#look at him! he's like a grumpy golden retriever! look at those puppy eyes

[thev01dd]

sometimes i do wonder if Mike knows what happened between Steve and Nancy, that his sister cheated on Steve. i had a little draft about it going on but i think i deleted it/gave up on the idea, so idk...

but maybe... what if Dustin got a hold of this story (maybe Robin and Steve forgot Dustin was browsing the fantasy/sci-fi movies section and Steve was telling what went on between him and Nancy, so he ended up listening to it too) and told the party, since he's a big mouth, and Mike just-

you know, you never imagine your sibling would do something like this since they grew up with you, listening and watching and absorbing the same values about loyalty and fidelity in a relationship, so you think "well, i'd never cheat on my partner" and think your siblings think the same way so...

-he doesn't like Steve (for whatever reason) but he thinks he didn't deserve having his trust and his heart broken like that, so he's pissed with Nancy, because he also feels betrayed on some level, and is a little bit less of a dick towards Steve since knowing that.

I just thought of a fun idea :)

It’s part of the whole shovel talk thing going around.

What if when Nancy tries for the shovel talk to Steve, it’s at her house when he’s picking up Dustin. Right? So, there’s Nancy pulling Steve to the side to threaten him not to hurt Eddie. But here’s where the fun comes in, before she can get far into the threatening part….Mike comes in with his sass, knowledge of how much of a fucking lovesick fool Steve was with her and what went down between the two of them.

He tells his sister she has no fucking right to threaten her ex-boyfriend. That if anyone is going to hurt anyone, there’s a chance it’s Steve that gets hurt. (Not that he knows for sure, he also knows how much of a fucking dork Eddie is for Steve, that they’re lovesick fools and he hates it sometimes). Steve is just staring at Mike, and Nancy growing so embarrassed and ashamed. It’s a whole thing.

I think it would be fun :)

[finalgirllx]

self-indulgent fluff because I live somewhere cold as fuck and consume an absurd amount of hot chocolate. enjoy! 1k words | slytherin reader | sickeningly sweet | not edited | forgoes the rules in hogwarts kitchens

"Bloody hell, my dicks s'bout to freeze off," Enzo grunted, plopping down beside you as you wrapped yourself in a cocoon of blankets on one of the green-tufted leather couches that adorned the Slytherin common room.

While your home base exuded an air of regal antiquity that you had grown to appreciate throughout your years attending Hogwarts, its stellar placement in the school's dungeons meant that some evenings were more than chilly, sometimes downright freezing. While the crackling fireplaces scattered about did wonders to keep students from succumbing to frostbite during the coldest winter months, they weren't always sufficient on particularly wintry nights, especially around the holidays.

"That's certainly a visual, Enz, thanks," you responded with a small snort at his crude greeting. He shot you an unamused glance followed by an eye roll, appearing just as grumpy from the cold as you were.

"These dungeons might as well be the Arctic tonight. Can you blame me for feeling a tad paranoid?" Enzo countered, inching closer to you than usual for warmth. A fiery spark ignited in your stomach at his proximity, but you quickly dismissed it, seeing as you were merely a cozy blanket to him at the moment.

"There has to be something we could do," he lamented, clearly more agitated than you already thought. He gestured to you as you sat swathed in blankets with a mix of worry and exasperation, "Just look at you all bundled up, for blimey's sake. Cute, but damn concerning."

He called you cute. The chill could excuse the blush on your cheeks, right? Still, you wanted to pacify Enzo before he threw a fit at someone who wouldn't take so kindly to his attitude.

Thinking quickly, you brightened, an idea forming in your mind.

"A warm beverage might help. We could go make some hot cocoa?"

The way Enzo's eyes bugged out momentarily was rather amusing, as if your proposition was utterly absurd. It was, but you couldn't resist the chance to cozy up more with the Slytherin golden boy. You worried he might protest, so you used your best pleading face. His pretty brown eyes softened, and a faint smirk tugged at his lips—the first sign of warmth from him in an otherwise frosty evening.

"Yeah, sure, we can do that." ------------------------------

"I'm hardly sophisticated enough to be melting chocolate bars or anything like that. We're sticking to packets, and you'll enjoy it," you teased Enzo lightly as the saucepan warmed milk on the stove.

"Who do you think I am, the hot cocoa critic?" Enzo quipped back, retrieving two oversized mugs from a nearby cabinet. "I demand mine at precisely so-and-so degrees, with an exact 80% sweetness," he joked, earning an eye roll from you to mirror the one he had given earlier on the couch.

"I'll water yours down," you threatened, feigning annoyance though secretly reveling in the presence of the cute boy who seemed to have thawed out with your company. His slight pout quickly melted your resolve, and you dropped two cocoa packets into each mug for an extra chocolatey taste. His ability to summon a puppy-dog look with those full lips and gold-speckled eyes was a true talent.

Once the milk reached the right temperature, Enzo beat you to lift the pan and pour the steaming liquid into the mugs. You noticed he poured more into yours, so you nudged his side with a raised eyebrow as soon as he set the pan down.

"Hey, this was your idea, and you seemed even colder than me back in the common room. We're prioritizing you," Enzo justified, to which you nervously smiled, contemplating how to return his sweetness.

You rummaged the same cabinets for a container of mini marshmallows, returning with it and generously topping each mug. You made a show of adding far more marshmallows to his mug, causing Enzo to chuckle in surprise.

"That's more marshmallow than cocoa at this point!" he protested, grinning widely.

"You gave me more cocoa, so you get more marshmallows. It's only fair," you said with a nonchalant shrug, implying it couldn't be helped despite being the one to pile them on.

You both gripped the handles of your mugs and brought them to your lips, sharing a surprisingly intimate moment as your eyes met. Was drinking hot chocolate supposed to feel this tense?

After blowing on your beverage for a few seconds, you took your first sip, relishing in the immediate warmth that flooded your senses. Enzo also sighed contentedly, and you beamed at his approval. He glanced at you again, his brow furrowing momentarily before his expression shifted, his focus turning to something else. He set his mug down before raising his thumb to brush over your top lip. You froze, the flush on your face intensifying after his touch.

"Little cocoa on your lip, sorry," he muttered, his voice cracking for a moment before he then brought his thumb to his mouth, tasting the remnants he had wiped off yours. Your brain was broken for the moment. It was as if you were watching these last few instances from an outside perspective. Was he as nervous as you? Seemed impossible for someone as charismatic and cool as him.

"I, uh…," you stammered while gathering your bearings.

"Just trying to be helpful," Enzo tried to brush off his actions, his free hand rubbing the back of his neck. The way his gaze never left your lips betrayed his true feelings.

Suddenly, you snapped back to reality. You couldn't let the moment slip away. This was your opportunity. Setting your mug down, you turned to face him with a shaky breath, grasping the collar of his shirt and pulling his face down to meet yours. He understood right away, meeting your lips with his without hesitation. His hands cupped your face, and though the kiss lasted only a few seconds, the passion behind it was enough to keep you both warm for the rest of the night.

As you pulled away, both stunned yet excited, Enzo mused with a satisfied grin, "I think that might have been the key to evading the cold."

You teased, "Don't underestimate the power of cocoa," to which he relented, shaking his head.

"Never, darling. Although, I might need another kiss if we're going to survive," he added with a cheeky smirk.

You smiled and leaned in for that second kiss. This evening's venture had proved to be the right decision in more ways than one, and you couldn't be more fulfilled.

[minhosimthings]

Gummy bears please?

Synopsis: In which Jake wants gummy candy.

Warnings: FLUFF AND FLUFF

Pairings: Sim Jaeyun/Jake × gn!reader, implied shorter reader

A/N: dumb little drabble of mine cause I cannot write another chapter of anything rn. Oh and it's not specified what the gummy actually is because gummy to me is gummy candy which includes gummy bears and all the other sugary stuff! So if you call it something else, I don't know what to do!

Song rec: Melting by Kali Uchis.

"Omg babe the store's still open!" Your boyfriend of five years, Jaeyun or Jake, was tightly holding your hand and basically dragging you behind him as you strode up to the twenty four hour convenience store near your house. The snow was thick today and your Wellington boots were fighting for their life as your legs were half immersed in the snow. "Darling, it's a twenty four hour store. It's always open." You laughed at your boyfriend's sad puppy face as you corrected him and entered the store, pushing the transparent door which had 'pull' clearly written in green on it. "Hey Y/nnie!" The blonde haired cashier with the cutest cheeks and a green apron greeted you from the front counter. This place was a cute little blue building and you and Jake knew most of the employees who came here since every piece of utility in your house came from here, from the tiny little iron nails to the heavy curtain rods. "Hey Sunoo. Working the late shift again?" You asked the boy as his face formed into a pout and he sulked. "I'm stuck with Jay Hyung again. Like why me? I'm just doing this for a raise in my monthly allowance and every single time luck seems to be against my favour." "Yah atleast you got stuck with me and not Riki. Be thankful you spoilt brat." A husky voice came from the shadows behind Sunoo as Jay came carrying two purple bags, clad in the same apron as Sunoo. Jay and Sunoo were school mates who had studied with Jake and their relationship could basically be described as grumpy × sunshine, except most of the time you didn't know who was who. You gently smiled at Jay and turned to around, to not only find your boyfriend missing, but also to hear your name being screamed at a very high pitch from somewhere across the store. You sighed and smiled to yourself and went across the aisles to find Jake. You shouldn't have given him that experimental cup of lavender infused coffee because now, at twelve in the morning he was an overactive golden retriev- oh sorry a cream border collie.

You looked around the wooden shelves of the sanitary items isle and through a tiny gap in between the shelves, you spotted a patch of messy brown hair. You wound around the aisle you were in and went into the next one, to find Jake kneeling in front of a multicolored bag. Of course. Where else would you find a hyperactive Jake if not in the candy aisle? You really didn't want Jake to have more sugar, because if he did, oh he wouldn't sleep until next year's first snow (which would allow you to fall in love with him all over again). Jake looked so adorable, crouched in front of all the candy, his eyes wider than, well, a kid in a candy shop. His own pair of Wellington boots were slightly damn and his scarf was nowhere to be found. But as you looked at him, clad in those black glasses and that fat little jacket, you felt yourself going back to the Twenty First night of September when you had taken the effort to talk to your cute barista colleague. And that effort bore fruit as that cute barista now stood in front of you with the messiest hair and a rambling tongue which was saying "Baby, baby baby! Can we get this pleeease?" He held up a multicolored pack of gummies. You knew he didn't really like chocolate much and always preferred to go for gummies or some sort of fruit snack, a trait which both you and his elder brother Heeseung despised and tried to get out of him. Unfortunately for you, Jake never really got out of his obsession for gummies and you knew how they made him behave. Oh he was a cat on catnip when he had all the sugar which was in the gummies. Overexcited, on a sugar high, never getting tired and eventually getting hangover-like symptoms the next mornings.

"Jake baby no. Let's not get gummies now ok? We're here to pick up some ramen. How about we get that and then tomorrow I'll get you ice cream hm?" Your heart dropped slowly as you noticed the expression on Jake's face get sadder and sadder, that cute little pout getting bigger. Oh no. Oh you knew what was coming now. There's only one force in this universe which can defeat your slightly tsundere heart. And that was called the 'Jake's puppy eyes'. He usually did that when he wanted to cuddle but you just wanted to sleep or when you wouldn't get him gummies. And oh boy. You could easily say no to a lot of people, but this? This was the ultimate force. You could never say no to Jake when he widens his eyes, pouts his cute little lips and ruffles his hair so that he looks like the human version of Layla.

And sure enough he did exactly that. To dramatise it even more, he knelt down in front of you and did the face while hugging your waist. "Jakey babe no. Please don't do that face you know I can't resis-" Your serious words were cut off by Jake wrapping his arms properly around your waist and pulling you in for a kiss, his soft pink lips dancing with yours. The kiss was slow, soft and sweet, with both of your eyes closed and your lips doing a sensual dance with each other's. As Jake pulled away from the kiss first and your vision fell upon his brown eyes, you couldn't resist anymore. "Alright babe we can get the gummies." Jake smiled so widely that you thought his mouth was about to fall off and was about to go in for another kiss when- "Hey lovebirds! We're about to close shop! Get your ramen and get your asses back home! The snow's coming in again." Jay shouted from across the store loudly. Jake looked at your eyes and grinned cutely. "See baby? I told you they won't be open for twenty four hours that's just ridiculous!" Your heart lifted so much and your smile only got wider as you looked at Jake and thanked the universe for bringing him to you as you picked up some ramen and went off to get them checked out by Sunoo.

"Yoi the gummies are buy one get one free!"

[look-at-the-soul]

The Photoshoot (Part 5)

Cillian Murphy x OC

Thank you for reading! I’d really love to know what you think :)

Taglist in comments.

More here

A/N: I’m happy to finally introduce you to my special guest in this part! Puppy Murphy 🖤

A nonprofit organization was organizing the photoshoot in order to make calendars, mugs, notebooks and planners to raise money to support their expenses. And of course, promote the adoption.

Yael loved interacting with the dogs from the shelter, all of them were adorable and despite being abandoned, they keep moving around giving all the love they had inside. They had the kindest souls and only took one whistle or moving fingers for them to get excited.

“No Jojo! Look up here.” Cillian tried to get the golden retriever’s attention, but instead he was focused on the camera in front of him, his wet nose touching the lens, sniffing.

Yael’s laugh filled the room as the dog tried to lick her face.

“Give him a treat.” She asked cleaning the lens.

Cillian shook his head. “I already gave him three.”

“Just look at his face, you want another treato right Jojo?” Cillian couldn’t resist Yael’s pout.

“Now I’m not sure who should I give the treat to…” he winked.

“Oh, you can actually eat those.” Molly, the organizer announced. “They are made with natural ingredients.” Cillian’s facial expression was of pure disgust. “They are hooman safe, made with peanut butter, bananas and apples.”

“See? Give me one.” Yael demanded. “Ok Jojo, we need a compromise here buddy, let me take your picture…” she set the treat above the camera, “and this kind gentleman will give you a treat.” Jojo’s eyes fixed on the treat, she only had a few seconds…

“Just take the frecking picture.” Cillian’s breath caught up on his throat. Yael’s magic touch made her get the shoot she needed in time.

After Jojo’s deal they were introduced to Mariah, a fussy chihuahua.

“Don’t get too close to her though, she might lose her temper, that’s the reason of her name.” Molly warned.

Cillian looked at Molly in confusion. “Why?”

“Because she is a diva.” Mariah had a reputation to hold, and her portrait captured perfectly her character.

A playful and kind mongrel dog was next. She was focused on Yael’s fingers, she was a little white one with a black spot in her left ear, she yawned.

“See? You bored her.” Cillian joked looking down at her.

“Come here and help me?” She flashed a smile in his direction. “Use your charm with Sissy.”

Cillian placed each foot next to Yael’s hips, she was again, lying on the floor. He started whistling at the puppy. “Sissy here, bzz bzz.”

Yael started laughing. “Why are you bzzzing at her? You sound like a mosquito.”

“Hey I’m trying to help the model here, and let me tell you I left my shyness at the door to make them look good for your pictures.”

“You make it sound like you want something.” She snapped Sissy’s picture. It was DV’s turn, a grumpy shar pei.

“Well, I have a great view from here.” Yael squinted at him. “And I may be thinking of another kind of treats…”

“Hey! There’s children in here, control yourself.” She looked scandalized at him, from her position, under him, between his legs.

His smile made her heart beat faster. Maybe she was the one who should control herself.

It was always fun to shoot them because of how unpredictable they were. Dogs can get easily distracted, one noise, one move and they would run off.

Yael shoot all kinds of dogs, chihuahuas, Weimaraner, shiatzu, mixed breeds, it didn’t matter, they all had so much love to give. They all needed love and a home.

There were a few dogs that delayed the shoot of course, two of them almost started a fight and a couple of them were way too curious with the camera and wouldn’t sit still, but other than that, the session went as it should have.

Calling his name, she was standing in front of a mirror, the camera hiding half her face, she snapped a picture focusing the shot to her black t-shirt. The team had given them shirts with the logo of the campaign.

A paw-five and wet nose kiss are my paycheck. It read.

Placing his hands on her waist, Cillian leaned his chin on her shoulder, his face hiding under the baseball cap she gave him.

“I love it, there’s something unique when you can’t really see the faces…” She showed it to him.

Her talent was undeniable.

“I had fun, thank you for inviting me today.”

Cillian had been happily helping Yael with whatever he was asked to do, this photoshoot was such a nice distraction and for the first time in a very long time, he wasn’t the one in front of the camera, which to him, meant a lot. It was kind of soothing to see her completely in her element, talking to the dogs as if they understood a word she said, asking them nicely to hold still and smile for the shoots.

They had been joking and laughing all day now, flirting as well, making the other one feel at ease, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Molly approached them. “I will be forever thankful for this Yael.”

“You know that this is a gift to my soul, I’m more than happy to help.”

“I’m going to bet my life on it, but if she could, she would adopt all of them.” Cillian declared looking at Yael, she nodded.

“I would.”

“Are you done?” He asked as Yael was watching the images in her camera.

She held the screen for him. “Done, look at this. They are beautiful.” They were getting the dogs to the truck now. She kept moving through the images until Cillian asked her to stop.

“Go back please.” She did and he asked to do it again. A dog caught his eye. “Stop.”

That was a black baby Labrador.

“Aww he’s just a baby, he was shy to the camera.” He probably was talking on the phone while she took those photos, because he didn’t see the lab.

“This will sound crazy, but do you think I can adopt him?” She saw the spark in his eyes.

“Yes but run outside, they had them ready at the cages.”

Catching their breaths, they made their way to truck, the man was loading the last cages.

“Wait… I was wondering if I could adopt the baby lab?” He asked Joshua, the driver, the name was on his tag.

He looked confused. “I don’t know man, you need to ask the organizer on Monday to fill the adoption form.”

“Josh please, it was love at first sight.” She asked him, pouting. “He’s just a baby and all of his siblings are adopted already, but him, because he is color black and you know the superstition around black pets.”

“I don’t really want to get in trouble, I should just be driving them back to the shelter.”

“We will fill the adoption form first thing on Monday, I promise.” She batted her eyelashes.

“Okay but you need to make a big donation.” Joshua got in the back of the truck and handed them the cage with the little scared puppy.

Cillian held the shivering doggie against his chest, petting him gently, Yael brought her fingers close to his nose, so he could recognize her, and smiled when a little pink tongue licked her hand.

“Thank you, Josh.”

They made their way back inside to gather her equipment and rushed to Cillian’s car, deciding they now needed to make a quick stop in a pet shop to get a few things for the puppy.

“You are just so cute.” Yael said caressing his little front paws.

“Thank you” Cillian joked at her, he knew she was talking of the puppy.

“Oh look at those pretty eyes.” She continued grinning.

“Thanks.” Cillian joked again.

“You have such a pretty face.” Yael said keeping with the good mood around them.

Cillian chuckled. “That’s very kind from you, what can I get you?”

“Him.” She hugged the puppy.

“As you were scrolling on the photos, he just flashed at me you know?”

“He’s so dreamy.”

“He seems comfortable with you.” He pointed, noticing the puppy was yawning and squirming in her arms as they pulled in the parking lot.

“He finds me adorable, what can I say?” She joked.

“You are.” Surprising both of them, Cillian got rid of his seatbelt and kissed her.

“We need shampoo, bed, collar and a leash, food…”

“Lemme get a shopping cart first, go ahead I’ll be with you in a minute.” He just got an idea, hopefully it will work.

Yael got some squeaky toys for the puppy, some shampoo that smelled like oatmeal, treats and then tried to find Cillian, wandering around the aisles, there were so many things for pets, it was hard to choose.

“Red or blue?” Yael asked him holding the collars.

“Which one do you like the most?” He caressed the puppy in her arms and deliberately let his thumb touch her as well.

Yael lifted the red one with a smile and they made their way to pay.

By the time they were done, it had started to rain. Before going out of the store, Yael got her jacket off to cover the puppy from getting wet, he was only two months old and needed to get check by a vet. As soon as Cillian saw her do that, he took off his jean jacket as well to cover her shoulders and held the door open for her as they reached the car.

“Forgot to check the weather channel this morning.” He said chuckling as he started the car.

“He is shivering, poor baby.” She started talking gently to the puppy, trying to comfort him.

“It’s okay, it’s just water.” He took one of his paws. “I will just get a few things really quick to make dinner… do you need anything?” He asked pulling in front of a store.

“No, I’m fine thank you.” Yael saw Cillian rush to the store while they waited, the puppy followed him with wide open eyes and even made a few crying sounds until he cuddled in her lap.

Cillian walked with the puppy outside hoping he wouldn’t do a mess inside before taking the elevator to her apartment. Once inside, he offered Yael his hoodie to keep her warm, it smelled like him, had his cologne impregnated, it surprised her he was such a gentleman, something rare to find these days. Small details like that made a big difference for her.

“Got something for you in there.” He pointed at the bag.

Taking a look inside, Yael found a beer pack and two bottles of rosé. Feeling disappointed because she didn’t drink any alcohol, but tried hard to keep a straight face.

“What?” He got close to her and took one of the bottles. “You didn’t see the label, right?” Cillian set the puppy on the floor, still holding the bottle.

“Thanks?”

“It’s alcohol free.” A proud smile spreading on his lips.

Yael kept her eyes on him, not believing his words, how thoughtful he was.

“I’m sorry I just jumped into the conclusion…” she apologized hiding her face in her hands.

Cillian smiled. “Hey, nothing to be sorry for.” Taking a step closer, he placed his hand on her back.

Still embarrassed, Yael turned around to hug him, his embrace giving her the assurance she needed.

“You alright?”

An assuring smile appeared on her lips. “I am now.”

There was something she wasn’t telling him, but he didn’t want to push her.

“The beer is alcohol free too, if you want to try it.” Cillian tried to cheer her up.

“Are you trying to get me drunkless?” He laughed.

“Good thing about it you can drink all you want and not get wasted.”

Holding her by the waist, he pecked her lips softly.

“Okay… I have one more thing for you.” He announced looking around for the puppy.

“I feel like this is my birthday or Christmas.” She was looking at him, feeling her heart full.

“What are you doing gremlin?” He found the dog biting on his bag. “Come here!”

Yael walked towards them and watched Cillian holding the pup’s head, pointing at the tag.

Want to date my Dad? It read.

She looked at him in total surprise, happiness making her glow. Still touching the puppy in his arm, she moved her free hand behind his neck, pulling him down to kiss him. His right arm holding her by the waist.

“Is that a yes?” arching his eyebrow, he needed to hear her.

“This is a yes.” And she then, proceeded to show him her yes with a slow kiss. Savoring the moment, the new decision.

Cillian loved the way her lips moved against his, slowly tempting him, moving freely and turning him on in mere seconds. But the heat of their kiss was interrupted by Yael’s laugh against his mouth, as he pulled away to see what was so funny, he found his dog licking her chin.

“So you’re kissing my girl too? No, no, I’m not sharing.” He smiled and planted single kisses on her lips again. “This is a kisses war.” He kept his arm tightly around her, making loud kisses sounds against her skin. Her laugh contagious filling the room.

“I can feel all your love, thank you for your kisses.” Neither of them stopping, it was really a competition. The doggie crunched between their bodies.

Moving a tray of hair away from her face, Cillian asked her: “Okay, who’s the winner?”

Yael made a serious face and pursed her lips tight, looking between Cillian and the pup, she needed to decide. “In hooman kisses the winner is… the cute dad!” She rewarded him with a deep kiss. “And in doggos kisses the gremlin is the winner!” She clapped her hands and touched the dog’s nose with hers.

With dinner done, they decided to give the puppy a bath in the sink, hoping it would relax him a little bit since the sound of the pouring rain and claps of thunder was frightening the pup. Now the three of them were curled up on the sofa cuddling against each other, trying out different names for the puppy.

“Must be my lucky day.” He said brushing her arm while Yael was petting the puppy’s back.

“How did you come up with this idea?” She asked looking at the tag on the dog’s collar, involuntary she found herself smiling again.

“We don’t have a name yet, but I wanted to have my number on the back already, there are a lot of stories of lost dogs.” Cillian’s smile was big. “And I really want this.” His hand pointing the space between them.

“I want this too.” Yael’s words faded away as they started kissing again.

Tasting each other’s lips, making both of them realize why it didn’t work with anyone else.

[rose-likesto-write]

Meant To Be..

Pairing:- Taecyeon x fem reader; very brief mentions of Chan (SKZ), Baekhyun (EXO) and Yeji (ITZY)

Genre:- Fluff, humour (maybe), angst

Warning:- curse words, swearing, a bit angst past of Taecyeon

Rating:- T

Word Count:- around 1 K

Tagged:- @atiny-exol @chicken-fifi

Summary:- He never thought that he found his mate after long years of search and in this way? The man who never felt the feels of jealousy, being grumpy like an old man is really now acting just like a 5 year old boy for this girl whom he feels is his mate and wants to claim her as his but the problem you ask? It's her little golden retriever puppy of whom he is jealous and thinks as an obstacle.

A/N:- I feel this is one of the shortest (kinda) fic I wrote as I didn't wanna drag it like unnecessarily. I can always make another parts, if you all wish to read. I am sorry :")... This scenario is a continuation of werewolf reaction

"What did I land myself into?" Taecyeon thought as he inspected the situation and environment around himself. While he was busy analysing the surroundings a gentle tug at the hem of his sleeve brought him out of train of thoughts. He looked at the big doe glistening eyes and a small pout playing on the lips.

"T-Thank y-you a-and pl-please I a-am sorry. I-i didn't meant to take you like this a-" your lightining speed speech was cut off in the beginning by him. "its okay and also I came with you and not the way around. Plus, why didn't you get your wounds treated huh? Don't say, it is a vet hospital and stuff. Come with me."

Okay, you didn't say anything because first of all, you were too overwhelmed to say anything. Second, this man whom you don't even know, you not only find him attractive but that you started liking him and feel safe? Thats a BIG statement but ofcourse, why would you tell him and finally, the way he was talking to you without giving you any chance to reply back made you feel something.

Weird right?

The vet hospital he took you to was the one where some of his friends of the other pack and other supernatural creatures work other than the human beings. "Dr Chan, we an emergency!" Taecyeon rushed into the said doctor's room without any fear scaring the poor werewolf.

"Taecyeon, what the heck!! Are you hurt anywhere? Did someone from other p- "It's a human girl" Taecyeon said refering to you as you were being pulled inside, while Chan had to blink a couple of times before understanding the complete situation before a mischievous smirk came up. "Oh, ma'am please take a seat as I call my colleagues Dr Baekhyun and Dr Yejin." Chan said while trying to control his laugh as he dialled the numbers.

"Not that little shit again, I swea- "but, he is good at stuff like this and why are you so worked up? Miss, please tell me the details while the other two doctors come in"

As much as this situation was making you confused as hell as to what was happening as the said doctor Chan was busy laughing at God knows what stuff, then him calling other two doc's as well and that gentleman whom you now know his name is Taecyeon is reacting kinda weird especially when doctor Chan mentioned the name of doctor Baek? Baekhyun.. yeah, Dr. Baekhyun; there was Taecyeon who was feeling many emotions and numerous thoughts were continuously going through this head due to which he couldn't arrive at a conclusion.

When Yeji took you in for treating and dressing the wounds both Dr Chan and Baekhyun took Taecyeon to a more isolated room quite far from yours. "Hyung, you know why we brought you here?" Chan said while Baekhyun took out some drinks from the small fridge. Taecyeon gave a confused look making the other two boys sigh in disappointment. "You found your mate!!" Baekhyun said with a soft smile, making his eyes widened even though he knew this was about to come. "But I c--- "What? You won't accept your mate Hyung? Oh, come on.. Don't act like those rogue wolves. We all kn-

"It's not about that!" Taecyeon raised his voice before covering his face with his hands. "We know what are you trying to say Hyung but what happened can't be undone! None of us can't even that pain but not every mate is like that! She isn't that bitch like Claire a-and remember that Hyung Seok will always with us." Taecyeon can't help but to cry as he remembered his brother who was once full of life, love, happiness, bravery. He was everything and was so perfect that it seemed so unreal but fate had cruel ways especially in the hands of his own mate, that's really a treachery and it can't be imagined even if you have rivals or enemies to go this way. Heaven forbid!!

The sad atmosphere changed when Dr Yeji entered the room along with you who was one step behind from being like an Egyptian mummy. "Oh, my god!! You had this much wounds, are you really okay? Why didn't you tell me?" His heart was beating so fast and his eyes were draped in a fabric of concern. You too were shocked as in no one ever was this concerned for you except for your parents and this person standing in front of you is a complete stranger in the span of almost 3 hours out of which you only came to know about his name. You too were so lost in each other's eyes that it was only Baekhyun's soft giggles that made you both break the eye contact and he got a harsh glare from Yeji.

A few days passed away, with nothing new. Taecyeon was trying to get back at his work but he couldn't somehow at some point of time, his mind and heart went back to you, the way you had looked at him when you asked for help or the way you tugged at his sleeve or your smile when you saw that pet of yours after the small surgery that had to take place. There was so much to think about even though you were together for only 4-5 hours that day.

Maybe Taecyeon was busy smiling like an idiot but his wolf wasn't pleased at all with him. His inner self was in a continuous argument mode.

His inner self:- You are the stupidest person. I have ever seen. I really don't know how did ma-

Taecyeon:- Hey, don't need to get down to that level. What's your problem anyway?

His inner self:- MY PROBLEM?! You being idiot is the problem. Why can't you talk to her? Even, when she called you as you were about to leave that hospital?

Taecyeon:- What would I have said that? It's okay but since you are my mate, let's go on a date?

His inner self:- You really have that much courage? You didn't even ask her name and here you were talking to take her on a date? Let alone that, you were so jealous of that little puppy!! Oh, my god...

Taecyeon:- Oh, please as if you weren't jealous. I had to control myself because you couldn't bear the sight of that puppy kissing her.

His inner self:- As if you wouldn't be.. Anyways, do something good and just like those close mates of yours said it's time for the open wounds to heal. Maybe, it won't heal 100% but that 80-90% is a necessity.

Taecyeon didn't reply back because he knew his inner self was right but he couldn't do anything and if you were his mate, his Luna then you would have to meet someday, somewhere and maybe that he was kinda jealous of the golden retriever.

The following evening, as he went out for a walk in the park near the river, a few minutes later barks and woofs were heard. He didn't gave it a much thought till he felt something near his leg along with something wet on his pants. He looked down at the puppy and he was kinda irritated as the pants were expensive and the small pup had dirtied it.

As soon as he held the puppy high, a soft voice broke all his anger. "Buzo, Where are you?" it's you and that's your voice. Taecyeon's inner self was on a overdrive because of happiness that finally, it and some contact even if it's just of voice.

The said puppy, Buzo barked at you, making you turn towards it and Taecyeon, and a shy smile came over on your face.

"Thank you so much once again, Mr Taecyeon. You again saved my Buzo and the way it looks at you, I can say that it likes you very much." As much as he was annoyed at Buzo, Taecyeon can't help but thank the golden retriever for giving a chance to meet you again....

Soon, enough you both exchanged numbers and started to have conversations. First through, SMS which lead to sharing of usernames of various social media accounts to having 2 hours of phone calls. The steady progress was observed and maybe it's this steady progress and your personality that started made Taecyeon to come to terms slowly and step by step.

He still hadn't shared his past with you, his true identity but slowly as he was opening his heart and emotions, you at the other gave the way and space for him to explore and let it out as if you knew how it feels to express and feel the slightest of vulnerability.

One day, he would surely come to terms with his own emotions, his feelings for you and even the slight jealousy he has when he sees the close relationship of yours and Buzo.. He can't wait for that day to come !

Maybe, this was Meant To Be... To also know this feeling of trying to understand ones know emotions, to try let go of the past, to try to fill at least some small voids which would later give that sense of peace, a sad yet happy memories and to have someone to share this especially to act like a child who feels his/her special candy or chocolate treat would be denied. it's really a beautiful feeling....

[voiceswithoutlips]

Calico - Chapter One

— pairing: Hybrid ot7 x Human Reader (Female) — genre: hybrid AU , fluff, angst, slow burn (like real slow), eventual smut — word count: 1.8K — Rating: M — warnings: trauma, mention of past abuse. 

Click for Tag List

— chapter summary: 

Y/N runs a animal shelter, Calico was built on a simple principle, to help those who were in need. What will Y/N do when her sanctuary is threatened by an unexpected hybrid?

— A/N: This is going to be a series, I’m just getting back to writing, so I’d really appreciate your input and feedback <3

Ch. 2 Ch. 3 Ch. 3.5 Ch. 4 Ch. 5 Ch. 6

“So do you like your new puppy?” I asked the little girl that was trying to hold a squirming golden retriever pup. She frantically nodded her head. How cute!

“Congratulations on the new addition to your family! We’ll send someone for an inspection soon but I don't see how there can be any problems,” I reassured the parents. They were proudly beaming at their daughter, I doubt they even heard what you said. 

“I’m going to name him Bubbles!” Sana squeaked excitedly as the family left with their new pet. I suppressed a giggle, I was a sucker for cuteness. 

Seeing one of our animals get adopted was the best feeling in the world. Running a shelter was not the easiest thing in the world, grumpy animals, grumpy humans and an abundance of body fluids to clean up but it was rewarding. Calico was a no-kill shelter, a privately owned animal shelter. The upside was that we didn’t have to rely on the government for funding, the downside was the paperwork. Every animal that came to the shelter had to be meticulously checked and catalogued. 

The legalities were another headache. Most animals that came to Calico were rescues. We worked with several animal rights organizations that collected evidence and built cases against the owners. Sometimes we got rescues that weren’t exactly legal so we had to get the evidence and build the case ourselves. That’s why Calico had Song Hwa, a badass lawyer. She was just five feet tall but she could stare down men twice her size. 

“One down, two to go,” Jason said as he plopped down on the couch in your office. He was the head veterinarian at Calico, overseeing the health of the animals. He was also my best friend. 

“We have three potential families visiting tomorrow. How’s Hector doing?” I asked as I stretched in your chair. 

“He’s good but I’m still against the name Hector. He looks more like a Raphael,” Jason said with a frown. Last week one of our animal handlers Shownu found a box near the shelter’s gate. There was a small turtle in it, the poor thing was injured. Jason had to amputate his left hind leg because it was infected. 

“I’m not naming him after a mutant turtle. He’s a one legged turtle from the sea, he’s a pirate and nothing you say will change my mind,” I had named him after Hector Barbosa from Pirates of the Carribean movies after I won the rock paper scissors tournament against Jason. 

“Dorks,” Hana scoffed from the corner. She was the one who dealt with the potential families, showing them around the shelter, doing background checks and whatnot. I was the one who sealed the deal and dealt with the paperwork. I was terrible at social niceties, somehow I always ended up saying the wrong thing and had the worst timing in the history of humanity. 

Before Jason and I could retaliate Moonji burst through the door. “He’s back, Yonu is here,” he was breathless. He must’ve ran here all the way from the gates. Moonji was the other animal handler, he was a retired botanist with a wife and two daughters. 

We all collectively sighed. Yonu was a proud member of Animal Liberation Front, an extremist group or as the government would like to call them “animal rights terrorists”. Once in a blue moon Yonu would drop by without a warning to drop off rescued lab animals, he had a thing against scientists. The problem was that they were illegally acquired so we had to lie on the paperwork. Every time Yonu visited Calico, it was a stress fest for everyone, well everyone except Yonu. 

I reluctantly made my way to the exam room. Yonu was standing there bickering with Song Hwa with a box of rabbits. 

“We are NOT taking in the rabbits unless you tell us where you got them!” Song Hwa put her foot down. 

“It's classified,” Yonu said with a grin. 

“Then take them back,” Song Hwa was staring daggers at him.

“Yonu, you know we need to clear the legal side of things,” I shook my head, he knew how things worked. Usually he would brag about his conquest, giving us in depth details about his adventures. Sometimes he brought back research and documents for evidence.Something didn’t sit right with me. Where did he get the rabbits? Why wouldn’t he tell us?

“Sorry sugar, can’t share the details this time,” I sighed at his nickname. One day Yonu discovered that I didn’t like sugar in my coffee and he decided to start calling me Sugar. He was one annoying bastard. 

Jason was already weighing the rabbits and taking their temperature. No matter what methods Yonu used to ‘rescue’ the animals, we always took them in. Song Hwa always said I was too soft, she didn’t know how wrong she was.

There were seven rabbits in total. All white with long ears and pink noses. They were unusually small. “Yonu did you kidnap kittens?” I frowned as I leaned in to take a closer look. 

“No they are all adult males,” Jason interjected. He was checking them one by one, taking their blood to run tests, checking their limbs for any injuries, it was a routine procedure. 

“Aren’t they too small?” they were.

“Maybe they are like those toy poodles… toy bunnies?” Song Hwa suggested. It could be or maybe their growth was stunted. Either way, I didn’t like it, something was off about this, I just couldn’t put my finger on it. 

Jason was running blood panels in the lab as I took over the paperwork. The rabbits were safely left in a hatch outside in the garden. Yonu had miraculously disappeared as soon as we turned our backs and I was starting to get a headache. 

The rabbits barely showed any movement when they were being examined. They were practically limp in Jason’s hands. They had clearly been abused. I didn’t like the blank look in their eyes. Most of the time if the animal was scared it’d get defensive and lash out, it was a good sign, it meant that it still had its faculties. These rabbits didn’t make a squeak as they were moved to a new place, it was worrying. I just hoped they weren’t too far gone. 

“We have a problem,” Jason said as soon as I entered the lab. He was sitting in front of the computer, double checking the results. 

“This day just keeps getting better,” I murmured as I leaned in to see what he was looking at. Not that I could make any sense of it. 

“One of the rabbits is a hybrid,” did I hear that right?

“Come again?” did he just say what I thought he said?

“We have a hybrid in our hatch,” my heart sank.

The presence of a hybrid posed a threat to Calico. Not because he was dangerous, but because he was stolen. The laws regarding hybrids were still primitive in most countries. They were basically slaves to the system, regarded as sub-human. Hybrids were considered as property, something to be owned. Rare animal hybrids were highly sought after by the wealthy to show off their status. So technically the rabbit hybrid in our hatch belonged to someone, we had no right to keep him here. If his owner found out, they would sue us. If the government found that we were keeping a stolen hybrid they’d shut us down. 

“Let’s just send him to a hybrid shelter,” Shownu huffed. The staff was gathered in your office for an emergency meeting.

“Most of those shelters have terrible conditions. Why not just keep him here, we have license to house hybrids, it's not that big of a deal,” Jason said. 

“Might I remind you that he is stolen. We can’t keep him here, we have a shelter inspection next week,” Song Hwa frowned. 

Few months ago we had decided to expand Calico to accommodate hybrids too, we had enough room to do so. We had constructed a hybrid “enclosure” as per the government guidelines. They had sent us the requirements. … they wanted us to put people in cages. We all collectively agreed that no hybrid will ever be housed in that place. No matter what anyone said, they were still human. 

“We can’t just abandon him, who knows what those lab people did to him,” Hana retaliated and an argument broke out. I knew they loved this place, they all wanted what’s good for the shelter. This wasn’t this first time we had to lie but having a hybrid was different. None of us had ever dealt with a hybrid before, even if we decided to keep him, what then? But I knew I couldn’t hand him over. Calico was built on a simple principle, to help those who were in need. And that rabbit hybrid needed our help. 

“Enough. We took in the animals that Yonu had brought before because they needed help. We’ve lied on the documents and it’s no different this time. That hybrid needs our help, we just need to come up with a plan,” I passed the verdict. Not everyone liked it but I knew they’d never let me down. 

After the stressful day all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch with Jason and watch TV. Our house was on the edge of the property, secluded in the forest. It was a country cottage with a private garden. YouI stopped by the rabbit hatch on my way back. The poor bunnies were all squished together in a corner, scared of the new environment and the open space outside. 

I couldn’t tell which one was the hybrid as I leaned in to take a look. Looking for him was no use. Maybe talking would work. I sat down beside the hatch with a sigh.

“I know you’re there,” I said quietly. “It must’ve been scary huh? Being taken from the lab. Yonu, the man who brought you here, he’s a good person. He only wanted to help. His methods aren’t always ….well savory but his heart was in the right place. Do you know what this place is? It's called Calico, it's a shelter for animals. We take care of animals who need help and find them a new home. 

“This is my sanctuary. Nobody will hurt you here. You don’t have to be scared. You are safe here, I’m going to keep you safe, okay?” One of the rabbits was looking at me, he quickly ducked his head as he caught my gaze. I smiled, he was listening. 

“You must be hungry huh? Rabbits only get veggies and greens, don’t you want to eat pizza, and ice cream, and pancakes, maybe some sashimi…” I rambled on about food, about Calico and the staff, inside the hatch a bunny was listening intently to my stories. 

Next

[tintinwrites]

Pedro Characters’ Reactions to You Wanting a Pet But I’m...Slightly an Asshole to the Characters?

Love Pedro and everyone’s headcanons and fics...and I’m pretty nice in this one anyway lol

Agent Whiskey

is it a farm animal or a large dog that can guard you?

if the answer is yes, then sure

if the answer is no, then his answer is also no

“Don’t you look at me like that, cherry blossom.”

you do look at him like that

he gives in the next day and allows you to choose anything you want

that’s how he ends up with a little terrier always on his heels (”Terrier is awful close to terror and now I know why.”)

when you’re relaxing he pats his thigh and let’s the dog curl up in his lap, ignoring your smirk as he pets it

Comandante Veracruz

he’ll allow it as long as you behave and the pet doesn’t start any trouble

that means a lot of blowjobs from you

doesn’t necessarily interact with the pet, but isn’t mean to it either

“Tell your animal to stop stealing my boot laces or I will...”

do nothing tbh

he keeps treats in his pockets secretly and he’ll allow your dog/cat one if ti comes pawing at him

pats their head

one time you found him playing with the boot laces and he claimed he was just trying to take them back

Dave York

he only says yes because you mentioned it in front of the girls and they started squealing

not a great person, but a GREAT dad

you are very limited in your choice of pets though

“I don’t want hair all over the house, I don’t want marks on the furniture, I don’t want-”

you end up with a Maltese

the girls like to put a bow in its hair which Dave pretends doesn’t make it cute

it’s not allowed in your bed at all

except eventually somehow it ends up on the foot of your bed and he’s like “Fine.”

Din Djarin

you prepare a whole little speech when you find the cute, lonely creature on the street of the planet where you’re refueling

you’re mouthing it to yourself as you walk back to the Razor Crest

imagine your surprise when you see Mando and the Child, the former’s arms full of more of the creatures

“The kid kept crying because they were selling them for food. I guess this is one thing he won’t eat.”

there’s not really room on the ship, but you’ll find them nice homes

nah lmao you keep them all

it makes everything a little crowded, but neither of you could just abandon them

they follow Mando around like ducklings following their mama

Ezra

he’s very pleased at the idea of a creature the two of you can coexist with

he might even be the one to bring it up

the two of you decide on whatever cats are now in the Prospect universe

“It reminds me much of myself, aloof until it discovers something it desires. Or wants pet.”

you often find it curled up in his lap or somewhere near him

it’s nice for it to be more than just the two of you now

quite possible you might end up with a lot more cats

you’ve both been lonely

Frankie ‘Catfish’ Morales

one of you is gonna come home with a stray

you are just the type of people who can’t leave a helpless little animal by itself

if it’s you, Frankie doesn’t even hesitate

“Yeah, babe, we can absolutely keep it.”

you’ll probably end up with two cats and a dog just from how soft you both are

the first kitten you find is probably named Oliver and probably has a bell on its collar

Frankie is openly affectionate with the animals and can almost always be found playing with them or petting them

yes they sleep in your bed bye

Javier Peña

the moment you come home with a stray kitten, he says no

maybe it’s because of another cat he once knew

maybe it’s because he’s just not a cat guy

“Just give it to the shelter, we’ll pick out a rabbit or something.”

he only let’s you keep it because he knows it’ll probably leave him alone

but it doesn’t lmao

it chooses him as its favorite as soon as it sees him

and yes okay maybe you come home to him with the cat curled up in his lap but it doesn’t mean he’s a cat person now

Marcus Pike

he’s the kind of guy who dreams of the perfect little family with a Golden Retriever and a tabby cat

so he’s gonna say yes to whatever pet you want

those are his preferred types, but he’ll let you choose anything from a fish to any breed of dog or cat

“We can go to the shelter tomorrow and see what’s there, okay?”

he knows which one to choose the moment he sees you and a dog fall in love with each other

goes to the pet store right after to buy the best food and lots of toys

he let’s it cuddle all over him and it’s the cutest thing ever

yes it sleeps between the two of you in bed unless you shoo it to the living room for some ~alone time~ bc you need that life, home, and family if you want it

Maxwell Lord

no

why even ask?

a man that expensive does NOT want an animal around

“They’re messy and they’re loud and I don’t know what they’re thinking which freaks me out.”

so yeah you end up with a very expensive Poodle

it freaks him out every time it barks

but hey you blew him for it so can he really complain?

yes, daily

Max Phillips

the first thing you ask is if he eats animals

you assume by the way he’s staring at you that he doesn’t

realization comes to his face when you finally ask if it was possible for you to have a pet

“Hey, sure, as long as it goes with my suits.”

you adopt a dog that Max names Buddy

it barks at him like it knows he’s a supernatural creature

you’ve found him on the back of the couch trying to keep away from the dog more than once

he tries to use the dog to make sales bc he knows people love pets

Oberyn Martell

he knows you want a pet before you even ask

like you’re thinking about bringing it up and he just shows up with some tiny animal

or a dozen tiny animals is also possible

“Does it please you?”

he’ll let you have anything you want honestly

loves to watch you play with your pets

the joy on your face and the way the sun touches you just right...

it makes him horny. what doesn’t make him horny-

Pero Tovar

he likes outside pets like horses and barn cats

he does allow a big guard dog like an Irish Wolfhound inside and feeds it during dinner when it’s sneaking under the table

when you want house cats or smaller dogs, though...

“No.”

but this grumpy man is soft for one person and one person only

he allows you a little spaniel bc you keep looking at him with puppy eyes

yes he looks grumpy as you walk around town with that thing in your arms, but he makes sure to buy it a treat when you stop at the butcher’s

and, yes, he does eventually allow a couple house cats and he buys cream especially for them

[romeo-the-cactus]

Last Christmas

Clint Barton x Reader

Warnings: implied cheating, rom com level problematic cheesiness

Requested by @geekofmanythings16

So admittedly, trying to find and then bring home a christmas tree, in New York, on christmas eve may not have been your greatest idea ever, but it's not like it was entirely your fault.

You'd been all set on ignoring the festivities completely, staying in by yourself and emerging in the new year once all the bright lights and warm cuddles and rich food was gone. After last christmas you really weren't in the mood to celebrate.

Today though, the nagging from everybody you knew had finally hit a breaking point, and now here you were, not remotely dressed for the freezing weather, someone else's santa hat you'd found under the sofa on your head, attempting to negotiate with the grumpy guy working there over a price for the last remaining half dead yet enormous christmas tree, when suddenly you were on the sidewalk covered in something large and golden with a wet face.

"Lucky! Aw Lucky no! Get off her, bad dog, you can't just go round attacking-"

"Clint?"

"...Fuck."

And yeah, you weren't exactly expecting to run into the guy who'd ruined christmas for you when you'd just got yourself into Christmas Mode, and any other time you would've either run away or tried to fight him (and given how he'd taken the break up, blank faced and accepting, he probably would've just stood there and let you hit him), but it turns out it's really, really difficult to be angry with a soft warm golden retriever trying to make out with you - even as you could feel your ass getting cold and wet from the gross grey slush on the ground beneath you.

"Alright Lucky, I think that's probably enough now!" You say, pushing him back enough to sit up, smiling despite yourself.

Lucky seems to look between you and the extremely sheepish-looking Clint Barton towering over you, God, you'd forgotten just how tall he is, the hot bastard.

You stand and dust yourself off, already feeling the cold sinking into your bones.

"So how've you-"

"Sorry I just lost track of him and-"

You both laugh a little awkwardly, before the tree seller behind you clears his throat and you remember you'd been in the middle of your fairly heated tree negotiations.

"... I'm not giving you more than 15 dollars for it"

"It's huge!"

"It's dead!"

"It's Christmas eve, where are you gonna find another tree?"

"It's Christmas eve, where are you gonna find another schmuck to buy it?"

"$18"

"Done."

It's not until you've paid the guy and he's started packing up that you realise Clint's still stood there, scratching the back of his neck as he does in any vaguely-grown up situation.

"...Yes?" You ask him.

"Do you need any help getting that home?"

Shit.

You'd been so focused on getting a tree, any tree, that you hadn't really thought as far as how you were gonna get the 7 foot twig back across the city alone, on one of the busiest nights of the year.

Well, there's a reason you and Clint had made a relatively good couple. Disasters of a feather and all that.

You looked around, chewing your lip, as if a solution was going to suddenly appear beside you.

"...What did you have in mind?"

Which is how you found yourself carrying a massive dead tree onto the subway with your ex-boyfriend as you tried to make something resembling mature small talk and prevent Lucky eating the trail of pine needles you were leaving through the station.

"So...still saving the world then?"

"Sort of part-time"

"Oh. What do you do the rest of the time?"

Mope around and watch Dog Cops.

"Uh. This and that"

"Hm. What happened to your face?"

As usual, Clint was sporting a black eye and an array of band-aids.

"...Something heroic."

"How the hell did you ever go undercover?" You ask, laughing at his terrible attempt at a lie.

"Eh, that was always more Natasha's area."

As the name washed over you both he froze, your smile dropped a little and you blinked.

Fuck's sake Clint.

It's not that you'd forgiven him, but he just looked so helpless stood there on the platform, eyes wide in something like horror as he realised what he'd said, and he was helping you out, so god help you, you offered him an out.

"How come you're not wearing your santa hat?"

In the years you'd known Clint Barton, without fail he'd donned a ratty old santa hat the night of thanksgiving, and without fail it stayed on until mid-February. You'd always loved how excited he got this time of year. The avengers were less pleased to be running around with the marksman looking so festive.

His face screwed up in confusion.

"What?"

Looking from side to side as if he feared being told off, he then nodded towards you and your eyes widened, crossing slightly as you looked upwards and realised just who'd left your current accessory under the sofa.

Luckily the train chose that moment to arrive, interrupting your stumbling excuse/apology and leaving you both stumbling to get the stupidly big, getting deader-by-the-second tree on, Clint just managing to grab Lucky by the collar and get him in too before the doors shut.

The train's not completely packed but it is busy, so surrounded by children screaming their own versions of christmas songs, grumpy adults surrounded by still to-be-wrapped gifts, and a meowing cardboard box, the three of you (you, Clint, and the tree) stood and swayed by the handlebar.

You looked at the ground, feeling the oh god what am I doing feeling of hanging out with Clint Barton sink into your gut. As if sensing it, Lucky licked at your fingers, making you smile.

Despite the noise around you, you all remain silent as you trundle your way back to yours.

That is, until a rather forceful stop sends Clint, Lucky, and the damn tree careening onto you as you grab the bar tight and brace for impact, only to open your eyes and find lucky with the tree in his mouth just about holding himself up, and one Clint Barton wrapped tightly around your middle as the train starts moving again.

Seeing him like that tugs at something inside you and for a moment you stretch your fingers out, about to sink them into that sandy hair of his before he tilts his head up and as you look at his face you're reminded how blank it had been after you'd walked into that room at Tony Stark's christmas party last year and seen him-

"Sorry," he says, straightening back up to his ridiculous height and releasing the most painfully awkward chuckle you've ever heard - and you've known him for years, you've heard plenty of those in your time. This is a terrible idea.

"Clint, maybe-"

"This is your stop, right?"

Shit.

"Right." A tight smile pulls its way across your face as you pick up the fucking tree, wincing at the amount of needles it leaves on the floor.

It's quiet again as you exit the station and turn towards your apartment.

"That's new."

Because of course he notices that a new pizza place has opened up next door.

"Uh, yep," god, how the hell did you get here, you used to not need words with this man, now you couldn't get them out if your life depended on it, "look, Clint, thanks for the help and all, but I think I've got it from here." The words come out pained and stilted, which seems to throw him in entirely the wrong direction.

"Hey, it's no trouble, and besides, you live on the fifth floor, and this thing's huge, and I'm here now anyway, and-"

"Okay!"

...With Clint, it's usually just easier to let him run with things and deal with the consequences after. What's the worst that could happen?

The worst is bumping into the old lady in 3C who always loved Clint, and seeing him melt at the puppies in 5A as he shows them to Lucky who gives them each a sniff and a lick, and eventually getting the tree up to your apartment. The worst is also Clint volunteering to help decorate your painfully unfestive apartment, and his eyes lighting up at seeing the tangled mess of your lights, and declaring he can sort them in no tine at all. The worst is no time at all being 58 minutes, and a Dog Cops rerun being the first thing that comes on the TV. It's Clint reaching up to put the star on top of your stupidly tall tree, his shirt riding up to reveal a wad of bandage, and you being there fussing over him before you've even realised what you've done. The worst is the soft look in his eye, and the realisation that you two haven't stopped talking since you got back. It's ordering pizza because decorating makes you hungry and there's nothing in the fridge and he wants to try that new place because it has really weird toppings available.

And obviously you have to watch something while you eat, and the Dog Cops Christmas special is on, and obviously that means sitting on the sofa, and Lucky's barely left any room for you two now he's rediscovered his favourite spot, and Clint's like a fucking furnace and you're tired from the last minute Christmas cheer.

The worst is waking up two hours later to find you've fallen asleep on the remote, and now it's switched to the music channel, and the cheesy video of blonde George Michael is on, and Clint has drool on his chin and a contented look you hadn't seen in so long, long before last Christmas, and seeing him snoring in his Santa hat is right, and Lucky stretches across your lap and the soft light from the tree glows in the corner and really, you never stood a chance once Lucky had found you again. The worst is falling asleep with that damn xylophone solo in your ears and feeling that this had always been your someone special anyway.

[fonulyn]

Another prompt for you~ Werewolf pack with Chris, Leon and piers. Piers and Leon in a secret relationship but piers gets a little drunk and just goes all lovey dovey at Leon in like let’s say a BSAA company party or something? And Leon has to take care of his dumb yet very loving golden retriever puppy of a boyfriend. And last one, sick grumpy Leon who Chris pushes at piers to take care of and they like fall in love. That’s it that’s all I got

these are all nice but i went with the drunk Piers being clingy :’D because I couldn’t resist! (I might still do the last one too tho bc nadjkfn Piers taking care of sick Leon??? sign me the hell up!)

--

When Piers woke up his mouth felt dry like sandpaper. He tried to bury his face into the pillow, hoping against all odds that he could fall back asleep and forget the insistent ache that was splitting his head open. Sleep evaded him though, as he was frustratingly awake now, and he groaned into the pillow unhappily. 

The mattress dipped next to him, a warm palm settling on his shoulder, and he didn’t even need to turn his head to know it was Leon. Long fingers gently kneaded his shoulders, and this time the groan that spilled from him was definitely pleased. Even the headache seemed to be evaporating. 

“You may have overdone it with the fruity drinks last night,“ Leon said, voice soft. He didn’t sound annoyed by it, only a little amused. “I warned you that they’re stronger than they taste.“

“That’s just about the last thing I remember,” Piers admitted, his voice muffled by the pillow. He sighed contently as those fingers kept working his shoulders, and turned his head so that he could look at Leon. “Thanks for getting me home.“

Leon patted his shoulder and leaned closer, brushing a soft kiss onto his temple. Then his smile sharpened, though, a sparkle in his eyes as he spoke up. “So you don’t remember what you did after drink number three?” he asked.

Alarmed, Piers struggled to sit up. Leon had apparently gotten him changed for bed, too, as he was wearing a t-shirt he definitely hadn’t worn at the Christmas party. “Was it something embarrassing? Please tell me no one took photos.” 

“I’m sorry,” Leon laughed, “there are plenty of photos. Better prepare yourself for that.“ He shifted until he was sitting right next to Piers, but not before he reached for the bedside table and got the glass of water and the painkillers he’d set there for Piers. 

Obediently Piers swallowed the pills, downing the entire glassful of water. “C’mon. Tell me.”

*

Leon didn’t really know why he’d been invited to the BSAA Christmas party but he suspected that it had something to do with Chris, who seemed unbearably smug when asked about it. He didn’t even know anyone there except for Chris and Piers, so most of the night he’d kept talking with the former. Like now, Chris was recounting something Claire had done the last time they met.

Suddenly there were arms sneaked around Leon from behind, a warm body pressed against his back. He would’ve startled, but he realized immediately from Chris’ amused expression who it was. So when Piers spoke up, right against Leon’s ear, it didn’t come as a surprise. “I missed you,” Piers drawled, obviously tipsy.

Leon chuckled, patting Piers’ hand where it was on his waist, sneakily trying to find a way under his shirt. “We’ve been in the same room all evening,” he pointed out mellowly. “Aren’t you supposed to be drinking with your friends?” Not that he didn’t enjoy the closeness, he certainly did. But they had decided that their relationship was way too new to tell everyone just yet, and this? This wasn’t exactly playing it casual, like they’d agreed.

As an answer Piers whined. He pressed his nose into Leon’s neck, nuzzling closer. “I want to be drinking with you.”

It was all so endearing that Leon couldn’t help but melt. He glanced at Chris, who seemed amused and nothing more, before turning his head to try to get a good look at Piers. He failed, as the younger man seemed determined to plant small kisses on every single inch of skin he could reach. When he reached the ticklish spot under Leon’s ear, Leon squirmed. “They’re staring,” he pointed out. Yet instead of pulling away he tilted his head to the side, giving Piers more room to work with. 

Piers had managed to slip a hand under Leon’s shirt by now, obviously unconcerned about the audience. “You’re gorgeous, of course they’re staring,” he pointed out, grinning against Leon’s neck. He said something more but it turned into a mumble, and Leon at least couldn’t really make out what he meant. 

With a sigh, Leon looked up at Chris, who was openly grinning. “They’re taking pictures,” he pointed out helpfully. 

“We were going to tell you,“ Leon said, “but... Surprise? I’ve got a boyfriend?“

Chris laughed. “One more drink and he’ll pass out. Get him home before that happens. Or,” he nodded towards Piers’ hand that was absolutely sneakily sliding further under Leon’s shirt, “before he manages to undress you. You don’t want those photos spreading through the BSAA.”

“True,” Leon chuckled. He pulled out of the hug, ignoring Piers’ protests, but then easily slipped an arm under Piers’ to support his weight. “Let’s go home, okay.”

*

Piers was blushing so hard he felt like his head would burst from that instead of the headache now. “Oh god,” he groaned, burying his face in his hands, “I didn’t?” The blush crept down his neck, and he knew that there was no way he could even try to hide it. 

“You did,” Leon said. He didn’t sound too bothered by it though. “Chris told me that we were quite the topic of conversation for the rest of the night.“ 

If even possible, Piers’ blush deepened. He was so ashamed of how he’d acted. They had talked about this, at length. They’d agreed that they would give it a couple of more months, before telling anyone, it was supposed to be their little secret and now he had blown the cover, spectacularly. 

“I’m sorry,” Piers sighed, “I wasn’t--“

That was as far as he got before Leon gently pulled his hands down. There was no trace of anger, only a soft smile as he met Piers’ gaze with his own, twining their fingers together. “I love you,” he said, unflinching, “and I don’t mind if everyone knows.”

The words left Piers gaping. He’d expected an argument, a long talk about boundaries at least, anything but this. It was the first time Leon had said those words, and at this very moment Piers felt wholly undeserving. He squeezed Leon’s hands in his own so hard it probably hurt, his voice barely audible as he whispered. “Say that again.”

Leon grinned. “I don’t mind if everyone knows.” He was purposefully misinterpreting the words, and manged to draw a laugh from Piers. 

“No,” Piers shook his head, but now he couldn’t stop grinning, his heart doing somersaults in his chest, “not that.“

Slowly Leon leaned closer until their noses were touching, his breath ghosting over Piers’ lips as he spoke. “I love you.”

[tickletastic]

Another Puppy

Fandom: Wonder Woman

Ship: Diana/Steve

Summary: Etta believes that Steve can’t handle a puppy, but a grouchy Steve is not a good Steve either.

Notes: Day seven of my 31 days of fics! 

“Please? Please, please, please?” Steve begged, practically on his knees. 

“No!” Etta started, fed up with his persistence, “We cannot get an office pet. You can barely take care of yourself! What about when you have to go out on another mission? The second world war may be through, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have work to do.”

Steve turned to Diana, knowing that when he gave her the puppy-dog eyes, she would always give in. After all, human males could be kind of cute sometimes, she had found out. As she was about to open her mouth to give Steve a ‘yes, of course dear,’ Etta interrupted her, shaking her head in disapproval.

“No, you are not manipulating Diana into giving you a yes. You act like a puppy as it is, Diana and I do not want to be taking care of another one.” Etta reasoned, trying to get some work done while also having to listen to Steve’s whining.

“But it would be so cute! We could give it a spy themed name, like Espionage or Sneak!” Steve chattered, far too much excitement in his voice considering he was supposed to be researching into a new case. In the next few months, he was expected to leave for Austria with Diana. Although the war was over, there were still many people out there who deserved to be imprisoned, and it was going to be part of Steve’s job to help catch them. First, he had to infiltrate their post-war communities, which involved quite a bit of knowledge on what Austrians and Germans were like. 

“No means no! We’re not getting a dog, Steve! Quite being so darn stubborn.”

Etta knew what was coming: Steve’s cycle of ‘no’. First, he begs and begs and begs, until he finally receives an answer that definitely translates to no. Second, he would mope. Steve Trevor was good at a lot of things, and he was definitely good at moping for hours on end. The third stage was grouchy Steve, if Steve got to this phase, he would snap at the people around him and isolate himself. The final stage was sad Steve. Nobody liked seeing him on this stage. 

Etta knew that she could intervene, ending the cycle in its tracks, but she had work to do, very important, world-saving work. For now, she continued her research, searching through encyclopedias and databases to find the answers to any question Steve might have while undercover. Diana did some research herself, but mostly on the food and attractions there, she knew that Steve and her would be able to kick ass and get their job finished within a reasonable time period, and she really hoped she could learn about the local cultures. 

Steve holed himself up in his office, learning about the mannerisms and habits of German and Austrian men, and the type of clothes worn in that region of the world. The last time he had been undercover, he hadn’t done as good of a job as he wanted to, but in his defence, he hadn’t known that a world war was going to break out when it did. Now, he had some time to prepare. There were already plenty of agents in Europe, so his director had requested that he stay for the time-being, in order to gather as much information as he could about the type of people he would be searching for and the type of person that he would need to be to blend in.

The three of them often worked for hours, staying late in the office, often up until the early morning hours, just in hopes that they would be able to leave for Europe early. Tonight was one of those nights, and tragically, the office had run out of coffee. This is what caused grumpy Steve to come a few hours too early. 

Etta had entered his office to ask him a simple question, and he had spit back an answer, like it was venom on his tongue. Etta didn’t take it personally, she had seen her fair share of grouchy Steve, and she even had her own grouchy alter-ego. She knew that she would definitely have to stop Steve before he reached his sad stage, though. It was always the hardest stage to get him to snap out of.

At four in the morning, Etta walked into Steve’s office, practically dragging him out of the room by the sleeve of his coat. The entire time he groaned out protests about how important it was for him to stay, hosting a one-sided argument with himself. Etta just ignored him, while Diana obediently followed the two of them.

A few months prior, the apartment next to Steve and Diana’s opened up, and Etta promptly moved in after Steve had advised her to. Usually, she would just go back to her apartment, but on nights like these, Etta would crash on the daybed in the couple’s apartment, usually waking up to the smell of Diana’s delicious breakfast and fresh coffee. 

Etta wished the two of them goodnight, and Diana ended up dragging a drowsy Steve to bed. When they entered the room, Steve ended up falling asleep in the clothes he was wearing, jeans and all, as Diana struggled to wake him in order to get him to change. In the end, she just let him sleep like that. 

The next morning, Diana hummed with glee as she made eggs and bacon, a fresh pot of coffee already made. Etta sat on a bar stool at the island, bursting into song with Diana, doing goofy dances while the other woman cooked. When Steve exited the room, only 4 hours after they had gone to sleep, he looked like a hurricane. His bed head was in full effect, and he was grouchy, he was definitely grouchy. 

Steve sat down on the couch, looking forward angrily in a way that only a morning-hating person could, unmoving. Diana and Etta looked at Steve before looking back at each other, Etta shrugging in response. 

Diana finished making the food, plating it in a way that only a Michelin star chef could plate fried eggs and bacon, intentionally shaping Steve’s into a smile. She placed it at his spot on the dining room table, and awaited his response to the cute gesture. She was disappointed when Steve showed no response, but she shared a knowing look with Etta. They both knew what was in store for one Steve Trevor.

Despite his demeanour, Steve ate like he had never eaten food in his life, finishing his plate in less than five minutes. He went over to clean his dishes, the sound of the sink and his thoughts drowning out all of the others. 

Steve couldn’t hear the sound of Etta and Diana softly speaking, and he definitely didn’t hear the sound when Etta had crept behind him, giggling to herself. She tasered him in the ribs, and he instantly giggled, hitting his knee against the counter as a reflex. 

Etta wasn’t dissuaded, she continued to spider up and down his ribs. This time, Steve tried to stifle his laughter, trying to return back to his grumpy state. Steve turned to move away and Diana grabbed him, holding him still as he slid to the floor in an attempt to escape. 

“Come on Steve, don’t be grumpy. You’ve made the tickle monsters come out of their hiding. Give us a smile!” Etta spoke in a pitch much higher than her usual tone, scratching in a claw over her victim’s tummy.

Steve was doomed the second that he let a small giggle escape him, and then more. He tried too desperately to fight the smile from his lips, but it just caused the giggles to flow more rapidly, betraying his brain and everything that he was trying to prevent his body from doing. 

“Aww, who’s a little giggle bug? Who’s a ticklish cutie?” Etta and Steve had quite the sibling relationship, they bickered like brother and sister and they certainly knew each other like brother and sister. When it came to teasing, Etta always aimed for max embarrassment, she adored making Steve blush, knowing how mortified it made him. He always found the baby talk the absolute worst, he hates when she cooes, and he hates being doted on. Her teasing was definitely working, he could feel his face lit up to a point where even his ears felt warm compared to the cool air of the apartment.

Etta motioned for Diana to join in, and Diana knew just how to get him. Diana leaned down and blew a long raspberry on the side of Steve’s neck. The spy tried to roll his head to stop Diana in her tracks, but instead it just made it worse. When he moved his head, Diana had access to Steve’s neck and his ear, and he snorted when he felt her blow another one, the odd sensation of feeling the raspberry resonate throughout his ear. 

“Aww, does that tickle baby boy? What a cute little giggle.” Diana joined Etta in all respects, the teasing absolutely relentless. 

“Plehehease! Stohohop teheheasing mehehehe!” Steve begged, wishing that his strength equated to even a fraction of his girlfriend’s. 

“Aww, we can stop if you promise to stop being grouchy. I know the wittle baby is ticklish.” Etta jabbed back, also jabbing her fingers beneath Steve’s arms. Steve tried desperately to free himself from under Diana, but it just wasn’t working for him. 

“Ohohokay juhust- nohoho!” Steve was interrupted by himself when Diana placed a raspberry on his tummy, just above his belly button. “Juhuhust shuhuhut up! I- hehehe I’ll stahahap!”

Etta made a face as if she were considering it, keeping up her movements with intensity for a few moments. Usually Steve wouldn’t give up so easily, and it usually took hysterics to get him to agree to anything, but she finally stopped. She let Diana go on for a few more until Etta finally told her that Steve needed to breathe, Diana releasing him almost instantly. 

Steve remained in his starfish position, watching his own chest rise and fall with giggles.

When he finally sat up, a wide smile on his face, he looked at Etta, “so, a puppy?”

Etta simply rolled her eyes, getting up and going back to her apartment to shower before the three of them would leave again for the office.

A week later, Steve Trevor left on his lunch break without either of them, and came back holding a week-old golden retriever who he excitedly introduced as Agent. Soon enough, Steve’s frantic giggles could be heard throughout the halls of the agency, his office not big enough to contain them. Agent grew on Etta eventually, but that didn’t change the fact that she never agreed to taking care of their new furry friend.

[lucarioisinthevoid]

Dark was the night. The moon shined bright. Snow was covering the green fields outside- Wait. This doesn’t work in English. Dammit. Oh well. It was a peaceful evening- or rather, late noon. It just got dark THAT early, so it felt like evening already. The restaurant laid abandoned, in silence, as everyone had gone to sleep ea- BAM, DOOR BUST OPEN, JEREMY EMERGED FROM THE DEPTHS OF HELL, LIKE A TRUE GREMLIN. “CHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIISTMAAAAAAAAAAAAS!” DAVE AND OLD SPORT CAME FROM THE CEILING, DROPPING DOWN IN LIQUID FORM BEFORE BECOMING SOLID AGAIN. “CHRISTER MISTER, CHRISTER MISTER, CHRI-“ Poor Mike who sat there, wearing a Christmas hat was close to losing it. “COULD YOU STOP FUCKING SCREAMING!?” “NO,” Dave responded, mercilessly. “IT’S CHRISTIAN’S BIRTHDAY. WE GOTTA CELEBRATE.” Jeremy made an offended noise. “No- not- don’t make fun of this! This holiday is REALLY important to me!” “Why.” The response was pretty casual. “Because- well- it’s a very happy day that is meant to remember that all of us can be forgiven!” Old Sport turned away, trying not to laugh. “Aw, I’m sorry Jeremy. We didn’t mean to make fun of you.” “YOU BETTER! BECAUSE THOSE THAT DO ARE NAUGHTY AND DON’T GET COOKIES!” As threatening as the average golden retriever puppy he pointed at them. However, both of the colorful killers whined and rolled over. NOT DENYING COOKIES! Simon entered the room, eggnog in hand. “What’s the chaos about?” When he spotted Mike, he moved over to hand him a glass. This was met with a scoff. “I can’t have alco-“ “It’s free. I’ll spike my own drink.” And with that Simon took out a giant flask and began pouring it into his own cup, more and more much to Mike’s amazement. “… thanks… I guess…?” “No problem. I look out for you.” He took a hearty swig from the eggnog. “I love the holidays. I love being allowed to drink.” “Yeah, sure, rub it in.” Grumpy Mike responded. “Oh, sorry, didn’t, uh- didn’t mean that.” “As if.” They looked out into the group that surrounded them, throwing around snowy glitter and chattering on about what kind of cookies they wanted. Eventually Mike nudged the Phone. “… hey, is that the detective there or am I losing it again?” “That is the detective, yep.” “… so nobody planned to tell me, huh?” At this point he wasn’t even surprised. The detective was being ushered around by the giant machines around him, pushed forward towards the two of them. Awkwardly he approached, looking at each of them. “… I… I think the animatronics would like to be decorated. Would that be- can we-“ Two bodies crashed into him right away, before he could even finish and both the Orange Guy as well as Jeremy, sitting on top of him, excited. “YES WE TOTALLY CAN DECORATE THEM!” “W-we could cover them in fake snow and give them little ornaments-“ “FLASHING LIGHTS. EVERY KID IN THE WHOLE CITY SHOULD GET SEIZURES. WE COULD RACK UP SUCH A KILL C- I MEAN, CHRISTMAS COUNT FOR ALL THE JOY WE ARE SPREADING!” Jeremy looked at him from the side. “Listen, Old Sport, I really love and look up to you, but if you ruin Christmas for me, I WILL do things to you that won’t make me proud.” Four sets of eyes stared into him, but he didn’t waver. Christmas is NO joke. And he wouldn’t let ANYONE get in the way of it. After he felt like the seriousness of the situation as set in, he was cheerful once more. “Anyways, can we decorate them Mr. Phone Guy? Please, please, please! We’ll be careful!” Freddy joined in. “Yes, boss, it would be nice… wouldn’t you let us have some holiday spirit too?” “Uh-“ Unsure he looked between the people. “… sure?” Children’s cheering sounded, as they all ran off to get something festive to put onto them. The Phone Guy sighed. “I’ll regret this, won’t I?” With that he took out the flask again and downed the liquid without a hint of hesitation. Ethan was still sitting there, seemingly lost. “… I really can’t leave.” “Wow. Big fucking surprise.” Mike responded, dripping sarcasm. “I- I just meant that’s why I’m still here. I didn’t mean to- interrupt your Christmas celebration.” For a moment Phoney inspected the detective, then shook his head. “We don’t mind you here.” “I didn’t even get a present for anyone.” The man blurted out. “We, uh- nobody did.” “Oh.” Insecure he looked around. “I… I suppose then it’s okay.” Suddenly he yelped as a sudden cold feeling hit the back of his head. Snickering came from the door, Chica was looking in and snickering. “H-hey- are- is she supposed to do that?!” Quickly the detective wiped away the wet feeling from his neck. “Won’t it hurt their- the mechanics inside of them-“ Smugly Mike grinned. “The only one I’M seeing getting hurt is your fucking ego. Getting hit like that? PATHETIC.” Staring down at him, Ethan paused, then slowly crossed his arms. “… true. You’re right. I won’t bother you any further.” Quickly he left towards the door. “Think that little bitch was insulted?” The guard asked his friend, but only got a shrug in response. Soon enough his mind was taken out of it though, as Jeremy came out of the back again, handing out plates of warm cookies. The machines had been decorated with paper snowflakes, with actual false snow, Foxy had a little glittering balls hanging from him, while Bonnie was covered in colorful lights. Everyone was happy and proud so far. Jeremy gifted everyone handcrafted papers with a thank you and what they appreciated about them- even the detective was supposed to get one, now that he was confirmed to be here and stay around. The others promised to get him something as thank you and that they were sorry for not having prepared anything for this year’s Christmas. He reassured them that he didn’t need another gift aside from their company, but secretly was looking forward to getting gifts. Happily he bit into his cookies, sitting in a circles with the others, in front of a fire that they just started in the middle of the main hall. “I hope everyone is having a nice Christmas! And remembers that each Christmas is a new chance to forgive and that there’s nothing more valuable than peace in your heart.” Dave chimed in. “Nothin’ except a tank. A tank is fuckin’ valuable. Jeremy, imma build you a tank for next Christmas.” All in all it was a peaceful Christmas Eve. Oh yeah, Mike and Phone Guy were later in the evening found drowned in a pile of snow. Chicken and human footprints were found in the snow, but no strong suspects were found. An oversized duck that we saw on a street near the incident commented on the event with “Pathetic.”

In the distance, in the void, a small figure sat alone in front of a fireplace, wearing a Santa hat and drinking hot chocolate. The little lizard had a decorated tank, which included a miniature decorated tree that he seemed to be pretty happy about, as well as a few stacked grasshoppers that he occasionally ate from. It looked like Henry was watching the fire, but actually he was watching the people in the restaurant, lost in thought. Jealous? “… not in the slightest. Stuff like that stresses me out, I am happy to not be part of it. I do lament the lack of snow in the void though.” Wouldn’t you know it, snow started to pick up, dancing through the darkness, not cold, not warm, only there for a second before disappearing again. And for once, Henry smiled a little, peacefully. Bless you, murder monster man. “Bless you too. Whatever blessings you may wish for.” (I just felt like writing a small something for Christmas, to get everyone in the mood... seeing as I couldn’t make a dedicated chapter for it Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukah or Bestested Holidays, I love you all and hope you have some wholesome days the next while :3 )

[undindjarin-archive]

Grumpy Steve Rogers being cuddled into submission by his big boyfriend Bucky Barnes and their big puppies until he can't help but smile because they make him so happy

god cap this is so soft i cant not

Steve groans as he settles down into a chair in his and Bucky’s apartment. Having been gone for the past three days on a mission with Clint and Natasha, all Steve wanted was to cuddle up with Bucky and their golden retriever and black lab babies.

“They’re babies, Stevie, not dogs.” God he could hear the smile in Bucky’s voice even if he wasn’t with him right then and there.

However, he couldn’t do that considering Bucky wasn’t home. He hadn’t wanted to stay in their apartment alone while Steve was gone, despite having their babies to take care of, so he’d gone and stayed the past few days with Sam at his place.

From the messages he was receiving from the both of them, it’d been a long three days and they were fighting over what to name the two dogs, no, babies, considering they hadn’t dones so yet. All the while Sam kept insisting he thought they were better company than Bucky. More behaved at the very least.

Checking over the messages again, a small pout forming on his face considering his best guy, and his best friend were at least not alone, and he was, he sighed softly to himself before resigning himself to the fact he would just have to wait until tomorrow to see either of them.

Grunting as he rose out of the chair, he headed off down the hall to his bedroom, changing out of his uniform and into pajama pants and a white t-shirt, he settles down onto the bed. An empty bed at that it seemed, considering Bucky took up more than his half and liked to snuggle close to Steve at night.

Pout deepening as he stared at the ceiling, reaching over and grabbing at the empty half of the bed, he closed his eyes and attempted to let sleep take him. Even if it did take forever for him to fall into a deep sleep.

Which didn’t last long considering the next thing he knew, he was awoken to the sound of claws clattering against hardwood before bounding down the hall at the sound of a whistle.

Groaning and turning his face into the pillows, Steve stiffens as the bed dips with the added weight of two dogs, and even further as his boyfriend sits on the edge next to him. Hearing his soft laugh as what he assumes is one of the dogs kissing him, the next thing Steve feels is those tongues lapping at the back of his head and arms as Bucky nods in his direction.

Cursing under his breath and pushing himself out of the pillows, he shoots a glare of at Bucky as he shoves the dogs away from his face. Earning a laugh for his efforts, he hardens his glare as Bucky offers him a small smile.

“Hey, babe. How’d you sleep?”

Rolling his eyes and climbing off the bed, Steve starts to head for the door as he attempts to head to their guest room and lock the door to get some more sleep.

Don’t get him wrong he’s aware that he wanted nothing more than to have Bucky by his side last night, but now that he was home, and the fact that he looked so well rested, did nothing but make Steve jealous and wish he was still at Sam’s.

Just reaching the door to their room, Steve stops as Bucky’s on his feet and slipping his arms around his waist, pulling him back and holding him close. Feeling as Bucky nuzzles the back of his neck, a shiver running down his spine, he grumbles under his breath, warning Bucky to let him go.

Humming as he pretends to think that threat over, Bucky presses a kiss to his neck as he answers, “I’ve gotta go with no on that one, Stevie.”

Turning to glare at him, Steve only gets a laugh in return, causing him to jab Bucky lightly in the ribs for it.

Huffing at the slight discomfort, Bucky only takes a moment before pulling Steve closer and kissing up the side of his face and resting his head on Steve’s shoulder. “M’sorry, I am. But if you could just see how adorable you look right now. All disheveled and grumpy. It’s cute.” Bucky coos as he presses another kiss to Steve’s hair.

Making a sound of disagreement in the back of his throat, the tension his shoulders does begin to melt away as Bucky keeps planting kisses along his face, neck, and collarbone. Gentle and apologetic.

“Come on, let’s get you back to bed.” Bucky murmurs gently as he lifts Steve off his feet and carries him back to the bed. Depositing him onto his side of the bed, Steve’s immediately greeted with the two over excited dogs. Already frowning and attempting to softly push them away, Bucky immediately joins him on the bed and puts himself between the three of them.

“They’re just excited to see you, babe. They missed you.” Bucky once again laughs as he pulls Steve close as he wraps his arms around him. Glancing up at Bucky, Steve let out a sigh as he shook his head and pinches the bridge of his nose as he closes his eyes.

“Not as much as I missed you though,” Bucky whispers, barely audible, just between the two of them.

Breath hitching at that, Steve slowly opens his eyes and peers up at Bucky, a shy grin tucked away as he bites on his bottom lip to keep it from growing. Blue eyes looking over every inch of his face, Steve huffs out a chuckle as he shakes his head and before he relaxes against his boyfriend.

“Well, I missed you too. How could I not? You’re my best guy.” Steve mutters tiredly back, leaning up to press a kiss to Bucky’s jaw, smile on his lips.

God, how could he still be upset when the love of his life had to go and make him a full on sap?

A blinding grin settling upon Bucky’s face, he gently guides Steve to lay against his chest, hand already running through his sleep mussed hair. “Go ahead and get your sleep, Stevie. We’ll still be here when you’re ready to wake up.” Bucky promises softly as he runs his other hand protectively up and down Steve’s side.

Humming as his eyes are already closed, Steve shifts against Bucky until he’s comfortable, both arms and legs wrapped around him, grumpiness already having faded away the moment Bucky was there when he opened his eyes.

He truly was a sap when it came to one James Buchanan Barnes.

Exhaling contently, Steve opens his eyes once more and watches as the golden retriever and black lab make themselves comfortable on top of them as well, leaning forward to provide kisses of apologies of their own.

Burying his face to hide in Bucky’s shirt, Steve hums as he goes to ask, “What’d you end up naming them?”

Feeling Bucky’s chest thrum with his soft laugh, Steve felt a small smile pull up on his face as he listened. “Well, Sam suggested ‘Steve in dog form’, and ‘The One Better Behaved Than Barnes’,” Bucky says before pulling Steve impossibly closer.

Pressing a soft kiss to his hair, Bucky rests his cheek on top of his golden hair as he gazes at the two dogs in cuddling on top of them. “But, I was thinking we could name the lab Cap, and the goldie, considering he’s actually a she, Sarah.” Voice trailing away, almost uncertainty in his voice as he feels Steve stop breathing at his side, he glances down to find Steve already gazing up at him with adoration in his eyes.

It was almost as if Bucky had rounded up all the stars in the sky and offered them to Steve on a silver platter the way he was gazing at him.

“Is that okay? I mean, we don’t have to, I didn’t engrave the collars yet,” Bucky quickly reassures, a kind smile on his face.

However, Steve just shakes his head and buries it once more against Bucky’s chest, taking in a deep breath, taking in the scent of him and their dogs. Their family. Before answering, a bit choked up, “No, those names are perfect. Thank you, Buck.”

Hand resuming to run through golden strands, Bucky nods before pressing a final kiss to Steve’s head, rest his forehead atop of his. “Anything for you, doll.”

Settling against his best guy, Steve exhales heavily as he could never feel any more happier or at peace. Who was he to think he could ever stay mad, or grumpy, at the one man who would always do whatever necessary to put a smile on his face.

Sleep pulling him back under, a tiny grin quirked up at the edge of his lips, Steve Rogers was home. Not in their apartment, but in Bucky’s arms, with their babies: Cap and Sarah in their forever home as well.

[livinonaflyingcarpet]

Yousana Exchange gift part 2/4: A short fic

For @iamacolor within the @yousanaexchange <3

~~~

Helpless

(AO3 link here) (inspired by this song)

If you asked Yousef when did he fall in love with Sana, he would just laugh and shrug. He can’t remember a single instance or a look. Sometimes he feels like he was born already loving her. A true soulmate.

There were times when he felt he was falling for her stronger though. When he caught her eye and she didn’t turn away. When she let him teach her how to peel carrots and he panicked and told her he wants twelve kids, and she didn’t run away. When she beat him in basketball and teased him about it for the rest of the day, with that smirk playing on her lips.

When they started dating and she expressed that she had feelings for him too, he couldn’t believe his lucky stars. How on Earth could someone so precious, so perfect, love him, the most awkward fool in Oslo?

Sana was the sunlight that fills the room after a week of rain and clouds. He loved her more and more each day they were together. He thanked God every day morning and night for bringing her into his life.

So yes, he can’t fix an exact moment when he fell in love with her. On the other hand, if you asked him when did he decide that he is going to ask Sana to marry him (not when he decided that they’ll marry someday, but when he knew he’s going to ask her soon), he’d be able to pinpoint the precise spot.

~

They were hanging out together in university café, in between Yousef’s preschool teaching courses and Sana’s evening microbiology lecture. It was late March and the weather just started to turn warmer, which resulted in everybody’s cheerful spirits. Even the grumpy barista smiled at him a little when Yousef picked up their orders.

They had those study dates quite often now, as Sana was really busy with her fifth semester in medicine programme and spent most of her time either attending classes and seminars or preparing for them. Yousef thought she was very lucky with finding her passion and purpose so early on. He himself only decided to pursue a formal degree in teaching pre-schoolers one year ago, after aimlessly trying and throwing away various career choices until he realized that he was at his happiest in his first job position, helping out in his aunt’s kindergarten and working with kids.

So he enrolled for a teaching degree, and right now was supposed to be reviewing his notes from one of those lessons. Supposed to – because he stopped paying attention to them about half an hour ago, looking out of the window on the people passing by, and at Sana sitting across from him, engrossed in some chemical formulas, looking breath-taking as always.

“What about we adopt a dog?"

“Huh?” Sana looked up from her notes, too engrossed in her study notes to hear his sudden exclamation.

“What if we adopted a dog? Like, a corgi maybe?”

“What on Earth would we do with a dog?”

“Give it a name, play with it, and take it out for walks. Or a golden retriever? No, corgi is better,” Yousef added decisively, nodded and smiled at her, waiting for her reaction.

“We are not getting any dog, they’re messy. Also I think that you’re enough, you’re quite a puppy yourself,” Sana smirked at him playfully.

“Wow, okay. That hurts, but fair enough.” Yousef tried to act like he was seriously hurt, but couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. Sana just shook her head and turned back to her notes.

After a moment of silence, she spoke up again.

“Besides, when we live together, we are getting a cat. A ginger one. We’ll name her Ginny.”

Yousef looked at her face in shock as she reassembled her notes with a soft, dimpled smile, and turned her eyes to him. A wave of warmth and pure love for this woman encompassed him and, in that very moment, he knew.

Look into your eyes and the sky’s the limit

I’m Helpless

Down for the count and I’m drowning in them

I’m Helpless

[shadow-in-your-head]

ooh pls the idea of the cult going together to protect the animals is just so funny to me!!

murdering many innocent people and sacrificimg a goat with the purpose of summoning a demon and overthrowing god?? yes, sign me up! but our leader hurting a poor little innocent puppy? get your criminal ass out of here you absolute monster!! (they're right tbh lol. I'd totally betray my cult leader if they kicked my dogs)

there would be at least ONE dog trying to bite kenneth's head off his body every single day, and it's probably a really small dog like a chihuahua or miniature pinscher. these guys are VICIOUS.

i'm completely sure kenneth now has a permanent fear of every single dog that exists in nockfell, he knows they're all out to get him, he just doesn't know when!

travis having his own emotional support doggie!! imagine him walking around in a bad mental health day with a huge ass black lab or a golden retriever mix by his side to make him feel better, or one that was specifically trained to recognize panic attacks and mental breakdowns and alert people around that 'hey!! he needs help ASAP!!'

all the support dogs directly disobeying travis's orders and dragging travis by the leash, some of them going as far as biting travis's ankles and bark at him like he is some sheep getting herded only for them all to stop in the front of a mental health clinic and give travis puppy eyes.

travis is like "did...did you guys just tell me I need professional help?" and he swears he saw some of them nodding at his question.

needless to say, he ended up going to therapy because of his dogs.

awwee, yes yes yes!! sal knows travis is no therapist, but his effort of making sal less scared of his dogs would touch him so much! he would definitely be more attached to the smaller breeds and cuter looking dogs than the bigger and scarier ones, but he did manage to pet some pitbull puppies and the tongue bath he got after was so worth it!

larry will probably need some more time to warm up to the dogs and the dogs definitely wouldn't forget larry's screams at his favorite human so easily. but maybe the thought that at least he isn't that screwed compared to kenneth comforts him a bit. he knows that if all those funky guys had to choose between him and father phelps they would all go for the old man instead of him. ya know, "at least i'm not THAT guy" kinda thinking.

YES YES YES!! travis singing his fur babies lullabies every night and lulling injured animals to sleep, maybe even singing to baby animals who somehow got separated or lost their mother!! (which could lead into some of them trying to nurse on travis's shirt, like it happened with one cat I had!!)

and I just KNOW he either gave the bunny to one of his friends or fostered it until it had a good home. it was very likely an abandoned pet or injured enough that it wouldn't survive well in the wild. he also named the rabbit prince phillip, because why not?

and in exchange for that I give you: travis singing 'remember me' while cradling a puppy he is going to give away to a trusted friend, crying like a baby because he got way too attached and doesn't want to part with it just yet.

travis dressing up the cats as he sings aristocats songs to all of them while maple and ashley record everything that's going on because it was just too precious to not record. those animals will get the comfiest, most gorgeous outfits the world has ever seen!! and travis is in there too, his grumpy face as he, dressed as snow white and holding a cat dressed up as a bunny, surrounded by as a bunch of kittens and puppies and birds is the most blessed scene everyone has ever witnessed in the past century. everyone got their own copy of the photo, even travis!!

oh shoot shoot shoot!! if the dogs get into the house then it's over for kenneth! the man won't know peace anymore, the dogs would absolutely take advantage of that fear to have their way around the house and act like the spoiled boys they are. getting up on the couch, eating kenneth's food, stealing his clothes, any act of mischief you can think if has been done by those sly puppies! after all what will kenneth do? scream at them?

(here lies kenneth phelps, had his cult and respect completely destroyed by his gay twink son, his two husbands and a pack of dogs)

and said boyfriend absolutely knows that! at this point travis's reputation with the animals has gotten around and everyone knows not to mess with their protege! you fuck up you get eaten or pecked to death, simple as that.

"we can't be together, my love. the dogs do not approve of our relationship."

the crows will probably be a WHOLE other business. these guys mate for life, and they will want to make sure the special someone travis chose will be the one for him.

the crows watching over whoever travis has his eyes on, seeing how he acts with other people and how they treat the other animals. imagine you just happen to turn around and see at least 10 crows stalking your every move and silently judging you.

HEADCANON:

I see narwhal's headcanons of travis having bird friends and wolf friends and having an entire murder of crows and introduce: travis also having the secret habit of feeding stray animals in town and having earned the friendship of dogs, cats and even the local raccoons and possums.

imagine travis is just chilling with his friends and the local stray mixed with a 'dangerous' dog breed approaches travis and tries to play.

sal is terrified cause cynophobia, larry is jumping on his bro to protect him from a potential aggressive dog while the others try to shoo him away and meanwhile travis is like "hi there buddy!!" and tries to get the dog to chase his arm.

dog acts like a total baby while everyone is collectively going "AYO WHAT THE FUCK."

they lure the dog away with some treats travis kept in his pocket and then find out he has been trying to gain that dog's trust for three months and that was the first time they ever played.

see also: the local dogs getting suspicious of kenneth and barking whenever they catch sight of him walking by, one day they see him hitting travis in the face and all hell breaks lose as they chase father phelps into the church. they got special treats from travis and the gang for the whole weekend!

he has one particular cat he really likes and considers to be his favorite, a sweet lil' calico he named joy.

he also has other cats he likes the company of, it's not uncommon for the gang to see travis absolutely SURROUNDED by cats and other animals if they look for him.

the raccoons trashing up the area near the church and travis finding them adorable and keeping them around with cat food and fruit.

the dogs also defend travis a lot, one time when larry found out travis was feeding the dogs he slapped a treat out of his hand and started yelling at the blond because he thought he was poisoning them all, last thing larry knew he was being chased onto a tree by at least 4 medium sized and large dogs with a screaming travis behind them telling them all to stop. he never messed with travis again after that, not with the pack around at least.

[meican]

Growing up Northwest Farm Terrier

Ramsey turned none this year. He is starting to slow down for the most part. Sleeps a good portion of the day or is just lazy. However, we added a Golden Retriever to our lives. She is a young girl who has a lot of energy. In some ways she reminds me of when he was a puppy. That boisterous playfulness. Bouncing around, under foot, under hand, the major difference is that when he was young he didn't seek the constant attention that she does. As a matter of fact he didn't really want a lot of attention. I am sure I wrote this before, he was more like a cat. I want it when I want it and when I don't - just leave me alone. I am not sure if the attention he comes for is because he is older or because there is another dog in the house. Perhaps a bit of both. He is still a good dog. A bit grumpy at times, a lot like an old man, when you bother him or make him move because he is laying in the way. He doesn't like being told that he has to get up. I don't like telling him as I have notice that he is having a rougher time when he goes to sit/lay down and when he goes to get up. Once he is up, he is fine. There is no noticeable issue with his legs or hips. Just probably a bit of arthritis in his bones. I am not sure how long a dog his breed will live. I am figuring that he has at least another few years in him. Hopefully more. Yet, I am trying to prepare myself in some way for his eventual loss. I think this has been brought about my brother's dog, who is only a little older than Ramsey. She has started to become noticeable slower, less movement, harder times using the bathroom, needing to be hand fed, etc. All those caretaker things we have to do when our dogs get older. It is difficult to lose an animal. Not just a pet but a family member. I don't want to dwell on it and I don't. It's just at times when you notice the longer it is taking to get up and down. The small changes in behavior and I have to think, that nine is not a youthful number when it comes to big dogs. No, nine marks the start of getting up in years. Especially for a breed that doesn't have a long life span. Of course my lab/sharpie mix lived to be 16 - which was a lot longer than anyone thought she was going to live. She was still a wonderful, sweet, happy girl her entire life. I didn't want to have her put down and only when I realized she had hit a point that I really took a long look at her and had to decide was it my selfishness or for her that I was delaying things. I finally decided that perhaps I should do something for her, the day I was going to take her to the vet, was the morning that she didn't wake up. It was a very hard time for me. As I am sure you can imagine. It has been almost 12 years since that time and now I grow closer to losing another beautiful friend. Of course, like I said, he still has at least a few years in him (I think.)Which is time I will enjoy and I think he will too. Even if our walks are getting a bit slower. He still plays with the girl dog. They wrestle and chase each other. Of course, she can keep going even when he can't. He will just lay down while she runs circles around him. Dancing and teasing him and trying to get him to get up and play. There are the rare occasions where she will be laying down and he will be dancing around her. Which is just another indicator that he has a lot of life in him. I ended up changing his food again to Rachel Ray's Brand of dog food. He is on a grain free fish diet and doesn't get rawhide. This makes life a bit more expensive. The benefits are outstanding. Plus we are living in the desert, which has also helped him. He doesn't have the ear and eye problems and his belly is white now not the brilliant red it gets in the grass. Overall he is a happy, healthy dog who only grumbles when you bother him when he doesn't want your attention. (Like when I lay down on the ground and cuddle him a bit.) Still, he comes and wants you to pet him and scratch him. Read the full article

[megadarkbouquettidalwavethings]

Is Your Dog Ready to Be an Instagram Star?

What conclusions may be drawn? For one thing, Instagram puts a premium on superficial dog traits like cuteness over ones like intelligence or obedience.

“Instagram and social media is impacting everything, and influencing all kinds of lifestyle and consumer decisions, so it makes sense that it would influence what kind of dog people choose,” said Cameron Woo, the publisher of The Bark, a dog-culture magazine based in Berkeley, Calif. In that way, Instagram is like television was in an earlier era, Mr. Woo said. “Lassie” inspired a mid-century collie boom; “Frasier” propelled a Jack Russell terrier moment in the 1990s.

That was certainly the case with Aleksandar Gligoric, a dog breeder from Serbia who named his online dog store Frenchie World, in part because of Instagram. “People are considering Instagram worthiness in all aspects of their life,” he said. “I felt that the Frenchie would be the next big thing on Instagram.”

Almost Human

So, what dog traits are favored by Instagram users? Well, for starters, they like dogs that look like them.

Breeds like pugs and Boston terriers “really resemble humans, or babies,” Mr. Woo said. These so-called brachycephalic breeds, with their shortened heads, flat faces and barely there noses, “are very photogenic with their large, forward-looking eyes,” Mr. Woo said. “They appear to be grinning or smiling,” never mind that the “smiles” are often caused by breathing difficulties native to their breeds.

Pug owners don’t disagree.

“With their smushed-in faces, all the rolls, and their funny tails, pugs are the least doglike dogs,” said Leslie Mosier of Nashville, whose pug, Doug (@itsdougthepug), is one of the most popular pets on Instagram, with 3.2 million reputed followers. “They are more like humans-slash-pigs-slash-dogs.”

The breed’s almost-human face makes it easy for owners to anthropomorphize their pets with costumes. Ms. Mosier routinely plays off Doug’s perma-frown by dressing him — wrapped in towels, say, with cucumber slices over his eyes, looking like a moneyed divorcée taking refuge at Canyon Ranch.

Continue reading the main story

As actors or models, pugs are the canine equivalent of hams. “They were bred in China to sit at the emperor’s feet and entertain,” Ms. Mosier said.

A dog’s popularity can increase exponentially when it has a signature style flourish, the canine equivalent of Anna Wintour’s sunglasses or Pharrell Williams’s hats. Case in point: the Gene Simmons-length tongue of @marniethedog, a Shih Tzu rescue that at this point may be more famous than the real Gene Simmons, thanks to an explosively popular Instagram feed.

And if the canine flourish isn’t genetic, there’s no stopping the owner from creating one with careful grooming. Take Agador (@poochofnyc), a maltipoo with teddy bear looks who has appeared in ad campaigns for Google and a teaser for Katy Perry’s “Bon Appétit” video.

Agador’s explosive orb of copper-colored frizz is routinely gussied up into a spherical confection atop his head. It is a look that conjures the Bob Ross, the TV painter who died in 1995. And who isn’t going to follow “the Bob Ross of dogs,” as Agador is billed on Instagram.

“It makes him instantly recognizable,” said Allan Monteron, one of his owners. “People stop us on the street and say, ‘I follow that dog on Instagram!’”

Exaggerated features are a plus, too. Take corgis, those squat-legged canine courtiers to the queen. They are certainly hot on Instagram, with accounts that have “corgi” in the user name rising 200 percent over the past year, according to Instagram, and that cannot all be attributable to the breed’s occasional cameo on “The Crown.”

Every feature of the corgi works as a visual punch line: those oversize Yoda ears, the squat “Honey I Shrunk the Collie” body, the 50-percent-off appendages, which make the corgi’s movements particularly comical on social media.

The same may be said of bulldogs, the one breed that appears in the top five of both Instagram and the American Kennel Club. Outside of social media, bulldogs’ popularity will be assured so long as there are Anglophiles, Marine Corps veterans and college football fans in the state of Georgia.

Continue reading the main story

And on Instagram, where user names that include “bulldog” have seen a 60 percent surge in the past year, bulldogs check multiple boxes: They look like people (specifically, grumpy old men), have inherently comic features (the volleyball-size head, the tiny bow legs) and are easy to anthropomorphize.

The breed has also reaped a windfall of “it dog” publicity from celebrities, including Brad Pitt, Jessica Biel and David Beckham, for whom these homely little bruisers seem to make the perfect foil. The message seems to be: “Do not hate me because I am beautiful, since my dog is not.”

Mutts and Tripods

Because of their associations with the queen and the British Empire, however, both corgis and bulldogs seem out of step with the current vogue for rescue dogs and less rarefied breeds.

These days, pointedly aristocratic breeds tend not to pop on social media as much as dogs with quirky features or compelling back stories, said Elias Weiss Friedman, a New Yorker photographer who spends his days snapping pictures for The Dogist, a dog-centric street photography site that has a rabid Instagram following.

“I’ve found that people prefer the more real, natural dogs,” Mr. Friedman said. “Poodles seem to give off a pretentious vibe, especially if they have the classic poodle haircut. The older generations love them, but I think the younger generation sees that style as fake, undogly.”

Indeed, his two most popular posts have been a mixed breed puppy with funny ears named Larry and a 12-year-old Labrador with vitiligo named Rowdy. “People crave relatability, and see dogs as individuals with similar life challenges to themselves,” he said.

The right kinds of mixed breed — they were once called mutts — play well on social media, particularly if their features are camera worthy. A husky-malamute-wolf mix called @loki_the_wolfdog has become one of the 10 most popular pets on Instagram, thanks in part to his rugged “Call of the Wild” aura and head-turning looks (including mismatched eye colors and a silky coat that changes color with the seasons), that his owner, Kelly Lund, uses to poetic effect in his shots of Loki in the snow-dusted Colorado wilderness.

Many dog owners interviewed also said they see mutts, rescues and disabled dogs as a more ethical choice.

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“I think the most difficult question posed to us is always ‘Where did you get that dog? I want to get one exactly like it,” said Francis Bott, who owns Agador with his partner, Mr. Monteron. “It is simple enough to provide the breeder’s name, but we are big proponents of adopting rescues whenever possible.”

(They opted buy a hypoallergenic poodle mix from a breeder, Mr. Bott said, because their previous dog, a rescue Shih Tzu/Bichon mix, aggravated their allergies.)

Rescue organizations like the North Shore Animal League and the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition blanket social media with heart-rending photos of doe-eyed animals looking for a home.

Such social media efforts to raise awareness have led to a demand for differently abled dogs and so-called tripods, or those missing a limb, said Jennifer Nosek, the editor of Modern Dog magazine. One such unlikely Instagram star was Smiley, a golden retriever born without eyes, and with a form of dwarfism, in a puppy mill, who went on to become a widely publicized service dog in nursing homes and hospitals. (Smiley’s death last year, after a battle with cancer, was covered by the news media.)

“Perhaps it’s an antidote to all the bad news we’re so often bombarded with,” Ms. Nosek said. “These accounts remind us that there are people, and dogs, out there doing good.”

Either that, or such dogs just provide a break from the pressure that the rest of us feel trying to look too perfect for Instagram.

Take @chloekardoggian, a gray-whiskered 13-year-old rescue Chihuahua in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, with huge eyes and 153,000 followers. “Her ears go up, her nose goes right, her tongue goes left, and her eyes each go in different directions,” said Dorie Herman, her owner. “Everyone has felt like Chloe looks at some point in their lives.”

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ALEX WILLIAMS

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