” Kore says and the kubrow quickly gets onto his feet and trots off to retrieve the armor piece.

He picks it up and brings it back to Judge, softly putting it down on Judge’s leg. And then he lies down again. This time he’s turned a little away from Judge, like he’s trying to ignore him. Not the image of a particularly entertained kubrow.

“How do you play with him if he doesn’t fetch?” Punk asks, sitting next to Judge, shoulder bumping into his as he leans around him to look at the large black kubrow. “Hey, boy.”

Alpha’s ear flicks at Punk in acknowledgement.

Alpha the tenno sits down on Alpha the kubrow’s other side and the kubrow snuffles at his hand before relaxing.

“Give him the thing,” Kore says, walking up to them and practically throwing Percy the dog at Punk who catches her and is an enthusiastic recipient for Percy’s licks, wiggling everything, and delighted barking.

“Uh, like this?” Judge asks, holding out the armor piece close to the kubrow’s head.

“Yeah, just hold it there.”

Alpha the kubrow turns his head to look at Judge.

Judge continues to hold the item out and Alpha the kubrow gently takes the armor in his jaws and lightly holds onto it.

Judge moves to let go but Alpha does at the same time and the armor piece falls out of his mouth onto the floor.

“No, don’t actually give it to him. Just hold it for him,” Kore says.

“Okay,” Judge picks it back up and holds it out again. Alpha the kubrow takes it again, and again holds onto it very lightly. Judge doesn’t even see teeth marks forming. “Now what?”

“Just hold it,” Kore says.

“What?”

“Hold it. Just hold it.”

“Why?” Judge asks, baffled.

Kore shrugs.

“He likes it. Look at his tail.”

Judge looks down and the kubrow’s tail is, indeed, wagging happily.

Alpha the tenno starts petting Alpha the kubrow.

“That’s cute,” Chic says, walking down from the navigation deck, “No give, only hold. What a sweet puppy. Hey, the Empress says she’ll be here in like, ten minutes. Her Cephalon is giving her shit and she’s trying to argue it back on course.”

Judge can’t imagine anyone giving the Empress shit.

“She’s bringing her cat. So. Uh. Everyone just be ready for that.”

Judge swallows nervously, accidentally moving the armor. Alpha the kubrow just lets the movement steer his head.

Kore looks, suddenly, a lot perkier. “I love that kavat.”

“Of course you do,” Punk groans, clutching Percy closer to him. “Chic, can I just hide in your room?”

“It’s not a party if everyone but Persephone is hiding in my room,” Chic says. “Besides, that hell beast mostly just torments the Helminth and sulks in corners. We’ll be fine. Probably. I mean. He’s a well behaved hell beast. He’s just. Like. Stacked for a cat.”

“I think her kavat could eat all four of my dogs,” Punk says. “And have room for a main course.”

“You can look at it?” Judge says. “I black out every time.”

“I love. That. Kavat.” Kore repeats.

Alpha the tenno keeps petting Alpha the dog. “Jailer is nice.”

“The cat’s name is Jailer?” Chic says. “How come I’ve never known that?”

“I’m sure she said it at least once.” Punk frowns nervously. “How come this sounds completely new to me?”

“I black that part out, too,” Judge says.

“I love him,” Kore says firmly. “I would die for that kavat.”

“The list of things you love grows more by the day,” Judge says, “And I’m kind of wondering about the standards for getting on that list. I thought it was exclusive.”

“Just because her cat is on it doesn’t mean it isn’t exclusive.”

[myfictionalife]

Understand Me, Understand My Love.

“We’re sorry to bother you Sir, but we have a few questions to ask you regarding the restraining order Miss Lexi Jenkins has filed against you?” It was the older officer who began, he disgusts me they both do really.

“Alright, but I was under the impression Miss Jenkins was going to drop the charges today?” I asked somehow managing not to cringe, I hate calling My Angel that.

“And why would she do that?” This time it is the younger officer who speaks, I have a feeling he does not believe me, but I had a plan.

“Well when I spoke with her, after I was released, I explained that it was all a misunderstanding. And she was quite embarrassed as was I to be honest.” I slightly chuckled and looked sheepish.

“Where were you last night?” The older officer takes the lead this time.

“Well I was home all night.”

“Can anyone validate that?”

“Yes over a hundred employees.” I say this with an emotionless face but on the inside I am celebrating there is no way that these two want to interview 100+ employees over one missing woman. And even if they did, none of them would talk and Angel and I would be far way before anyone could do anything.

“Would you mind if we asked them?”

I shake my head, “No. please go ahead.” I can see it in the older officer’s eyes, his suspicion is starting to falter since I am being to compliant, but the younger officer was not being fooled; he was going to be a problem.

“Well, if you hear anything from her, please call us. Thank you for your time.” The older one hands me a business card, they bow and then leave.

“No, no thank you and here,” I hand them my business card. “Feel free to call me any time if you have any other questions.”

“We will, have a nice day, Sir.” The younger one says as they exit the door.

“You too.” I say, keeping smugness out of my voice.

As soon as those buffoons were gone I laughed heartily, the younger one would be back maybe but by then everything with Angel would be worked out and we will be gone.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The two officers left that house, one was fooled by his very convincing act and the other just had a feeling he was not all that he seemed to be. While the men were conversing Lexi had fallen to the floor sobbing into her hands. Her smaller dog, Rayne, wiggled her way into Lexi’s lap trying to comfort her crying master; her other dog Starr placed her shaggy head on top of Rayne’s back and wagged her tail when she placed a hand on each and began stroking their fur.

Hours passed and no one bothered Lexi while she has been locked in the most luxurious prison when finally Jo Min sends a maid, Min Ji to take Lexi down to dinner.

~Lexi~

I had absolutely no appetite I actually felt like I was going to be sick, like at any moment I was just going to vomit everywhere. But the message that Jo Min had the maid pass on to me made it very clear my attendance was mandatory.

This was the message;

‘If you do not come willingly I will be compelled to come fetch you my self, and you don’t want that, do you?’

I shuddered at the memory of his hands clasped around my neck as I followed the maid out of the room I was immediately boxed in by four large guards, the maid led the way to the dinning room.

When we entered the huge dinning room Jo Min stood from his seat a the head of the table, his eyes were gleaming with longing-like child looking at a toy he desperately wanted- it creeped me out to say the least. The butler who had been with Jo Min pulled out the chair to his master’s right, now I really didn’t want to eat.

“Thank you for joining me, I had hoped you would come.” He said in perfect English and was smiling and…blushing, I could only nod.

The maid, Min Ji, puts her arm out motioning me to the chair that was pulled out when I sit down the butler pushes me in, I can’t look at him. As he sits I can feel his eyes watching me, it scares me how familiar his stare is those eyes are the ones that had been watching me. The unnecessarily large table is filled from one end to the other with various dishes some I knew and others I didn’t. As I look up from surveying the table I see that his eyes have never left me, my eyes shifted uncomfortably down to my hands that were in my lap playing with a loose string on my shirt.

“I wasn’t sure what you were in the mood for so I told the chef to prepare everything” He said with a smile on his face, I smiled back and nod my head in response. “Eat.”

I wasn’t hungry but I was to scared of what he would do to me if I didn’t comply with his command, so I took a little bit of food and ate it.

~Jo Min~

I could tell she was afraid of me, I didn’t blame her she was forced to see the side of me that she was never meant to see. I was ashamed of my self, but I knew she would come to understand that I was not her enemy. All I had to do was get her to open her eyes to the real threat around her. I tell her to eat and to my pleasure she does. After dinner I ask her if she would like desert and she politely declines in a small voice. She asked of she could go back to her room, I wanted to spend more time with her, but I said ‘yes.’ I called her personal maid, Min Ji, to take her back to her room for the night.

~Saturday 6:30 A.M. Beginning of Day 2~

~N~

I have been up all night going insane wondering what he was doing to her, I knew in the bottom of my heart that Jo Min had taken her. But what really bothered me was that didn’t seem like the police were looking at him as a suspect. Somehow our amazing manager was able to get our vacation extended. The very thought of what that man could be doing to her made me sick and the thought that the police believed he was innocent made me even more ill. I ran my fingers through my hair, gripping a handful I bent over wanting nothing more than to scream.

“Lexi,” I whispered, “Where are you?” It sounded almost like a sob.

~Lexi~

I woke up early the next morning thinking that everything was just a horrible nightmare, but when I felt the plush blankets and pillows beneath me I knew that it was all to real. I pushed my self up into a sitting position, my small frame being slightly devoured by everything. I look around to see the maid, Min Ji, busying her self with cleaning the room in complete silence.

She looks up startled, “I’m sorry young Miss, I didn’t mean to wake you.” She says in Korean and bows.

“You didn’t. We’re the same age you know so young miss is a little weird.” I replied with my eyebrows raised.

She simply nodded which made me sigh, I assumed he wouldn’t let her be informal with me. I threw the covers off and Min Ji instantly runs into the en-suite to run a bath, when she comes back in she attempted to pick my clothes out for me but I don’t let her.

“No, no I’ll do that myself please.” I say as I walk over to the walk-in closet.

The entire front half of the closet is filled with gorgeous dresses and in the back there are pants of various colors and styles, a cross from those are shirts also of different colors and styles, then the entire back wall is a shelf filled with shoes of all kinds. I pick out a pair of cut up jeans, a pink over-sized sweater with a cat in specks on the front and neon pink ballet flats. I place everything on the counter, close and lock the door, and get in the bath, I just soak for a while letting the warm water relax me as I try to think of a way to get out of this hell hole. Finally, I wash up and get out, then I get dressed. I am still drying my hair with a towel as I walk out of the bathroom but I stop in my tracks when I see Jo-min sitting on the edge of the bed staring at the bathroom so intensely, like he was trying to will the door to open for him; when I step out he smiles at me.

“Did you have a nice bath?” He asks with that nausea inducing smile of his. I nod my response as Min Ji begins to dry my hair for me. “Gently Min Ji, she still has a slight bump on her head.” His fake kind tone agitates me.

I hate how he talks to people, like he is above all of them I want to scream, cry anything to show my frustration coursing through my veins every moment I spend in this place and in his nauseating presence.

“What would you like for breakfast my dear?” Jo-Min smiles at me.

“Whatever you would like.” I mumble.

“I asked what you wanted not what I would like.” He clenches his fists and jaw tightly as he speaks trying to keep his temper calm.

“Omu-rice.” I say quickly hoping to satisfy him.

He unclenches his jaw and fist to smile, pleased with my having answered him, he nods to the butler from yesterday who then buts his hand to his ear and speaks my order into a walkie-talkie relaying my order to the kitchen staff. The butler nods back his confirmation to Jo-Min who looks back at me with that smile still plastered on his face. When Min Ji finishes drying my hair Jo-Min rises from his position on the bed and begins to make his way to me. Out of instinct I back away, he still advances toward me until my back hits the wall effectively cornering me.

“I’m sorry for my ungentlemanly outburst yesterday, I assure you Angel it will not happen again.” He brings up his right hand to touch my cheek, letting his thumb run against it gently. I can feel the bile rise in my throat.

“mhmm.” I mumble as my lack of escape brings me no comfort with him this close to me.

He nods at my response and give me this look that he saves only for me, a look that a child would give to their favorite toy. I want to fight, to lash out at him, to escape but the thought of what he might do to VIXX -to N- makes me bend to his will, obediently. I decided to change the subject – to change his focus- from yesterday to going down to eat breakfast.

“Should we head down for breakfast now? Master?” He looks at me in confusion for a moment then laughs.

“Don’t call me Master, call me Oppa.” He smiles.

“Of course, Oppa.” I say with a very small smile.

After I call him Oppa we walk out of the room and down the spiral staircase side-by-side with guards surrounding us, Min Ji and his main butler Min Seok trailing behind. As we walk down the stairs a thought crosses my mind all of these people are aware that I am being held prisoner and yet none of them are willing to help me, they are all involved. The mansion he lives in is like a palace from a Disney movie but the atmosphere is the complete opposite. The dinning room is beautiful a large chandelier hangs above a large ornate mahogany table that could easily seat 20 people. Min Seok must have a twin because a man that looks exactly like him waits by the head of the table. Taking advantage of my momentary confusion Jo-Min takes me by the hand and leads me to the place set on the right of the Min Seok double. He pulls out the chair, as I begin to sit down he pushes the chair in pushing me close to the table then takes his seat to the left of me at the head of the table. A moment later my omu-rice is placed before me along with a mug of coffee.

“Six teaspoons of sugar and French vanilla creamer.” Jo-Min states proudly.

“How did you know I like my coffee like that?” I ask as my discomfort grows and I shudder at the thought of what he would say.

“My Angel, I have been watching over you for quite sometime, besides I should know what the love of my life likes. Don’t you agree?” He says before taking a sip from his own mug.

I nod my agreement but I am thinking about how messed up all of this is and I try to understand how he thinks any of this is okay, how this is showing me love.