#a big cat pawing at a little bat

[zeroducks-2]

Hi! Hello! Welcome to another episode of

Reading Comics For The Plot

(all panels from Batman: The Button)

Look, look! With the blood streak on his brow and that smirk, Eo looks just like the Comedian's yellow pin!

Baby Bat :3 (I assume Bruce is Baby because Thomas is the average sized Bat, at least in Eobard's mind that is)

Don't mind me, I'm still reading this strictly for the plot

HI UMM ARE YOU LIKE, GOING TO BEAT HIM UP MORE OR...

(jokes aside, this story is very good. Tom King's ability to write gritty shit combined with Williamson's ability of just... writing good stories really pays off in this one. Also, )

BONUS!

RrrR.

[redflagshipwriter]

Snitches the cat and his favorite bat

I wrote up dpxdc fics based off of prompts I happened to see in the last day to add to the reading pile for anyone who didn't prep for the archive down time today.

EDIT

The idea for Danny as a cat came from @shycorvid, thank you so much for correcting me and letting me play in your sandbox!

Snitches the cat comes from @garbagewith-a-cherryontop (I think??? I couldn't find a definite first post!) but the fantastic linked post is the one with how I think Snitches the cat looks here.

Word count is 1053.

Tumblr reference

masterpost for my AO3 downtime fics

“Ugh- that's not- did we just summon a demon cat?”

“It's so messed up looking. Ew.”

Danny blinked and swayed on his feet. He'd had a tail a minute ago, speeding across the GZ to check in on Walker. There had been an unpleasant lurch in his stomach. And now he was on his feet. All four of them.

Wait, what?

“You fucked this up.”

His ears twitched at the sound of a slap. Danny swiveled towards the sound and then got distracted by the feeling of his ears swiveling back. Whaaaaat?

He looked down at his precious little feeties. They were adorable paws.

“Oh, you motherfuckers,” he said. It came out as a conversational yowl.

The humans looked at him from about ten feet away and five feet up. “Annoying…”

He was pretty sure they were high schoolers. There were five of them, two girls and three boys. They were all bigger than him. High schoolers were usually bigger than he was, but this was just ridiculous.

“Count yourself lucky, dimwits,” one of the older kids said. He took a step towards Danny. Danny pressed his ears flat against his head and hissed at the approach. “If you managed to sacrifice Patches to a demon, your Mom would straight up murder you.” He laughed when he said it, like anything about that was remotely funny.

Uh- what now?

Only now, Danny noticed a very distressed calico cat underneath a laundry basket on the other side of the room. There was a stack of textbooks weighing the basket down. A large rug had been rolled up and- he sneezed rapidly, eyes watering. Chalk! They'd drawn on the floor with chalk!

‘This is some incompetent summoning,’ Danny realized, way too late. ‘Did they- how did they turn me into a cat?’ He looked at his unfortunate brethren under the laundry basket. Her ears were flat against her skull and she looked scared.

He remembered the word “sacrifice” and his blood flushed hit with fury. They'd wanted him to eat her! They'd wanted something to eat miss Patches!

The teenagers froze and looked at him, aghast at the angry sounds that were coming out of his throat.

“Shut up!” One hissed. She took off her shoe and threw it at him. Danny dodged and then threw his head back to yowl even louder. Sonic attack! Aural damage, you big jerks!

“The neighbors are going to- make it shut up!”

Danny had to run, dashing over furniture and tearing his way across a crowded table to avoid being grabbed. He screamed the whole time, eager to alert whoever they were so afraid of. Someone should see!

The window burst in.

Danny stopped running, shocked. He hadn't actually expected-

Someone snatched him up from behind and smacked him on the face with a palm. His jaw exploded with pain. It cut off his yowling.

Stunned. He was still for a moment and then he struggled for his life. The grip on his ribs was way too tight-

He looked over at the sound of a sword being pulled from a sheath. Holy shit, that was bomb as hell. His eyes went wide at the sight of a heavily armored small child crouched on the windowsill. The boy's eyes were covered, but Danny could still see him look at Danny and the poor calico under the laundry basket. He sneered.

“Unhand the cat or lose your hands at the wrist, you wretch.”

Danny loved him.

The teenager dropped him. Danny caught himself with a stumble. He let out a sad mraow before he could stop himself.

Fight club baby was enraged. “What have you done to this animal?” He hopped down into the room, revealing he was at least a foot shorter than the smallest girl in the room.

Danny trotted to him and started winding around his ankles admiringly. What a good kid! He purred.

“I will be taking both of your cats with me. If you ever harm an animal again, it will be your head that is found in a chalk-”

“Robin.” A hugeass grown man squeezed himself through the window that the kid had broken. Danny craned his head up, up, up, to see him case the joint.

The older man radiated incredible judgment. “I see that you require education on animal welfare and demonic summoning. Go on, Robin.”

“That's my Mom's cat!” One of the teenagers protested. “You can't take her!”

Robin growled at her. Danny jumped in his skin at the sound.

“Then we shall return it to your Mother and her alone, when we explain what you've done.” Danny let murder baby scoop him up and purred at full volume. Hell yeah. He looked at the cowering teenagers with condescension.

“Not that fugly thing.”

Danny blinked. He ended up making an inquisitive mraow. Why was a finger being pointed at him? He was baby.

“That thing showed up, you can get rid of it. But Patches is Mom's cat, and you can't steal a cat because-”

“Batman can steal any cat!” Robin bit out, gathered up Patches, and jumped out the window with both cats in an expert grip.

That didn't sound right, but Danny just enjoyed the night air as a line pulled Robin up to where yet another masked vigilante was waiting, cackling himself to tears.

“Batman can steal any cat,” he wheezed. “Brilliant. Good detour, Robin. Can I hold one?” He held out his blue-striped palms expectantly.

He faltered when he saw Danny, visibly surprised.

Danny… was starting to feel bad. He curled into Robin, hurt. He wasn't ugly. Why did people keep reacting to him weird?

“No,” Robin said curtly. “You have damaged his pride, and Patches is still reeling from her shock.”

The man let out a sigh but let the topic go. “That's Patches, and this is…?”

Robin hesitated. “He is the Snitch.”

That unlocked cooing. “Snitches? Snitchy Snitch Sni- ow!”

Danny snapped at the hand that came way too close and he let out a warning growl. No baby talk!

Robin seemed very pleased. He rubbed behind Danny's ears. “Snitch… I suppose that Snitches will suffice. We are taking him home.”

“....Maybe, just for fun, we should take him to get treated for mange first!” The guy made jazz hands to go with his statement.

Robin and Danny both growled that time.

[fanaroff]

DP X DC Prompt: It’s In The Cave

There’s an animal in the cave. At least, that’s the closest approximation. It cannot be caught on the cameras and any noises made only translate into static. Dicks says it’s green. Tim says it’s black. Stephanie insists it’s white. But Damian knows it’s all three.

The others can’t see it as well as Damian can, for the moment. It’s not a cat, but cat-like. It’s not a snake, it’s snake-like. There’s big, shining green eyes with their color not dissimilar from the Lazarus Pits. Tufts of flowing white hair white a body black body that trails off into a tail and pointed ears that flatten and raise. It looks alien. It looks like an animal. It feels familiar. Damian keeps it.

When it first appears, it’s only noticed at first because a few things are moved around in its haste to find shelter. That, and the little spots of green that trail after its first entrance inside. The green spooks them all, at first, thinking it’s Lazarus water. There are similarities, but it’s not quite the same. After a time, the green fades to red. There’s no recognizable DNA from any creature in it. They settle on it being an “alien.”

It’s always watching, always peeking. Snacks left for it are eaten quickly and sometimes vanish into thin air right in front of them. The longer they go without attacking it or trying to root it out, the more it seems to become comfortable with them. (Not for Damian’s lack of trying anyways.)

Dick tells him to “pspspsps” at it like a cat once, softly patting at the ground. When no one is around, he tries it while crouched between the cave wall and a piece of machinery he saw a movement between. The little thing “pspspsps” right back. He even sees a tiny paw with tiny claws mimicking his motions from under the machine. Damian decides right then and there that this thing will be protected.

Eventually, it starts getting comfortable enough to start showing itself more and soon they’re having to scoot it off of the keyboards in the Batcave. It’ll drag itself about, climb, and sling itself around their shoulders and gnaw with little teeth and claws on their gloves. (They go through gloves much quicker once this starts.) even Batman melts when it starts purring.

Originally, they were worried it was injured but after the time it was there, hidden, it seems to have healed from whatever it was. (Or they get to fawn over the little injuries and fix them up best as they can.)

It will only take food from Damian’s hands though and he lords this over the others with immense pleasure. Often, it can be seen wrapped around one of his hands and forearms like a snake, wiggling away and batting at its own tail-tip. Its growls sound like little blips of static and gargled nails.

Damian names him Phavadi (Marathi meaning that could mean a pickle or a mess, let me know if this is incorrect, it’s not my language.)

They aren’t able to find out what Phavadi is, at first. The Green Lanterns don’t recognize it. Martian Manhunter has never seen it and states that he is unable to read its mind. Like there is nothing there to grasp. (This starts a round of the birds cooing at Phav, calling him brainless, no braincells between them big ‘ol eyes, no thoughts head empty.) Starfire doesn’t know what he is, but is absolutely enamored.

It starts floating. That’s surprising, but also not. They knew Phav has some powers, it could go invisible after all. Gravity has no hold and now it happily makes its nests on top of their heads. When Phav somehow floats his way into the manor, this starts a frantic chase through the mansion to catch it and Phav thinks it’s a game. Winking in and out of existence, waving its tail from a chandelier. When Dick makes it up there to grab it, Phav just plops to the ground scaring the shit out of everyone. Uninjured, thankfully. Phav scoots off into the kitchen and is caught by a heavily scolding Alfred.

Sufficiently cowed, Phav is returned to Damian and the little thing starts sleeping in his room.

They don’t know that this entire time Phav has been following them on their patrols. Staying out of sight but watching with glowing eyes to make sure they’re all safe. An in-grained confusing feeling.

It’s when there’s a big-bad that things come to a head. The entire Justice League is called in and eventually Justice League Dark. The Robins insist on helping as well, they need all hands on deck.

Mid battle, Damian is about to take a hit he can’t dodge.

This can go one of multiple ways—

Angsty: little baby man Phav takes the hit and gets pretty injured. Left limp and unmoving to the distress of everyone. Constantine, seeing this thing is like “Oh. Oh shit. That’s a baby eldritch. That is an INJURED baby eldritch we are so FUCKED.” Because he knows that with this happening, its momma is about to come soon. Phav’s form starts to destabilize, little body starting to goop into a puddle of green. Damian is distraught. All he’s left with is a light blue, cold, glowing orb the size of a marble.

Ghost King: Suddenly, tiny Phav isn’t so tiny anymore. He’s grown to the size of a two story house, hunched and hissing. Eyes wildly glowing, claws out and very large, teeth dripping green, tail long and curled around his bats and robins. Constantine, upon seeing this, shouts “YOU DIDN’T TELL ME YOU HAD A BLOODY FUCKING ELDRITCH??!”

Feel free to add more or use this!

[diejager]

Tysm for blessing us with puppy girl reader <33

So I diiiiid see that your requests are open so I humbly request (on my knees fr) kitty girl reader head cannons???? Im partial to ghost or 141 but really whatever u want!!!! (muah)

Kitty hybrid!reader Headcanon

Pairing: Task Force 141 x cat hybrid!reader

Cw: DARKFIC, DUB-CON/NON0-CON, hybrid, smut, brat!reader, creampie, training, punishment, tell me if I missed any. We: 1.4k

You were an impulsive act from the team, wanting a little pet that wouldn’t demand too much time and attention, that was a independent pet that would be affectionate enough to pet an play. A puppy would demand to much attention, slobbering and rutting their legs if they had the chance, but a cat, a hissy but sly mess seemed better fit for a family that was always on the move and that would leave for an extended time period on missions, would be the perfect match.

Price made the purchase, but Ghost worked to train you, always the cat person Price knew he was. Ghost picked you up from the pound, a little store for abandoned and forgotten hybrids without a home. That’s where Price decided to find a pet, Ghost was ironically unsurprised, knowing his Captain’s streak of finding strays and feral things. It was a quaint place with warm-coloured walls and a chirpy scenery, everything was simply too calm and too perfect to seem sad and depressed, but he’d seen some hybrids pout and cry in their corners, saddened for being unloved and left to rot alone. 

He was expecting something sad or a ball of joy, but he wasn’t that surprised when the cat he went to pick up was a feisty one, glaring and hissing at him despite the neediness and affection you showed him when he scratched your chin. Chalk it up to Price to pick someone as bratty as the others in the team, he certainly had a type for strays. You fought him all the way back, hissing and baring your teeth at him, yet you turned around so quickly when he scratched and pet you in the right places, turning the wild cat into a docile kitty.

You weren’t hard to tame, you were easy to understand and quite the simpleton, simple needs and little expectations. All you needed was a warm bed, a quiet corner and a few spoils to keep you satisfied on the long run, nothing to extravagant or expensive like Ghost was awaiting. Perhaps it was your history of being left behind that made you ask for less, biding your time before you were abandoned again, ripped away from a life of slight luxury. 

Now that Ghost had reassured you that this would be your permanent home, telling you to ask for more than the minimum, you truly let go of your apprehension. You were still the feisty, little gremlin they picked up, sly and mischievous, but you were quick to ask for attention, patting Gaz’s knee for kisses, scratching Soap’s leg for treats, crawling over Ghost’s lap for caresses and interrupted Price’s work for a quiet place to nap. 

Both Gaz and Soap had a habit of spoiling you more than the others. When you wanted to be spoiled rotten with food, the person you went looking for was Soap, stalking the busy halls for the TF’s rec room, finding Soap lounging on the big couch watching whatever match of football played or movie that streamed. You pawed and meowed at him, forcefully taking your place on his lap and rubbing your face against his stomach. 

Soap was a soft and sympathetic owner, easy to bend to your will if you so much as batted your lashes or asked sweetly for a treat. Perhaps it was the way your tail swayed so softly, your ass perked up tantalisingly teasing, that plump ass of yours calling his name to strike it red. Or maybe it’s the way you cry his name, lips pulled into a pout and brows pinched in irritation when you didn’t get what you wanted from Ghost of Price before you ran to him. 

When you wanted to be pampered with adoration, you searched for Gaz, calling his name while you walked through the TF’s side, ears perked up to catch any sound or indication that you were on the right path. He was someone you liked to cuddle up to, feeling his hand run through your hair and scratch that itch you couldn’t get at the base of your tail —sensitive, but needed. 

Gaz was a rather tender and caring owner, his soft laughter and comforting embrace lulling you to sleep in his lap, tail curled around his calf, arms clinging to his shoulders and face buried under his jaw, nuzzling and breathing in the vanilla and woody scent of his. You would cling onto him for hours on end without letting him move or work, the neglected pet that demanded attention and love. He couldn’t reject you without you pulling a face, teary eyes and flushed cheeks, your ears drooping down and tail depressingly hanging between your legs. And the moment your little fangs poked out from under your lip, biting your bottom one until it threatened to bleed, he’d already agreed to become your bed.

Price was stricter with you than anyone else, more so than Ghost - your handler - was. He had a hard and unmoving hand, mind shielded from your doe eyes and pout, steeled to a T to prevent you from getting your way with him, and his character perfected to accommodate you without spoiling you too much. You were his best girl, but that didn’t mean he’d treat you like a pampered princess, he picked you for your tenacity and feistiness, someone strong and independant. 

Yet here you were, clawing and mewling at him, staring at him with teary eyes and a needy whine to have his attention on you. Fortunately, Price was a generous owner, occasionally letting you do as you wished, climbing onto his lap and somehow, you could nap on his lap and not fall off. If he was too busy to indulge you, he’d give you a harsh stare and order you to sleep on his couch where he left his jacket and a few soft blankets for you after he watched you shiver and whimper in your sleep. It stung his heart to watch his precious kitten shake and cry, suffer from his cold, lonely couch, so he got you whatever he thought you needed to feel cozy and comfortable when he was too busy. 

When you wanted some quiet, but didn’t want to be alone, you looked out for Ghost, your handler was the calmest of the bunch, a source of peace and solace. If you were bored from bothering Price, tired of Gaz’s petting or full from Soap’s stuffing, you ran to him for sleep, not just a short nap. He was the man you often slept with at night, taking up half his bed and cuddling up to him. He often woke up with your face nuzzled up his neck, nails sunken into his shirt and tail curled around his arm, waist or thigh. 

He was kind in his wrong way, letting you go scot free with many mistakes that he would reprimand others for doing: ripping his clothes, staring at his uncovered face, asking for kisses, demanding affection, and taking up his room like you owned it. You’re a little rascal, rubbing your face in all of his stuff and leaving stray furs stuck to his clothes, smothering him with your scent and body, taking up his bed, his sheets and his room as a means of showing off your possession. It amused him, your possessive nature of him and the rest, like the way he collared you in black lace to show people who you belonged to. That pretty neck of yours and the sweet voice that cried whenever he scuffed you too roughly was his.

You were a gem to live with, truly, but when you weren’t, you were a proper brat, one that needed to be punished. Needing a firm hand to put you back in your place with a hard fuck, ignoring your hiss and struggle while he pinned you to the couch. You might whine and fight him, but he knew you liked it - craved it - from the way your little cunt tightened around his cock, milking him dry of all his worth. 

You don’t take well to punishment, clawing and biting at them until someone ties you up prettily, leaving you vulnerable and unable to stop him from exacting your lesson. You have to learn one way or another, they can’t leave you spoiled rotten and keep pampering you if you’re a bad pet. 

Eventually, you’ll calm down and learn your lesson, tired out by four different cocks, holes filled and stretched out and cunt satiated. You were a cock and cum-drunk pet with your holes leaking cum, rolling down your ass and fur matted from being pulled on so much. You mewled tiredly and let them manhandle you as they saw fit, purring at every little touch of soft affection and easily moved to Ghost’s bed at night.

Hopefully, you’d listen to them when you woke up. 

Taglist: @sae1kie @yeoldedumbslut @bvxygriimes @distracteddragoness @konigsblog @im-making-an-effort @daisychainsinknots @0alk0msan @danielle143 @tuttifuckinfruttifriday @notspiders @brokenpieces-72 @petwifed @randominstake @cassiecasluciluce @hayleybarnesx @shironasumi @sparky--bunny @bloobewy @infpt-zylith @sweetnanah @aldis-nuts @evolutionarry

[externalmemorycomic]

Image description: A black and white illustration, designed to look like a book cover. On a decorative ribbon, the title at the top reads “External Memory”. A scroll work border of leaves and flowers divides the illustration into three rounded panels. The largest panel is in the center and shows a caravan surrounded by greenery, puddles and potted plants. The two smaller panels beneath it show a cartoon cat and mouse respectively, facing each other. At the bottom is another decorative ribbon with the text “a diary comic by My Murphy”. After the cover follows an 8 page comic. The style is cartoonish and the colours are soft pastels. Page one: An orange cat waves and says “Hello! I’m My.” The cat holds up a white mouse and says “This is Mouse, my girlfriend.” Caption: My name is actually My, but Mouse is a nickname for comic and privacy purposes. Caption: When I started this project, me and Mouse lived on a little island off the Swedish coast. The panel shows a stylised, tiny island with a lighthouse, spruce and birch trees, leaning houses and a little dock with a row boat tied to it. The cat and mouse are standing on the cliffs and a swan floats on the water in the foreground. Page two: Caption: Now we’ve moved to Ireland where we live in a caravan in the middle of nowhere. A small caravan, surrounded by greenery, overgrown trees, rocks, puddles and potted plants. The caravan has two windows and the cat and the mouse are looking out of one window each. Caption: We lived on the island to be close to my family. A ribbon with writing on it separates and labels four characters: “mom”, an ermine, “dad”, a wolverine, “brother”, a marmot and “step mom”, a squirrel. The ribbon has been torn in between “mom” and “dad”. Caption: and we moved to Ireland to be close to Mouse’s family. Three characters are shown, each with their own ribbon label. “mother-in-law”, a deer, “sister-in-law”, a jack russell terrier and “brother-in-law”, a hedgehog. Page three: Caption: Me and the mouse are currently in our thirties. The cat lounges on an antique fainting couch and the mouse sleeps on a cushion on the floor. On the floor is an open bag of “let’s” crisps and a laptop. Caption: We’re both pretty decrepit in various ways, so for this comic I draw couches and beds as often as I draw people. Caption: Disability isn’t especially interesting to me, but if a fish made an autobiographical comic… A fish under water paints a four panel comic with a brush held in its mouth. The panels the fish has painted show bubbles, waves and splashing water. Caption: …it’d probably be partly about water, whether the fish cared about water or not. Page four: Caption: My memory has always been pretty crappy. If a friend asks me: “do you remember when...” The question is shown asked by a red robin Caption: I usually have to answer: “no, I don’t.” The panel shows the cat giving this answer while looking away and blushing. Caption: There are many things in my life I’d like to remember. Mom the ermine watches as the cat opens a Christmas gift in front of a Christmas tree. The cat is much smaller than usual, its tail is bushy with excitement and it holds up a big book, “Mort”, with a skull on the cover. Caption: This comic is my EXTERNAL MEMORY so I can capture some of those moments… The cat admires a butterfly hovering above its outstretched paw Caption: …great or small. Page five: Caption: I try to make one strip per day, give or take. Pages with dates written on them blow off of a daily wall calendar by a strong breeze. As they turn over, comic pages are revealed to be drawn on the back. One comic shows the mouse with long fangs, biting the face of the cat and then hissing behind a bat wing. One comic is a pastiche of Tim Buckley’s “Loss” comic and one features a portrait of Frasier Crane and the Seattle skyline. Caption: and on the days when nothing interesting happens A close up shows the cat’s paw drawing a comic panel. In this panel a smaller, rounder version of the cat runs happily in the sunshine carrying a backpack. Caption: I reach back and draw something from my past. Caption: If you read this comic and wonder: A coyote looks at the comic on its phone, strokes its chin suspiciously and asks “did that really happen?” Caption: the answer is always yes. Caption: If you read this comic and wonder: A monkey reads the comic in zine form and think “did they really say that?” Caption: the answer is usually yes. Page six: Caption: When a specific phrase is the point of the strip, it’s recorded verbatim. The mouse says “you’re marching to the beat of the potato drum.” Caption: is a direct quote. Caption: When the point is something else, I sometimes take small liberties to make the memory fit well inside four panels. The cat sits at its drawing table, holding a pair of scissors in one hand and a paper with two comic panels in the other. Caption: Usually that means I make myself or the mouse play the part of the straight man because it will improve a joke. The cat and the mouse, dressed as clowns, stand in a circus tent. The cat pulls the clown nose from the mouse’s face and holds up a pie, ready to strike. Caption: In reality, neither of us is much of a straight man, but all art demands some sacrifices. Caption: In every way that matters, this comic always tells the truth. The cat looks up at a large, glowing, winged sphinx statue version of itself. The statue and framing is a reference to the all knowing Southern Oracle from the film adaptation of “The Neverending Story”. Caption: I am doing this to aid my memory after all, so it wouldn’t be very helpful to make my life seem more funny, interesting or relatable than it really is. The cat draws a comic while watching paint dry on the wall. Caption: That would be a pretty cruel joke to play on my future, more confused self. The cat scratches its head at a drawing of themselves as the winner of a beauty contest, wearing a sash and crown, waving to the crowd and holding flowers. Caption: She’ll probably have enough to contend with… The cat looks suspiciously at its own reflection in the mirror, not recognising it. The drawing is a pastiche of a panel from the webcomic “Gunshow” by KC Green. Caption: Maybe some of my comics will be funny or interesting or relatable to you anyway. That would make me very happy. The cat smiles and presses its paws to its face in joy, seeing that a bear and a horse are reading the comic together and laughing. Cartoon hearts float over the cat. Caption: Some of the comics probably won’t do much for anybody but me, but that’s okay too. The cat presses a page of the comic to its chest, looking contented and protective. In the last panel, the cat and the mouse are floating on air with a blue sky and white clouds behind them. The cat is smiling and twirling around, holding a paint brush out like a wand. From the brush flows paint that swirls around the two figures and making shapes of green leaves and orange and yellow flowers. On two looping blue ribbons appear the last captions: This is a record of my silly little life. Good or bad, I’m glad I get to share it. End ID.

Here’s a little introduction to External Memory! It was fun to make a proper neat and full colour comic - it’s been a while ^^

(If you like this project, please reblog this post! You can also subscribe to my patreon where I post one comic every day ^^)

[coffeeghoulie]

I'd love if you wrote more hockey dewther. You mentioned they shared an apartment when starting out so there had to be moments where those oblivious idiots acted like a couple or others thought they were already one. Any backstory insight would be lovely though.

so I knew exactly what to write for this one, the only person who knew this scene existed before you sent this ask was @askingforthesun, but you're right, there were so many moments that those fools acted like a couple long before they knew they had feelings.

featuring the beginning of Aether's journey into being a cat dad, Dew growing out his hair, and Swiss lovingly starting trouble.

also tagging @forlorn-crows and @nocturnalghoul for hockey shenanigans (though there's no real hockey in this lmao)

divider by @ghuleh-recs <3

"You looking forward to playing in the big leagues, Dew?" Aether asks, folding the last of Dew's many, many band shirts into a cardboard box, folding the flaps shut.

"Moving cross country again for hockey?" Dew takes a deep breath, slumping back against the back of the couch. "No's not the right answer, huh?" He says, packing his own box full of stick wax and tape and skate laces. "It's the majors. Of course I'm looking forward to it. I've been working for this for my entire life. I'm excited. Just. Um. I don't want to leave you all by your lonesome. You're codependent."

He snarks, but Aether's been in close quarters with Dew for two years, has lived with him for a season and a half. There's the bite of worry there.

Aether hums, eyes darting over as he hears the skittering of tiny claws on vinyl. A kitten scrambles into the living room, big amber eyes and red fluffy tail, as she chases a toy she's been playing with on legs too long for her body. Aether sets the box down, scooping up the kitten he'd gotten a few weeks ago. She's tiny, or Aether's hands are just huge, because she fits perfectly in his palms.

"Hello, little Lady," he coos, grinning as she purrs, rubbing her little cheek against him. He turns back to Dew. "Don't worry about leaving me, Dewey, I've got your replacement right here."

Dew's expression softens as he looks up at the tiny cat in his hands. "Gimme," he says, reaching out to Aether. "Gimme the baby."

Aether's never been able to deny Dew anything. He sets Lady down into Dew's waiting hands, her paws splayed out as she settles in his lap. Dew scratches under her chin and smiles at her, warm and toothy. The way he smiles when he thinks Aether can't see.

Lady's delighted by the change in location, meowing loudly and little ears flicking as Dew pets her. "Gonna miss you, little girl," he whispers, and Aether looks over at the boxes in their living room, pretending he can't hear. Most of them will go in storage, but the rest will get shipped to Dew's new apartment several states away.

"Yeah, probably shouldn't have gotten a kitten right before the season starts," Aether says. He sits down on the couch next to Dew. Not touching, but still close.

"She'll be good for you," Dew says, not looking up at him. His hair's just beginning to brush the tops of his shoulders. "I know you'll make a great cat dad."

His lips quirk up. "Aw, so sweet of you."

"Yeah, you know me, bruiser Dewdrop, so sweet," Dew says absentmindedly, reaching for one of the bundles of skate laces he'd thrown into the box. It unravels as he grabs it, and they both laugh as Lady's eyes lock onto the aglet. Her pupils blow from slits, fascinated.

She bats at the lace, little, white needlesharp claws extended. Dew smiles warmly, not looking up as Aether pulls his phone out. He makes sure that his phone is silenced before snapping the picture of two of the most important things in his life right now.

Eventually, Lady rips the lace from Dew's loose grip, rolling onto her back to bat at it with her hindpaws, ever the little hunter. Dew lets her play, turning to face Aether as he slips his phone back into his pocket.

"For real though, are you going to be good out here?" He asks, real, genuine concern slipping into his voice. "I mean, I'm sure I'm going to be seeing Kärnan on the back of a Ghouls jersey before long, but you good?"

Aether shrugs. "I mean, I got by just fine before I met you." He chuckles, and Dew turns back to the kitten. Soon, they will finish packing up Dew's things, and the apartment will be half as loud.

And because Dew's halfway across the country, there's no way that he will know when Aether gets that picture printed in a little glossy 3 by 4 and tucks it into his wallet. And it stays there.

It stays when Aether gets the call not even six months later, the Ghouls' first line defenseman having suffered a severe knee injury and needing a replacement while on injured reserve. Dew's right about his name on the back of a Ghouls' jersey. They're both surprised about how quickly he was right, though.

The picture stays for the four seasons he plays with the Ghouls, stays when he's voted captain twice in a row. It stays when he falls in love with his best friends, is accepted into their arms as one of their own.

It stays completely a secret until one winter night, warm lights on in their apartment. Snow's piling in the corners of the window panes, and Lady, full grown now and elegant, curls up on the couch next to Aether. He's got his laptop on his lap, one hand idly petting through her russet fur, the other typing as best he can. There's music coming from the kitchen, Swiss playing something from his phone as he finishes up making a bagel, late night snack. Water runs in the other side of the apartment, Dew taking a long shower.

Aether pats at his pocket, cursing softly under his breath when he remembers where he put his wallet when he got home that afternoon. "Swiss," he calls. There's the clatter of silverware in the sink, and he sticks his head into the living room, licking cream cheese from his fingertip.

"Yeah, Aeth?"

"Would you be a dear and grab my wallet?" he asks, smiling warmly. Swiss matches his grin.

"Sure thing. You getting the tickets?"

"Mhm," Aether hums as Swiss steps back into the kitchen. "It's not going to be that good a view to be watching hockey from, but it'll be nice to surprise them regardless."

"Very much so," he calls. It only takes a moment before Swiss is back, paper plate with his bagel in one hand and wallet in the other. He doesn't have a good grip on it, and it falls open, revealing that secret picture of Dew. "Oh, what's this?" he teases, jovial. "Who's that handsome young man?"

Aether snorts, even as color comes to his cheeks. "He doesn't know about that one, I'd like to keep it that way."

"Well," Swiss chortles, plopping down onto the couch on the other side of Lady. She mrrps, disturbed from her sleep, but she happily presses her face into Swiss's hand as he pets her. "I believe I recognize my step-daughter. This must be from before the big leagues, huh?"

Aether sighs, ignoring Swiss's favorite joke. "Dew'd just been called up. Half a season before me."

"God, how did you not know you were in love with him then," he teases, taking a big bite of his bagel.

Aether snorts and rolls his eyes, pulling a card from his wallet and typing in his information. "I don't know," he admits. "But I know now."

Swiss wraps an arm around his shoulders, pulls him in close over Lady's curled up form. "Yeah. We know now."

[brainrotbabe24]

Thorins company and a reader who travels with pets?? Birds, bats, lizards, SNAKES, CATS, TIGERS???

Hi!! Okay, so I immediately thought of them with a tiger and based this on that idea lol! Idk just the idea of the dwarves interacting with a giant tiger is so funny to me lol! 😂💖 Thank you!!

Balin: Balin isn't particularly interested in animals. He might give your pet the occasional scratch or pat on the head, but besides that, he doesn't pay much attention to them. But what would be the cutest is if he falls asleep next to the furry creature, and they end up snuggling. It's rare but very cute! 

Dwalin: Dwalin has a soft spot for animals. When no one is looking, he will baby-talk your big cat in the cutest voice, showering them with praise and love. You might catch him saying, "Oh, what a good boy!💖You killed those orcs perfectly. Who is the cutest ever!" 

Óin: Oin would be interested in observing your pet like a scientist. He would ask you questions, take samples, and even offer to clean its teeth or give it a bath. He wants to learn more about how a wild animal acts so docile. 

Glóin: Gloin is unsure, perhaps cautious. He isn't used to wild animals being pets and would be wary that it would kill the group as soon as it had the chance. He would keep himself far away and make sure his weapons were ready at any moment. 

Bifur: He would give your tiger so many kisses! He's the type who would let the pet lick his face and wouldn't mind if it got a little too close for comfort. Bifur just can't get enough of them!

Bofur: Bofur would come up with nicknames for your pet. It would be a running joke that he greets you and your pet with new, crazy, incredibly long, and ridiculous names. "Morning y/n! Morning Mr.Fluffy sparkle butt!" 

Bombur: Bombur would be terrified! It's such a large creature compared to dwarves, so he would be scared of being eaten. You would make him faint if you cleaned the tiger's teeth and were basically crawling in its mouth to get to the molars.

Ori: Ori would be very curious about your pet! He's never seen a wild animal be so tame and trained. He'd bombard you with questions and would eagerly ask Dori and Nori if they could adopt one, too.

Dori: Like Balin, Dori is indifferent. If the animal showed interest in him, he would acknowledge it but wouldn't go out of his way to play with the tiger. I feel like he would be allergic, too, lol 

Nori: Nori would try to teach your tiger tricks. He would try to teach them to give him a paw and roll over. He'd take pride in getting the animal to obey his commands. I could also see Nori praising it even when it was misbehaving..he loves the naughtiness. 

Thorin: Thorin respects your skills in training a wild animal. He finds it impressive and valuable to the company. He might not say it openly, but he is more at ease with you and your pet tiger. You also remind him of Dáin with his war pigs! 

Kíli: Kili would adore your tiger He would constantly give it snuggles and scratches, quickly becoming the animal's favorite due to his affection. You could not separate the two!!! They would do everything together, even sleep in a dog pile, lol! 

Fíli: Like Kili, Fili would love the animal. There is an instant bond between the two; your pet might listen to him more than you lol! Fili would also sneak treats over to it every night. 

Bilbo: Bilbo would be nervous around your tiger. He would be super anxious around it and would stand far away. You'd have to coax him to come closer so you could introduce him to your pet. For example, if you asked him to feed it, he would hold the food out at arm's length, hoping the animal wouldn't eat his arm. 

Gandalf: Gandalf is well acquainted with wild animals. Animals gravitate towards him, so your pet would love him. He gives off the vibe of a Steve Irwin. He is friends with moths, eagles, and many other creatures in Middle Earth.

[rabbitsrams]

Stella!! Tomorrow is Schlatts birthday :D (for me atleast, idk what time zone nyc has) Could you do something about him and reader? I’m thinking about how reader would just ABSOLUTELY spoil schlatt, or just like on any holiday. Doesn’t even have to be a holiday bro. But specifically on his birthday!!

Big guy turning 24 ‼️‼️💪

KASEYYYY YESSSS OMG <3333 i was planning to write a little smthn to celebrate his bday but time slipped away😭like i almost forgot it was this soon😭

it's still the 9th as im writing this but i will schedule so it's posted 12am austin time so HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG GUY <33333

little bit of suggestive stuff under the cut but mostly bday fluff <33

♡ okay. so.

♡ september 10, 12am. you and schlatt are probably already awake (night owl moment) but once the clock hits 12, you're all over him

♡ "HAPPY BIRTHDAY J!!!!"

♡ just showering him in kisses and hugs

♡ schlatt's not really a big birthday guy. doesn't really want to make a big deal about celebrating or anything. as long as he's with you and the cats that's all that matters.

♡ but not you. you've got a whole day planned.

♡ he wants to get back to editing but you're dragging him to your bedroom to give him his... first gift. (wink)

♡ BIRTHDAY HEAD LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOOO

♡ he falls asleep after and because he's a deep sleeper (lowkey he gives deep sleeper but correct me if i'm wrong), you take the time to bake him a little cake.

♡ box cake, yes, but his favorite flavor of box cake :)

♡ and besides, you've got another one hidden in the freezer.

♡ you take an hour to frost it with his little ram guy (as best as you can draw it)

♡ it's the schlake!!!

♡ also as the cake is baking you take the time to decorate the house with silly little decorations (happy birthday banners, balloons, etc.)

♡ after all that you go to sleep

♡ he ends up waking up earlier than you

♡ is super surprised but happy to see the decorations

♡ doesn't want to wake you cuz you sleeping soundly by his side, head resting on his chest is the perfect gift.

♡ but he knows he has to eventually since jambo and the other guy paw at him so he can feed them

♡ him just marveling at the decorations all around the house

♡ he laughs so hard (in a happy way) seeing the schlake your decorated cake

♡ that causes you to wake up hehe

♡ you rush to the kitchen and see him just so happy🥺🥺🥺

♡ "do you like the cake?"

♡ "i love it." then he takes you into his arms <3

♡ this man loves you so much

♡ and you love him so much

♡ cake for breakfast!!!

♡ again he doesn't really wanna do too much but u insist on taking him to a batting cage <3

♡ smthn simple, yes, but you know how much he loves baseball :))

♡ it's kinda hot to watch him hit the baseballs ngl

♡ then going to dinner his fav korean bbq place :)))

♡ then going back home to have a chill rest of the night together

♡ opening presents too <33 getting him a ton of sweatshirts u found on ebay <333

♡ again i don't rly see schlatt as someone who wants to rly celebrate his bday

♡ but he still very much enjoyed the day with u <33

♡ happy birthday big guy ilysm <3

[jobean12-blog]

Finding Home (10)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader (Animal Rescue AU)

Word Count: 1,887

Summary: You and Bucky make a big decision and you're overwhelmed with happiness... for everything.

Author's Note: So this is the final chapter for my Finding Home story with Animal rescue!Bucky! I'm sorry it took me so long to get to this but then the Buck's and Noble server Summer Send Off Event gave me a great idea (using the song September, by Earth, Wind and Fire-listen HERE) on how to end it and my sweet friend @newgirlintheneighborhood sent me THIS great post that just made it all come together. Thank you all for the inspo. You can definitely read this as a stand alone but I will give you a few little bits of info just in case:

-Bucky and Sam own an animal resuce called Shelter to Soldier which helps rescue animals find homes with veterans (and everyone else too)

-Reader first saw Bucky when he was walking Alpine on a leash down the streets of the city

-Bucky has his metal arm in this AU since he's a war hero/veteran and he's come a long way both by himself (with Sam's help) and with reader in their relationship

-He rescued the dog Winter (mentioned in this story) and he's a white German Shepard with three legs (he's a war vet too)

-Bucky rescued Alpine from the streets and the cat has been a big help during his rehab

-This part takes place about 2.5 years after reader and Bucky have met

Thank you all so much for reading! Much love always! ❤️❤️❤️Divider by the lovely @firefly-graphics Thank you Daisy! 🥰

Warnings: lots of super soft and sweet fluffs, LotR references, the animals and kisses!

Finding Home Masterlist

The morning light peeks through the thin curtains of your bedroom, warming and illuminating your skin. You slowly open your eyes and see Bucky’s soft profile, his eyelashes fluttering ever so slightly with his even breathing. Winter is at the base of the bed, keeping your feet warm, and Alpine is perched atop the spare pillow on Bucky’s other side.

The moment you shift your feet you hear the thump of Winter’s large white tail and then feel him rise up and do a big downward dog stretch.

“Oh big stretch Winter,” you coo quietly, giggling as you watch him try to tentatively hop over Bucky’s body to get closer.

Alpine lifts his head and blinks at you several times then seems to glare at the dog who is still desperately trying to find a place to settle between your body and Bucky’s.

Bucky starts to move, his long legs tangling even more with yours as he wraps you up and curls you into his bare chest. Winter finally finds a suitable spot next to Bucky, the dog’s big white body pressed into his side and his tail still thumping on the bed.  

“Mornin’ doll face,” Bucky mumbles as he nuzzles your neck.

Winter let’s out a small whine and pushes his wet nose into Bucky’s skin while Alpine paws at the top of Bucky’s head.

“And mornin’ to you two fuzzballs,” he adds, peeping one eye open to survey the bed.

The moment he locks eyes with Winter, the dog scoots closer like a worm and starts to nose his shoulder. Alpine promptly joins in by chasing the glittering rays of sunshine that dance along Bucky’s metal arm every time the breeze blows through the curtains.

“It’s a party already,” Bucky chuckles.

He pulls you impossibly closer and hums into your skin, placing a soft kiss under your ear.

“Morning baby,” you whisper, inhaling his scent.

Winter, apparently unhappy with the possibility of you two going back to sleep, starts to lick Bucky’s cheek and cover it with kisses. Bucky’s large hand lands on Winter’s head and he scratches him before lightly giving him a shove.

“Winter, down boy,” he says. “I’m busy.”

Winter doesn’t give up, only shimmying closer and becoming more determined in his quest for kisses. You sit up and take in the scene, smiling widely when Alpine starts to bat at a piece of Bucky’s long hair that’s laid out across the pillow.

Without warning you lean down and press a big kiss to Bucky’s other cheek. The corners of his eyes crinkle with his smile and you continue to pepper his skin with kisses, hitting every spot you can find.

Winter seems to catch on as his tail swishes faster and he keeps up his licks on Bucky’s other cheek. Your lips trail along Bucky’s jaw, then you nibble his ear, then move back down and cover the whole side of his face with more kisses, catching the corner of his mouth before doing it all over again.

“Best. Morning. Ever,” he sighs.

After several more wet kisses from Winter and sweet ones from you, and even a few paw bats from Alpine, Bucky slips free and flips you over onto your back, dislodging everyone in a heap of blankets and pillows.

“Oops,” he says sweetly, but there’s mischief dancing in his eyes. “My turn!”

He pins you down with his body and proceeds to smother you with feather light kisses on every inch of skin he can find. You arch into him, wiggling beneath his body which makes him rumble with pleasure.

His kisses become slower as he moves along your neck and when he reaches your lips he hovers just above them as he stares into your eyes.

He brushes his nose to yours and presses a kiss to your mouth before slowly rocking his hips.

You moan out his name and nibble his lip before pulling away.

“What?” he pouts. “I was just getting started on having you naked.”

You smile against his lips. “I have an idea for a wedding date.”

His pout disappears as happiness takes over his expression.

“I’m listening doll,” he says, but continues to place butterfly kisses along your face.

“So we had talked about Fall and I was thinking September might be nice. Not too cold but hopefully not too hot if we do it toward the end and there’s a special date that would be perfect.”

“Still listening,” he hums as his lips graze your collarbone. “Which date?”

“How about September 22nd.”

He stills, his lips still pressed to your skin. “I know that date,” he muses, finally lifting his head to meet your eyes. 

You nod with a giggle.

“It’s Bilbo and Frodo’s birthday!” he says excitedly. “That is perfect!”

“YAY!!!” you squeal, doing a dance under him.  

He sits up and pulls you into his lap.

“I can’t wait doll,” he whispers.

“Me either Bucky.”

“We just need to find the perfect spot.”

“Exactly.”

You both sit in comfortable and cuddled silence for a few moments before he breaks it.

“What about in Central Park? I bet there’s a tree we could find that’s big like the party tree in the Shire!”

“You’re such a dork and I love you.”

He beams at that but before he can get you under him again, Winter has nosed his way between you two, impatiently asking for love too.

“Alpine and Winter are coming to the wedding of course,” you add.

“Of course doll,” Bucky says. “Besides, I think they would be like Merry and Pippin and invite themselves anyway.”

You bury your head in his chest and laugh.

“So September 22nd is our day,” you whisper, toying with his dog tag.

“September 22nd,” he echoes.

He’s just about to kiss you when your eyes go wide and you yell out, “OH! And we can play that song at the wedding and on every anniversary…you know the one by uh…um…it goes ‘do you remember…’.”

He studies you, waiting for you to think of more.

“Is this a song from Lord of the Rings?” he asks, looking confused.

“No, no, it’s by…OH MY GOD Bucky, it’s an older song…”

As you start to recall the lyrics you sing them and shake your body to the rhythm.

His face brightens in recognition and he grabs his phone, typing quickly into Google.

“Got it,” he chimes just before ‘September’ by Earth, Wind and Fire, starts to play.

You both start to sing along and Winter begins howling with his pack, much to the dismay of Alpine who seems to want to disappear into the pillow.

“Wait!” Bucky says, pausing the song. “Don’t they say the 21st night of September?”

He clicks on the lyrics and rewinds the song, singing along as he reads. “Yep they do!”

“But that’s not Hobbit day!” you say.

“We’re definitely sticking with the 22nd baby doll. It’s perfect.”

In a fit of excitement you curl into Bucky’s arms and kiss him all over. Winter takes the opportunity to smash himself under Bucky’s arm and even Alpine saunters over to join in the happy cuddle pile.

~September 21st of the next year~

“You need…”

Those are the only words you get out before Bucky’s mouth is on you again, your body pressed into the wall and his hands wandering under your shirt.

“Bucky,” you gasp, gently pushing on his chest. “You need to go. Nat will be here soon and then we’ll never hear the end of it!”

He pulls away slightly but lifts his arms so he can plant both his hands along the wall on either side of your head, caging you in.

“I don’t wanna,” he whines. “This is the last night before you’re officially my wife and I want to make it count.”

“We spent all day making it count,” you giggle, grabbing his shirt and pulling his mouth back to yours.

Your fingertips trace the broad width of his shoulders before delving into the hair that hangs loosely at the nape of his neck.

“Thought I needed to go doll face,” he smirks against your lips in between kisses.

His metal fingers dance along your skin, inching higher until he’s toying with the little boy in the center of your bra.

“I should never have agreed to this girls night,” you pout.

He nibbles on your extended bottom lip before deftly unhooking the clasp of your bra.

“Now who’s whining,” he teases.

“Buck!” you squeak. “Fix that!”

“Well, lemme see here,” he starts with a grin before he lifts your shirt so he can stick his head under it.

Instead of fixing your bra he kisses your skin as he loosens the silky fabric more.

“BUCKY!” you admonish playfully as you try and push his head out. “You’re stretching out my shirt!”

“It’s my shirt,” he says from inside, his voice muffled.

There’s a loud knock on the door followed by Nat’s excited shouting.

“Shit,” you grumble. “Shit, shit.”

Bucky reluctantly pulls his head free but not before he has you pinned to the wall again and he quiets any of your protests with his kiss.

When he pulls away you’re breathless and flustered.

“I’m going out the fire escape,” he says with a wink.

“What?!? You can’t do that!” you whisper shout.

“Better than getting yelled at!” he says as he grabs your hand and rushes into your bedroom and to the window.

He opens it and then turns back to you, pulling you into his arms and kissing you breathless all over again.

“I love you. More than anything. And I can’t wait to marry you.”

“I love you the most Bucky. I can’t wait either.”

With one more kiss he slips out the window and starts to climb down. The banging on the door becomes louder but you can’t tear your eyes away from him.

“Give Alpine and Winter kisses for me!” you shout down to him. “And Sam too!”

You giggle when Bucky gives you a scowl.

“Sam will be lucky if I don’t punch him,” Bucky jokes. “And don’t worry, I’ll make sure the babies are well loved and ready for tomorrow!”

Once he safely reaches the ground he looks back up and blows you a kiss, mouthing ‘I love you,’ before running down the street toward Sam’s apartment.

You watch until he’s out of sight then rush to the door and open it.

“It’s about time!” Nat screeches. “Is he here!?!”

“NO!” you say and throw up your hands in surrender. “It’s just us girls. Not even Alpine and Winter are here!”

She pushes past you and looks around suspiciously.

After a thorough inspection she turns back your way, one eyebrow lifting to her hairline.

“WHAT!?” you ask, going to cross your arms over your chest.

You stop mid gesture, realizing your bra is still unhooked and hanging off you under your shirt.

Nat stares at you and you stare back but it only lasts a few seconds before you both burst into laughter.

Once you’re calm again, Nat asks, “he just left didn’t he?”

“Down the fire escape,” you giggle.

“I knew he was perfect from the moment we saw him walking Alpine across the street,” she states with a warm smile.

“Me too,” you reply dreamily. “Me too.”

@blackwidownat2814 @buckysdollforlife @goldylions @hiddles-rose @randomfandompenguin @book-dragon-13 @lizette50 @mazarinqueen @matchat3a @abigailbeloved @pineprincess @lalalalokii @blossomedfloweroflove @danireal17 @ginger-swag-rapunzel @buckybarnessimpp @mugi-chwan95 @hibernocaledonian @gloriouspurpose01 @adoringsebstan @aedicn @thepurpletie797 @buckrecs @openup-yourmind @lettersandsodas @kingfleury @moonlightreader649 @kmc1989

[scarlet-ancunin]

omg BATSTARION, please can you please write about Tav being a druid ( a cat or dog whatever you like) who visits a cave just to visit Batstarion, and then one day Astarion is normal sitting in the cave waiting for the cat to visit and when they do it is Tav and that is the first time they see each other as there normal self.

A/n: heh sure okay, and because Astarion is a cat person and we purr for him i will make our gn Tav a cat but they will also be a druid for obvious reason. Enjoy~

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧

We Meet Again

Tav made it a tradition to visit a cave near the beach at Baldur's Gate it was secluded and did have a pretty sight of the ocean and the sunsets. Today was just like any other day, small black paws trailed along the familiar path towards that cave entrance.

Being a druid came with perks and this certainly was one of them since said cave wasn't exactly big it was small so by rights of being this size Tav deemed it a cave to them.

The question was, why did Tav visit this cave? They always seemed to come three times a week when they had business near this part of the city. Well as they crawled into the falled rubble they walked along until they hopped on top of a large but smooth surface.

"Meow" Tav called out softly and after a few moments They could hear the familiar flap echoing before a white bat with a unique curl of fur on top their head, with red eyes and cute little fangs of course their perception failed since they didn't had a red flag seeing them.

The bat simply plops on Tav's cat body and squeaks loudly flapping his wings as if happy to see them. The other perk of being a druid a special ability to speak to animals without spending money on animal speaking potions.

"Hello darling its been to long" The white bat squeaks at the end and flops dramatically on Tav's furry back. They rolled their eyes lays carefully as to not disturb the moment. "It was only a day ago i saw you" "still long as far as im concern, now say your sorry"

Tav's ears twitch lightly before saying sorry which seemed to brighten his mood once more. In truth Tav felt bad to be deceiving the cute little white bat since they can shift to human but they was thinking about taking them home where they can see the sights instead of being stuck in a cave. Sometimes they would bring him something to eat insects. He appreciated the kind gestures but Tav noticed he would look dazed whenever it was brought and they seemed sad on those days so Tav rarely does it luckily Astarion informs they he does eat.

Tav also had a odd infatuation with this dramatic Bat, sure it wouldn't be normal but they always wanted to be with him whenever they can and spend as much time as possible.

Tav decided to do something different today "when the sunsets can we sit at the beach" the bat scrunch his tiny face "thats new why?" Tav ears went back their paw lightly pushing a stray pebble Astarion found it cute seeing that meant they was embarrassed.

"I wanted to see the stars with you. Thats what your name means after all" Astarion was surprised by this squeaking cutely and flapping his wings before crawling over cutely and climbing unto Tav's back once more "only if you carry my last thing i want is my nails getting dirty by sand" he complains and They purr loudly as if happy. Luckily no one mentioned it.

The calm waves was soothing to hear whole the stars seemed to give them a beautiful scenery twinkling away like a person that is carefree.

Tav sat on the sand looking at the Moon slowly rising reflecting nicely on the ocean waves while Astarion was resting on top of there head squeaking happily. "Your right this is nice" he sniffs the air making his little nose twitch before looking down at Tav having the sudden urge to bite them. So he does and nips their ear making the black cat yelp low and hiss "Astarion you promised you wouldn't do that", "At that time not now so it doesn't count" he turned his little bat head to the side slightly and squeaks.

They stayed they way until Astarion slowly fell asleep on top of Tav while they curled up. Of course Tav woke up in time to gentle wake Astarion to head back inside since they had to go there was a sad look in his eyes if the sudden wetness around the cute red pupils didn't say anything. He made his way back inside whole Tav ran back to the city tiny paws left behind.

There was a week since Astarion last saw Tav. He missed them he also felt bad for lying to them because this was not his form. He made up his mind to take Tav home with him so she won't live on the streets anymore. His home wasn't big but it was in the corner of the city and blocked the sun a little better.

When the wall of the cave he was in crumbles more and a human crawls in now they both stare at each other shocked "your-" Astarion says at the same time Tav says "your not"

Now they stare at each other Tav slowly feeling a blush growing since the man before them was very handsome. "So your not an actual bat" Tav asked suddenly after they realized they was staring.... Respectfully. "Clearly not darling, but your not an actual cat so i suppose we both are full of surprises"

Tav chuckles and suddenly hugs Astarion which surprised the man but he slowly responds to it slightly awkwardly but he surprisingly welcomed it to it felt nice. Upon agreement Tav wanted Astarion to stay with them so they wont be alone and possibly make more money together then separate. Which Astarion agreed to after informing them he was... well a vampire Spawn which Tav didn't mind oddly. "I figured it out finally when you keep nipping me on those occasions and the bite mark on my cat ear left two tiny holes"

"Its sunny outside i cannot-" "turn into a bat and go inside my cloak" Tav said this to happy and almost as if they hoped he would. "Uh. Okay" he ignored how they whispered yes happily before shifting into a white bat with that same unique curl before slipping into their cloak tiny head peeking out which They happily pet the top of earning a content Squeak.

"Im truly happy i met you Astarion"

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧

Narrator: Little did Tav know the small creature in their bossom was just as happy to have met them.

Hope you like this~

BTW your welcomed to send me Batstarion and im oddly interested in Astarion being a father he deserves to be happy so you can send me those as well yep :)

[slaymitchabernathy]

Play Nice

“You are an absolute brat and I loathe you,” Coriolanus grits out, covered in sweat, scratches and a little bit of blood as he wrangles her down to the tiled bathroom floor, “I wish I never let you move in with me.”

All that he gets in reply is a hiss and a frustrated yowl.

“Is everything alright in there?” Soarynn calls from the bedroom.

Coriolanus glances at his reflection in the floor length mirror. He looks absolutely pitiful like this. Soaked with bath water, his curls sticking to his forehead, his hands scratched up as he attempts to pin down an eleven pound cat to the ground.

“Perfectly fine darling,” he calls back.

Petunia lets out a loud meow, so loud that you’d think he was strangling her which is fucking impossible the way she’s wiggling around. “This is only going to serve as a momentary lapse in our relationship,” he gasps as he finally manages to get her to hold still, “all that’s left is drying you off and clipping your nails.”

Easier said than done.

Ever so carefully, he reaches for the towel he left on the floor, wrapping it around her until she looks like some sort of puffed pastry. Petunia does not look happy but Coriolanus can’t find it in him to care about that right now. “You’re an absolute diva,” he tells her, shooting the feline a small glare, “you had me fooled in that pet shop all those years ago.”

Coriolanus had gotten Petunia as a gift for Soarynn, as means to give his girlfriend some company while he was away at work. He hadn’t expected the cat to become a tyrant in his own home, prancing around with ribbons on her neck, batting at his ankles and sleeping right in between them.

And she stole his socks. Some things were just unforgivable to him.

She looks a bit like a wet rat right now. Soaked to the bone but he is too. Her normally fluffy, white fur is smoothed down making her appear much smaller than she usually does. Petunia is a ball of fluff, if only her attitude could say the same.

“Do you need help Coryo?”

His eyes widen at his girlfriend’s question and he’s quick to shoot it down. “We’re fine! Just rest darling.”

Normally, Soarynn took on the brunt of Petunia’s personal hygiene. She brushed the cat at least ten times a day and cats are quite clean overall so it was rare for Petunia to be bathed. Usually, they handed that task over to their trusted veterinarian but the vet was closed today and while Soarynn could bathe Petunia with no problem, she wasn’t feeling well. Menstrual cramps seemed to be a constant issue where Coriolanus was concerned. He hated them. Hated how they made the love of his life feel, how helpless she became, how she whimpered in pain as she curled up in a tight ball.

So on the day she had planned to give Petunia a bath, he bravely stepped up to the task. How hard could it be? Petunia was always so well behaved when Soarynn bathed her. Coriolanus even had a photo of Soarynn holding up a swaddled Petunia in her arms, almost like a child with a big smile on her face.

Petunia however, seemed to be dead set on making him regret his selfless decision as she attempted to free her paw to swat at him. “Save your tears for someone who cares about them,” he tells the cat as he ruffles the towel and attempts to dry her off. He glances at the hair dryer that sits on his girlfriend’s side of the bathroom counter but that’s too risky. Water and electricity are a terrible match and with his luck, he’d electrocute both of them.

He’ll just stick with the towel.

꧁ ꧂

By the time he’s finished with the battle of drying and clipping the cats fur and nails, Coriolanus feels as if he’s lost a good two years of his life.

It’s damn near ironic how she happily prances out into the bedroom once he opens the bathroom doors, gasping for air. Petunia runs over to the bed, effortlessly jumping onto it and immediately seeks out Soarynn for comfort.

He can’t see his girlfriend all that clearly with the amount of pillows and blankets she’s got covering her but he hears her chuckle at his attempt of a ribbon around Petunia’s neck. “Oh, you gave him a run for his money, didn’t you my darling?”

Coriolanus scoffs and smooths his hair back as he walks around to her side of the bed and finds her curled up with her heating pad. Petunia is already lying down, her stomach on full display as Soarynn gives her belly rubs. “If our children are anything like her then we’ll need to hire a full-time nanny,” Coriolanus decides right there and then.

Soarynn smirks as she slowly attempts to sit up but he gently pushes her back down. She needs to rest, that’s why he so stupidly agreed to do this suicidal task in the first place. “You know, I do have to move at some point,” she softly reminds him. Coriolanus nods, he knows that Soarynn can’t lie here forever but he’s set on keeping her here as long as possible. Where she’s safe and warm and loved.

Petunia meows, seemingly upset that the attention is no longer on her. “I think if we gave you to Dr. Gaul she’d send you right back,” he says, not at all impressed with the innocent display Petunia is putting on. She hisses at him and tries to swipe at his hand when he reaches for Soarynn.

Soarynn rolls her eyes and scratches the cat between her ears, “Play nice you two.”

Easy for her to say. The cat is obsessed with Soarynn, wants to follow her everywhere, be with her while she showers and brushes her teeth.

Which is unfortunate because Coriolanus is also obsessed with Soarynn and wants to follow her everywhere, and be with her while she showers and brushes her teeth.

If he knew he was in for some competition then he would have gotten her a fish.

“She refuses to share you with me,” he grumbles as he carefully sits on the edge of the bed, his hip next to Soarynn’s head. Soarynn gives him a small smile, “Sounds like someone I know.” He ignores her teasing and runs a loving hand through her soft blonde hair, “Well, that someone clearly adores you with all his heart and made a great sacrifice today by bathing that cat.”

Soarynn giggles and presses a kiss to Petunia’s head, “He also replaced the silk ribbon I normally tie around her neck for a necktie.” Well, now he’s embarrassed. And the tie looks rather sharp in his opinion and Petunia clearly doesn’t mind as she bats at it with her paws. “He was a man with few resources who was trapped with a deadly beast,” he tells her somberly, “be glad he made it out alive.”

Soarynn looks up at him and he nearly melts right then and there at how beautiful she looks.

She’d deny it if he told her how perfect she looks right now. She’d claim that she hasn’t showered yet and that her hair isn’t properly styled and that she hasn’t eaten a decent meal since yesterday afternoon but he doesn’t care. He’s sure he’ll see all sorts of sides of her as their relationship grows and matures. He’s going to hold her hand when she pushes their child into the world and Coriolanus doesn’t doubt that she’ll look absolutely beautiful when she does it.

“Thank you for giving her a bath,” she says. And suddenly all is forgiven. The headache he has is now vaporized. The cuts on his hand healed. His damp curls dry and styled to perfection. Everything seems to be alright with her by his side.

“You’re very welcome my darling,” he replies before leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. He feels a soft sensation on his cheek and in his peripheral vision he can see Petunia rubbing her head against his cheek. Soarynn lets out a breathy laugh, “Looks like all has been forgiven then.”

Coriolanus smiles to himself as Petunia crawls onto Soarynn’s lap and curiously observes the heating pad.

Petunia can be a real pain in the ass. But when he sees how happy she makes Soarynn, how much more Soarynn laughs and smiles because of that cat, it all seems worth it in the end. After all, these are the two most important women in his life. He ought to take care of them.

| tumblr oneshot/drabble |

[writingduhh]

Ted headcanon, trying to convince him to get a pet and he settles on getting a lizard or a cat

SO CUTE I LOVE IT RAHHHH

Ted Nivison || Pet Dad

You’d been on a mission for weeks. You’ were determined to convince Ted that his life wasn’t complete without a pet… And frankly, neither was yours. It started with casual mentions and evolved into a full-blown campaign. You would regularly reposting or mentioning cute animal videos, hoping that Ted might subconsciously come around to the idea. But he remained stubbornly skeptical.

One evening, you decided it was time to up your game. After a long day, you both flopped onto the couch, and Ted was immediately absorbed in a game on his phone. You, on the other hand, were scrolling through videos on yours, searching for the perfect clip to make your case. You found it. A kitten, its tiny paws batting at its own tail with. You couldn’t help but smile.

Nuzzling closer to Ted, you rested your head on his shoulder and showed him the video. “Hey, Ted,” you said, “Don’t you think your life could use a some of this?”

Ted chuckled, casting a playful side-eye at you. “Are you trying to tell me I need a pet to keep me entertained? I mean, I think you keep me pretty entertained.” He teases.

You rolled your eyes playfully, setting your phone aside and turning to face him. “Think about it. A pet would make our home so much fun! You’d have someone to keep you company when I’m not around. Plus, pets are scientifically proven to reduce stress, and I know you could use some extra relaxation.”

Ted smirked, leaning back with his arms behind his head. “Oh, so now you’re pitching this as a health benefit? You’re really pulling out all the stops, aren’t you?”

You grinned, undeterred. “Yep! I’ve even got names picked out. Imagine it: a little lizard we could call ‘Fang,’ or a cat named ‘Whiskers.’ They’d totally complete the vibe here.”

Ted laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. “Whiskers Nivison? That’s… oddly fitting.” He chuckled. “But you do realize pets require a lot of care, right? It’s not just about cute videos and fun names.”

You leaned closer, your hand gently resting on his chest.

“I know, but that’s what makes it special. We’d be doing this together. Feeding them, playing with them, making them feel loved. And I know you’d be amazing at it, Ted. You have such a big heart, and I can already picture you getting all soft over a little pet.”

Ted raised an eyebrow, his expression softening at your words. “You really think I’d be a good pet parent?”

You nodded, your voice earnest.

“I know you would be. Just like how you take care of me, you’d take care of them. And it’d be another adventure for us, something to share and enjoy together.”

Ted sighed, starting to crumble under your sweet words and the genuine excitement in your eyes.

“Alright, alright. But we’re starting small. No giant dogs or exotic creatures. Maybe a cat… or a lizard. Something manageable.”

You practically bounced in your seat, wrapping your arms around his neck in excitement.

“Really? You mean it? Oh my gosh, Ted, this is going to be so much fun! I can’t wait to start looking!”

Ted laughed, pulling you closer and pressing a kiss to your forehead. “I’ve never seen you this excited about anything. I guess we’re really doing this, huh?”

You nodded eagerly, already mentally planning the perfect setup for your future pet.

“We’ll find the cutest little pet, and they’ll be so spoiled. This is going to be amazing.”

As you settled back into his embrace, your heart swelled with happiness. You could already imagine the little moments. Coming home to a wagging tail or a curious lizard, curling up on the couch with Ted and your new pet between you, and all the joy that would come from having something to care for together.

Ted couldn’t help but smile as he watched you, realizing that he wasn’t just agreeing to a pet, he was agreeing to yet another shared chapter in your lives. And as he held you close, he knew that whatever pet you brought home, it would be just one more reason to be thankful for the life you were building together.

The next day, you and Ted set out to find the perfect pet. You visited a local shelter and spent hours there, playing with the kittens and observing the lizards. Ted was torn between a playful tabby cat that kept batting at his fingers and a chill bearded dragon that stared at him as if they had already formed a silent bond.

After much deliberation and several rounds of rock-paper-scissors you both decided on a lizard. Ted promptly named him “Sir Scales.”

The first day with Sir Scales was a whirlwind of excitement. Ted was surprisingly hands-on, meticulously setting up Sir Scales’ tank and ensuring everything was perfect. You caught him reading up on lizard care late into the night, and it was the cutest thing ever.

The first time Sir Scales ate in front of you, you and Ted cheered like proud parents. Ted even started keeping a little log of Sir Scales’ feeding times and behavior, just to make sure he was adjusting well.

You and Ted created a little routine around Sir Scales. Every morning, Ted greeted him with a cheerful

“Good morning, Sir Scales!” before giving him fresh water. You’d started calling it “scaly bonding time.”

When you were cuddled up on the couch, you joked about how Sir Scales was the best third wheel, low maintenance but always silently judging. Ted laughed, kissing your forehead and saying,

“We really did pick the perfect pet, didn’t we?”

Sometimes, you’d find Ted just sitting by the tank, watching Sir Scales bask under his heat lamp. When you asked him what he was doing, he’d just shrug and say,

“He’s surprisingly relaxing to watch.” You loved these little moments when Ted’s childlike side came out.

[myymi]

Batten couldn't stop the gasp she let out as she tried to ignore the wet feeling in her eyes.

She knew that kid had an explosive side to him, but she never thought it would've ended like that.

The bat was ready to fly straight over to the crater Sails' bomb had left, but a big, purple paw on her chest stopped her.

She turned to find Catfish looking at her sadly. His large ears were folded against his head as he numbly shook his head, turning around to return to the task at hand.

Batten glanced between the cat and crater, fighting with herself on what to choose.

She hesitantly flew after Catfish, quickly swiping at her eyes. She knew she didn't show it in the best way, but she loved that kid. She had practically raised him on her own before they stumbled upon Dread, Black Rose, and Catfish.

She didn't think losing him would ever really impact her. Losing people never had before. But despite it all, tears continued to gather no matter how many times she wiped them away.

She was more attached to Sails than she even realized. But it didn't matter anymore, did it?

Sails was gone.

Batten would never get to give him another flying lesson ever again. She'd never get to snatch away his sea dog when he stopped paying attention to it just to end up giving him her own one anyway.

She wouldn't get to have another quick spar with him, having to learn how to work around his gizmo. She wouldn't be able to sit on the mast to watch over him after he curled up for a nap in the crow’s nest.

They were all little things, but it was their little things. It was things she enjoyed doing with that little fox, one of the few highlights in their otherwise boring, repetitive lives.

But now they were gone and Batten’s world grew darker. Her cheerful sunrays the kit gave her were now blocked out by the cloud of dread that settled over her body at the realization she lost what was probably the most important thing to her.

She couldn't even remember the last time she had cried.

Batten lost Sails. And it felt like a piece of her died with him.

[batmanfruitloops]

You can't imagine how excited I was when I found out about Scarebeast. My favorite character becomes a big creechur? Wonderful! Amazing! It makes my autistic little brain so happy! Two of my special interest meshing together! Batman and monsters. I'm also bringing another one of my special interests into the mix with my own design, speculative biology. Making him more cryptid and werewolf-like than the tree-like design from As The Crow Flies.

There's definitely more to work on but these are the ideas and concepts I have so far. The bottom drawing is older and not up to date, but it gives a better view of what he looks like with his clothes on. He also doesn't talk anymore. He would not be able to with those teeth and a more animalistic body.

I've mixed a bunch of different traits that animals use to either scare or sneak. His body is that of a lion, for the cat-like reflexes, strength, stealth, and especially the hair to make him look bigger than he actually is. Along with porcupine spikes on his shoulders and back, but not very many, since porcupines also use their hair to seem scarier than they are. He has the head of a barn owl, to amplify the cryptid look and give him incredible eyesight, especially in the dark. His neck is longer like an owl as well, so he can turn his head upside down and 180 degrees. He has a mix of crow and cat feet, crow for climbing and grip, and cat for paw pads that help him stay quiet. His hands are the same but with a bit of aye-aye for the long creepy middle finger. Bat-like ears for better hearing. His mouth is kind of snake-like, mostly inspired by a cotton mouth. Cottonmouths flash their brightly colored mouths at any threat to show they are venomous. Since Scarebeast can breathe fear toxin, and most animals have bright colors to show they are toxic I thought this was fitting. Of course a forked tongue for "smell." The hair on his arms is similar to a yeti crab, so it's not as soft compared to the rest of the fur and is actually bristly but not painful to touch. This was for the sake of the silhouette and because some people find yeti crabs creepy.

Lore wise, this doesn't happen in the au but instead in a separate timeline. Jonathan as Scarebeast suddenly has to consume fear toxin to sustain himself, because of the serum used to transform in the first place. He won't die if doesn't consume it but it will make him sick to not have it for long periods of time. This is also how he breathes it. It's processed in the body and recycled to new glands in his neck to be used as a defense mechanism. Similar to how poisonous animals will eat toxic things to make themselves poisonous. In this form he is very quickly dying. He is the only one who knows how to make fear toxin so he’d run out eventually, and a stature so big requires so much food and water to sustain he wouldn’t realistically be able to find so much so often. He was already very malnourished in the first place so that’s wouldn’t help.

This version is acts a lot more like an animal instead of just having a beastly body. Reacting more on instinct than conscious decisions. In this case he was turned into Scarebeast against his will (keep in mind I haven’t read the comic Scarebeast comes from, I’ve tried to research what I can but I couldn’t find much). So he his not very happy after his transformation. Reacting in pain and anger. Though still having some understanding of what’s going on. If you talked to him he could understand what you were saying but couldn’t respond very well or get distracted. So he can recognize Ed at least. Because Jonathan is so uncomfortable he only allows Ed to be near him.

I hope you enjoyed this infodump. I have a much better time expanding through visuals than text. So hopefully this made sense. Since this is non cannon I can share more, so I can make some things more clear through other doodles and what not.

-Fluffy

[skele-bunny]

Hello hello! I ate up those Sunny hc and i loved em. I wanted to request some Aether and Phantom content, preferably fluffy, our bug has been through enough (for now)

Sending lots of hugs, 🎃

NSKWKDKD "FOR NOW"....... Pumpkin if you come in my inbox with awful ideas I will devour you whole (BUT GIVE ME THEM THIS INSTANT!!!!!) /SILLY

OighHghh Aether and Phantom have such a great relationship.

Aether loves taking Phantom out on little dates together. Wether it's just around the gardens, swimming, or a movie night for just the two of them! Any time spent together they enjoy so much

Phantom's first gift to Aether was a sanded down regular rock he thought was calcite. It was just the biggest smile that won Aether over. Even though Phantom knows his mistake and is embarrassed about it, Aether kept his "Honorary Calcite" on his alter.

Little dance buddies!! Wether it's little sways or outright ballroom, they're having the time of their life. Phantom loves standing on his tiptoes to try and twirl Aether, always results in them laughing :3

During quint ceremonies, they're always next to each other as not only are they mates but their internal bond is super duper strong.

They have private practice sessions, not only is Phantom able to focus better but it's easier learning from the person you're taking over for.

When they scent each other, they shock each other a lot sjejdjxj too much energy that just sparks out. Always makes them purr louder though, little static dudes

Aether calls Phantom "Lovebug", Phantom calls Aether "big dipper" jokingly but otherwise it's "Star/Stardust"

Quints prefer things with a lot of nutritional or health balances! Also refills their energy super fast so things like bananas, peanut butter, apple juice, and chocolate are usually found in their cupboards. Aether has always had a stash he shared with Swiss when he needed it. Phantom? Full access. Usually always goes for the chocolate, and Aether loves showing him combos he adores like peanut butter covered bananas, avocado and tomato sandwiches, and even the unfortunate mixture of chocolate mangos.

One time Aether had an exhaustion spell from working two doubles back to back and just completely collapsed on Phantom. So he just laid there, holding Aeth for about three hours until he woke up again. Was able to squirm out and get him his snacks, just taking care of him so well as best he could.

Love cuddling in their true forms!! Aether is like a giant dog/cat mix, with such soft and silky fur Phantom loves running his hand through. Phantom is like an hoary bat, not much fur but still super soft and smooth. Sometimes they'll lazy roughhouse like when dogs are playing down and just put their jaw on the other with little huffs and pawing away. They have so much fun with it

I LOVE THEM UR HONOR

[stillbeatingheart]

thought about burning the past

Also on Ao3

Harringroveson AU: Billy is a cat, Eddie is a bat, and Steve is just trying to keep everyone alive now that they're back to being that way.

Fic under the cut (I don't see any warnings that would apply, but this would be established poly relationship, post Upside Down)

A big orange cat paw stretches out and pins the chirping bat to the carpet.  

“Knock it off,” Steve warns as he kicks off his shoes.  When he walked up to the door it had sounded like a herd of buffalo in here.  He’s been amazed more than once at how much noise these idiots can make, even in forms that should be quiet and agile.  

The bat squeaks and the cat reaches out with his right paw to whack the bat before he releases him.  The orange cat sprawls out on his belly in the strip of sun on the floor, licking his paw and running it across his head before laying both paws out in front of him, kneading the carpet and kicking out his back legs.

“Are you proud of yourself?” Steve wonders towards the cat.  The cat flips his tail in response, rests his chin on his paws and closes his big blue eyes.

“Of course you are,” he mutters and he stoops down to offer the bat his open palm.  The bat looks disgruntled but unwounded as he hops up into Steve’s hand. “Don’t act innocent in all this either,” he warns the bat, “I know you most likely started it.”

The bat squeaks in response, shakes like he’s flicking the dirt of the afternoon off his coat, and then tucks his wings in close to his body.  

“You won’t dignify that with a response, then?” Steve sighs, brings his hand up to his shoulder to let the bat climb on.  

“I’m out there all day earning money to pay the bills, working my fingers to the bone, and here you two are just playing a game of tag.  It’s like you don’t even care if you ever go back to your human form.” 

The bat squeaks, nudges against the side of Steve’s throat with his face.  The cat opens one eye, his ear twitches and then he closes it.  

“What if I kicked you out?  Would that change your drive to figure this shit out?”

Eddie squeaks again, Billy flops over to his side and flips his tail.

“I suppose no one cooked dinner either,” Steve says as he makes his way towards the kitchen. “What’ll it be tonight? Insect soup with a mouse chaser?”

Eddie makes a coughing noise right next to Steve’s ear and Steve snorts.  He reaches for a can of soup and dumps it into a pot, firing up the stove, he crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the counter.  Eddie’s body weight is shifting from foot to foot on Steve’s shoulder and he knows he wants to tell him something but they’ve yet to figure out a way to communicate.  

Sure, this whole thing seems a little like Steve’s fault but he doesn’t regret it.  He’d been asking the world in general for his boyfriends to return from the Upside Down and reiterating plenty of times in his most distressed states that he didn’t care how they came back or how they’d changed, just that they came back.  He tried witchcraft in his more desperate hour, and well, it worked he supposes because now they’re back.  And not really human.  It’s not like some Pet Cemetery thing or whatever, they aren’t zombie animals, they aren’t blood thirsty or taking any opportunity to bite Steve and eat his flesh.  They’re actually kind of really fucking adorable, but he’s not going to say that to either of them.  At least not yet, not until they figure out if his foray into spell casting fucked them over for life or if it’s something they can control and shift like a werewolf.  Fictionally speaking.  Steve’s never met a werewolf and used to doubt their existence but in the last couple years he’s decided to just never doubt anything.  If he never doubts anything then he can’t be surprised anymore.  

He hasn't told anyone about this just yet, it seems way too complicated to explain to anyone, including Robin.  Though he feels guilty every time he’s around her and his mind wanders back to home, back to wondering what Eddie and Billy are up to, if they’ve killed each other yet being cooped up inside all day without anyone else for entertainment around. Then again, they did just spend months in the Upside Down with nothing but each other, so they’re probably pretty used to it.  

He also knows the first thing anyone is going to ask is how exactly he knows it’s them.  It’s just some random cat and some random bat that have come into his home and he’s crazy enough to believe it’s Billy and Eddie, like the truth is he’s fallen into some kind of delusional state and he’s truly just building his life around a feline and a mammal.  He can’t really take the chance that he end up in a mental facility and Eddie is put down, Billy put in a shelter.  

Steve’s gaze flicks over to Billy, he’s flipped over to lie on his back.  Showing his belly.  Steve never had pets, so he did a little research at the library.  He knows they aren’t actually animals, so it’s not like he can follow pet owning as a golden rule, but he figures it doesn’t hurt to know about dietary restrictions and body language as much as he can.  So he knows that Billy showing his belly doesn’t mean he wants to be pet there, it just means he’s in a place where he feels safe and he trusts the people he’s around.  Yeah, there’s no way he can allow this cat to end up in a shelter.  Billy would end up getting put down after he bit every single hand that reached for him.

And Eddie, well, he’d either be set free to go live amongst his own.  Or they’d deem him incapable of survival in the wild after being domesticated.  Steve reaches a hand up, scratches Eddie’s tiny furry head.  Eddie leans into it and when Steve drops his hand to get the soup off the stove, he drops from his shoulder.  It’s not enough height for Eddie to actually fly, but he can use his wings to slow himself down and cushion his landing on the counter.  This was something that took some trial and error and a whole lot of Steve catching Eddie in his palm before he could hit the ground and hurt himself.  

Steve pours the warmed soup into a bowl, spoons some of the veggies and chicken out onto a plate.  He calls out towards the sleeping cat, “Billy, food’s ready.”

For Eddie, he cuts a few chunks off an apple and lays them out on the counter beside him.  He squeaks what sounds like thanks, so Steve responds, “You’re welcome.”

Billy’s ear twitched, so he knows the asshole heard him.  But he hasn’t bothered to get up yet. “Well, I’m not bringing it to you, so if you’re hungry eat before it gets cold.  Or eat it cold later, I don’t care.”

Billy stays still, like he hasn’t listened to a word.  Until Steve pulls the stool out at the counter and sits down to eat his own bowl of soup.  Then he’s getting up, stretching long, yawning and sauntering over to rub against Steve’s ankle.  He stands on his back legs, reaching up with his front paws to Steve’s knee.

“Yeah, except that I know you come up here all the time and lick the plates in the sink.  So…” Steve reaches down anyway.  If Billy is seeking touch, then he’s not going to deny him.  He just needs to make it clear that he’s onto him without so many words.  He lifts Billy from under his belly and sets him on his leg, pushes his little china plate over close to the edge so Billy can eat without getting up on the counter.  There's a bat already on the counter, so it’s not like Steve is trying to impress anyone, but it’s kinda nice to have Billy keeping his thigh warm under his fluffy vibrating weight.  

Steve talks them through his day, gives them any theories he has about how to get them back to their human states, while they eat.  Eddie is making it clear he’s listening by giving Steve eye contact and doing this cute little nod thing every so often, squeaking softly like a hum when there’s moments between Steve’s words.  Billy is not offering anything, he’s chowed down his soup and curled up on Steve’s lap.  His tail flipping in a steady rhythm against Steve’s hip the only thing proving he’s even awake anymore.   

When Eddie is done eating, he hops across the counter, climbs his way up Steve’s arm and settles in on his shoulder.  As much as he loves cuddle time, it’d be a lot easier if they’d wait until he was done eating and sitting on something more comfortable than a kitchen stool.  He tells them as much, Eddie nudges his neck and Billy flicks an ear.  Neither of them bother to get up.  

“Isn’t this what you two do all day already?” Steve wonders when he’s done eating and Billy is allowing a head scratching.  Billy sighs and Eddie chirps.  

“Alright,” Steve says after a few moments.  He lifts Billy off his lap and instead of being still and trusting Steve to deliver him to the couch, he jumps down, digging his back claws into Steve’s thigh on the way. It startles Eddie when Steve stiffens under the pinpricks of pain, he dives off Steve’s shoulder and hits the counter with a thump.  Billy hit the ground, went off like a shot and Steve is pretty sure he’s going to hide under the couch all evening.

“You alright?” He asks Eddie, laying his palm out for him to step into.  

Eddie does so, and eagerly accepts the lift to his perch.  The tips of his wings tickle against Steve’s neck when Eddie lays on his belly, using his wings to balance his weight.  

“If this lasts much longer, I’ll have to clue Robin in on it so she can help me mend my wardrobe appropriately.  Little pads on my shoulders for you.  A sling to carry Billy in.”

Eddie squeaks his approval as Steve starts working on the dishes.  

^~^

Steve is already in bed, with Eddie hanging off the curtain rod, by the time Billy makes his way back out from under the couch.  He’s silent on his way into the room, the dim light from the hall slanting across the floor when he pushed the door open.  Steve hears it when he jumps up to the foot of the bed, feels his weight on the mattress.  He’s careful when he puts one paw out to test the waters.  Laying it on Steve’s ankle like an apology for clawing him earlier.  

Steve pats his chest, the place that’s become Billy’s favorite place to spend the night.  Which is equal parts comforting and uncomfortable for Steve, but his warmth and purring outweigh the pressure of his body on Steve’s sternum.  Billy carefully walks the length of Steve’s leg like a balance beam, keeping his claws in and making every footfall light.  It’s impressive even with the careful stepping just how much weight is on each paw.  It’s not like cats are heavy, Billy is kind of a brick of a cat, but he’s still a cat.  

When he walks across Steve’s belly, Steve tightens his muscles to protect himself and to give Billy solid footing.  Also, he can just imagine Billy’s voice saying, “Getting a little soft in the middle Harrington,” if Steve didn’t pull his abs taut for his crossing.  

With all four paws on Steve’s chest, Billy headbutts Steve’s chin.

Steve lifts his hand and strokes Billy’s head, then follows the curve of his spine to his tail before he starts over at his head again.  Billy arches into it, purrs so loud it might as well be the only sound in the room.  It’s always been easier for Billy to offer affection in the cover of darkness, Steve’s not surprised it’d be any different in this form.  

It’s really not hard to fall asleep with Billy’s soft warmth under his hand and against his chin, with that weight on his chest chasing the nightmares away.  By morning Eddie has made himself comfortable tucked into the juncture of Steve’s shoulder and neck.  His tiny puffs of breath tickling Steve’s ear and the undeniable feeling of being stared at are the things that wake him.  Opening his eyes, he’s met with Billy’s big blue ones giving him the unblinking stare that only a creepy ass cat can dole out.  As soon as Steve blinks at him, he’s launching himself off the bed and scampering out the door like his mission has been accomplished just by startling someone out of a deep sleep with only his eyes.  

“Asshole,” Steve mutters, reaching out to slap his alarm before it can go off.  The motion wakes Eddie, who immediately clambers up into Steve’s hair. “Not the hair, man, c’mon,” he grumbles as he pulls himself to seated on the bed to scrub at his face, “Why do I even put up with this?  I gotta get you changed back before you both drive me insane.”

Chapter two