#I need to be spayed but whatever

[madqueenalanna]

we have a client at work whose "type" is like black pitty mixes (she keeps getting them) and she came in w one the other day and my coworker was like "that's great cause there's that black dog syndrome" and the client was like "oh yeah i have that i love these black dogs" and my coworker was like "no it's about how black dogs are way less likely to get adopted in general" (i added "black cats too") and the client was like ??? WHAT???? FOR REAL??? i love that she's so obsessed w her (gorgeous, well behaved) dogs that she couldn't even conceive of a world where people didn't like them

[feyisntdead]

This dummy girl got too horny a week before her spay appointment and fell through a hole in my cabinet and now refuses to come back inside so send vibes that this whore will return to me pls

[californiaquail]

gynecologist office texted me (?) telling me they have to reschedule my appointment in july (which was the soonest i could get in may) and the next available one is not until august. thinking i might just go somewhere else for a damn iud since they think i need to do that before insurance will cover surgery

[link-lonk]

I need to stop going on Instagram it just makes me mad at this point

[icedteaandoldlace]

Person on social media: So my cat is pregnant and—

Cat people in the comments: SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR FUCKING CATS!!!! And if she's your only cat, why was she allowed to go outside, huh?? Don't you know there's CARS and WILDLIFE outside??? Op clearly just wants their cat to die. You don't deserve to have any pets since you clearly don't care about them, and I hope someone takes her away from you and gives her a better life, you heartless monster.

[radicalfemimist]

I don’t think we as a society talk nearly enough about how intricately connected cats and women are. cats are associated with women so heavily, not just in English but in other languages as well. the stereotype of the ‘crazy cat lady’, the fact words to refer to cats are often also used to refer to female genitalia, ‘cat fight’, ‘catty’, etc.

Cats have suffered alongside women, too, which is not something I have seen brought up. Cats were targeted during the Witch Hunts as well, and suffered similar fates as the women they hunted. During this time, cats were nearly driven to extinction, and the mice and rat population go out of control— which is believed to have heavily contributed if not outright caused one of the most famous plagues.

To this day, I think we need to analyze if it’s truly a coincidence that cats are often portrayed as mean or uncaring because they do not behave the same way as dogs— “man’s best friend”— that their boundaries are violated for fun and then people criticize the cat for reacting, for self-defense. They will mutilate a cat so it cannot defend itself, and then abandon it when it is understandably upset, when it can no longer feel safe.

If you look at the statistics, more cats enter animal shelters than dogs, and tend to stay for longer. Personally, my local humane societies seem to have almost exclusively cats. In part, this is because cats are more effective at reproducing than dogs, and there are very little if any resources dedicated to to TNR. This is also because people will not spay/neuter their cats, and then will abandon the cat and/or just the kittens.

I do not think it is entirely coincidental that cats are so heavily associated with women, and they are villainized for not being dogs. That dogs are called “man’s best friend”, but somehow that does not mean cats are called “women’s best friend”— instead diamonds are, for whatever reason, despite women’s shared history with cats, and shared experience of being villainized for having boundaries. They are made the villain for being cats instead of dogs, they are called uncaring and “assholes” because the way they show love is not identical to the way a dog does.

I feel like there is no way it is entirely coincidental, the way cats are hated and the way they are so heavily associated with women, with females.

[twodimensionalboyfriend]

Sick </3

wc: ~1.3k read time: ~5 minutes

༉‧₊˚.¸♡ master list✧ '*•༉

cw: fluff! smooches here and there i guess! gn throughout! also not proofread lol

I have fucking covid!! my bones are on fire!!!

on a serious note, i have never been sick like this before in my life, i had the worst skin and joint aches i'd ever had in my life and my head felt like it was going to explode with pressure and my ears are still fuckin clogged. so anyways im gonna project my problems into this fic in the order in which i experienced them as a form of therapy and if anybody else is out there sick rn, i hope you have a jason todd to make it bearable!

On a silly note, I met a stray cat in the neighborhood the other day but she's been spayed! im hoping this is the cat distribution system at play

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," you groaned.

You're sitting on the couch trying to convince your boyfriend that you're not sick. It's just allergies! Allergies that come with body aches, pressure in your head, and now a fever.

Jason showed you the thermometer, "Dude, you're running at 100.1..."

You looked at the thermometer incredulously, "Isn't that thing super old? I mean how do we even know it still works? Take it again."

Jason sighed and scanned your forehead again, "Babe, we bought this a couple months ago." He glared at you as he showed you the thermometer again, which now read 100.2.

"Tch, that's barely even a fever," you said rolling your eyes.

"That's it. You're going on bed rest."

"Woah, what?? Jason, I told you I'm fine! Besides I have so much to do today. We need groceries, I have a prescription to pick up, there are so many dishes in the sink, I have laundry to fold and I have work this evening. A little cold isn't... what are you doing?" You cut yourself off as you saw Jason typing on his phone.

"Thanks for the to-do list! While you rest, I'll go and get this done. Grocery list is on the fridge and our pharmacy is in the store, so text me if you need anything else. I am more than capable of doing dishes and laundry, so you don't have to worry about that. And I love you, but you're crazy if you think you're going into work tonight. Text your boss a picture of the thermometer and call out. Or I'll do it for you, whatever you prefer."

"Ar-Are you sure? I mean it's..." You trailed off. You really did feel like shit and it's not like you necessarily wanted to do these errands and chores. After a moment of thinking, you sighed and relented, "Okay, fine, only if you're completely sure you can handle it."

"(Y/N), I'm an adult. If I couldn't do laundry, you should be worried about me." You tried to laugh a little, but it quickly snowballed into a coughing fit, "Woah woah, take it easy. I'm gonna take the list and go to the store. Again, text me if you need anything or if you just wanna say hi," he said with a smile.

Your eyes welled up a bit as you whispered, "Thank you, Jason. I love you very much."

"I love you too, I'll be back soon."

--------

The front door swung open and Jason's voice rang through your shared apartment, "Honey, I'm home!"

You couldn't have gotten up if you tried. You're sickly moan from the couch alarmed Jason, and he dropped the groceries and ran to your side.

You were lying on the couch in your spiderman sweats and a hoodie; your arms draped over your eyes to block out the white lights from the kitchen that added to your headache. Your entire body ached like it never has before. The sight squeezed Jason's heart. "Oh, honey," he said sympathetically, pressing his hands to your cheeks, "Woah, you are burning up! Hang on." He snatched the thermometer from the coffee table and tested his partner. The screen lit up red. It read 101.7.

You mumbled, "H-Holy shit..." It was a bit too much to talk right now.

"Okay babe, I got you some chicken noodle soup because that's what Alfred always made us, and I don't quite have his cooking skills--and this is, uh from a uh... a can--but I'm gonna make some for you, and that should hopefully make you feel better," he looked at you with worry. "Then would you want to watch Pride & Prejudice while I folded the laundry? The movie obviously, since you like it. Even though the show is better," he grumbled at the end.

God damn it. You were crying again.

You were experiencing so many different emotions you didn't really know what else to do. You loved Jason so much and felt so much gratitude for the way he was taking care of you. As if there was nothing else he could possibly be doing right now other than be here. This is on top of the fact that you've been in agony for the past hour as you got worse and worse; and you were really tired of feeling that way.

This shocked and scared Jason, "I'm sorry!! The movie isn't that bad! I just like that the show's more accurate to the book! Also, when Lizzie runs through the rain, why does she grab a soaking wet cloth from the very same rain storm to dry her hair?! I'm sorry I just--"

"I love you so much," you croaked out. "I also feel like fucking garbage."

This put Jason at ease and he kissed the top of your head. "I'm sorry you feel like shit, sweetheart. I do this because I love you too. Like, a lot. Now stop talking and spare your voice. Let's get you cozy and hopped up on vitamin C, and we'll just take it easy."

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

The next morning, you woke up. You sat up slowly and realized most of the pressure in your head is gone. Your body no longer felt like it was on fire! Definitely still congested though. You also realized you fell asleep on the couch after the first proposal, yet you were currently sitting in your bed. Jason must've brought you in. Suddenly, a sneeze crept up and exploded out of you. Then another. Then one more. Jesus, that hurt your chest.

Your fit was loud enough to let Jason know you had woken up. He came into the room holding a spatula. The opened door let in a sweet smell and a sizzling sound. "How are you feeling, baby?" He walked towards you.

"Well I can bear to be conscious, so I'd say much better. What's going on in the kitchen?"

He pressed his hand to your forehead and said, "Pancakes! And lots of orange juice. I don't think you’re in the clear yet. Sit tight; I'm gonna get the thermometer and take your temperature."

Ignoring his request, you got up to meet him in the living room. You stepped out of the bedroom and was met with the sight of Jason discarding the pancake that had burned due to his doting. He saw you walking towards him and urged you to go back to bed, "Go back! I'm gonna bring you breakfast in bed. Pancakes, juice, fruit, the whole shebang."

"No it's okay, let me be out here with you. I'd kiss you good morning, but I fear I might poison you and get you sick."

Jason stole a quick kiss, much to your surprise, "I spent all night with you. If I were to get it, I don't think a kiss would be what seals my fate. You're plate is ready, by the way."

He handed you a plate stacked with 3 pancakes and a butter slice, drizzled in maple syrup with strawberries and whipped cream. It was beautiful, "Oh my god, Jason, that's so gorgeous I don't think I can eat it." Your stomach growled and promptly gave away your true feelings.

"Tear it up, baby girl."

You sat down as Jason finished making his stack. He sat down with you and you both began eating. Pre-packaged pancake mix has never tasted so good.

"Thank you for nursing me back to health, Jason. You've made this past few days in unbearable hell feel more like a manageable limbo."

He laughed, "What else was I supposed to do? Let the love of my life suffer?"

"God I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you in my life."

"Well, fortunately, you'll never have to." He leaned over the table and pressed a syrupy kiss to your lips.

if there are an content warnings you think i missed, please tell me so!! i’ll add them to this post and remember to add them to future ones!! :) ♡ ♡

and pls pls like and reblog and reply!! literally if you interact i will kiss you on the mouth

[fadedin2u]

switch!ellie headcanons

okay i know this has been a much debated topic, but in my expert personal opinion as a switch, i think ellie is canonically a switch (maybe a dom-leaning switch but definitely still a switch)

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

✮ she’s usually the one to initiate, and it’s not necessarily purposeful either

✮ she’ll just come back after a grueling patrol, exhausted, planning on just cuddling with you and passing tf out

✮ but as soon as she’s touching you, monkey brain will take over and she’ll start smoothing her hands over your waist and hips

✮ “don’t get turned on-“ you warn, knowing that she needs the rest

✮ “too late,” she’ll say as she palms your ass

✮ as much as i love the hc of ellie dirty talking depraved shit during sex, i don’t really see that in canon ellie

✮ when she’s in a dom mood, she’s definitely more of a service top than anything (u saw that girl on the farm, u cannot honestly tell me that she’s not)

✮ she’ll start turning you on and she’ll be all up in your ear like “tell me what you need, baby, whatever you need i’ll take care of, i promise-“

✮ ellie’s a certified munch (obvs)

✮ eats pussy like it’s her last meal

✮ is also absolutely the type to eat it after she hits it, telling you that she needs to ‘clean you up’

✮ this has been much discussed atm but it’s true, your girl LOVES tribbing

✮ loves fucking you with her strap too, but it’s a completely different ballgame to be skin to skin

✮ specifically loves tribbing in missionary (bc she’s a slut for watching your reactions) and reverse cowgirl, kneading your ass with both hands as she helps you grind back on her

✮ (unpopular opinion, ellie’s an ass girl. proof: have u SEEN dina)

✮ can’t help but praise you, and she’s overly chatty during sex

✮ “you take it so fucking well, jesus fuck-“, “so fuckin’ gorgeous”

✮ loves to watch your expressions, and is the kind of person that loves to be making some sort of eye contact during sex to feel connected to her partner

✮ tends to enjoy the act of giving her partner pleasure more than receiving it (a little bit of an anxiety thing tbh)

✮ but truly, sometimes your girl just needs to be taken care of for once in her life

✮ so when she’s more subby, she’ll just be overly grabby and handsy, but won’t initiate

✮ eventually, you just flat out ask her, “els, do you need something?” and her freckled face will get all red awww

✮ like u know how ellie got when jesse and dina were talking in seattle? that’s def similar to her energy when she feels more submissive

✮ she definitely gets self conscious about how whiny and high pitched her moans get and tries to restrain herself when she’s feeling more dominant

✮ but when she’s on bottom?? you make it your GOAL to make her as loud as possible

✮ likes wearing the strap more than taking it, but ends up liking getting fucked with it WAY more than she thought she would

✮ (more of a modern!au hc but) when you ask her why she’s mad about that, she says, “it pisses me off that a dick feels good inside me, that shit’s homophobic!”

✮ but she tends to get the loudest when you eat her out, mostly because it’s just so hot to have your head between her thighs

✮ absolutely LOVES to get finger fucked by you, and will borderline (or actually) beg for your fingers inside her

✮ she begs sooo pretty whether she’s dom or sub

✮ afterwards, she’s the kind of person that needs to cuddle for a minimum of 1 hour or else she’ll get a little depressed (me core)

✮ luckily, you’re happy to oblige

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

okay i need to go get spayed luv u babes

[starhvney]

𝐌𝐘𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐌𝐄𝐍 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 ☆ 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐓𝐖𝐎

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: dante, travis, vylad

𝐂𝐖: NSFW, sexual content and kinks, but nothing extreme or disturbing

𝐀/𝐍: happy fourth of july if anyone decides i need to be spayed after this please do it before the fireworks show thanx!!!! also sorry if this is incoherent i was lowkey going insane writing this lol

𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑺 𝑷𝑶𝑺𝑻 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑨𝑰𝑵𝑺 𝑵𝑺𝑭𝑾 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑻, 𝑰𝑭 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑨𝑹𝑬 𝑼𝑵𝑫𝑬𝑹𝑨𝑮𝑬 𝑶𝑹 𝑼𝑵𝑪𝑶𝑴𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑻𝑨𝑩𝑳𝑬 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯 𝑺𝑬𝑿𝑼𝑨𝑳 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑻 𝑷𝑳𝑬𝑨𝑺𝑬 𝑫𝑵𝑰.

𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄 | mirror sex, cock warming, teasing, dirty talk

☆ normally not a day goes by without this man at least whispering something completely dirty in your ear, his hands wandering and grabby for whatever he can appropriately reach at the time. you two could be having a normal time chilling on the couch and all of a sudden you’re in his lap while he asks you to just “warm him up” for a bit.

“quit twitching so much.” dante chuckles in your ear, hands squeezing the fat of your hips that he holds securely in place. “i’m trying to watch the movie.”

he hasn’t let you budge a single bit since he had you sit down on his dick, trapping you and keeping you snug in his lap. the tv screen had been flashing light against your eyelids ever since you closed them a good while ago, whatever you both had been watching long gone from your mind.

“shut up.” you breathe, involuntarily fluttering around him as you try to shift your hips again. “that’s not what you’re trying to do and you know it.”

another huff of amused air rustles your hair as his hips shift under you, bringing a rather pathetic-sounding moan from your lips when he twitches inside of you.

“oh?” he coos at you, voice nothing if not full of mischief. “why don’t we go to the bedroom, then?”

☆ his teasing doesn’t end there. it never does. especially when you’re fixed so pretty on his lap, both of your forms reflected in the mirror he had been sure to fix right in front of your shared bed when you got it. 

“what’re you so embarrassed for? look right ahead, baby.”

you’d slap him if you didn’t feel so good right now, one of his hands circling and rubbing your clit while the other grabs onto your chin, forcing your head to look forward at your reflection.

even if you wanted to close your legs for some sort of reprieve from his touch you wouldn’t be able to. your legs have been hooked over his, feet trapped between his calves and the bed, leaving you completely at his mercy as he spreads you out on top of him.

your eyes meet his through the mirror and he looks like he could cum right there, his eyes rolling back for a second when he sees that breathless look on your face.

“holy shit you’re so hot.” he groans, pressing a sloppy kiss against your neck. 

☆ at a certain point he can’t even draw it out any longer, his own patience thinning out the closer you get to the edge. his arms find themselves wrapping tightly around your waist, giving him the momentum to completely lose himself in you. 

your hands have found their place on his thighs, fingers digging into his bare skin as you’re continuously lifted and dropped back down onto his cock. he doesn’t even flinch at the pinch of your nails against him, all of his focus on how good you both feel.

his shoulder has become the place for your head to fall back on, broken moans leaving your lips with every bounce on his lap. you’d already cum twice at this point, head dizzy as you watched your mixed release ring around the base of his shaft.

“so good, taking it all for me. you’re so tight.” he unabashedly moans into your ear, breaths hitting your ear as he shows no sign of stopping, even as your legs violently shake against his. “love makin’ you feel good.”

☆ even when you’re both spent, he doesn’t stop running his mouth, even if his words are slurred as both of you lay back on the sheets in exhaustion. 

“you were s’good. you’re so sexyyy-” he mutters against the side of your head, eyes dropping closed.

“dante, shut up.”

𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 | face sitting, lingerie/cosplay/dress-up, noise play

☆ this dirty-minded man. you honestly should’ve expected it, with how much he drools over your ass and thighs any chance he gets. before he even gets any kind of pleasure from you, he begs for you to trap his face between your thighs.

“don’t be shy, babe, you’re not gonna hurt me.” he coaxes you, hands tugging you down as you hover over him. “please. i’ll make you feel so good, promise.”

nervously, you lower yourself on his face, your thighs feeling unbelievably soft as he presses them against his cheeks, pulling your core right over his lips.

immediately he goes all in, hands squeezing your ass, fully rolling your cunt onto his mouth as he begins to messily eat you out. 

☆ the noises he makes are downright pornographic, the mixes of his satisfied moans and the crude wet slurps of his tongue nearly enough to make the tightening in your abdomen snap. and with his eagerness, it’s hard to hold back. especially when he’s wanting you to be loud, too. 

“keeping making those noises f’me, hon.” he takes a breath, not caring how his face was covered in your juices or how his eyes were completely glazed over in lust as he looked up at you with those pleading eyes.

even if you were trying to stay quiet it’s impossible now, not with his determination to get your voice to echo off the walls. he’s curling his tongue in all the right places, shaking his head back and forth for his nose to brush just right against your clit.

when you try to pull away, the electric shock of pleasure growing to its peak, he pulls you right back in, having you ride it out while he relishes in the whines you make. his eyes are rolled back as he drinks up everything you give him, completely drunk on the way you taste.

☆ and when you add a skimpy little outfit or lingerie on top of all of that? oh, he’s going feral.

“you make me feel like such a perv.” he groans, one of his hands placed between your shoulder blades keeping you face down on the bed while the other pushes the tight nurse costume above your ass. “you knew this would turn me on, huh?”

the lace underneath that did anything but provide you modesty has him reeling, the hard-on straining against his pants borderline painful.

it’s only a minute later that he’s frantically driving himself into you, both of his hands gripping your ass and spreading you out to watch as you take him. 

“i already feel better, nurse. this treatment is just for me, right? cause i’m your favorite?”

…he used to be a theater guy, so it’s a given he’d be getting a little into it.

☆ he clings to you afterward, resting his head on your chest and hands resting on your hips, a position that was totally and completely unrelated to the activities you were just up to.

“…can you dress up like a maid next time?” he mutters into your boobs, and you can feel the perverted smile curving on his lips. 

that earns a harsh slap to his back.

𝐕𝐘𝐋𝐀𝐃 | soft sex, praise, pampering/babying, body worship

☆ it’s sickeningly sweet, how vylad handles you in bed. honeyed words leave his lips as soon as the clothes are stripped from your body.

you’re not sure if you should be turned on, fall asleep, or start crying at the gentle caresses that ghosted along your skin. vylad’s lips pepper sweet kisses against your neck, sending warm shockwaves across your whole nervous system.

“you’re so beautiful.” he murmurs, fingers traveling between your thighs, coaxing your folds open.

he works one finger in, massaging you open before adding another finger, then another. he doesn’t stop the path of his lips against you either, his kisses lining your jaw and nearing your ear. 

“there you go, just relax for me. i’m gonna take care of you. don’t worry your pretty little head about anything else.”

☆ and it’s true. you don’t even have to think, your mind only dizzily swirling with thoughts of vylad and how good you felt as he took the lead.

it’s like you were drunk, thoughts incoherent while vylad’s slow pace melted and churned your insides. your vision was blurred and crossed every time you opened your eyes, so you settle on completely letting yourself turn brain-dead.

“you're doing so well for me.. good girl.” he whispers, voice softer than the pillows you laid on.

whatever chance you had at being anything other than putty in his hands flies straight out the window.

he rocks into you at a slow pace, dragging himself out to the head before pushing in all the way back down to the hilt. every time he drove himself back in he managed to hit that perfect spot, sending your eyes to the back of your head and shockwaves up your spine. 

throughout it all his words stay just as steady as his pace, his voice soft and quiet in your ear. 

“does it feel good when i do that?”

“look at you… so sweet.”

“you’re so perfect, you know that?”

☆ he’s so overwhelmingly loving to you, it almost makes you want to shy away. especially with how his eyes linger on every part of you. from the expressions you make to how your chest softly bounces with every thrust, down to where your waist curves and your bodies meet. he won’t let you hide from him, though.

vylad’s hands laced with yours, pinning them both by your head and leaving you completely vulnerable to him.

“you’re so beautiful. right now and all the time.” he whispers, eyes unashamedly tracing across every curve and line of your skin, taking in every feature of your face.

“if only you could see the way you look right now.”

☆ after you’re both done his praise doesn’t stop, even as the pleasure slurs his words together and has him pressing his weight onto you.

“so good. you feel so good.” he sighs, hips and chest flush with yours. his face is tucked in the crook of your neck, heavy breaths leaving goosebumps against your sweaty skin.

“my girl. you did so well for me.”

©starhvney, 2024. please do not steal or repost my works as your own.

[stellaaarree]

back at it again with another imagine/drabble of miguel o’hara hehe|| someone pls make this into an actual short fic thingy and tag me.. i need to be spayed. SUGGESTIVE CONTENT!😝, (yes i made miguel whimper. shut up) translations r probably shit i used google.

so you know how miguel can shoot webs, (i think) imagine that him nd’ reader where on the couch, reader on his lap their back facing his chest as miguel has his forearm on a side table or whatever.

reader gets a sneaky idea and lets a little giggle slip past their lips. miguel looks up at reader, his head originally being in the crook of their neck and goes ‘hm?’ as reader coyly smiles and blows it off. getting back to leaning across to where miguels forearm was. (imagine miguel has a little slit on his wrists veins, where the webs shoot out.) reader gently prods the bundle of nerves,getting a firm: ‘detener // stop.’

they don’t listen. pressing down harder on the nerve just below the slit, suddenly, miguel whimpers. this hard ass whimpers, a web shooting out splatting against the wall. frozen, readers just sat there like ‘oh.’ before miguel grips the inside of their thigh, talons scratching against the fabric of trousers as he groans, ‘dije para-joder.. // i said stop- fuck..’

that was not the only thing shooting out of him that night😫.

[oneforthemunny]

curiosity killed the cat |mafia!eddie munson x reader|

prompt: you disrupt eddie's meeting with rick after he told you not to. he has to punish you.

a repost. yes, I'm back lol. this is my new account :)

contains: 18+ MINORS DNI. mafia!eddie themes, language, mentions of violence and drugs, daddy dom themes, daddy kink, spanking, oral fem receiving

Eddie didn't like bringing business in the home. He didn't like the idea of people in his space, people who weren't usually there. It left him on edge, constantly checking, counting the number of people there, eyes tracking their every move. Even if it was just Rick, a few of his close accomplices that Eddie knew, it still made him anxious. Knee bouncing under the table, eyes flickering from Rick to the plans back to the men around the room. His mind raced with possibilities, scenarios and he forged different outcomes. Normally, he'd already planned his escape, attack, a quick fire plan to halt whatever situation might come. This wasn't his first time after all, however, it was the first time with you. 

You weren't allowed in the room, of course. Eddie wouldn't dare even entertain the idea of you being put in such a vulnerable position. He'd left you in the master bedroom, the dogs in the room with you.

"Don't leave," Eddie pouted a finger at you, dark eyes narrowed and serious.

Your thighs clenched at his strict demeanor, a contrast from the sweet Eddie who always was so gentle and doting with you. He was different when it came to business, menacing; it made you excited.

"You've got everything you need in here, so just stay in here until I come get you, ok?" Eddie lifted your chin, eyes locking with yours fiercely. "Keep the door locked. You know where the gun is?"

You nodded, his inked fingers spayed around your chin, you just wanted to suck them. Eddie grinned gently. "Good girl," Your pussy clenched, cheeks heating.

"I'll be back in a little bit. Just stay in here and be quiet, ok?" Eddie instructed.

"Are they dangerous?" You asked meekly, eyes widening at the possibility.

Eddie frowned lightly. "No, baby, of course not. I wouldn't bring them here if I thought they'd hurt you." He cooed gently, hand stroking your hair. You relaxed under his touch, soothing and comforting. "They're not going to do anything here, and I know these guys, it's just... It's business, sweetheart. You don't belong near the business. Too precious."

You blushed under his words. Eddie leaned in, kissing you slow, full lips pressing against yours in sweet kiss that had your head reeling, tummy flipping and pooling with warmth. Eddie pulled apart, holding you in his gaze, loving and longing.

"I'll be back soon." Eddie whispered, pressing a kiss to the tip of your nose.

He slipped on his rings, staring at himself in the mirror. You watched carefully, as your loving, sweet man slipped into a dark demeanor, menacing and expressionless. Warm brown eyes that were always soft and glowing for you were now hollow, vacant and dark. He closed the door behind him softly, the lock clicking before he padded down the hallway.

You tried to keep yourself busy. Eddie had brought everything you needed into the bedroom; snacks, drinks, activities, the dogs, and you already had a bathroom. You contemplated soaking in the tub, maybe reading or finishing off the movie you'd started.

Nothing helped, you were restless. Confined in a room, a very spacious room that was roughly the size of your entire apartment, but still, confined. Locked away until your Prince Charming came back to release you. The dogs laid over you in the bed, taking their turn and letting you pet them, cooing and scratching behind their ears.

Helplessly, you looked at the clock beside the bed. Angry, red glowing numbers that flashed, reading the time back at you; it had only been twenty minutes. You were sure it had been an hour at least. Falling back on the bed with a heavy sigh, you let Lucifer press his snout into your cheek.

"Luce, this is gonna be a long day." You muttered with an exaggerated pout to the canine, hand dragging down his soft fur softly.

You shivered on the bed, the cool air of the air conditioning until sending shudders down your spine, goosebumps rising from the chill. You curled closer to Lucifer, pressing your nose into his fur. The air conditioning control was out in the hall, where you weren't allowed. Your eyes flickered over to the fire place mounted to the far wall. You supposed you could turn that on, but you weren't sure where Eddie kept the long lighters.

Sock clad feet pressing into the mahogany hard wood, you padded over to the closet, flicking on the light. The dark shelves came into view, illuminated by the chandelier hung above. Everything about the mansion was so gothic and elegant in one. Positively, Eddie in every way. A little scary, a little weird, but very, very nice.

The first time you'd come over, walking down the long, crimson hallways that Eddie led you down, you felt like you were in something out of Dracula and The Godfather all wrapped up in one.

When you'd told him that, Eddie had laughed, dimples deep and eyes shining in the low light of his bedroom. "That was the goal, baby doll." He winked.

You'd blushed then and you blushed now, the same tingling feeling buzzing in your chest, warm and suffocating but oddly comforting, a rush sparking up your spine. Eddie always got you like that, giddy and silly in a way that only he could

You ran your hands over his shirts, all his work shirts. You snorted lightly, taking the fabric of a pristinely pressed black button up, Egyptian cotton and soft to the touch but stiff. You pressed your nose to the sleeve, inhaling the scent- laundry detergent, tobacco, and something woven within the threads that you couldn't quite put into words, it was positively Eddie.

There on the racks was your things too. All the things he'd bought you that you kept here. He'd been begging you to move in for weeks, since the first night he brought you here really. You told him when your lease was over, which he scoffed at. "Kitten, I can get you out of your lease, no problem. Don't use that."

You knew he could. You just didn't want to leave that life just yet, keeping a small piece of yourself at the apartment complex, a part of you that didn't know all the inner workings and dark shadows of Hawkins- of the country. It was silly, really, you loved Eddie. You stayed here all the time anyways, but you clung onto it. Eddie was a sweetheart, he let you, respected it, never pressed. It made it easier to transition over.

Eddie was always so sweet to you, so kind. You smiled, holding onto the sleeve of a cashmere robe, white and fluffy. He'd bought it for you after installing the bath, your initial sewn in baby blue over the breast. It was warm, cozy, soft- just like Eddie was to you.

You wondered how people could be so scared of him. He was nothing but an absolute angel to you, doting on you in ways you didn't even know possible. Passionate in ways that felt overwhelming at times, but you always returned it too.

Your lips curled in thought, fingers running down the robe's soft fabric, but your eyes moved to the bedroom door. The heavy, ornate mahogany door was taunting, looming over you like a bad omen- a darkened doorway. Your heart thumped, you could hear Eddie's voice telling you to stay.

"Curiosity killed the cat, kitten," Eddie's wicked grin, teeth baring and tone lilted in a mocking, nearly playful tone. He'd said that to you only a few weeks ago, when the two of you began something new.

You'd slipped into his office, looking for a letter opener. Instead you'd found a little box, rattling on the inside, with a carving you didn't recognize. Intrigued, you'd searched through the drawers, practically ransacking his desk looking for the key.

Eddie surprised you, ringed hand pressing gently on the small of your back, amused when you'd jumped up. Caught, wide eyed, mouth stammering with the box in your hand. He'd only shook his head, cooing at you gently, before placing the box down, guiding you gently to fold over the large desk.

He'd lectured you, sweetly still, while he lifted your little night gown, hand cracking down on your upturned bottom. It wasn't much, enough for your cheeks form a light dusting of splotchy pink with faint handprint impressions, and to have you sniffling with a pout. Eddie fussed all over you, pressing kisses and praises into your wet, salty cheeks, before bending you back over; this time a reward, his cock thrusting slow and deep into you.

That was the first time he'd ever spanked you. An idea that came from a drunken night out, that the two of you had discussed trying. You wanted it to be authentic, only happening organically. Eddie was more than happy to oblige you.

Your thighs clenched at the thought, rocking your pressed legs together to feel some friction. Eddie hadn't spanked you in a while. The last time being a little over two weeks ago, after you'd been exceptionally bratty and mean to him. He cooed at you sweetly, patting his knee for you to crawl over, while he cracked his palm down until you were crying lightly, fingers working between your legs until you gushed over his lap.

You contemplated it for a moment. You'd never done something this bold before with him. Bratting and breaking little rules when you wanted it rough, sure, but not this. He always went so gentle with you, only using his hand and stopping at the first sign of tears.

Eddie had said the men weren't dangerous, wouldn't hurt you. 

And you did leave your favorite cardigan in his office.

The corners of your lips turned up, pressing them together to keep your smug grin hidden. The throbbing between your legs clouded your judgement, mind spinning with the excitement of Eddie getting rough with you. You shushed the dogs gently, shutting the door behind you before padding down the long hallway towards the other wing.

Eddie was wrapped up in planning, the latest shipment from Cuba coming through Mexico since they'd been compromised in Miami.

"You can't do Texas," Eddie shook his head, pointing at the map next to Rick. "Borders are tightening up. Hopper told me they'd cracked down, hard. Best bet is to go through Louisiana or Mississippi. We could send some guys out on the bayou, no one would ever bother looking there."

"What about the cajuns that live there, boy?" Rick raised a brow. "You think they'll just let us come in there? There's a reason border patrol and the law ain't out there."

"I know, but there's a guy here who has family down there. Willing to let us borrow his boat for a price." Eddie was always one step ahead, Rick grinned. "He's got a place right on the bayou, feeds out to the gulf. They come in that way, meet 'em there and-"

The door creaked open, all eyes snapping up before guns were drawn, clicked and ready to fire. Eddie's heart stopped, his finger trembling over the trigger when he saw you.

"Ed, I'm sorry to bother you, honey." You cooed before stepping in.

Eddie gaped, raising a hand firmly to signal a stop. Rick lowered his gun, brows furrowed when he looked at Eddie. He knew in an instant, from the fear stricken look in Eddie's eye, just who the girl was to him.

"I just need my cardigan. I think I left it in here." You grinned sheepishly at the men. Rick's two boys stepped in front of the plans, glaring down at you menacingly.

"Easy, boys." Rick snapped, seeing Eddie growl, eyes narrowed and teeth bared in their direction.

"Leroy, Joey, she's good." Eddie snapped, eyes locked with you.

Jeff and Gareth exchanged a nervous glance, looking from each other back to Eddie. His clenched fists, eyes hard and tracking your every movement in disbelief. They cringed at the thought of what he'd do to you, if you even knew what was coming. They watched carefully as you padded in, reaching behind Eddie's desk for your little folded cardigan, right where you left it.

Your eyes met Eddie's expression falling slightly when his angry, intense gaze met yours. You stuttered for a moment, blinking around the room before Eddie's eyes narrowed at you in warning. A look you'd never seen before. It was frightening, sending you scampering out of the room.

Eddie watched the door close, eyes trained on the wood long after you left. The room was silent, Rick's gaze moving from Eddie to Gareth and Jeff slowly. "Alright..." Rick drew out the word, brow still lifted skeptically. "Where were we?"

Your heart hammered in your chest, back pressing against the dark wood. The dogs must've sense your distress, whining and growling under the doorway at the threat they couldn't see.

"It's alright babies." You cooed, but even then your voice was wavering, shaky and rattled.

Clicking the lock, you padded back towards the bed, cardigan clutched between your firm grasp. Eddie was furious, that much you knew. No light, no softness, nothing familiar in his eyes when you looked at him; when he looked at you.

You tucked your knees up to your chest, heart beating so fast you thought it might just give out. You knew Eddie wouldn't hurt you, he wouldn't, but you wondered if you might've took it too far. If you might've hurt him. Guilt flooded your bloodstream, leaving your tummy twisting and wrenching at the possibility.

You'd taken it too far, clearly, you knew that now. All you wanted was him to be a little rough. You loved the passionate sex the two of you had, constant and attentive. How he'd take his time exploring every square inch of you, using his body in any way he could to worship yours. You loved it even more when it was your chance to return the favor.

All you wanted was him to be a little rough, a little mean. You liked the darkness, it was thrilling. How he could be a little cruel to you, all while being constant and reassuring. Praising you when he'd spank you, or when he wouldn't let you cum. Tutting at you in a tone that toed the line of mocking and caring.

"Baby, I have to." He'd sigh, heavy and like he truly meant it, with just enough flare in his tone to know he was enjoying it. "You've got to learn don't you? Got to be obedient for me."

You wondered if he'd do that to you tonight, or if he'd trade his sweet tongue for a lashing, sharp one that would leave you as battered and aching as your body. You shuddered at the thought, consumed with possibilities.

The soft knock at your door was enough to make you jump, the dogs growling and barking in warning. Gareth called your name, muffled through the thick wood.

"One sec." You called, leaping out of the bed, legs shaky when you clicked the lock.

The dogs filed out, scampering down the stairs as Gareth looked down at you. The sympathetic gaze he casted on you made you feel sick. "Uh, Ed wants to see you in his office." He muttered, eyes avoiding yours. "Now that everyone is gone."

You nodded slowly, shutting the door behind you when you started down the hallway for a second time. This time you were in a much different trance, one that left your numb with fear, anticipation.

Knuckles rapping softly on the door, you waited for Eddie's gruff voice telling you to enter. Swallowing hard, you pushed the iron handle open, heavy door opening with a low groan.

Eddie sat behind his desk, hand crossed in front of him. He met your gaze and you shuddered. "Shut the door behind you." Eddie called. His voice was stern, but not angry, not mean like you expected. Tired. It made your stomach squeeze even more in guilt.

Eddie nodded towards the chairs in front of him, cognac leather and large. You sat down slowly, gaze never leaving his. Eddie looked up at you, brown eyes softer now, pleading. "What did I tell you?" He asked, low with a small sigh.

You shuddered. "I-I'm sorry." You stammered, cheeks flaming. "I..."

Eddie lifted a brow. "You what? Didn't know? Kitten, I told you." He said softly. "I didn't do it to control you, baby. I did it to keep you safe. You know I don't want you in the middle of this shit."

Your lib wobbled, eyes prickling in tears. You felt your heart plummet at his words, caring, even when you didn't deserve it. You'd prepared yourself for screaming, anger, a fight and him to admonish you; not for him to still be so concerned for you well being, for him to be disappointed.

"I'm really sorry." You muttered, breaking his gaze to look down at your nails. You sniffled gently. "I-I just wanted to come in." You admitted.

Eddie leaned forward, brows furrowed lightly. "Why?" He asked, soft and genuine. "I told you to stay, that it's business. I know you don't care about what we're talking about so why would you..." He stopped himself, watching how you squirmed, shifted in your seat.

Eddie pressed his lips together, leaning back in his chair. "Look at me." He commanded, stern but not an order. A favor, a request still. You tilted your head up, watery eyes meeting his. He paused, taking in the way you gnawed at your lower lip. "Please tell me you didn't come in here so I'd punish you?" He asked.

You didn't reply, stilling at the question with wide eyes. Eddie sighed slowly, hands dragging down over his face. "Oh, kitten, that's so disappointing." His face fell, shaking his head gently.

The sob that tore through your chest, strangled in your throat, your deep breath trying to conceal it as Eddie stood. He walked around slowly in front of you, leaning back onto the desk. He towered over you, shoulders slumped and sad. You couldn't look at him.

"You want me to punish you?" Eddie asked. It was a genuine question, not mocking, not playful, certainly not threatening. You kept your gaze cast down, sniffling back tears. "Look at me please, baby." Eddie sighed gently.

You brought your gaze to his, wiping your eyes with the back of your hand. Eddie tilted his head to the side. "Is that what you want?" He asked softly again, brows raising ever so slightly. "That why you came in here? So I'd spank you for being a bad girl? For breaking Daddy's rules?"

You flushed, heart lurching at the name. You were sure he wouldn't want to play with you after this, after you'd been so bad, you thought he might never want to see you again. Your tummy twisted in a deep burst of excitement. You nodded gently, eyes looking up at him carefully.

Eddie sighed heavy, looking down at his rings. "Kitten, if you wanted Daddy to put you in your place, all you had to do was ask." He was scolding you, lightly, but enough to make you blush, feeling small under his words.

"I want you to listen to me, ok?" Eddie asked, leaning forward so he was closer to you. You felt his fingers under your chin, tilting your gaze up to him, soft, brown eyes melting into yours. "You don't do that again when you want to play. This time, it was just Rick and his boys, but next time it couldn't be. I'm serious when I say this, I don't want you around that. That is a hard line for me, I want you to respect that."

"I'm sorry, Eddie." You whispered softly, placing your hand over top of his. You could tell by the way his jaw clenched, emotionally, that it had hurt him. You never wanted to do that. It was just play after all, never meant to step over any lines or boundaries, by pass your respect for one another.

"I didn't mean to upset you like this." You ran the tips of your fingers over his knuckles down to his rings. "I just thought it would be... exciting. You said they wouldn't hurt me or anything, so I just thought..."

Eddie pressed his hand gently into your cheek, cupping it lightly. "I know you did." He said sweetly, thumb brushing over your cheekbone. "Let's discuss things about like that before doing it next time, ok? I'm not mad at you, I promise. I was just... I was scared. I thought something was wrong when you came in."

Your hear squeezed, lip quivering. "'M sorry." You whispered.

Eddie smiled softly down at you. "I know," He let his finger slide through your scalp. "But I have to punish you now. You know that don't you?"

Your spine tingled when excitement when Eddie stood, slowly walking around his desk. "Bend over the desk for me, baby." He fumbled with a cabinet, turning the key into the lock.

You stood slowly, stepping towards the edge of the desk, already cleared for you. You lowered your self down slowly, feet spreading to plant into the wood, far enough apart to steady you. Your hands splayed out on the cool wood beside you, chin resting to watch Eddie.

He emerged after a moment, placing the key back in his pocket before turning, revealing a small, black leather paddle, long but on the thinner side. Your eyes widened at the sight.

Eddie frowned down at you sadly. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to use this for a while." He exhaled slowly. "Thought I'd save it for your birthday. Give you some birthday spankings." You tingled at the mention, clenching around nothing. "But I think you need it today. You really need to learn your lesson, don't you?"

You nodded. "Words, kitten." Eddie ran a hand gently down your back.

"Yes, Daddy." You squeaked against the desk, pressing your cheek against the cool wood.

Eddie hummed gently, hand running down your little lounge pants. He pushed them down slowly, revealing you to be bare. He let out a small huff of air, fingers trailing up to your cheeks, pulling them apart so he could see your pussy. Soaked, as to be expected.

Eddie ran a hand softly over your bottom, soothing your gently. "I don't want to have to be this mean to you, but you have to learn baby." Eddie shook his head gently. "Have to learn to follow Daddy's rules."

You whimpered, nodding against the wood. Eddie bent down, pressing a kiss to your tail bone, leaving you shivering under the touch. "I'm gonna start now." He warned, thumb circling the bone before his hand rested on the small of your back, to keep you down, in place.

The cool leather of the paddle ran across the globes of your ass, a warning of what was to come. You shivered, squeezing your eyes shut. You fought the urge to clamp your legs together, the anticipation and thrill of it all making you ache horribly.

There was a swish before the leather snapped against your skin, your loud gasp following, eyes snapping and head raising. "Shh, I know," Eddie cooed. He kept his hand anchored on your spine, paddle lifting again before cracking across your skin, leaving an angry red stripe in its wake. "I know, kitten, I know." 

"You've got to learn." You whimpered when Eddie brought the paddle down again, squick and snapping twice against the skin with an easy flick of his wrist. "Daddy doesn't like being mean with you, but he has to." He whispered, hand rubbing softly down your back.

You were starting to squirm, the sting building quick, faster than it ever did with his hand. You yelped, a pitiful broken cry following after he brought the paddle down again, on the bottom of your fleshy backside. "You're doing so good, kitten. Taking your spanking so good." Eddie crooned, the paddle lifting before he brought it down again.

You knew he wasn't using his full strength, not even close. He wanted it to sting but never hurt you, especially when the two of you were so new to things still.

You squirmed, tears streaming down your face. "'M sorry, Daddy." You whined, high and desperate.

"I know you are, baby. I know." Eddie sighed sweetly, bringing the paddle down again on your agitated skin. "You're doing so good for me, aren't you?"

Your sob followed as an answer, fists clenching when he brought down the paddle again, sending you forward you the desk. The wood dug into your hips, pressing uncomfortably against you with every smack of the paddle that sent you forwards.

Eddie's hand ran down your red cheeks, your abused little ass, bright and blooming with marks of the harsh leather against your skin. Your body shook with sobs, collapsed against the wood. Eddie shushed you quietly, sweet words and calming phrases to you while his hand ran over the hot flesh, trailing down further. He pressed his index finger, ducking it between your legs. He bit back a knowing smile when he felt you, dripping and coated in your own arousal.

Eddie let his fingers run through your folds, your small mewl perking his ears, your hips rocking back to meet his touch. "You learned your lesson?" Eddie asked gently.

You moaned when his fingers brushed over your clit, nasally and high pitched. "Yes, Daddy."

Eddie let the pad of his finger circle around your clit, throbbing and hard through your slick folds. "You're gonna be good for Daddy?"

You nodded, eyes pinching in pleasure. "Yes!" You squealed, shockwaves of pleasure spiking over you. "I'll be good, I'll be good!" You chanted breathlessly, a small grunt leaving your pouty lips.

Eddie smirked, he knew you would be. He knelt down behind you, tongue lapping and circling your sensitive clit while your squirmed. His hands gripping your burning cheeks lightly, keeping you spread so he could eat you properly, buried between you until you clenched, toes curling and crying out before falling onto his desk, sprawled out and starry eyed.

[nrdmssgs]

Idk man but like bondage with Nikto but he's in a mood and he's just overwhelming you both emotionally and mentally because he knows how powerless it is to be tied up. I. Need to be spayed.

Masterlist

"Sokrovishe*?"

Your palms, pressed together, are sweaty and cold. Contrary to that feeling, a heat runs up your neck and face. One wave after another. You try to fight the panic off, but it only grows. What if this all really was a bad idea? What if he loses control, what if one of the others comes in the light. You're certain, he won't ever hurt you, but what makes you so sure about them being on the same side. Do they sympathize you? Do his other voices even know you?

You thought it over, fantasized, craved. You asked for this. For many times. And now, your body is in a desperate state of an overdrive despite Nikto having just undressed you and tied up your wrists. The dim lights around grow weaker, the room starts spinning lightly.

"Sokrovishe?" His voice takes the pieces of your scattering mind back together. You suck in a breath and look around. Return to him, to this room, on this bed, where you kneeled for him.

You turn back and meet his eyes, looking down on you. His gaze travels down your back, as Nikto is weighing his options, planning, assessing. He's not in a hurry, a couple of times a short chuckle escapes his lips and hits his mask that muffles every sound. You wonder if he watches his targets on the battlefield like that? Calculated and calm in every his motion, yet clearly amused, intrigued by how long can his prey stay so oblivious.

You try to explain, that you haven't changed your mind, and you still want him to... finally do all these pretty things, he's been whispering in your ears for so long. But you are able to cough up only an indistinguishable babbling, so he commands you to turn away.

You look right before you and almost immediately feel the bed dipping under his weight. Turning your back to a wild cat is practically asking to get attacked. Turning your back to whatever animal this man right now is may turn out a dangerous carelessness.

You feel his fingertips meeting your skin and swallow audibly. His touch does not linger on your arm, fingers running up to your shoulder, sending shivers to your back. Niktos grip on your shoulder is soft, yet inescapable. Other hand falls on your chest and pushes lightly, guiding you to lean back on his broad body.

"Breathe for me, ok?" And he guides you through a few cycles of breathing until your mind and heart stop racing. It's only then when you truly come back to him, relax.

He didn't need just a doll to tie up and fuck mercilessly - he needed your complete trust. And as soon as you give it to him - you feel a smooth double rope covering a line across your chest for the first time.

Nikto is delicate, almost too delicate for a man, who knows too many ways to harm someone so badly, they do whatever he wants them to, suffer an ungodly amount of pain and still live through this. But with you, it's another matter: you're not a target - you're a promise, a faint hope for the possibility of a real life, payment for all the horror he had experienced. Your body is not an instrument - it's a treasure. There's an invisible map, he drew on you long time ago. And now he covers a line after line, he imagined on your skin all this time, with ropes, marking every important point with perfect knots.

He commands you to take a deep breath in and you start feeling it in your shoulders and across your chest, what he planned for you. He binds you tight just enough for you to realize: Nikto is not trying to just immobilize you - he is putting pressure, enveloping you in an ornament that makes you finally let go of fears. You're protected, treasured, taken care of. This must be, how ancient warriors felt, when their shaman drew his secret signs with scarlet clay on their bodies.

The absolute trust should be preserved. And Nikto weaves his spells around your body, breathes in unison with you, whispers praises. He pulls the knot, moving your hands up, but it doesn't scare you, that he has the power over your movements now. You don't feel like a puppet - you feel like a weighless bird, leaning on warm wind streams. Your fingers are sprawled feathers, you don't really cry or mule - you sing your bird song in his arms. Nikto listens carefully to your body and gives you exactly what you needed.

A comfort of not being in charge, a sanctuary of turning into something simultaneously more and less than your body. Rope coiling around flesh, hugging it firmly, stiffening and stretching with your breaths. A bliss of being his.

Sokrovishe - treasure

[drafthorsemath]

Tooka Dad

Crosshair x Veterinarian OC Rayla

Word Count: 6.331k

Warnings: None really – Fluff, new relationship, cuddling, bed sharing. Brief descriptions of a stray animal in need of medical attention, TLC, and spaying. Brief mentions of Crosshair’s medical trauma / tomophobia.

A/N: This came to my brain and now it’s words. I don’t know what else to say about it. No description of Rayla’s appearance outside of her being fem and using she/her pronouns.  Thank you to @staycalmandhugaclone @eclec-tech and @lightwise for the encouragement.

It had been months since Crosshair had rejoined his siblings and they found themselves on Pabu. The adjustment had been difficult. It was still difficult. There were many things he wouldn’t speak about. His brothers gave him some space, not pushing too much, but making sure he knew he wasn’t alone. He, Omega, and Tech had spent time together healing physically after Mt. Tantiss, as well as healing whatever mental wounds they could. Those were taking the most time, especially for Crosshair.

He didn’t want to leave the house today, but Wrecker insisted (in his own Wrecker way) that he come to the docks and help move some cargo. Crosshair rolled his eyes but got to his feet and followed his brother down to the ocean. They spent the morning moving crates from boats on to the docks, but as the sun continued to beam down on them, Crosshair’s eyes started to ache from the light.

“I got it from here,” Wrecker said, knowing his brother’s sensitivity.  Crosshair simply nodded his thanks and headed toward some shade. Before he could sit down, he saw something small scamper away from behind one of the crates Wrecker picked up. He followed the movements and kneeled down, looking under a bench that sat under a tree.

“What is it,” Wrecker asked.

A tiny gray tooka kitten peered at them through crusty eyes. Crosshair wasn’t entirely sure how the little creature could see.

“Tooka,” Crosshair answered. Wrecker knelt down further and smiled at the scared kitten.

“A baby tooka? Aww, Crosshair we gotta take it home.”  Wrecker smiled and tried to make space so he could grab the little ball of fur, but the kitten would have none of it and scurried to hide behind the other side of the bench.

“Just wait,” the Crosshair advised. His brother sighed but nodded and got back to work. Instead of sitting on the bench, Crosshair sat on the ground next to it.  The next two hours were spent waiting for the animal to come out. He wasn’t going to force anything. Wrecker checked in after he was done with the crates.  Although the tooka hadn’t moved, he knew that if anyone had the patience to wait it out and earn its trust, it was Crosshair.  Wrecker went home, grabbed some lunch, and brought it back. He silently held out some homemade bread and fruit to his brother, sitting next to him as they silently ate. The tooka let out a little squeak and Wrecker saw just the smallest tug of a smile on his Crosshair’s face. Eventually Wrecker decided to head home and help Tech with moving some big equipment.

As the time passed, Crosshair thought of his time away from his siblings. How much doubt and fear were in his heart despite deciding to stay on the platform on Kamino. Of the ongoing pain he had each time his chip was enhanced. The absolute horror in his soul when his actions felt like they were someone else’s, but he knew his hands pulled the trigger. He had never wanted to lose control and yet the Empire had him in its grasp and his mind wasn’t fully his own. He’d been so conditioned and the chip only added another layer of complexity. He closed his eyes and sighed as he pressed his hands flat on the ground beneath him in an attempt to center himself in the here and now. He wasn’t alone anymore. Just as he had this thought, he felt some tiny fluff brush against his hand.  He opened his eyes to find the kitten sitting next to his fingertips.  He gently picked up the creature and stood. The tooka didn’t make a sound and didn’t fight as Crosshair walked back them back to Upper Pabu. He was fairly certain the lack of fight was only because the animal was fur and bones.

“Tech,” was all he said upon finding his brother working on the Marauder. Tech stood, adjusting his goggles, and raised his eyebrows.

“A tooka,” he replied, “and in a sorry state.”

Crosshair hummed in agreement. Tech knew this was his brother’s way of asking for help. He pulled out his datapad and examined the kitten in Crosshair’s hands.

“There appears to be an eye infection, parasites, and a serious lack of nutrition,” noted Tech. “I could possibly find some food for her, but I cannot immediately find appropriate medication for her ailments. Why don’t you take her to the veterinarian?”

Crosshair sighed. At least he now knew the tooka was a she and some of what was going on with her, but he wasn’t quite sure about a veterinarian. He didn’t want this little girl to be scared any more than she already was and he understood how anything medical might cause her more fear.  Then again, she looked miserable and he couldn’t let her stay that way.

“Alright,” he agreed. He didn’t even realize the island had a veterinarian.  Tech gave him the location and he headed back down the path.

It had been a long day for Rayla. One of Pabu’s residents had decided to buy a pair of orbaks to help cart goods around and she hadn’t treated anything with hooves since veterinary school. One of them was particularly stubborn, but she liked a good challenge. It was never about forcing something on an animal. It was about reading body language and helping them feel safe enough to get through any needed procedures.

She looked up as a tall man came through the door. She smiled to herself. Rayla had spent time with his brothers since they settled on Pabu and Omega was fascinated with her career choice.  They talked about him briefly, but she hadn’t met him yet.

“Hello,” she said with a soft smile. “Crosshair, right? I’m Rayla. How can I help you?”

Crosshair looked at the woman in front of him and then down at the tiny tooka. “Found her,” he said.  He didn’t seem surprised she knew his name. There were some people on the island who guessed who he was based on association.

“How about you come back to the exam room and we’ll take a look,” Rayla offered. He simply nodded and followed.  Crosshair looked around the room, almost more afraid than the tooka. There were various instruments, and he was sure there were even more in the cabinet. The veterinarian washed her hands and put on some gloves.

“How about we start with a weight,” she suggested, nodding to the scale. Crosshair put the kitten down, almost afraid to let go. She weighed much less than she should. Rayla noted her weight and then suggested a particular food for her. He nodded and moved her off the scale. He couldn’t quite keep his hands off her, trying to keep the contact while the exam was completed for fear of losing her or seeing her scared.

“She’s got an eye infection. I can give you drops for those and show you how to put them in.” He nodded.  He noticed Rayla stopped and gave the kitten a little break and spoke kindly to her before looking through her fur.

“She has fleas too.” 

His eyes got wide, but he still didn’t pull away from her.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “Fleas are species specific. Her fleas won’t harm anyone but other tookas. We can give her a flea bath now if you’d like.” Crosshair nodded and let out a little relieved breath.

He held on to her while Rayla filled a small tub with warm water. Crosshair tentatively put the small creature in the tub. While the veterinarian worked the shampoo in and rinsed, he held the kitten and helped keep her head up.  The little tooka clung to his thumb with her front legs and Rayla couldn’t help but smile.

“She’s really taken with you,” she said.

“Mm,” was all he let out, but his eyes went soft. 

“Are you planning on keeping her or would you like me to find her a hom-“

“No,” he firmly blurted out before quieting his tone again. “I’ll keep her.”

“Sounds good,” she replied, getting a towel. 

Crosshair took it upon himself to wrap her up.  Rayla showed him how to put drops in her eyes. 

“In about a week you could give her a dewormer pill.” 

He nodded and followed her out of the room.  She gathered the dewormer pill, some food for the kitten - explaining that for the time being she needed food that would be easy on her digestive system - and a lightweight slip lead. Rayla put everything in a bag and handed it to him.  Getting out a data pad for her records, she asked if the newly adopted animal had a name yet.

“Vaar’ika,” he said.

“What does it mean,” she asked curiously.

“Pip-squeak.”  Just as he said that, Vaar’ika let out tiny peep that made Rayla smile. She entered the relevant information.

“Well then,” she replied, “congratulations Vaar’ika. And congratulations Tooka Dad.”

Crosshair felt warmth flood his cheeks and ears, but it wasn’t unwelcome. He nodded at all Rayla’s directions about the dewormer and a follow up appointment. 

As he left, Rayla couldn’t help but think that she quite liked him. He may have said very few words, but he was so expressive.  He was easy for her to read and she knew she could trust a man who adopted an ailing kitten without question.

Crosshair took Vaar’ika home. Wrecker had already told Echo, Hunter, and Omega about her and Omega waited at the window to meet this new addition to the family.  Crosshair came through the door and held the little one close to his chest. She was exhausted and he could feel her little body shake from the stress of the day.

“I want to help,” Omega declared.

Crosshair didn’t say anything as he walked toward his bedroom. He simply nodded in the general direction of the hallway and Omega’s smile grew as she knew it meant she could follow him.  Crosshair put the tiny bundle on his bed and started looking for something to make a tooka bed.

“What’s wrong with her eyes,” Omega asked.

“Infection,” Crosshair answered. “Needs to be given eye drops for a few days at least.”

“I can help,” Omega answered.

“Omega,” Crosshair warned. He knew she was excited, but he wanted to approach the kitten’s treatment in a methodical way.  He looked at his sister for several moments and then nodded. “Fine, but she won’t need more drops until tomorrow.”

Crosshair shuffled through his belongings in his closet and found an old pair of blacks. He used a spare pillow to make something of a little bed with the blacks as a bedding.  He placed the new bed on the floor near his own.  Omega watched as the little tooka crawled on the bed closer to her brother.  He put her on the new bed and quietly told her he’d be back soon.  Omega followed him down the hall and grinned at her other brothers who were all at least a bit curious about their new roommate.  While Crosshair grabbed a small plate and spoon and headed back to his room, Omega helped Echo and Hunter with dinner.

Vaar’ika was hiding under his bed, but Crosshair sat down, opened a can of food, and spooned out a little on the plate.  He placed it on the floor and she came out to eat.  He smiled while watching her eat. She had an appetite and he knew that was important in her healing. He retrieved a little bowl of water for her and gave her a bit more food.  After she finished eating and drinking, she jumped up on the window and pawed at it.  Crosshair pursed his lips and then decided to take her outside. He looped the leash around her and picked her up.  His hunch was right. Almost immediately, she found a spot to relieve herself.  Maybe he had lucked out when it came to house training.

When finished, she tried climbing his leg and he picked her up. Her eyes were less messy than they were before, and he could make out the way she looked at him. He felt a little glow in his heart at the thought that this creature had chosen him and wanted to be with him.  He took her back inside, took off the leash, and placed her back on the makeshift bed. During dinner with his siblings some questions were asked, but no one asked if he would be keeping her. Based on what they saw, they knew she would stay and it would be a good change.

Once dinner was over, Crosshair made his way back to his room to give Vaar’ika another small meal. She ate it quickly and climbed on the window again. He took her out and this time she wandered around a little bit, exploring her new home.  He took her back in, holding her in the crook of his arm and heading to bed. He placed her on her own bed, but once he climbed into his own, he could see her moving in the darkness. She made her way up the side of his bed post and purred as she snuggled against his chest.  Crosshair smiled to himself and fluffed her hair before they drifted off to sleep together.

Crosshair spent the next few days helping her find her feet. They established morning and evening walk routes.  He purchased a little pink collar for her, making sure it included her name and his.  It wasn’t long before he was comfortable taking her around off-leash. She never wandered too far and for the most part, seemed to like watching this world from her perch on his shoulders.  He let Omega hold Vaar’ika when it was time to put her eyedrops in, but he never let Omega put the drops in. Finally Omega managed to wear him down and convinced him to let her try.  Crosshair held the kitten, holding her back to his chest and supporting her back end with one hand. Omega approached the tooka’s eyes with the dropper bottle, aiming for the middle of her left eye.

“Omega, no!” It came out a little louder than he meant. He leaned back to pull his little bundle away. He gave his sister a warning look.  She looked confused and a little hurt. He took a deep breath and found calm again. Until he had visited Rayla, he wouldn’t have known what to do either. It wasn’t fair to expect Omega to know without help.

“Aim for the corner of her eyes. It’s easier that way.” He offered her a smile and Omega tried again, this time leaving a couple little drops in each corner of Vaar’ika’s eyes.

“Perfect,” he said to his sister.  “Thank you.”

“Happy to help,” Omega replied.

He was supposed to give the tooka her dewormer pill, but wasn’t sure he could do it and certainly didn’t expect Omega to. He remembered Rayla’s instructions as he sat Vaar’ika on his bed and held the tiny pill between his thumb and finger.

“Simply open her mouth, pop the pill in, and hold her mouth closed until she swallows,” Rayla had said. He hadn’t thought much about it since at the time, he knew it was a future problem and he was only focused on eye drops and establishing some routines.  Now that it came to it, he looked at his little friend and couldn’t just open her mouth.  And what, he thought. Force her to swallow a pill?  It reminded him too much of the procedures he and his brothers had been forced through. He remembered thinking a warning before a necessary injection or asking him if he was ready would have helped him a great deal as a young cadet, yet he had never really been afforded that dignity.

He sighed to himself, picked up Vaar’ika and the pill, and marched to the vet clinic.  Rayla was just finishing with a client and about to go to lunch when he walked in.

“Crosshair!” She beamed at him, happy to see him with the tooka. “And Vaar’ika. How are you?”

“I can’t give her the pill,” he said directly.

“Did she not want it,” Rayla asked. Many animals had trouble taking medication and it wasn’t an uncommon concern.  “Did she spit it up?”

“No,” Crosshair said, revealing he still had the pill in its original form. “I can’t make her take it.”

Rayla sensed a great amount of empathy in him. He seemed scared to hurt this kitten, this small creature he’d already becoming so very attached to.

“She might take it if you mix it in her food. Is she still eating?”

Crosshair nodded.

“Okay,” Rayla acknowledged. “Cut the pill in quarters and put it in her dinner tonight. If she doesn’t eat it all, stop by tomorrow and we’ll see about another way.”

Crosshair nodded again.

“May I,” Rayla asked, hands out to touch the tooka.  Crosshair nodded a third time and Rayla petted the little pile of fluff.  She purred at the vet.

“I’m glad to see her eyes have cleared up,” she said. “She probably doesn’t need the drops anymore after tomorrow. Just keep the rest of the bottle should she need them in the future. She already looks so much better. She’ll need a few vaccines as soon as you feel she’s strong enough and she’ll be old enough to spay in a couple months. Unless you want more kittens.”

Crosshair froze a bit. He’d assumed that was further down the road, but not this soon.  He didn’t want her to get pregnant. He wanted to do the responsible thing for her and was sure Hunter would have a few words with him if there were kittens. Besides, he didn’t want to worry about her going through pregnancy and labor.

“Let’s schedule that now,” he said.

Rayla nodded and pulled up her schedule. He’d be back in a week for the vaccines. They decided on a day for the spaying and she gave him instructions for what to do the night before and day of as far as food and water.

“See you both in a week for vaccines,” she said as they left.

Crosshair held Vaar’ika a little closer to his chest, hugging her before letting her perch on his shoulders. He didn’t like the thought of putting her through surgery or even the vaccinations. He knew they were necessary, but he didn’t want her in pain ever. Still, he knew it was for the best. To help him relax, he took the long way home, chuckling as Vaar’ika hissed at a few moon-yos who tried reaching for her.  His thoughts also went to this veterinarian. Most people on the island were nice enough, but he didn’t let anyone close. This person was watching him at some very vulnerable moments whether she knew it or not.

That evening he cut the dewormer pill up into quarters and mixed it into the tooka food.  He placed the plate down and Vaar’ika started eating. She paused at one point, knowing there was something different, and Crosshair held his breath. She took a taste and didn’t seem to mind and finished the entire thing. He felt so much relief. That night, like every night at this point, the kitten climbed into his bed and slept cuddled up against him. When she got up to stretch her feet or if she needed to go outside, he immediately woke up at the loss of her tiny body’s warmth. Then they’d get back to bed and fall asleep together.

Crosshair started finding reasons to visit the vet clinic in the days leading up to vaccination day. The smallest question about changing her food as she grew, asking questions about exercise, and some of the more mundane things. He knew that he just wanted to see Rayla and have an excuse to get outside with Vaar’ika. Rayla didn’t mind. He always patiently waited if she was already with someone or had an appointment. She liked seeing him and the positive impact the tooka and the sniper had on each other.  She let Crosshair say as much or as little as he wanted. She asked questions but knew when to back off. She wasn’t a completely open book, but she shared parts of herself with him too. He got curious and asked how she ended up on Pabu one day after she’d shown him how to make sure the kitten’s nails didn’t get too long. She explained how she left her home world when the Empire started taking over cities on the other side of her planet. She wasn’t going to wait around to see what would happen.

“Smart,” he replied. Rayla smiled sadly. She missed her former home, but knew she was lucky to be here. The threat of sea surges was much less daunting than dealing with the Empire.

“See you next time, Crosshair.”

He let a tiny smile escape and he left.

When he showed up for the kitten’s scheduled vaccines, he was a bit of a mess. He didn’t want her to be upset or hurt, but he also didn’t want to risk her dying of something preventable.

“I’ll be quick and I’ll use the smallest needle I have,” Rayla promised. “Do you want me to take her in the back and just get it over with or do you want to be with her.”  She knew some animals did better away from their nervous person, but it was very much a case-by-case situation.

“I can’t leave her,” he replied.

Rayla nodded and instinctively put a hand on his arm.  He let out a breath. They went back in the exam room and she weighed the tooka, noticing she’d put on a good amount of weight.

“Would you like to sit and hold her instead of keeping her on the exam table,” the vet asked.

Crosshair nodded and sat down, holding Vaar’ika. A small smile pulled at his cheek and he relaxed as she looked up at him. She wasn’t scared. The little fluff ball was just happy to be with him.

“I’ll be quick. Just two little jabs. Here we go.”  Rayla moved quickly and precisely.  The kitten let out a couple of squeaks, but nothing too bad. After it was over, Rayla smiled as she heard him quietly telling Vaar’ika what a great job she did.  As he was about to leave, Rayla decided to take her chance.

“Hey, not to be too forward,” she started, suddenly feeling very nervous now that she was putting this into words.  Crosshair turned back to look at her curiously.

She continued, trying to keep any shakiness at bay.  “You’ve stopped by a lot and we’ve gotten to know each other more and I was just thinking… if you want to spend some time together after hours, let me know.” 

“Dinner,” he asked.

“I’d like that,” she replied.

“Tomorrow?”

“You know when I close.”

“I’ll be here.”

Both felt a warmth radiate over their cheeks as they said their goodbyes for the day. Crosshair carried his little bundle home while his mind ran wild with all kinds of thoughts. He didn’t want to let his nerves get to him and at the same time, he was giddy at the thought of spending more time with Rayla. He had to grin to himself. She liked his company. He hadn’t gotten very close to anyone who wasn’t a clone. There was an understanding with his brothers. He’d grown up with them. Omega was incredibly understanding of everyone, almost to the point of his annoyance. Even with the regs, there was an understanding. Learning about someone in-depth with a completely different background was a newer experience to him, but he found that Rayla embraced each bit of himself that he revealed. Even when he was having an extra grumpy and stressful day, she seemed happy to see him.

The next evening, he left Vaar’ika with Wrecker and Omega. They were more than happy to babysit the tooka.  They were having a movie night and Crosshair knew she would be doing her utmost to steal their snacks. The thought made him very happy.

He tried to pick out his nicest outfit and headed to the vet clinic.  He sat in the waiting room and listened to Rayla explain the medication dosage for someone’s pet bird. Rayla joined him a few minutes after the bird and their owner left.  She’d quickly changed out of her scrubs and into a simple dress before joining him.

“You look nice,” she said with a smile.

“So do you.”

“I thought I’d try to wear something nicer than my scrubs,” she replied.

“You’d look nice in anything,” he said as heat rose to his cheeks.

Rayla wasn’t sure what to say. She felt seen and beamed up at him.  They headed to a quiet restaurant on the other side of the island. While people all tended to know each other on Pabu, they both wanted some time just the two of them so the calmer spot seemed more ideal. They ordered and sat while watching the sun start to set.

“I’ll level with you,” Rayla said. “I’ve talked to your siblings. I feel like I know quite a bit about you, but I want to learn about you from you.”

He simply nodded. “Not much to say,” he replied.

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

Rayla asked him some questions, wanted to know a bit about sniping, and how he liked the island.  She was also interested in his enhanced skills. The scientist in her was curious, but she wanted to keep it respectful. Crosshair’s comments were short as usual, but as time went by and they ate, he shared a bit more about himself. For now, they avoided the topic of the Empire.

“Tell me about yourself,” he said before taking a sip of his drink. He was much more interested in learning about her than talking about himself.

“I think you already know a lot about me from our earlier conversations,” she answered.

“Hmm,” he said thoughtfully with a bit of a smile on his face. “Have you always worked alone? You do so much.”

“I had a vet tech until I came here. Actually, I purchased a GH-7 medical droid recently and I’m trying to modify it for veterinary work.”

“Tech will be pleased to hear that,” Crosshair replied. “He loves those kinds of projects. He’ll pick your brain next time he sees you.” Crosshair was pleased too. He saw how hard she worked and felt she needed a bit of a break sometimes. Having an assistant could go a long way in helping make her job easier.

“I’m sure. If I run into trouble Tech’s the first person I’d ask for help when it comes to droids.” She took a couple more bites of food and added, “Of course it helps to have the personal touch and I’ll still be very involved. It’ll just help to have a droid to do some of the more routine and boring things, measuring out and compounding medication, answering comms, billing, ordering supplies, passing my tools during surgeries, and making sure procedures are as precise as possible.” She then told a story about a droid she knew in vet school who was reprogrammed to only want to work on massiffs. A couple of her fellow vet students thought it would be funny for the professor’s droid to randomly refuse to help with other animals during demonstrations and who tried to switch places with other droids so it could work exclusively on massiffs. He watched her with a soft smile on his face while she told this story. As she finished, she paused for a moment.

“Sorry,” she said. “Didn’t mean to go on. It was just a silly thing to watch unfold.”

“No, I liked it,” he replied. He didn’t want her to stop. “Dessert?”

She beamed and nodded. They shared a piece of cake topped with all kinds of local fruit. He let her have the last bite but hoped it wouldn’t be the last time they shared a meal.  He walked her home and once at the door bit his lip as his eyes darted a bit.

“Could we do this again,” he asked.

“What are you doing on Benduday?”

Each date felt a little more comfortable than the last. His favorite dates were whenever they would go out on a boat together just the two of them. It was incredibly peaceful and gave him the chance to be a bit more open without worrying about anyone else around them.

One evening she was supposed to meet him at the restaurant and didn’t. He’d brought flowers and wore a new shirt and definitely didn’t love the feeling of sitting at the table alone. He thought to himself that this was the first time in a long time where he was consistently seeking the presence of another instead of solitude. Before he could spiral and let too many negative thoughts enter his mind, he decided to check at the clinic. He knew there might have been an emergency that required her attention.  When he arrived, the clinic door was unlocked and he saw a light coming from an exam room.  He let himself in and sat in the waiting area.

In the exam room, Rayla explain the situation to the worried owner. Her scans indicated a foreign object blocking the stomach and she and GHost – the now modified GH-7 droid – completed surgery to remove the offending mass. She sent the patient and their person home with a course of medication to help. Not long after they left, Rayla came out to find Crosshair dozing in his chair.  She walked up to him and kissed his forehead.

“Mm.” He opened his eyes to look up at her. “Missed you.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said. “It was an emergency.”

“I know,” he replied, standing up and kissing her cheek. “These are for you.”

She took the flowers and kissed him again. “They’re lovely. Thank you.”  After a pause and check of the time, she added, “I’ll clean up quickly. Walk me home?”

He simply nodded. She cleaned off all the equipment and the table in the exam room, turned out the lights, and took his hand. They took their time walking together. It was a pleasant night and both were a little sad they didn’t get to have a relaxing dinner together.

“We should go out after Vaar’ika heals from her spay surgery,” Rayla suggested, knowingly adding, “I know you won’t want to leave her until she’s all healed up.”

“I just want to make sure she’ll be okay,” he answered. “But yes. I’d like that.”

She squeezed his hand and they grinned at each other.

The night before Vaar’ika’s spay, Crosshair was a mess. He barely slept. The only thing that calmed him down was the little tooka herself. She had no idea what was coming but was simply living in the moment and in this moment, she wanted to sleep on his chest. He sat in front of a holovid with his family and slowly stroked the her soft fur. They fell asleep together as usual, but the next morning, his jitters were back.

He walked her to the clinic, letting her perch on his shoulder, but carrying a crate since she would still be drowsy on the way home and Rayla insisted she needed a crate to limit movement while she healed.

“Good morning,” Rayla said as they came through the door. “Ready?”

Crosshair didn’t respond but tried to smile.

“She’s going to do great. I even have my droid GHost ready to go, unless you aren’t comfortable with him assisting me.”

Crosshair simply shook his head that he didn’t mind. “I trust you.”

Rayla took Vaar’ika and the crate as Crosshair tried to decide if he wanted to sit or pace. Her experience said that getting this over with was the best plan. Her voice softened and she tried to reassure him.

“It won’t take long. I’ll make sure she has pain management and that she’s fully anesthetized, so she doesn’t feel anything during the procedure.”

He nodded and sat down.  Rayla took the tooka to the back to prepare her for surgery. GHost weighed her and drew the appropriate levels of medication. As the tooka went to sleep and Rayla shaved her belly, Crosshair could hear the calm way she addressed his little companion.

“Looks like you’re asleep already. Oxygen levels and heart rate are normal. Let’s begin.” It wasn’t long before Crosshair heard her say, “There’s that little uterus. Tiny thing. Already out. Let’s close.”

Crosshair started shaking but breathed through it. The adrenaline that was coursing through his system all morning had finally started to wear off and it left him feeling a bit dizzy. He sat back and focused on his breathing while he heard the woman he loved talking sweetly to Vaar’ika.  Not long after, Rayla reappeared with a sleepy tooka in the crate. Without thinking about it, Crosshair embraced her as he became overwhelmed with relief.

“She did great, love. She really did. She should heal up perfectly.”  Rayla went over care instructions and ended it with “She should stay in her crate as much as possible for the first week. No climbing or jumping. I used surgical glue that has some bacta in it so she will heal faster. Try to keep that cone on her so she doesn’t lick.” Crosshair nodded. “And comm me if anything comes up.”

Vaar’ika slept most of the day. She whined a bit at dinner time and Crosshair let her outside only long enough to relieve herself and then it was back inside before she could go exploring. She seemed like her normal self but was also pretty groggy. He ate in his room so he could watch her and made sure she took her medication and ate enough. That night, he knew he was supposed to let her sleep in her crate, but the drugs from earlier had worn off enough that she knew exactly where she was and didn’t understand why she wasn’t allowed to sleep in bed with him. She cried until he relented and purred as she snuggled up against him in his comfortable bed.

The next morning was the hardest. She felt an ache at the incision site and it clearly hurt her to move compared to yesterday, despite the pain medication. He tried not to think too hard about it, feeling unsure of when to ask for help and what was normal. She’d had surgery after all, it was impossible for her to feel completely healed in less than a single day.  He laid around the house with her, cuddling her close since that seemed to help her stay more comfortable. He was grumpier with his siblings, though. He tried to keep to himself, but once Omega and Wrecker started playing and making a bit of a racket, he took Vaar’ika to the clinic. He wasn’t sure exactly why he was going. He didn’t think it was an emergency, but knew Rayla would be done with her work, barring anything urgent. He sat in the waiting room and talked gently to the little ball of tired fluff laying in his arms. He rhythmically stroked her fur, but didn’t feel her usual happy purr.

“She okay,” Rayla asked, appearing as she finished cleaning up the exam room.

“Not sure,” Crosshair replied.

“Mind if I look?”

Crosshair handed the tooka over to Rayla who carefully turned her over.

“Looks like it’s healing fine. Don’t see any sign of infection. She might just be in a bit more pain than anticipated. I can give her an extra little med patch if you want to try that.”

Crosshair nodded. As Rayla retrieved a patch and cut it down to the right size, she asked, “What else is going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“You have a lot on your mind and you look… gruff.”

He shook his head and let out a breath.  “Just worried about her and it’s loud at home.”

“Well, you’re welcome to have some quiet time here. I have some paperwork to do, some blood tests to analyze, and then I’m headed home. You’re welcome to join me if the two of you need a change of pace.”

Crosshair’s eyes warmed and he returned her familiar smile.  He sat back down and went back to petting Vaar’ika until she fell asleep. The patch seemed to help her feel better and by extension, he felt better.  Rayla worked nearby, looking through her datapad, taking inventory, and updating her notes as she went along. The rest of the day went by without a hitch. It was a good day when there were no major emergencies. She made sure her comm was on, knowing that some days no one needed her until she left for home. She packed up and walked home with Crosshair and Vaar’ika.  As they headed down the road, she broke the silence.

“She hasn’t slept in her crate, has she?”

Crosshair grinned almost shyly. “She’s used to sleeping with me. She stays still.”

“As long as she’s still. Don’t want her hurting her incision.”

The evening was perfectly quiet. They ate a simple meal and cleaned up together while Vaar’ika napped in the armchair. Later, they found themselves in bed together for the first time. Crosshair lifted his arm and pulled Rayla to his side. She laid an arm around his waist while Vaar’ika curled up in the crook of his neck. He felt his heartbeat syncing with Rayla’s. She smiled and kissed his cheek before she closed her eyes. They soaked in each other’s warmth and fell asleep.

[isthedogawolfdog]

(You can delete this or not read it or whatever if you want, I just wanted to say it in case it might help at all.) Another perspective on the cat: He may have been a community cat. Community cats aren't exactly not owned--they often have one or several caregivers who care very deeply about them. However, many of those cats didn't get the necessary socialization as kittens, and will never be comfortable living in a home with people. The kindest thing we can do for them is spay/neuter, vaccinate, and return them to their home, which is outside. For areas with high volumes of cats in shelters, we often return adoptable cats to their outdoor homes as well, because we know they are receiving care and love, and every space that those cats take up is another cat we can't save from euthanasia somewhere else. (Shelters often try to pick up those friendlies later if they have space, but that's another conversation.) All that to say--yeah, it fucking sucks that he was hit by a car. And it fucking sucks that there's so much danger out there and that these cats aren't always safe. But that doesn't necessarily mean that specific cat wasn't living the kindest, most humane life for him. A short life where he was cared for and happy is kinder than a long life spent stressed and fearful in a home.

(The cat impact on wildlife is also another conversation and it often gets brought up in these cases and it's not as clear cut as people like to believe but this ask isn't to rant about that, it's just to provide you with another perspective on this kitty.)

Ehh, I don’t think he would’ve automatically been stressed and fearful just because he was indoors if that’s what you mean. I do think cats can get accustomed to the noises and sights of the outdoors (because that’s a basic need to function tbh), but I still wouldn’t call that a favorable life over being inside, as being inside has a significantly lower chance of being hit by a car or brutally tortured and killed by a stranger.

I’ve never heard of the term “community cat” but I guess I could look into it. Either way I’m instantly skeptical of anything that allows cats to be outside unsupervised.

[il-predestinato]

i just finished and that's how i foksmashed dad's championship trophy and i wanted to drop by and let you know how much i adored it!! it's so cute and i think you captured sassy's voice (or literally any other cat's lmao) perfectly. the concept was perfectly executed and i love how charles eventually won her over. 10/10 would read again to cheer myself up when ferrari inevitably fucks charles' strategy up. thank you for blessing us and i hope you have a great day 💖

Thank you so much! Aww you're so sweet. I had way too much fun writing as Sassy. 😸 And yep, it's Charles - how could he not win her over by the end? 😜

Here's a snippet to cheer you up when Ferrari inevitably fucks our weekend (please let this be a reverse jinx):

No matter how many hints she dropped ("Leaving fecal matter on his clothes is not a hint," disputed Jimmy with a disapproving frown. "Dad is going to make you take those nasty probiotics again!"), Pappje just did not seem to get the hint. She would scratch up one pair of his hideous jeans, and the next day, it would be replaced by three more - each one more hideous than the one she destroyed. At some point, she was worried that they were reproducing in his closet, spawning ever more ugly offspring jeans.

It was aggravating, to say the least. Max had her spayed, which was just unfair because whatever offspring she could have had would have been ten times more attractive than those ... unspeakable textile disasters.

Most infuriatingly, Pappje thought she was the one in need of medical attention - suggesting to Max every so often that they needed to change her diet, see the vet, and so forth because of her "accidents." She wanted to howl that her bowels were just fine, thank you very much, but he was the one who needed his eyes checked!

She was working on her latest project, clawing fiercely at a pair of paint-splattered jeans, mewling with satisfaction as her tiny claws tore small streaks in the fabric when the closet door slid open. Oh no -

Dad had caught her red-pawed.

"Hey, hey," rebuked Max, dropping to his knees to reach for the fabric. "None of that."

Max tried to gently tug the garment out from under her paws. She hissed in protest, clinging on despite his superior strength. Why doesn't he understand? She huffed in frustration. She was only trying to help Charles. He deserved better than these ghastly outfits!

"I know what you're trying to do, snoepje."

She blinked at Max in confusion.

He teased her under the chin. Reflexively, she purred into his palm.

"But if we love him," whispered Dad, rubbing her patiently across the whiskers, "and of course we do - then we love all of him."

Oh.

"Ugly jeans included."

She considered it for a moment. It was Charles who always brushed her hair with the gentlest comb, played piano lullabies for her during scary thunderstorms, and baked her favourite mackerel treats.

Lowering her head and feeling a little silly and contrite, she mewled in understanding and allowed the odious pants to slip out of her claws. Max patted the top of her head.

"It's sweet how much you try to look out for him. But maybe no more pissing and shitting on his stuff, okay?" Dad tickled her slumped form. "He suggested a colonoscopy for you the other day -" He chuckled at her alarmed squeak. "After I refused to spend €2000 on that, he accused me of not caring enough about you and said he would pay for it himself."

No, no - please, anything but that! The neighbour's terribly basic tabby cat got one last year, and it took weeks for his gassiness to clear up! She pawed and licked at Dad's hand in supplication.

"Don't worry -"

Max's reassurance was cut off as another head poked into the closet.

Charles beamed at them, sliding into the small space with Jimmy purring at his heels.

"There you are."

Sassy blinked at the sight before her and - well, she needed a moment to recover. Pappje was wearing ... what was to-date his most abominable combination of clashing colours and patterns. She suppressed the hairball that her gag reflex threatened to upchuck.

"Well, what do you think?" asked Charles, gesturing to his outfit with an eager smile.

Sassy emitted a small cough. (She was quite proud of herself.) She shot a sideways glance at Max, who to his credit, smiled indulgently back at Charles.

Pappje blinked expectantly at them.

Remembering how pleasantly warm it felt to wake up curled up against Pappje's chest that morning - and not to mention, the stack of allergy pills in the bathroom with Charles' name on them, the ones he took every day over the alternative of banishing her and Jimmy out of their bedroom - she knew exactly what to do.

She meowed her approval loudly.

It was utterly worth it as he smiled widely at her and pressed a light kiss to the tip of her nose. It didn't even matter that he then did the same to Jimmy, just so he wouldn't feel left out. She licked his thumb affectionately.

"You look perfect," added Max, and thus received his kiss too, a little longer and a little more lingering, but never mind because Sassy got hers first.

When Charles pulled away, Dad shot Sassy a wink - a perfectly executed one that Pappje was never able to mimic - and mouthed to her: It's our little secret.

She sighed contently. Anything for Pappje.

-

(end)

P.S. Charles' clothes are not that hideous, but Sassy's formative years were spent learning fashion sense from Max.

P.P.S. Pappje = Charles. Dad = Max.

(original fic)

[le-brave-des-braves]

🪄This letter turns you into the opposite gender, and will wear off in whatever way you see fit!🪄

Alright. The Jomini situation has been sorted out. Time to return to work. Look, a letter.

—————

Oh. What the actual… *takes a deep breath* I suppose I can be grateful that I am still a human being, right.

Goodness, this fits weird. *he… or she? had to unbutton his uniform coat a bit* I don’t want to get a new uniform.

Levavasseur: Marshal, I have looked into… Marshal? You look…

Yeah, like a woman. Thank fuck it’s not a tortoise. I guess that’s what I get for almost spaying the Duke of Dalmatia, right.

She is trying to make a joke, while feeling so uneasy. Especially when looking at Levavasseur, now seeming even taller and stronger.

Levavasseur: We should talk about your sense of humour.

Later. Now I need your help. I have, uh… certain fitting difficulties. I have an idea, but I need some lacing *she took off the jacket and pointed at the 1790s stays on the bed*

My… eh. Former lover used to wear this, it was good under a uniform but I can’t lace this up myself. So if you were so kind. Just don’t pull too tight, I would like to breathe. Here, it should go over the shirt.

Levavasseur: *He is trying so hard not to stare. The Marshal was appealing as a man, but now…* Alright. I will help you. But maybe you shouldn’t really wear uniforms now when you are…

Shut up, Octave, it is still me. I won’t wear a gown and learn embroidery just because of this magic.

Levavasseur: alright… I… just.

*Ney hit her chest, now securely laced in the stays* oh look, it is so hard. It feels like armour. Now nobody can shoot me!

Levavasseur: We should really talk about your sense of humour.