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knockyasocksoff2022 · 1 year ago

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The Disastrous Meeting

(A/N: sorry. I know this is bad I kinda have writter's block right now, but I really wanted to write someting. It's longer than I originally planned (I feel like most of my stories are longer than I plan for them to be lol) and I'll probbaly edit this later. Also I didn't mean to make Kunikida such a bad guy in this one but oh well.)

under the cut due to length (3635 words)

I haven’t slept the entire night but I stay laying awake in bed even after my alarm rings. I’m so so so tired yet I can’t fall asleep, not without my Chuuya. The bed is too cold without his warm embrace.

Finally when I grow too restless I walk to the kitchen, but Chuuya isn’t here making breakfast so I decide to forego eating. My stomach is too sensitive to anything besides Chuuya’s cooking and crab, and I’m out of crab so . . .

But knowing he would want me to eat, I look in the fridge and see that there’s some month old vegetables. Chuuya must have left them. They look okay but not worth the effort.

I shut the fridge and feel myself shivering.

When I put on my work clothing I throw one of Chuuya’s jumpers on before putting on my signature tan trench coat. It isn’t very warm, but it’s something, and it smells like him.

—

When I arrive at the office everyone stares at me.

“What are you wearing?” Kunikida’s voice is devoid of emotion but he’s clearly in shock. Oh god, I think I’ve broken him, but why?

I look down, to my surprise the jumper I wear is at least 12 or so centimetres too short for me, like some sort of crop top, despite being loose. I can’t believe I didn’t think about how Chuuya’s height difference might make it hard for me to wear his clothes, probably because he’s usually here to wear mine. I’m not exactly embarrassed, (I know I look good in cropped things) just startled, and through the waves of emotions that crash over me (love, longing) I struggle to hide it.

“What, oh this? The girl I was with last night left it, I was planning on returning it, of course, I’m no thief Kunikida-kun, but not before I’d properly washed it, so I figured, why not wear it first, eh?”

Kunikida just raises an eyebrow, “And that thing on your neck, did she leave that too, or did you just forget to take it off, because I will not tolerate such unprofessional things in this office.” His voice is stern.

“Whatever do you mean, Kunikida-kun?” I make it sound teasing but I genuinely have no idea what he’s talking about.

“Do not make me spell it out for you Dazai. You know very well what I am referring to.”

I really don’t, but I have a reputation so I say nothing and continue onto my desk. Just as I sit down something chokes me. I gag pathetically.

“Dazai-san, this is more than inappropriate for work, think of Kenji and Kyoka. What if we have a case that deals with children? Do you care nothing for the reputation of this agency?”

“Kunikida-kun I really didn’t take you for the type interested in choking people.” I wheeze, feeling around my collar to loosen the blond’s grip but I find no hands there, they’re higher up, grabbing onto . . . a choker.

Oh.

It’s one of Chuuya’s, a casual one, not the subtle black one he wears for work (he took that one with him), no this one is joined together by metal rings in the front and back. Kunikida must have thought it was some kind of toy. That man really has no idea about some things, does he?

“Are you going to take it off, or do I have to.”

“You know how weird that sounds out of context.” I continue to tease him, fighting internal panic at the potential discovery of our relationship, while easily wriggling myself free.

I take the choker off, shrugging as if it was a prank all along and throwing it into my work bag. I certainly won’t let Kunikida touch something belonging to my Chuuya.

I can cover this up easily. I laugh, exaggerating the action, pushing my cartoonish persona. “Ah, you’re still so gullible Kunikida-kun! This isn’t what you think it is, you can buy one of these at any pet shop, did you know that.”

“No, actually, I did not.” he looks intrigued, and pulls out his trusty notebook, probably thinking that women like animals and trying to learn what animals like to impress his mystery woman. Yes, he should be marrying her in less than a year or so.

“Yes, they’re called double lead bearing collars and are considered the most effective by trainers in controlling dogs with aggressive behaviour. I was wearing it wrong, both rings are supposed to go around the side of the dog's neck, not the front and back. Then you attach the special double leash and the dog won’t be able to pull you as you walk it.”

“Hmm, most intriguing. He lifts his pen and shuts the book.

I nod, giving just the right amount of pause. “Yes, I agree, it would indeed be intriguing, if such a thing existed, that is. As of now, it does not, what a shame, don’t you think Kunikida-kun?”

I don’t look up but I can hear the sound of a pen shattering and the spring flying off somewhere to be found by one of the unlucky agency clerks.

—

When the day ends everyone disperses to do the things that normal individuals do after office hours. I have nothing else to do and I feel empty but filled with lead at the same time, the lead being my longing for Chuuya.

As I walk home a chilly spring breeze starts up and I shiver, my body becoming even more numb with the cold temperature, but it’s as if I’m freezing from the inside out.

I pass Chuuya’s favourite wine shop and it crosses my mind to get him a gift but then I remember there’s still another two full weeks until he comes home.

When I arrive home I fall into bed and stare up at the ceiling.

—

When the sun rises I return, from my listless staring, to reality.

Upon this re-entering into reality I notice several things.

It’s cold, (I know it can’t be because of the air con because none has been turned on since Chuuya left), so more accurately, I’m cold, really cold.

My head, back and throat ache.

When I try to stand up, a wave of dizziness assaults me, I fall back down.

I don’t need Ultra Deduction to know that I’ve fallen ill, or at the very least coming down with something.

I swallow, it hurts, tears prickle in my eyes. Not because of the aches and pains so much as the fact that my loving husband isn’t here to care for me. Normally I would tell him I’m not feeling well and he would take my temperature and make me tea and maybe draw me a warm bath and wash my hair. And since I fall ill so rarely he would take the day off to work from home and we would spend the day together.

I lay back down and assess the situation. We have no medicine, well we do but it’s locked in a safe that only Chuuya knows the entry code to, and knowing Chuuya he didn’t just make it my birthday or something dumb like that. He told me he used a random number generator. And he neve lets me watch him opening it. And he says he doesn’t worry about me. Ha!

I could of course buy some more medicine but I don’t even feel like moving.

Now, I’m alone with no medicine and nothing to do and I can’t even stand the thought of being here in this lonely empty place all day. My head spins and aches and I feel like I’m being weighed down by dumbbells.

So, I decide to do something drastic, I decide to go to work.

Maybe I can convince Atsushi or Kenji to buy me some soup. Maybe Yosano will give me something, just to make the pain stop.

Reluctant to leave but reluctant to stay, I bundle up and head out.

—

“Oh, Dazai, it’s you, it’s about time you showed u- ugh!” Kunikida looks me up and down, giving a disgusted grimace. I’m a bit shocked, it's rare to see him this hostile, I mean sure he won’t hesitate to knock my lights out, but this is a different kind of hostility. At least I think so, I can’t really think at all with the fog filling up my head.

“Finally ran out of clothes from jumping in that damned river, did you? Ever heard of a washing machine, a dryer perhaps? Wonderful inventions, truly. You ought to use at least one before you think about coming to work dressed like some crackpot wandering the Tescos car park at some ungodly hour of the night”

(A/N: I just realised after proof-reading this that Kunikida sounds so BrItIsH here, sorry!)

I look at my outfit in the reflection of Kunikida’s desktop, paying more attention now than when I put it on. It consists of an old Holiday jumper, striped pyjama bottoms, a blue woolly hat and Chuuya’s UGS. (Which are a little big on me because I have smaller feet than him, despite my greater height.)

“Ah, forgive the outfit, I haven’t been feeling very myself this morning, I think I have a cold.”

Atsyshi looks legitimately worried at my sincere tone but I see the scepticism behind it.

Kunikida scoffs, “And you came into work? If you were really sick, you would’ve just skipped like usual. You don’t need to put this much effort into faking illness, we aren’t going to believe you anyway, especially because it’s a dead giveaway that you aren’t sick since you put so much effort into this ruse. If you don’t intend on doing any work you should just leave, we don’t have time for this, but since you're here, please get to work.”

His reaction confuses me, I may have lied about other things, but I’ve never lied about being ill. The blond’s face tells me not to argue, but I really just need some medication, surely Yosano won’t mind that.

“I assure you, I am not faking, all I ask is some headache medication from Yosano.”

(A/N: Poor Dazai never sounds sincere even when he is)

The doctor frowns. “Why? So you can try and off yourself again? Uh, no! Just go jump off the roof if you’re that desperate.”

“Exactly, we are not going to hand you means to commit suicide in this office, now please do your work.”

I want to ask him why I would commit suicide when my beloved Chuuya hasn’t come back yet. I don’t want him to find my body when he returns, that would be terrible. But my throat is too dry to form the question and Kunikida looks like he’s going to explode.

I don’t have the energy to argue so I just go to my desk. I can’t take the boredom so, through the haze in my brain, I try to figure out what to do. Suddenly I don’t really remember how I got here but I feel cold, really cold. Kunikida said something about what I usually do, but I can’t remember what it was. Well, what do people usually do at work? Ah, of course, they work!

I open the laptop on my desk, watching a little mystified as my fingers key in the passcode from muscle memory. Quickly, I begin the paperwork, filling in details of cases as they pop into my foggy brain, my fingers blur as I type, for some reason it feels like I have to get this done as fast as possible but I don't really know why. My thoughts blur together in my head, melting into goo and running into each other.

After an hour or so I feel my eyes closing. Well, no, that’s not right. I can feel that they’re wide open, but my field of view is closing, black eats away like I’m looking at a photo that’s being burnt from the edges and the fire is eating its way towards the centre.

I blink but it doesn’t stop, fear creeps in, colouring the gooey thoughts dark and violent shades.

I let my head slump against the wooden desk, or maybe it just falls of its own accord, I can’t tell.

There’s loud thumping and a shadow falls over me.

“Dazai, this is your desk not a bed, you can’t just fall asleep. And stop making such a racket, you needn’t hit your keys quite so loudly.” Kunikida scolds.

“I don’t feel good.” is all I manage to say.

“You’re clearly feeling well enough to annoy us with your intense typing.”

“But, Kunikida-kun, I'm not faking. I just need some headache medication.” My voice cracks.

If he notices the crack he doesn't show it. “You don’t look ill, you could’ve at least tried to cover up your lies, now stop being such a pest.”

“My head hurts, I feel sick.”

“Oh, come off it, you brat! We really don’t have time for this, we have something important to do.”

“You can take my temperature!” My voice comes out, pathetic pleading sound.

“I will do no such thing, now get changed, we have a meeting to attend. And it’s with the Port Mafia, so get your act together. We cannot afford to appear weak.”

“I-”

“Go!” Kunikida’s yell cuts me with its hard edges and leaves my ears ringing, as he tosses a stack of clothes at me.

—

In the restroom I start to change into the things Kunikida gave me. It appears to be some type of suit.

As soon as I remove my jumper, a chill crawls over my skin. I put on the other set of clothes as quickly as I can with my vision spinning and dipping in and out like this. I start to style my hair in preparation for seeing Chuuya, (A/N: think of the Dead Apple hairstyle, cuz I couldn’t find the name) but then I remember that he won’t be there, and the emptiness hits me all over again.

I feel myself slipping down to the floor (ceiling?) as the room twists and bends, and just barely catch myself on the counter. Finally a splash of ice water on my face restores my vision, leaving nausea and an even worse headache in its place.

I stumble clumsily out of the restroom but no one notices.

“Ah finally! Hurry up, you lazy bum, we have to be there in 30 minutes and pick up Ranpo from a mission on the way, you know traffic is a nightmare this time of day. Oh, wait, you can’t even drive. Useless, honestly.”

Positively desperate, I try one last time, “Do I have to go, I think I’m gonna be sick.”

“Dazai, quiet yourself and get in the car right now.”

My entire body deflates like a balloon at the dismissal but I manage to drag myself along.

—

I open my eyes slowly as someone shakes me awake.

“We’re here Dazai-san.” It’s Kenji, his sweet smile has none of Kunikida’s malice.

“Thank you Kenji.” my voice is a croak. After a second of hesitation, I ask, “Do I look alright?”

“You look very handsome in that suit Dazai-san. Very respectable.”

“Ah, thanks.”

“No problem.” He skips a head, still cheery despite the imposing nature of the Port Mafia campus.

I lean heavily on the car and sigh as I look up at the big buildings.

Chuuya’s Perspective

It turns out I didn’t need nearly so long to finishe the mission. But I arrive home from Hong Kong in the middle of the morning so I don’t bother going home. I stash my luggage in my office and prepare for the meeting.

We’re having a meeting with the A.D.A today and Osamu will be tehre. I can’t wait to see hi. Part of me is also afraid. I did everything I could but I know he doesn’t care for himself when I’m gone. WHat if he’s lost weight or cut himself or . . .

I take a breath and don’t allow myself to dwell, I’ll be seeing him in a hour anyways.

—

We get into the conference room before the A.D.A arrives.

–

The president walks in first, I catch Mori’s soft smile before the coll, aloof demeanour covers it again. Next is the doctor, she winks and gives me a thumbs up, a thanks for the wine I gave her. Then is the child genius, then the tiger, who looks like he’s going to pee himself, then Kenji. I actually like Kenji, he says “Hey Executive Cool-hat-san!” I have to smile. Next is Kyouka, Kouyou looks longingly at her, like a mother missing her daughter. Where is Osamu???

Last Glasses man comes in and behind him Osamu strolls casually in, and takes his seat. To the untrained eyes his expression is similar to Mori’s, cool, aloof. To me he looks beautiful as usual, but sick. And he hasn’t noticed me yet. Probably because he’s so focused on his facade.This is him actually trying to appear bored and uninterested.

I clear my throat.

He sees me.

He slips.

Just a little, barely a centimetre.

But I know, I can see.

His eyes widen in surprise and they’re alight, a sliver of sparkle in the corner, a glassy reflection indicating fever. I watch his shoulders sag, almost invisible, in relife. His skin is a few shades paler, and he plays off a shiver as an adjustment of his shoulders.

Damn it!

I knew this would happen. Whenever I’m gone he hardly eats or sleeps (as if he eats or sleeps much when I am here).

He looks awful, how has no one noticed? I have to get him out of here, but how, it’s such a small room with so few people I can’t exactly slip him out the backdoor.

He looks at me, his eyes begging me for comfort.

I look at him telling him, with my eyes, to ask the president if he can leave or something. He shakes his head.

Oh fuck this!

If they’re letting them suffer then, I’m going to make a scene, so help me god.

“Which one of you is responsible for this?” I stand up and point to my husband

People move aside in shock.

“Whatever do you mean, Chuuya-san? You knew that your Partner would be here, did you not.” Mori speaks quietly, calmly, sweetly. He can tell Osamu is ill, just as I can and has decided to make my job easier. He may be an ass but he’s a good boss.

“Don’t you mean ex-partner?” Koyou raises an eyebrow at Mori, not understanding what he’s doing.

“No, I meant exactly what I said.” Mori smiles innocently, his gaze on his own husband.

“Partner?” Glasses man’s voice squeaks and his face pales as he tries to maintain composure. “In what way?” he asks, clearly forcing himself to be calmer now.

I’m still too mad to really answer him. “That doesn’t matter, how long has he been ill?”

“Ill?” Glasses man asks confused

“Yeah, can’t you idiots see!”

“I assure you, Executive Nakahara, he is perfectly fine.”

It annoys me even further not being called by my married name, though I hardly expect him to know it. I walk up to the idealist, grabbing his collar “Fine? FINE?? He—”

A weight settles against me. I look down, and catch Osamu before he slides to the floor. He’s fainted.

I look at the blond, who looks as shocked as if a pink elephant has pranced its way into the room, and rage boils in my blood rising up to the surface, just beneath my skin.

I grab his hand, with much more force than is necessary, and force it against Osamu’s forehead.

“Feel that? He has a fever. It’s so fucking obvious, how can you call yourselves detectives?”

“Oh, so he really wasn’t lying.” I hear the doctor whisper, she sounds incredulous.

“Lying?” I’m confused at first and then I get it, “HE TRIED TO TELL YOU!”

“Please calm down.” Glasses man’s voice is almost erased by fear

“NO, I DON'T THINK I WILL!”

“You must understand why we didn’t believe him.” The blond is afraid for his life, as he should be.

“I. Don’t. Care.” I make my voice quite, precise, deadly as I let go of him. He falls off balance and stumbles to the floor.

“Come on, Osmau, we’re going home.”

His eyes open a little bit, “Mnn, Chuu?” he groans, “m’ gonna be sick.”

Shit! I grab a bin and put it under his chin, and help him down to the floor, just in time. As he empties his stomach I rub his back gently, whispering sweet nothings. I can tell he’s suffering, he hates being in pain.

“It’s alright, it’s okay, Osamu, you’re gonna be okay, baby.”

I know I probably shouldn’t be letting these people know I have a softer side but at this point I couldn’t care less.

When he’s finished I hold him against me protectively and turn back to the detectives.

“Listen to me very closely.” I step closer, “He may be an annoying asshole liar but he wouldn’t lie about this. Next time, believe him, or you’ll be hearing from me.

With that I take my husband and leave the amused port mafia members and shocked detectives behind.

The mackerel is asleep before I even get to my car. I thank the gods I brought it and not my motorbike.

—

When we get inside Osamu pukes again, this is going to be a long next few days.

EPILOGUE: Author P.O.V.

It’s safe to say that the A.D.A is thoroughly shook. You could hear the yelling from the next town over.

Meanwhile the two leaders of the organisations are smiling bemused at their subordinated shenanigans, both mentally deciding what they should have for dinner since they skipped lunch for this meeting.

The fight ends when Kunikida passes out from shock after Kuoyou tells him how long soukoku has been together.

#bungou stray dogs #bungo stray dogs #soukoku #bsd #dazai osamu #port mafia #dazai chuuya - nee nakahara #fukumori #soukoku relationship reveal #soukoku sickfic #soukoku hurt/comfort

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cinnamokittykat · 1 year ago

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Puppy Love Chapter 2: Strange Dreams

Also I choose to interpret Lilith's actions like how you would interpret someone in the real world taking in a sick/stray animal, just with human context added to it. So, yes, Lilith is a bit (very) dumb for taking König in like that, but how heartless could you be to leave an injured animal in the woods like that? TW: Body image issues, Lilith has a very different interpretation of her body than König does, König is a very mild pervert

Chapter Text

The sun shined through the pink curtains and across Lilith's face. Her eyes fluttered open. Waking up in her large, plush, pink and white bed was one of the many pleasures in her life. Her mattress was one of those super soft ones that you could sink into, and Lilith relished in it. She lay in bed for a minute and checked her phone.

Ding!

Lilith clicked on the text from her best friend, Monica.

"Hey girl, just got home from visiting my parents." Five attachments

"Prettyyyyyy, how was that?"

"Good, I'm just happy to see them, they won't be around forever." "We went out to dinner, which they paid for, which is always awesomeeeeeee!!!!"

"Niceeeee. We gotta go out some time together."

"Yes girlllll!" "Anyways, what's up with you?"

"Oh, not much, just preparing for reopening." "I had a really strange dream last night though."

"Ooooooo, tell me!!!"

"Well, I met this really big guy, like, 200-something centimeters type of tall. Also like, some sort of dog/wolf hybrid. He was injured so I took him in and cleaned him up, and he just kind of lived with me then? Strange shit."

"Dreams are just so weirddddd. Well, was he hot at least? Lol."

"... yes."

"Lmaooooo, anyways, when are you free? I want to just live my best basic girl life with you."

"I need to check, probably in a couple of days." "Mall and coffee sound good?"

"Omg yes!!! Alright, I've got to go make breakfast for the wife and me, talk later!!!"

Lilith smiled and got out of bed. Monica was the first person she made friends with after moving to this country. In a place where she felt alone as ever, the bubbly femme lesbian cat shined through and took her in. Since then, they would live their best girly lives together when she could be pried away from her cuddly masc. She considered Monica a blessing from the heavens, marriage material even, if she was gay.

Lilith walked down to the bathroom, still thinking about the dream. She brushed her teeth and washed her face before walking downstairs to make breakfast. She was still in her pink, lacy babydoll top and underwear as she walked toward the kitchen.

"Hallo Lilith!" König said cheerfully. The smell of fresh coffee wafted through the air.

"Good morning Köni-" Lilith screeched to a halt. It wasn't a dream after all. It only felt dreamlike.

Well, at least he made coffee. But Lilith was standing there in underwear. König turned around with a mug of coffee before averting his eyes.

"I'm so sorry! I kind of forgot you were here, I don't have guests in this house that often!" Lilith rushed upstairs to put on her pants.

Poor König just stood there, embarrassed. He was thankful for his hood more than ever because he knew he was blushing bright red. He hated even more that he liked what he saw. Thank Gott Lilith was upstairs because his furiously wagging tail betrayed him otherwise. He hoped she didn't notice that; he was undoubtedly done for if so.

You have got to take control of yourself! She did something that any kind person would do, and now you are being a pervert! König thought to himself. He shook the sight of her plush thighs out of his mind and sat down with his coffee, placing hers in the microwave to keep it warm.

Meanwhile, Lilith sat upstairs and thought about how her disgustingly big thighs and pudgy tummy were on display for a man she had just met to see. Good thing she wasn't looking for anything in him because she certainly wasn't getting it now. He left me because I'm like this; why should I expect someone else to be interested?

Lilith returned, now wearing a more modest pair of white sweatpants. She opened the microwave and took out her coffee, stirring cream and sugar into it before sitting across from König.

"Again, I'm really sorry about that, I rarely have guests, and when I do, it's my close friends. Also I maybe kind of thought that this whole thing was a weird dream."

"It is fine, I understand," König replied awkwardly. "You have way better coffee than the mud-wasser they had on base. Now I can drink to enjoy it, rather than just to stay awake while filing paperwork."

"Thank you for making coffee, König." Lilith smiled. "Filing paperwork, hm? Thought you were a fierce soldier." Lilith teased dryly.

"Oh, I was! But we all have paperwork to file sometimes."

"Ugh, paperwork. If you think what you had was bad, try running a business. So. much. paperwork. I mean, thank god they keep you in check, but sometimes I feel like I'm about to drown in a sea of paper!" She rolled her eyes and took a sip of her coffee.

"Can I ask more about your bakery?" König asked in his accented voice.

"Yeah, actually my bakery is on this property a few hundred meters away. Makes the commute easy. It used to be my grandmother's, then I took over a few years ago."

"Ah. I wonder if I ever had something from it. On occasion when people left base they would bring back food to share."

"It's entirely possible, I remember ringing up some military discounts."

"What do you sell?"

"Oh, the usual, bread, cakes, cookies, various pastries. I'm so glad you can help, I think it'll increase productivity, sometimes we sell out of really popular items right before a rush and it's horrible!"

"You have done a lot for me, I would love to repay you."

Lilith hesitated and took a sip of her coffee. She thought back to the gash on König's side. What could he have done to get that? She cleared her throat.

"Uhm, König? If you don't mind me asking, how long were you in the woods?"

"Oh. A... a week? A little less? Do not worry, I did not bring fleas into your home." He chuckled.

"I just wondered, because you had such a nasty gash..."

"Ja, that came from an accident with a tree branch. I was trying to pick some apples, and I fell and the bark cut me." He looked sheepishly at her. "Those were your apples..."

"Yes, they were. I've made a cake with some of them, would you like to try a slice?"

His ears perked up, and his tail started wagging. "Ja, bitte!"

Lilith grinned and went to cut a slice of cake for the both of them.

"It's my grandmother's recipe, I'm still trying to make it as good as I remember hers being."

Lilith savored her bite, taking note of the flavor and texture before noting it down. She eagerly awaited the dog boy's reaction. König took a bite, and she heard something thumping against the wood of the chair. She looked under the table to investigate, only to discover that it was his tail hitting the chair's back.

She looked back up at him, and he averted his gaze.

"Seems like you like it, hm?"

"Yes, very much." He said, grabbing his tail and holding it in place. Lilith thought for a second.

"So, you can't really control it?"

"My tail? Sort of, but it is easier said than done. Like a uhhhhhh... never mind." His eyes went wide.

"Oh, so that's why those words are the same in German!" Lilith giggled. "Sorry, I have the same sense of humor as a 12-year-old boy."

König coughed.

"About what we were talking about earlier, I was not in a good place in those woods. I drank a bit too much, got lost, and was too depressed to do much about it. Also just wanted to run away."

Lilith's gaze softened. She very much understood the feeling of wanting to run away from your problems.

"I thought you deserved to know since I do not know how long I will be here."

"Thanks for being honest. I get it. Life really hits you in the face sometimes, y'know? I mean, I can't imagine having to let go of a good job because of things you can't control."

König felt a pang of guilt in his chest, having not been honest about the reason for his discharge. But he decided he didn't want to scare her; there was a better time for that talk.

"Oh, by the way, a friend of mine wants to go shopping soon, I'm guessing you don't have a lot of clothing, do you?"

"Nein, lost a couple of my belongings in the forest."

"Well, how about we go shopping tomorrow? I'll just check with my friend, make sure she's okay with it and all."

"Ja sounds gut. I appreciate it."

Lilith got up and started putting dishes in the dishwasher.

"Want to see the bakery in a minute? We need to set up some new furniture, it just arrived today."

"Okay, ja."

"Okay, just lemme get changed into work clothes real quick."

Lilith ran upstairs, picking out jeans and a plain black shirt. She tied her hair up just enough to not fall on her face and ran downstairs.

"I know it may not look like it, but I do have non-pink and white clothing items."

"Your clothing looks very nice, I would not want to dirty it if I were you." König replied awkwardly.

They walked down to the bakery together. Lilith opened the back door and flipped on the lights. The backdoor was the entrance to an empty, pristine kitchen. König made sure to quickly stomp his boots outside to get rid of any mud or dirt.

Lilith watched the mountain of a man bend down to get through the doorway.

"Do you think you'll be able to lift things without opening your wound? Now that I think about it..."

"Should be fine, I changed my wound dressings this morning."

"...Alright, just take it easy big guy."

König was pretty used to being the tallest person in the room. It benefited him on the battlefield; no one wanted to mess with him or Horangi. It was a double-edged sword, though. Off of the battlefield, women would cross the street when walking near him, and children would hide between their mother's legs. Other men just tended to avoid him, assuming he was as aggressive as his size would imply.

He didn't blame them; he wouldn't want to deal with an angry German Shepherd either; they are called "fur missiles" for a reason. The fact that Lilith was letting him sleep in the same house baffled him. She must be an angel sent down to save him. No one in their right mind would do the same.

Lilith walked to the front room, which was currently empty except for huge furniture boxes. Oh lord, there's so much to assemble... thank god I have help. I'll make him help move boxes closer to where they should go. I'll build the furniture on my own unless it becomes a two-person job somehow...

König watched as the woman before him surveyed the bakery, taking note of dimensions, drawing up quick floor plan sketches, erasing them, and shaking her head in dissatisfaction until she seemed to have settled on a layout.

"Ok, I think I have it! König, will you please help me move those boxes over there?"

Lilith went to lift the box from one side, only to watch in amazement as König lifted the entirety of a small table with ease. She moved to the next box and started pushing it, only to have the dog man take it from her again.

"Are you sure you don't need help?" Lilith queried.

"I am gut, this is nothing to me!" König replied, sounding a little proud of himself even.

Lilith laughed to herself. Well, he was in the military; those arms didn't just come out of nowhere... She shook the memory of seeing him shirtless out of her head, remembering what had happened earlier this morning. She vividly remembered the moment she saw the dating apps on her ex-husband's phone, the texts from all those women, the pictures of them, all skinny and perfect...

König's ears swiveled, almost like he sensed the mood change in Lilith.

"Something wrong?" He asked.

"It's nothing, really."

"You are sad, I can tell. It smells different now."

"I don't wanna talk about it."

König decided not to pry further, even though it bothered him to know that something was wrong. Lilith started opening boxes and assembling things. A few minutes passed, and her mood cleared up.

A few hours later, they stood beside each other, looking at their handiwork. The bakery was still not ready for opening, and Lilith still had to put up some miscellaneous fall decorations, but all the furniture was set up exactly as she imagined.

"Thank you so much, König, this was a big help! Tomorrow I'm going to add some autumn touches."

"It was my pleasure to help, Lilith."

They walked back to the house together, chattering happily about all sorts of things.

"I'm going to order takeout tonight, I don't feel like cooking. Anything you want?"

"Whatever you want, I am easy."

Lilith went upstairs to change into some more comfortable clothes. The large man settled on the couch and texted his best and former sniper friend, Horangi.

"hallo, what have I missed lately? :D"

A minute passes before Biz! Biz!

"Oh, not much. Things on base are normal. It's been strange without you there though, man. They're trying to keep me off the field until they find a replacement. That asshole who got you fired is still here though."

"scheisse, they still believe him? him?!?!? :("

"Yeah. I guess it was less expensive to let you go, it's harder to hire another trainer as skilled as him."

"he kept antagonizing us all outside of training!" "i watched him kick the prey operators to the ground in the hallways!"

"Me too, it is the military, but there was no purpose for that other than his twisted entertainment."

"yeah :((("

"What's life like on the outside, big guy?"

"don't call me that:(((" "its been weird, i met a girl, and she's so nice to me, and i have a place to stay now in exchange for working at her bakery!"

"Wait, you met a girl? What's she like? Is she pretty?"

"well, shes really kind, she found me in the woods and saved me from death or a really painful infection. she can cook really well, and she runs her own business. also she crotchets these adorable toys to decorate. shes smaller than me, i want to say... 160-165 cm tall? and a soft body, what is the word? chubby? and she smiles a lot."

"I'm happy for you, man. Were you together before you left base?"

"together? oh no, its not like that."

"... Idk man, seems like you like her just a bit." "Besides, it's about time you met a girl, you're 34 and on track to becoming a tough old man!"

"am not! >:(" "shes too good for me anyways."

"Got to go, let's catch up at the bar sometime dude."

"ok, see you later :)"

König put his phone down. Why does he always tease me? I can't like a woman I just met!

"I just ordered, food should arrive in 30 minutes."

Lilith came downstairs, wearing short jean shorts and a t-shirt. König once again was thankful for the mask as she bent down to grab the TV remote right in front of him. Suddenly, the room felt hot, and his pants felt tighter than usual. He panicked and grabbed a pillow, pressing his back to the cushions to keep his tail from wagging as her thighs squished on the couch right next to him. Well, maybe a bit, but it's because there aren't a lot of women on base! Get a hold of yourself!

They enjoyed a show together that evening, König aggressively clinging to that pillow on his lap.