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Caleb hadn’t exactly meant to tail Zayne this far- they were simply going the same way. And had been going the same way since Zayne had left the hospital. Though Caleb was glad they were, Zayne had abruptly stopped at a rustling bush, abandoning his things on the ground(pretty neatly) to attend to what was in that bush.
As he started to reach into the bush, Caleb rushed over to stop him. “Zayne! What’re you doing starin’ into the leaves?”
Zayne cleared his throat and grabbed some sterile gloves from his bag. He was truly prepared for any situation, huh? “Give me a moment…”
Caleb squatted next to Zayne and looked into the spot Zayne was so fixated on, “Nah, let me see. Oh-” A trembling puppy. It had been whining when Zayne had seen it but stopped as soon as it had gotten Zayne’s attention. Small, likely gotten separated from its owner or mother. “Zayne, don’t stick your hand in there. Let me do it.”
“Why? I am perfectly able to-”
“Safely, Zayne.” Caleb used his evol to gently lift the puppy in the air and through the brambles. “Much more efficient, isn’t it? And without a single scratch. You really gotta trust me more, man~” Caleb looked down at the puppy in his hands and chuckled, “Why did you get yourself in there, little guy? I guess you know what not to do now, huh?”
“Hm.” Zayne’s eyes remained on the puppy. Caleb handed it over and Zayne began to do a thorough check over its body, making sure there wasn’t anything serious for him to be concerned about. There were a couple of shallow cuts on it from the bush, but nothing too serious. “I suppose I can bring her back to my apartment to give her a place to stay before I take her to a veterinarian in the morning.”
Caleb ducked his head down to get into Zayne’s view, “Can I come with?”
“Why?”
“Just ‘cause.”
Zayne sighed, “Because of what?”
Caleb laughed, “C’mon~ when have you ever stopped me from crashing at your place?”
“I have. Multiple times. But you just make yourself at home anyways." Zayne huffed with averted eyes.
Caleb shrugged and hopped up to his feet, holding Zayne’s bag for him. “Let’s go then.” And of course, Caleb led the way. It was like he knew the way better than Zayne did; and to be fair, Caleb knew Linkon better than Zayne did most of the time despite how they were now.
The puppy in his hands had also closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. Zayne’s eyes softened at the sight, she had likely been so scared and alone this whole time, finally getting some sort of warmth and respite from it all now. He could feel how cold she was through the gloves, it tore at his heart. “Caleb?”
“What’s up, snowman?”
“I told you not to call me that, Caleb.” Zayne shook his head, “Nevermind that. Could you hold her? I have more gloves in my bag for you. She needs warmth that my hands cannot offer her.”
Caleb threw him a mock salute and chuckled, “Cold as always, typical. Let’s see…” Caleb dug through Zayne’s bag carefully, not to disturb how perfectly he had arranged everything in there. When he had gotten the gloves, he slid them over his hand and proceeded to carefully hold the puppy in his arms, “Damn, you’re right- she’s freezin’ up. We’re pretty close to your place though.”
Zayne nodded and watched the puppy in Caleb’s arms. She hadn’t woken up from the temperature and texture shift, rather she had stopped shivering. That was a relief.
“Oh- was that a smile I saw?” Caleb leaned over to look at Zayne’s face, “Haha it was! This puppy really warmed the ice around your heart, huh?”
“Of course she did. Look at her, then look at yourself.” Zayne muttered.
Caleb held the puppy up in front of himself and looked at her, “Yeah, she’s waaaay better than me. Can’t compete with a puppy as sweet as her~”
Zayne sighed and unlocked the door. Caleb didn’t make himself at home on the couch as soon as he entered(as he usually would), and what a relief that he immediately took the puppy to the bathtub to wash off all of that grime. Well, Caleb wasn’t completely incompetent, but the man would typically get excited over cute things to the point where he didn’t think about anything else. Zayne couldn’t say much though- he got excited over sugar himself so he and Caleb were equals in that regard.
He peeked into the bathroom, Caleb had started to wash off the dirt from the puppy’s fur. She looked glad, so did Caleb. Zayne leaned against the door frame and watched silently. He could feel his heart getting louder. He clasped a hand over it, trying to cool it down. How did he of all people get into situations like this? Zayne dismissed it with a scoff.
Caleb dried off the puppy, but not before she could shake warm droplets of water all over Caleb, “Thanks for that, pup!” Caleb didn’t mind it, he just picked her up in a towel and hugged her tight, “Zayne, look… I think she’s trying to doze off” he whispered.
Zayne hummed, “I presume that she must have had a rough time in the wilderness, that would make sense.”
Caleb cocked an eyebrow with a cheeky grin, “So, can she crash on the couch?”
“And where will you be then?”
“Oh-” Caleb laughed awkwardly, “You knew I’d ask you about me staying here too. You know me so well, snowman.”
“Again with the-” Zayne pinched the bridge of his nose, “Whatever. You two can figure out sleeping arrangements. Just do not share arrangements with her, as she may carry-”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it, Doc. She’s gonna get her own spot and I’ll get my own spot. Sounds like a solid plan to me, don’t ya think?” Caleb lifted the sleepy puppy up before resting her back in his arms. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Zayne felt like he should do something before he called it a night but his racing heart and warm cheeks stopped him from doing so. “Good night, Caleb.”
“Good night, Zayne. Don’t let the frost bite.”
“...” Zayne blinked back his surprise, “Never say that again. Ever.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Zayne watched as Caleb parroted the plans to the puppy as if she could comprehend it. She yipped in response- maybe she did understand his words. Zayne chuckled to himself, disguising it as a cough. He needed to get some rest, he lacked it most of the time. That’s why he had liked cats so much, they just understood everything they needed to know, though he didn’t mind cute puppies either. If he could tolerate Caleb for nearly 2 decades, a puppy would be no different.
Zayne committed to his nightly routine before checking back on the living room. And- “Caleb! I told you not to sleep right beside her. It’s unsafe and we have not even gotten her checked out with a vet yet.”
Caleb groaned and opened his eyes. He had the puppy cuddled up in his arms, sitting on the couch with his head resting back on the cushions, “I couldn’t help it… she just came up to me and started cryin’,” he met Zayne’s gaze, “You can’t tell her no, can you?”
I can’t tell you no either , Zayne thought. “It doesn’t matter. If you get ill-”
“Then you’ll cure me right up, won’t ya?”
Zayne scoffed and rolled his eyes, “I’ll make sure the hospital security boots you out as soon as they see you.”
Caleb shrugged, “What a great doctor you are, Zayne”
“Don’t question my work.” Zayne gave up the fight, instead deciding to sit next to Caleb on the couch and look at how peaceful the puppy was in Caleb’s arms. Well, they were like a warm firm pillow and blanket in one, along with the protection the colonel undeniably provided. “Your arms must be tired from holding her like that, if you want I could hold her.”
“Nah, it’s good. She’s so cozy.” Caleb lifted her up again, “Aren’t ya?”
“Let her sleep.” Zayne said before yawning himself.
“Why don’t you sleep here too, huh? Your couch is nice and you get to be with our little guest.”
Zayne narrowed his eyes, “Must I remind you that you are also a guest here?”
“Minor detail.”
“Major detail.”
Caleb shrugged and let his head rest back on the couch cushions, “And since it’s your place, you can decide where you wanna sleep, right?”
“Fine, I'll stay here.” It didn’t take long for Zayne to fall asleep as well.
That night, Zayne didn’t have any nightmares and hadn’t jolted awake in a cold sweat either. He found himself leaning against Caleb’s shoulder, who was scrolling through his social media while humming a song from their childhoods. The puppy was jumping around excitedly, nipping Caleb’s abandoned shoe on the ground.
“Good morning, sleepyhead. I thought you were an early bird, but it's kinda late by your standards already. No work today?”
Zayne sat up straight, rubbing his eyes. This was unlike him. He preferred to wake up far earlier than that on a free weekend like this one. “I do not. I was likely more tired than usual last night. Its perfectly normal” It barely ever did.
“Yeah, thought so.” Caleb put his phone on the coffee table in front of them. “I didn’t wake you up cause our darling doctor needs his beauty sleep.” he turned to Zayne, leaning in close, “Damn, your eyebags are completely gone. Sick.”
Zayne backed up, “I’m going to freshen up. Take care of the situation with your shoe.”
Caleb shrugged it off, “Nah, she can chew on it. Plus, it ain’t like her little teeth can do much damage to it-”
“Caleb. Look over at her.” Zayne walked off to his bedroom, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Caleb’s eyes immediately drifted to the puppy and- yeah, his shoes were held together with mere threads in just a matter of minutes. Great. He’d have to buy new ones before he went back to Skyhaven.
“Zayne! Could I borrow your shoes?!”
No answer. Just the sound of the shower turning on. So Caleb took that as a yes. Zayne’s shoe closet only consisted of some sandals and many, many business shoes. He wasn’t in the mood for wearing anything that stuffy so he just went for the sandals. Still, Caleb liked that pair of now torn up sneakers. Oh well.
The puppy was trailing right behind him, sitting and wagging her tail as she waited for him to give her some attention. Those sparkly big eyes, the way she couldn’t even sit still- Caleb just had to give her a good few pets. Caleb was going to go on a run before Zayne could get out of the bathroom, especially after feeling Zayne’s side on him for hours.
So Caleb stuck a short note to Zayne’s dining table. And he figured that he had the time to make him a hearty breakfast. He had everything but carrots in the fridge so Caleb made use of them – toasted bread, some sausage, and an omelet – Caleb quickly made his leave right after.
As Zayne got out of the shower, he heard the sound of the front door closing. Of course, he had left already. And hadn’t taken the bundle of fur with him. Zayne’s eyes met a bright sticky note left on the dining table for two:
i left early but i didn’t drop the puppy on ya! i got colonel business so i had to head to skyhaven :P anyways i also stole a pair of your sandals cause my shoes are done for. when i’m not busy, you should let me have puppy dad duty. i’m sure she’ll miss the better of her dads. hope you enjoy the breakfast! i’ll charge you for it next time ;)
- c
Dads? Zayne rolled his eyes at the notion. Though, when he looked at the puppy sitting by his feet again, it felt nice to know that he was basically co-parenting the little one. It worked for both he and Caleb’s busy schedules. He couldn’t imagine the puppy assimilating to living high in the sky, though that would have to be a line they’d cross when they got there.
Ah, he had already accepted his role as this puppy’s owner; but when he looked down at her, he really couldn’t say no. She really had the same look that Caleb would have before asking him something ludicrous. And he couldn’t resist the urge to kneel down and pat her head. She pushed her head into his palm insistently, seeking that comfort.
Caleb had a funny way of doing things, and Zayne went along with it.