Chapter Text
You hadn't meant to linger. It started the way it always did, late at night, laptop propped up in your lap. The glow being the only source of light in the dark, finger scrolling on the mouse wheel through adoption listings you pretend were just curiosity. Hybrid rescues, foster pages, local shelters. Their faces blurred together after a while; timid smiles, forced poses, and hopeful captions written by volunteers to paint them all in a better light. Sleepily you yawned, bringing a hand to cover your mouth as your eyes started to drift shut. But then, the page stuttered for a half second and loaded a new profile.
The photo of the hybrid hit harder than you expected, a bright genuine smile, wide carefree, tail a red blur behind him as if the photographer had got him mid-wag. His ears were perked atop messy red hair, posture proud, like he'd been praised seconds before. He seemed to be sitting on a reinforced bench in a visiting room. Knees spread slightly, simply because there wasn't enough space for him.
He was.. massive to say the least - not just tall, although you had a feeling he was. He was solid in a way that spoke of raw strength. His shoulders and chest stretched the fabric of his shirt. Forearms thick with muscles and his hands looked calloused. Glancing back over his face you noticed his eyes were a ruby red, and over the right eye there was a decent sized scar. Back to his mouth again you realized just how sharp they really are compared to a normal hybrid, not scary but definitely a little intimidating. It drew a giggle from you imagining just how many chew toys he probably went through.
From what you could tell he was a pitbull hybrid of some sort, cute and handsome. You ended up clicking on his profile, something you hardly ever did. It immediately popped up his info.
Kirishima Eijiro
Age: 23
Hybrid Type: Purebred Pitbull
Status: Available– Long Term Resident
Eijiro is highly affectionate, fully verbal and emotionally aware. He is exceptionally strong for a hybrid, most likely due to his purebred status. He may seem big and scary, but he is a total sweetheart. In the years that he has lived at the shelter, he wouldn’t hurt a fly. Many potential adopters may be intimidated due to his size and teeth but he has no history of violence towards others.
A smile finds its way to the corners of your lip. As you scroll another image pops up - him standing by a volunteer, the difference was stark. He absolutely towered over them, his posture was careful, shoulder subtly hunched as if trying to make himself smaller.
The description continued.
Eijiro was surrendered after 18 years with his family following a stress related incident. He responds best to most if not all people but does have high energy so needs someone who can keep him entertained and exercised.
Eighteen years…? Your chest tightened at the thought, with a swallow you clicked on Background/History.
His original owners adopted him at 5 years old, raised him with love, care and compassion. When Eijiro was about 15 the wife became pregnant. At first everything went well, Eijiro immediately accepted the child as his family and diligently watched over him for the first few years of their life, however when the child learned to walk they began to throw toys and items and Eijiro. At first he did well and acted with care, but after a visit to the hybrid doctor he was on medicine that made him drowsy, the toddler threw a relatively large toy at his eye causing the lid and eyebrow to split. Due to the medicine and being blinded by blood he acted instinctively. He did not bite or strike at any of them but his reaction resulted in significant damage.
You stared at the screen, throat tight. With hybrids, especially ones considered more on the naturally aggressive side, once fear was introduced it was hard to get rid of.
The family expressed concern for their child's safety due to the uncertainty of behavior with growing toddlers that they made the decision to surrender him.
Underneath there was an interview clip, he looked younger then the photo, maybe closer to the age he was surrendered, give or take a year. With a shaky hand you pressed play, watching it load before it moved.
“Can you tell me your name?”
He happily answered.
“Eijiro Kirishima! Are you interviewing me for a new family?” He said hopefully, the interviewer must have shaken their head no cause his posture dropped.
“No, not today. This is for the website, so hopefully someone will!”
He perked back up, happy again. The man behind the camera cleared their throat before asking another question. “Can you tell me how you think humans view you?”
Kirishima paused before sulking slightly, “ I know I'm big, and I know my teeth freak people out. I try not to smile too much but I get too excited that I can't help it! I think they believe I'm scary, but I promise I'm nice! And I like to listen; like a good boy!” His tail does a small wag.
The feeling of tears prick at the corner of your eyes as the video continues.
“Do you hate your old family for giving you up?”
His ears flatten slightly. “...No.” He answered after a pause. “They were scared, I get that!” His tail stilled. “I just wish they'd have trusted me. I would have protected that kid with my life.”
Silence followed, then quieter, “I still would.”
The video stopped there, the tears? Free falling, you couldn't remember the last time you ugly sobbed like that. When you looked at the time stamp your heart dropped; the video was posted three years ago. He had been at the shelter for five years. Fuck it, you weren’t planning on adopting a hybrid, not anytime soon at least, but Kirishima? Something about him and his story; yet he still seemed so happy so full of life and love for the world? You didn't even think twice when you clicked Request Meeting, you wanted to meet him.
To your delight the rescue confirmed your appointment the very next morning. As you were getting ready, brushing your teeth, the phone pinged with an email. When you opened it, the toothbrush clattered to the floor.
From Hybrid Haven:
Hello (y/n l/n)! Thank you for your interest in our lovely Pitbull Hybrid Kirishima Eijiro! Out of the time slots you filled out the 4:00 pm slot would work perfectly for us! We are happy to say he can't wait to meet you! As staff members we can't thank you enough for considering getting to know one of our hybrids. See you soon!
-Management
After that you barely made it through the day without checking that email again, your thoughts looping back to the same things. His smile, the way he talked about himself and how even though he went through so much he still had that hope and compassion in his eyes. It filled you with silent admirations for his strength and mental fortitude. How could you not want to meet him?
When you finally arrived at the rescue, the front desk volunteer greeted you with kindness.
“Hello! Welcome to Hybrid Haven, my name is Ryu! Do you have an appointment today or are you a walk-in?”
You greeted her back with a bright smile of your own before responding, “I actually have an appointment! I'm here to meet Kirishima?”
If a star's glint could have fallen from the sparkles in her eyes, you wouldn't be surprised. She all but squealed, clapping her hands together.
“You're here! You're actually here! Oh I can't believe it, we weren't sure if you would follow through or not! We unfortunately don't get many requests for him so I mean it when I say this.”
She stands suddenly and bows, "Thank you!”
Taking a few steps forward raising your hands, “You don't need to thank me! He.. he just seemed so lovable you know, kinda barged his way into my heart from his profile alone.”
That only makes the lady giggle. “Yeah he has that effect on people once they get to know him, we were all kind of wary of him when he first came in, but learned he is just a big happy lug.”
Walking around the counter she gestures for you to follow.
“I’ll take you to the back! Fair warning; he is very excited to meet you.”
She unlocked the back door and stepped to the side to let you in before closing it behind. Before you could say anything, a voice boomed down the hall.
“ARE THEY HERE?”
The sound of heavy footsteps followed, fast, eager, and completely unrestrained. A few voices could be heard telling him to slow down and to wait, up ahead he rounded the corner skidding to a stop. Ruby eyes landed on your form, flicking back and forth between Ryu and you, eyebrows raised in question. As if asking, is this them? Ryu nodded with a smile and that's all it took for the excitement to take over. His tail was wagging, full, powerful, side to side wag that wiggled his hips. His ears were perked high, eyes bright, face split with that grin that brought you here in the first place, sharp teeth and all.
“Oh my god, hi!” he said, voice loud with enthusiasm before he caught himself clearing his throat.
“I mean–hello! Sorry.”
Moving forward he stopped just a few feet away, feet planted like he'd slammed on invisible brakes.
“I–uh–I’m Kirishima!” He said, gesturing to himself unnecessarily. “Well I guess you probably know that already. I just wow! You're actually here!”
He laughed, deep, loud and unguarded, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. His tail you noticed hadn't slowed down at all.
“I promise I'm not always this loud.” he added quickly. “Okay… that's a lie. I kinda am but I'm friendly! Like–really friendly. I can kinda bake if that helps my case! Not well but with maximum effort!”
Ryu snorted behind you, whisper-singing ~ somebody call 9-1-1 Kirishima set fire to the kitchen oowooahhh~ making Kirishima flatten his ears in embarrassment.
“I set the brownies on fire one time!”
You found yourself smiling wide at his demeanor so far. Also… up close? He was even bigger in person than the photos portrayed. Broad chest, thick arms, hands that could probably crush steel if he wanted too. Yet when those hands reach out to you, for what you assume to be a handshake he pauses.
“Is a handshake okay?” he asked.” Or uh a high five? Or just waving? I'm good with waving.”
He demonstrated an enthusiastic wave, fingers splayed. You couldn't help the way your heart squeezed as he spoke, friendliness poured out of him - every word warm, every movement open, how he was being so careful and gentle because he didn’t want to scare you. Reaching out you gently take his large calloused hands in yours.
“It's nice to meet you Kirishima, my name is y/n.”
He glanced down from your intertwined hands to your face and back again, a soft almost relieved look taking over his face.
“Oh, wow, you have a really nice voice.”
When you laughed, his tail sped up like you’d praised him. Ryu then spoke up.
“How about we take this to the visiting room, that way you guys can chat and we can still use the hallway.”
“That sounds like a plan to me!” You say letting go of Kirishima's hand, he happily led the way. As you both walked he filled the air with chatter.
“I get told pretty often I scare people,” he said casually, like it was an old joke he’d told himself many times. “I try to do all these things to make myself less intimidating, but it never seems to work ya know?”
Once the both of you enter the room he glances at your face; searching.
“You’re not scared though…right?”
The way he asked was so vulnerable sounding, his body language clearly showing he was anxious. His tail had fallen limp behind him, ears perked forward but down nervously. There was no way people didn't see him when visiting and think he’s just a sweet pitty hybrid who has so much love to give.
“No, I’m not” You say without hesitation, his relief was immediate.
“Yes!” He beamed. “Then I can't wait to get to know you!” Kirishima did this small but quick happy jump that sent one of the chairs tittering over. He froze wincing at the sound as it hit the floor.
“Sorry, sorry… I swear I didn't mean too.”
You stepped closer and gently nudged the chair upright yourself.
“It's okay,” you said calmly. “It survived, no chair family is going to be wondering if chair dad is making it home.”
He blinked, then let out a sigh. “Man, you're cool about stuff.”
Thankfully the wag in his tail came back ten fold.
“You always this energetic, Kirshima?”
This time he laughed, loud and sincerely. “Definitely, people, good conversations, snacks… god I love food, compliments you name it!” He paused.
“You, meeting you too.”
Your lips curled again, finding yourself smiling because of Kirishima.
“Really? I couldn't tell!”
Instead of him laughing again his ears flattened slightly, that unsure energy coming back.
“Was that too much? That might have been too much iI’m sorry.”
“Kirishima, no,” you quickly stopped him. It really bothered you how easily he decided what he’d done was wrong, that he was too much. “The way you are is actually kinda refreshing to me. You're honest and not afraid to show how you feel, super kind and soooo sweet.”
“Really? You mean that?”
“I do.”
For a split second, he looked like he didn't quite know what to do with the complements. But then that happy but slightly softer energy came right back.
“That means a lot.” He chuckles. “You make me sound pretty great.”
“Not hard to do when you have so much good about you.”
He blushes lightly, looking at you as if you were something rare, before saying warmly, "Man, I hope I can go home with you today."
Ryu pops her head in, leaning against the doorframe of the visiting room, a clipboard now tucked under her arm. She watched the two of you with a practiced thoughtful eye.
“I just want to be upfront,” she said gently. “We don't do same day adoptions here.”
“I figured” you said with a soft smile.
Kirishima stiffened beside you, a small whine slipping past his throat. She noticed and gave him a reassuring smile.
“It’s not a bad thing, it's actually for you Eijiro.”
He blinked, “For me?”
She nodded, “We want to ensure all of our hybrids go to their forever home. You've already been through a lot and none of the staff here want you to be bounced around. All we want is what's best for you.
You could see him relax again, once Ryu saw she entered and turned her focus onto you. “Our policy for adoption is multiple visits - usually over the course of several weeks. Different days, different moods. We want you to fully understand his needs, energy level, and strength. Just who he really is, not just as a hybrid but as a person too.
“That makes sense,” you said. “I’ll be bringing home someone who will probably be with me for the rest of my life, I wouldn't want to rush into it either.”
Kirishima looked between the two of you, ears twitching.
“So… this isn't a ‘You don't trust her’ thing?” he asked carefully.
Ryu meets his gaze. “Its a ‘we trust you, let's do this right’ thing.”
His tail resumed its gentle sway. She flipped a page on her clipboard. “You’ll start with supervised visits. Then short unsupervised ones which we will increase each visit. See how he responds to separation, how you respond to his attachment and behavior, and how you both handle other things.”
You nodded, “What about Kirishima? He gets a say in all of this too, right?”
Ryu smiled at that, checking off something you couldn't quite see on the paper.
“Always.”
Kirishima tilts his head, “I do? What does that mean?”
“Means if at any point you don't feel comfortable, or feel like y/n isn't the right fit for you then we stop. No pressure or guilt, your opinion is just as important as whoever is trying to adopt you, if not more.”
He swallowed and shook his head furiously. “That’s good but there's no way I wouldn't want this.”
You turned to face him again, “Same. How do you feel about the visits?”
Kirishima thought for a moment, then gave a small earnest smile.
“...I like it. Well, I'm not gonna like the waiting, but at least that means I get to see you again!”
Leaning forward you place a hand on his arm, "I'll come by as much as the shelter will let me.”
His tail picked up speed. “I’m gonna try so hard not to fumble this.”
You laughed, giving your hold on him a light squeeze. “You don't have to perform, Kirishima. Just be you.”
He looked at you like that idea both thrilled and terrified him. His own hand coming to rest atop of yours, grounding himself.
“Okay,” he said. “I can do that! I think…”