Chapter Text
Bright dawn light filters through a comfy looking room and onto a lump of blankets in a large bed. A gentle breeze sways the sheer curtains and you hum in content, knowing you’d have to wake up soon before your resident rooster comes to do it himself. Thinking you can get a few more minutes out of your morning you smile. The peace is palpable, not a worry in the air. There’s a light scratching at your house’s wall, a warning. Almost instinctively, you sit up and rush to your window, all blankets thrown to the floor as you fling open your window and glare at the ornately colored rooster perched onto your leaning flower trellis.
You’d caught him, mid breath and before he can loudly crow his distinctive crow you point and yell, ‘Bartholomew Jenkins the third if you start screaming this early in the morning I will drop you off at the nearest restaurant!’
You’re satisfied when the hefty bird slowly sinks back into himself and clucks harmlessly, shuffling around the trellis for a way down. He does so just as easily as he got up there and welcomes his flock slowly start to peter out of the coop gate to wait for breakfast.
‘Guess we can’t all be lazy this morning’ you hum out loud, stretching your joints. Not wanting to waste anymore time you quickly throw on your outside clothes, grab a homemade muffin to munch on, a bucket full of grains and head out of your door to your clucking audience. The flock practically fling themselves at the coop gate door at your arrival and upon opening it they rush to greet you and the bucket you carry.
‘Alright! Hold your horses!’ You laugh as they clamber over your feet. Reaching into the bucket of multi grains and oats, you make sure to sprinkle a trail as you inspect your garden for any pests. You leave just enough food for the chickens to be hungry later to pick off any pesky bugs trying to ruin your harvest. It’s a good cycle, letting the chickens roam around different gardens and having them fertilize the soil in their search for snacks. They’re only allowed in certain areas of the garden/farm, some areas you’ve lost a few of them to wandering predators. You should really get a guard dog…maybe a donkey.
Something bright catches your eye as one of your chickens scurries past with something in her beak and mad dashes for the coop.
‘Miss Kiesha what do you have!?’ You call while following her to the coop, ‘it’d better not be another piece of plastic! You know you can’t eat that!’
The egg basket your grandmother left you sits prettily as you walk past it to follow your stubborn chicken to her nest. You spot red spots in her nest and immediately go to touch what it is, praying it isn’t Miss Kiesha’s time to go yet. You touch it and it’s soft and fluffy….. is that fur? You side eye your chicken as she sits proudly in her horde of fur tufts and place your hand on your hip. Your chicken is a lot of things but fox fighter is not one of them. It’s also the color too, no fox that you’ve seen is this red. You shrug it off, you’ll just have to bring the flock in early. Tucking the fur back into her nest and deciding to take a walk around the massive property trail, you make it a small priority to find the possible fox den on your way.
The weather is warm and comfortable as you watch butterflies and bees pollinate the meadow garden you and your mother planted. You’ve come a long way with this property your grandfather gave to you. He taught you everything he knew about gardening and was kind enough to leave a journal for you to put your gardening notes in, even going so far as to leave sticky notes of jokes and encouragement in the pages whenever you felt down or were struggling with planting something and it didn’t grow how you wanted. When he passed and left you the farm there was no love lost within the family either, it was mostly expected that you’d get that part of your grandfather's legacy. They had made plenty of jokes that you were the next farmer of the family. Even your mother who spent most of her life on this farm decided that all that work wasn’t for her anymore but would love visiting and taking a walk through your garden of various plants and flowers. The rest of your family were content with it going to your hands as now they had free access to the fruits and vegetables and herbs that you grew. You gave them a fair price and they never complained, you were a trusted source and whenever they chanced by a sale with seeds and veggies that they knew you could grow without a hitch. It’s good to have family support, especially when they leave you to your plants and animals. You enjoy your peace, sure you have family and friends you talk frequently with but farm life left you no room for dating. You just didn’t want some random guy messing up your routine plus the only time you’re not home or wandering around your property is when you’re selling your extra produce and flowers at the local farmers market or shopping for yourself and even then you don’t want to be bothered. Maybe dating just isn’t for me, you mentally shrug.
You look off into a clearing wondering what you’re about to do with the space when something red catches your eye. Further down the trail you spot…a dog??? It looks haggard, like it’s been walking for miles and it’s tired. It hasn’t noticed you standing yet but it’s getting closer at a lazy pace. You see it clearly as it approaches, and it’s a very unusual shade of red. There’s some patches that are black but it doesn’t make it any less strange. You make sure not to move as you might startle the large dog as it passes and wonder where it came from. Last you remember, your neighbors don’t have dogs that color and some have come over to chase the rabbits and squirrels in play before. Nothing in its body language screams aggressive but you can never be too sure and tense slightly when you see it pause in its step and sniff the air. It turns to and fro until it opens its eyes and spots you. You stare back and deflate slightly when you see it practically smile at seeing you, open mouth and panting, tail wagging. That seems to be the only energy the big dog has left in them as they approach your stationary body and lean heavily against your hip.
‘You lost big boy?’ You murmur gently, earning a deep exhausted huff from the dog. He whines and rubs his cheek against your hip and you oblige and pet him. His tail thumps against the ground happily and upon closer inspection you find no collar on him as well as lack of muscle mass. Poor thing’s almost skin and bones, we can’t have that, you’re always a sucker for taking care of animals in horrible conditions. Your heart practically aches at leaving him behind but you’re apprehensive about how he’d react to your chickens. The dark patches on his body clue you in as to who one of your chickens had gotten the fur from. An amused thought crossed your mind as to how Miss Kiesha got the courage to approach something this large and take his fur but something tells you he’s a gentle giant. That means he’s been around your property before, you think to yourself, or close to it. There hasn’t been any kind of damage to your things and animals so you decide to take a small risk. The big red dog practically melts against your touch as you scratch behind his ear and grab scratch at his cheeks.
‘Alright Big Red I’ll make a deal with you’ you start looking down at the canine who lifts his head to rest it onto your stomach. Bright red eyes meet yours and he blinks dreamily at your affection but still showing that he’s listening. The loud thumps of his tail haven’t stopped pummeling the ground since he made contact.
‘I’ll let you sleep on my porch for the night and give you a home cooked meal since I don’t have any dog food…’ his eyes perk up excitedly, seeming to find more energy in his already tired body at the prospect of a place to sleep and eat, ‘only if you leave my chickens and plants alone’ you rub at his ear, ‘who knows, I might even let you stay as a guard dog. If you do a good job’ That seems to breathe knew life into the behemoth as it looks like he’s about to jump on you but thinks better of it and tugs the bottom of your shirt to lead you back to your home. You laugh as he tugs as gently as he can and stays by your side as you take the small walk back home. The real test is how your chickens will react to the temporary addition and vice versa. Taking a quick peek at the dog glued to your hip, you’re completely ignored as he takes in the various organized gardens you have around your property with an intelligent appreciation. You spot a few of your chickens puttering around and hurriedly approach you before you call for them to go inside their coop but they hesitate at your newfound companion. Carefully observing as more of the flock join around to cautiously evaluate the beast of a dog next to you only one bravely struts up to him: Miss Kiesha herself. Big Red wags his tail at the familiar bird and settles carefully onto his haunches, seeming to know exactly where she’s circling around his body to access. With a baffled hand on your hip, you watch as she collects a few beakfuls of red fur and trotting off to the coop. Big Red stands back up and beams as the other chickens flock around him, unphased at the big wet nose that sniffs at them and gently moving them out of the way when you two make it to the back porch. Quick movement darts past your eye but you don’t need to know who it was before stepping between Big Red and the current guardian of the flock: Bartholomew Jenkins the third.
‘Don’t even try it’ you point a stern finger at the fluffed up bird.
You feel the surprised stare from the large dog and give him an exasperated glance.
‘There’s a reason why he’s the third and its not from genetics’ you close the porch door to keep the ornery bird from trying to fight something more than double his size.
Big Red watches as you grumble, ‘I swear, every rooster I raise always wants to fight something bigger than themselves and always dies’ and leave him on the porch. You half expected the dog to try and follow you inside your house but he circles around in the shade of the porch and rests in a peaceful heap as you start to cook. An hour passes and the slide of the door wakes Big Red from his comfortable slumber. He jumps up quickly when he spots the two bowls in your hands and tries his best to gain his composure as he smells the food you threw together on a whim. You set it down and fully expect him to barrel you out of the way to scarf the food down or even growl for you to move out of his way but he's as polite as ever as he makes his way to your side to curiously peer over to what you made for him, even sticking his nose out to take in the smell.
‘Alright Big Red’ stands after placing the bowls down, ‘don’t eat too fast or you’ll get a stomach ache, I’ll be back later’ you’re not sure why you’re talking to a dog like he’s going to understand you but you’re baffled anyway when you see him nod and gets right to eating. He’s very polite, you tilt your head to watch him eat, he must’ve been surviving out there for a while, who would ever let a sweet thing like him go?
‘Where’s your family?’ You ask aloud, watching as he tenses up and guiltily turns to look at you. His body practically screams depression and heartbreak as he slumps to look at the food before him.
‘I didn’t mean to make you upset puppy dog, I’m just wondering how or why someone left a sweet boy like you to wander around hungry and with no home’
That gets a small tail wag at best from your words.
‘Somebody has to be looking for you at least’ you mutter, heart melting as sad ruby eyes gaze up at you, telling you what you feared might be true.
The exhale you let out is deep and you place your hands on your hips, ‘okay how about this? I’ll put a picture of you around town so we can find your owner and in a month, if nobody comes for you, then I’ll keep you’
The bark coming from the large beast would’ve startled you had it not been followed immediately after what you would call the worlds biggest pout.
‘Two months?’
A louder bark and a shake of fur.
‘No? Two weeks?’
He stomps his paw and you laugh.
‘You have to come from somewhere! You can’t stay with me if someone is looking for you!’
The red behemoth drops his full weight onto the porch floor in a huff and gives you his best puppy dog look. You’d be lying if you said it didn’t work on you. Melting under the pleading gaze, you finally relent when his whines come into play. He’s damn near crying against your hip and you sigh dramatically.
‘Okay! Okay! How about this? The farmers market is in a week. You can stay with me until then and when we both go together, and no one recognizes you, only then will I take you in. Got it?’
Red eyes beam in delight as his fur flies with his frantic nodding. You try something ambitious and stick your hand out.
‘Shake on it?’
The hefty weight of his massive paw pulls you down a little as the good boy readily places it in your hand.
‘Go finish your food Big Red. It’s getting dark, don’t want the other critters getting to it’ you step past him with a passive scratch to his ear to leave your porch and make sure your chickens are all hunkered down for the night.
By the time you hop up your steps to go into your house, Big Red is waiting for you by the door, tail wagging. You look over at the now empty bowl of food and half empty water bowl and look at him with a hum.
‘Not sure I trust you yet in my house big boy. Let’s see how this week goes by first’
The big dog looks dejected at first but shakes it off and makes himself comfy on your back porch. He looks like he’s bathed in flame as the last rays of the setting sun slowly creep down the horizon. You get an idea and step into your house to rummage around some old boxes you had stored in a guest room. There hasn’t been a guest over your house in years. Honestly, it’s preferred that way, you hate having to host. It gets exhausting over time. You wouldn’t have to worry about guests if you make this a room for Big Red, your traitorous mind conspires. Scooping up the box you quietly make your way back to the door and snicker. It looks like a big red rug is smushed up against the glass. He’s on his back, relaxed, tail wagging languidly. See, he already looks like he belongs here, you shake the thoughts away and clumsily slide the door to the side to open it. He watches as you look around your porch, biting the side of your cheek in thought before setting the big box down near the corner. You glance back at where he lays, still watching you curiously. He doesn't even make any attempt to sneak into the house through the wide open door. Colors of all kinds flicker in his view as he watches you pull out blanket after blanket of different textures and place them carefully in the corner of the porch. Soft fur at your side startles you as Big Red peeks over your shoulder. His tail practically wags off of his own body as he realizes that you're making a type of bed for him. You don't even have a chance to finish it before he pushes you over to drown you in nuzzles and whines, causing you to let out a short laugh.
‘You’re welcome!’ Sitting up and smiling at how quickly he sniffs all over the blankets before burrowing under some. Only his tail and nose sticks out from the mass of blankets when you get up. You boop his nose and bid him a warm goodnight before making dinner for yourself. Your nightly routine goes by casually and sleep sweeps in, dreams of a big happy red dog in a beautiful garden.
~
Gentle sun rays bathe your face in a soft glow. Blinking the sleep away, and a long stretching yawn later, you fling off your blanket. You carefully step down the stairs and are greeted to the familiar wagging tail of Big Red himself. It’s hard to believe its been a week since you found him and since its the day of the farmers market, its also the day you mentally prepared to give him up if his owner actually arrived. A scratch at the door and a whine snaps you out of your anxious thinking and you look over at the dog. Your heart melts, his face practically mirrors your own for a moment before he steps out of your view. He shows up with a pretty looking flower a second later. The door quickly slides open and your eyes meet hopeful red ones.
’Where’d you get that flower, Big Red?’ Your tone accusatory, making his tail stop wagging instantly.
‘…Did you go into my flower bed to get that flower?’
He lowers himself in shame. His ears perk when he hears a sound coming from you…a laugh? Looking up and expecting any kind of scolding, he's met with an amused grin.
‘I’m messing with you’ she pets him and takes the flower, ‘they’ve been overgrowing in the raised bed, no harm done’
Big Red huffs as she grabs his bowl to fill it with breakfast in her kitchen. He already knows the drill, he eats out here, she eats in there, the day begins and he helps her prepare for the coming farmers market. But what throws him off completely is when you walk out with a bowl and a plate. Placing the savory smelling bowl a safe distance away, you settle into your porch chair to eat outside with Big Red. You glance over as the dog stands stupefied and hum in confusion.
‘I can’t eat out here on my back porch?’ You smirk, not at all anticipating Big Red to quickly make his way over to his bowl, carefully taking the rim of said bowl, and slowly walking over to your side. He sets it down gently and looks up at you, giving you that heart melting smile before digging in. I can’t do it, you internally whine, I should want him to go to a good home, I should want him to be reunited with his family. I shouldn’t be sad that I could barely see him again. I shouldn’t want his owner to not show up, why did I make that bet? It’s a semi stressful breakfast to finish and your day finally begins.
Busier than usual since now you have to pack up your produce, vegetables, eggs and flowers, the day goes by without a hitch as now you have a very diligent helper right by your side. His help actually makes you finish earlier than usual and you pack up just as quickly to head over to the market. You glance over at Big Red as you open your car door, apprehensive if he's ever even had a car ride. Your worries are dashed immediately when a blur of red launches past you and into the passengers side. Big Red tries his best to fit into the seat and plops down in a comfy huff. You chuckle and close the door before hopping into the drivers side and taking a leisurely drive through town to the homely decorations and sign of the farmers market. The town is small enough to be comfy but large enough where everyone doesn’t know everyone. the only problem you have however, is that you have a big family, and most of them and their friends live around here. It isn’t uncommon to see any of them at the market and pay for your wares, it’s the only time they can catch up with your goings on without calling.
‘I wonder if any of them know who you belong to?’ You ponder out loud, too busy making a turn to notice the apprehensive look he gives you.
He stops himself from sinking into the chair in defeat and a spark of determination hits his eye. The ruby gaze he throws at you this time is full of a new purpose. Colorful flags flit past his view as they come upon a vast field full of people, vendors, food and flowers. The atmosphere is palpable and comfy as smells all new to him mingle about as they get to the parking area.
You give your companion your best smile, ‘ready for this day to get started?’
A loud excited bark gets you energized just enough to get you out of your car and let him out.
He pauses in his place when you look at him seriously, ‘best behavior. I mean it’
Your heart is melted by his smile once again as he hops out of the car and stays by your side, tail wagging. He’s practically glued to your hip as you start to unload all of your things carefully onto a large wagon. Movement nearly sends you into a panic when you see the cart start to move on its own, but you clutch your heart in relief when you see Big Red attempting to pull said cart to help.
‘Here’ you stop him gently, tying a skinny rope around the wagon handles and handing the looped side to him to pull it easily. You’ve gotten the amused and curious glances of customers and vendors alike as you make your way through the growing crowds to your spot. Big Red doesn’t flinch at the attention, holding his head high at everyone’s coos and showers of “isn’t he a good boy pulling the cart for her” and “if only I could get my dog to do that”
You’re almost bombarded with curious questions by the vendors next to you as you set up and unload, your companion diligently making sure that nothing falls over.
You look over when they call your name, ‘since when did you get a dog?’
‘I found him walking my trail. He’s not really mine, he’s lost and I’m looking for his owner. I’m hoping to find them here at least’
‘By the way he’s acting, it looks like he’s all yours’ their vendor partner nods in Big Red’s direction.
You’ve never seen a dog so proud and puffed up before. The vendors next to you aren’t the only ones who share the same sentiment either, customers and even the host beams at how well Big Red is behaving for such a large size as they buy some flowers, eggs or produce. You spot someone approaching with a smile to the massive dog and your heart sinks. That must be them, you mentally prepare. You’ve had your suspicions that Big Red didn’t want to leave you given that anyone who takes a good look at him to admire him always praised you as well for training him so well and or shuffling closer to you when someone intrudes on your space. Hell, he even hid under your chair and table when a group of children ran by earlier. He must’ve not been a family dog, that or he enjoyed the peaceful silence of your home to not want to go back to his possible hectic life with kids running around and making noise. It was strange to you as well when he let other kids pet him if they asked you if they could and you agreed. It was like he wanted others to know he was yours without wearing a collar. Which brings you to the person who approaches your table with a happy smile. They give Big Red a gentle ear scratch when he smells them and grins at you, holding up a handful of colorful bandanas.
‘Hi there! I noticed your dog doesn’t have a collar on him so I wondered if you’d like a bandana to put on him to support our dog grooming service! Free of charge of course!’
That gives you an idea, ‘have you guys been here long? I think I’ve seen a dog grooming business somewhere around here’
The girl nods, ‘that’s us! we just remodeled, new brand and all that. Been here for years’
‘Then have you seen anyone bring in a dog like him? He’s actually not mine and I’m trying to find his owner. I’m not having any luck’
‘Oh? Do you not want him? We have an adoption agency next door but’ they smile and playfully tilts their head in Big Red’s direction, ‘if you ask me, he looks more like he’s yours than anyone else’s. We’d be happy to take him off of your hands if he’s too much for you’
You’re nearly knocked off of your chair by a massive flurry blur draping itself onto your lap and howling. A few passersby laugh jovially at the sight of a big dog practically trying to crawl into your skin and whining. You need all of your strength just to get him off of you and even then pleading nuzzles into your stomach doesn’t placate him. The girl at your table hides her laugh behind her hand and you look at her in exasperation. You wrap your arms around Big Red and sigh dramatically.
‘Can I have the black bandana please?’
‘Does this mean you’re keeping him?’ Both the girl and Big Red look at you pleadingly.
‘It feels like I just stole someone else’s dog’ you whine.
‘Can I just say that we’ve seen a lot of lost dogs being adopted by new families and if you ask me, I’d say he’d much rather live with you than where he was before. He’s gorgeous and looks at you like you just hung the sun itself, how long has he been with you since you found him?’
‘About a week’ you confirm.
‘Oh well he’s all yours then! I’ve seen no flyers or postings on the town community page about him and not even in the lost pets section. Does he have a name?’
‘I’ve just been calling him Big Red for now, it kinda fits him’
The girl chuckles and hands you the black bandana, ‘Big Red suits him just fine. He’s certainly red alright! Haven’t seen any dog with that kind of coat either, but that adds to his charm’
‘It really does’ you mumble, squatting to tie the bandana around his neck, careful not to tie it too tight and earning a generous lick to your forehead.
Using his big furry head to help yourself up, you step back to admire his new look after wiping his “kiss” from your forehead. There he sits, content and happy.
‘Do you have all the things he needs? We usually get donations of food, toys and beds if you’d like some’
‘I think we’re good on all that’ you think aloud, ‘he has a big bed of cushiony blankets that he sleeps on, home cooked meals, and chickens to chase around and herd as well as a big enough property to run around in’
The girl puts her hands on her hips in playful scolding, ‘that proves he’s yours by a lot then! I wouldn’t leave your side either if I had that kind of life!’
A bark of approval makes both of them chuckle and the girl looks back at her booth when someone calls for her.
‘Glad I could help you figure out keeping him. I’m sure you’ll both be very happy in the long run!’ She waves and makes her leave back to her booth.
You plop into your chair and almost immediately a furry head rests onto your lap, tail lazily wagging.
‘Don’t think I didn’t notice you acting like you were mine from the get go Big Red’ you boop his nose. The guilty side eye away from you tells you everything you need to know as the day goes by.
Making enough money to close up shop as the market starts to dwindle, you stand and stretch, careful not to wake the sleeping giant at your feet. You try and pack up as quietly as you can but loud shaking alerts you to the yawning behemoth who lazily joins your side to hold the wagon steady as you fill it with your now empty boxes that held your wares. After the last of it was finished and your area was cleaned up, you pat Big Red’s back and make your way back to your car. While passing an elderly couple who are also on their way out, you overhear them talking about a coming storm. As you load up your things and Big Red taking a quick bathroom break, you check your phone to confirm and yeah, a storm is on its way and throughout the night as well. You come to a silent decision as you pull open the passenger door to let Big Red in, closing it and hopping into the drivers side as you head home. It’s suspiciously silent and you glance at the massive dog in your car and smile warmly as his content gaze out of the window. His tail hasn’t stopped wagging since he got into the car. It slowed down slightly when you got out and walked straight to your door, leaving him confused as to why you’re not getting your things out of the trunk of the car, fully ready to help you.
‘Leave it Big Red. I gotta do something first’ you call before stepping inside.
He follows quickly behind, curious as to where you’re going and his heart sinks when he sees you gathering up what you’ve now called his blankets on the back porch. You don’t have far to go as the massive pile blocks your view but you know where you’re going, dropping the mass in the center of your living room. Dusting your hands free of any leftover hair, you look over at the dog in the hallway staring at you like you’ve just set them on fire. He looks between you and the blankets and you chuckle.
‘There’s a storm on its way and I’m not having my new dog sleep outside in the rain’
The blanket is completely ignored as you’re tackled onto them with a soft thud. Hands and fur flailing all over as you try and fail to dodge the ecstatic flurry of affection the massive dog showers you with. It takes the distant rumble of thunder to pry him off of you and he hurriedly rushes to the back porch. You’re too busy wiping drool and fur off of your body to notice as he lifts his front paws onto the banister and howls as loud as he can. There’s a pause in the air and his ears point up and you swear you heard a longer howl before its drowned out by incoming thunder. You move to close the door and watch as he seems to smile and trot back into the house. The telltale scent of rain gets stronger and you take a deep smell of it before shutting your back door completely. Shuffling is heard behind you and Big Red is rearranging his blankets meticulously. He pauses to wag his tail at you as you pass by to make dinner for the two of you. A small burst of wanting to be annoying runs through you and before you get your hands dirty, you grab your phone and take a picture of Big Red in the doorway of your kitchen. He pauses his sniffing around to look at you and blink when he hears the click of your phone camera. You pause your text when you hear him whine and laugh.
He dutifully pads over to your side when you crouch and show him his picture in a family group chat, the text right below the picture reading “got a dog 🤪 his name is Big Red” You’re not sure if his “kiss” is because he read the text or proximity but it makes you kiss his forehead on your way up to finish making dinner.
It isn’t long until your phone is buzzing with a coming phone call and you answer it dutifully.
‘Hello?’
There’s no time to say anything else when your family bombards you with questions and comments, leaving you to laugh loudly in response.
‘Girl that is a big ass dog!’
‘Where did you even find something like that???!!!’
‘That’s gonna eat you in your sleep! You better leave him outside!’
‘I almost called my friend a liar when she told me you were at the market with some dog’
‘He’s not just some dog’ you defend, ‘he’s my dog’ you don’t see the dog in question beam in pride.
‘They come in that color?’
‘Why you name him Big Red?’
‘Because he’s big and he’s red’ you roll your eyes.
‘Wow how original’
‘You could’ve called him Cujo 2.0’
‘I’m not calling him Cujo he’s very sweet and smart’ you argue.
‘Call him Clifford!’
‘No!’
‘Clifford is better than Big Red’
‘His name will be forever Big Red and you’re not stopping me’ you state.
‘He’ll be Clifford when I come and visit’
‘I’m not coming to see that dog’
‘Damn now I can’t sneak in and take some tomatoes’
‘THAT WAS YOU!?’
‘Well not no more since you got a dog now’
‘I’m coming over and I’m going to call him Clifford and give him treats’ your mother conspires.
You side eye the phone, ‘I’ll ban you from coming over’
‘You not gonna do it’
‘I’ll break in. And Clifford is gonna let me in. Right Clifford?’ Your mom calls.
There’s a confirming bark behind you and you stare at the happy behemoth in playful betrayal.
‘You don’t get a say, you just started living here!’ You point to him, nudging him with your hip as you pass by him.
‘So we’re just gonna gloss over the fact that she stole somebody's dog? Your chickens not enough?’
‘They are enough and I didn’t steal him!’ You protest.
‘It’s more believable that he followed her home since she’s the nature kid’
The rest of your family agrees without much argument.
‘So where’d you get him from?’
‘I was walking my trail and I saw him’ you explain.
‘So your cousin was right’
‘Mhm’
‘Well congrats on your new dog, I hope you can handle him!’
‘Yeah I’m not coming over ever again. He look like he’ll bite me’
‘Take a lot of pictures of him! I like him already!’
‘You only like him cause he took your side’ you roll your eyes.
After you and your family collectively exchange “good nights” and “love yous”, you hang up and carefully pour Big Red his mix in his bowl.
‘I gotta get you an official bowl’ you tell him without looking at him, not at all seeing how offended he looks at you.
You do see it in its full glory when you turn around and you playfully yell, ‘you need an official dog bowl! You can’t keep using my stuff! You need your own!’
Big Red barks at you and gently hops up to take the bowl from you as gently as he can and turns to place it next to his water bowl. He sits poutily and side eyes you but his enjoyment is still shown with the swishes of his tail.
‘Fine, be sassy’ you walk past him with your own plate of food, ‘but I will get those back’
The storm rumbles on as you both settle in your living room, you on your couch and Big Red in the pile of blankets he moved next to you. The comfortable atmosphere lulls you to a doze, not really watching the tv since the flickering lights starts to blur and you finally succumb to sleep. Hours pass and you're in a deep slumber, completely unaware of a broad shouldered figure turned to gaze warmly at you. Intelligent red scans over your form and the gentle thumps of a red fluffy tail isn't enough to wake you. His ear flicks and a shadow passes in the bottom of the back door curtain. Something is standing on the other side of the door but Big Red isn't phased in the slightest. With one more glance at your sleeping body, he carefully gets up and wraps a blanket around his naked body before making his way to the curtain. He peeks out playfully from the small crack in the door with a locked screen and is met with a blonde with a glowing unamused stare.
’Bout damn time you answer back Shitty Hair, now open the door, I'm fucking soaked’ the shape growls.
Big Red panics a little at his friend’s volume and quickly looks over to where you're sleeping.
’Shh man! I can’t!’ He whispers and waves frantically.
‘Why the fuck not?!’ His friend yells, growling as Big Red silently pleads for him to be quiet.
’She thinks I'm just a dog, man!’ He whines quietly, ‘its too early to tell her what I am yet! I don't want her to react like the last one did’
His friend glares at him for a minute before squinting at something around his neck, ‘is that a fucking bandana?’
’Yep!’ Big Red beams, ‘shes basically claimed me’
’So when do we get ours?’ Burning red stares him down, ‘don't think you can just leave us behind like that’
’C’mon Bakugo, you know I wouldn't do that’ Big Red looks at his friend seriously, ‘I was lucky that she liked me enough to take me in, at least give me some time to ease her into the truth. I don't even know how she feels about people like us’
The annoyed groan his friend lets out is enough for Big Red to quickly check on your sleeping form nervously.
‘Well hurry up, everyone’s tired of living out in the open’ he peers past Big Red to look further into the living room, ‘this place ain’t half bad. I’ll be around, don't fuck this up Kirishima’
Kirishima nods and watches as Bakugo saunters away into the night before turning back to you and sitting on the pile of blankets. He readjusts the blanket on your back and shifts back to the form you're familiar with, resting his head on the couch cushions and letting your scent lull him to sleep.