Creepy Old Abandoned Mansion on Phoenix Way, Saturday Morning

[justlurkinghere]

Derek had actually had three puppies stick around in his house after Thursday. Not that he'd wanted them or anything, but they hadn't gone away.

Or left him alone.

And they kept eating his food.

But today? Today there was only one puppy left. In the middle of the night, two of the puppies had left to go find a better place. Possibly some sort of Alpha herd of teal deer. And that got Derek's abandonment issues all up in a tizzy.

Which was possibly why he was allowing that last dog to stay. Even though it looked like a genetic experiment between a dog and a ball of cotton. It was just so fluffy.

He stared down at the dog, trying to will it into being something more intimidating so that allowing it to stay wasn't such a chore. The dog attempted to gnaw on his jacket in response. Look, it was a puppy. Puppies are about as smart as a very hungry rock.

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Comments

[locointhecoco]

Pinkie was out for a lovely stroll with Gummy in honor of it being a day that ended in Y, and realized as they bounded along that they were really quite close to Derek's, so she should stop by and say "hi!"

Wouldn't he just love a surprise visit from his best pink pony pal? Maybe she'd give him another balloon!

"Oh Deeeeeeeeeereeeeeeeeeek," she sang. "Are you home?"

[justlurkinghere]

...because the fluffy dog wasn't bad enough. Oh no.

Derek gritted his teeth, hoping that not reacting would cause her to think he wasn't there. The poof ball dog, on the other hand? Yapping away at the noise of a new person and racing out to meet them.

Damn you, poof ball dog. Damn you.

[locointhecoco]

Pinkie gasped so hard in delight at the tiny poof-ball puppy that she physically lifted off the ground.

Gummy blinked, expression blank as always.

"OmigoshhellotheretinypuppyareyouDerek'stinypuppynowareyouyesyouareohyesyouareyou'reatinypuppywhoIbetjustmeltedDerek'sbigolesoftyheartaren'tyou?"

This . . . could go on for awhile.

[justlurkinghere]

And he couldn't even block it out! Damn you, high pitched noises! Derek was just going to smack his head on a wall for a moment, thanks.

The unnamed fluffy puppy took that moment to prance around Pinkie Pie like this was the best day eeeever.

[locointhecoco]

THAT'S BECAUSE IT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER, DUH.

Pinkie twisted her head around to watch the tiny puppy prance. And around, and around, like her spine had been replaced with rubber bands.

No, seriously, her whole body spun around when her neck had to snap back into shape.

"Oh Derek is so lucky to have a puppy like you! Isn't he lucky, Gummy?"

Gummy blinked and tried to eat her tail.

[justlurkinghere]

"It's yours." Oh, Derek. Like that would work.

[locointhecoco]

"Derek! Hiiiiii!" Pinkie greeted. "What's your new puppy's name?"

[justlurkinghere]

"It doesn't have one because it's not mine," Derek said, ignoring how the puppy trotted on over to him. JUST LOVE HIM, DEREK.

[locointhecoco]

"I think the puppy would disagree with you, there," Pinkie noted. "Don't you? Don't you tiny puppy? Yes you do!"

[justlurkinghere]

"It can't talk," Derek reminded her through gritted teeth.

[locointhecoco]

Derek just got a "bitch, please" look. From a pink pony engaging in baby talk with a puppy.

"You just haven't been listening well enough."

[justlurkinghere]

BITCH, PLEASE. HE WAS A WEREWOLF.

"He doesn't need a name."

[locointhecoco]

"Awww, you're just saying that 'cause you can't think of a name. How about . . . Sir Fluffypants?"

[bitten_notshy]

Jack hadn't seen Derek since they were both women, and -- while stopping by abandoned mansions was not generally high on his list of things to do -- he'd make an exception for Derek's place, just to check in with him.

Besides, he had no other weekend plans.

He frowned and sniffed the air as he tapped on the door. either someone was visiting, or Derek had a dog now.

[justlurkinghere]

Blame the island. And the dog's inability to be frightened off by surliness like a sane animal would.

"Jack." Please ignore the fluffy puppy.

[bitten_notshy]

"Oh my lord, that is the cutest dog I have ever seen," Jack said, and crouched down for a better look as he offered his fingers.

"Hi, Derek," he said as an afterthought, without glancing up. Jack didn't usually fall to pieces over an animal, but apparently puppies who looked like balls of cotton were an exception.

[justlurkinghere]

IT WAS JUST SO FLUFFY.

"It's from those balls and won't go away." Like the other two. SOBS.

[bitten_notshy]

SO VERY, VERY FLUFFY. AND WHITE. LIKE A BALL OF COTTON WITH LEGS AND EYES.

"Really?" Jack asked, and frowned. "I found a little beagle, but it didn't last past the end of the day. I guess this one just wanted to live with you."

[justlurkinghere]

"You can keep this one then." Derek. Derek. It's not happening. That dog looooove you.

[bitten_notshy]

"Oh, but I'm not sure Kaidan or Ronan would appreciate that," Jack lied gracefully. (He doubted either of them would care. He just didn't want a dog.) "Besides, he seems so happy with you!"

[justlurkinghere]

The dog flopped over, belly in the air like the most adorable thing in the world.

Derek just sighed, trying to glare it into submission.

[bitten_notshy]

"I think you need to scratch his belly," Jack said solemnly, managing to contain all but the twitch of a smile. "Could be worse. He could think he was alpha."

Also, if Derek didn't scratch the belly soon, he was going to. The dog was that damn cute.

[justlurkinghere]

Derek shot him a look showing just how cute he didn't think that was. But he did pick the dog up and tuck it under his arm.

To keep it from doing something stupid.

Oh god, it just looked so emasculating there.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack generally considered his poker face an essential asset. But something about Derek standing there in leather and stubble and a scowl, with a happy little purse dog who could have been made of cotton tucked neatly under one arm --

He couldn't help it. He laughed, staggering back to sit on some random piece of furniture so he wouldn't fall over.

[justlurkinghere]

"I hate you," Derek informed him, rolling his eyes as the dog barked along with the laughter. Because it hadn't heard laughter since living with Derek.