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 Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 8:24 am
Zac was gone today, but Cambria was home; she’d still been asleep when Evan left this morning, but at this hour he was certain she’d be awake. He hoped she’d be sleeping, but Evan didn’t usually have the best of luck.
While he’d out earlier, he hadn’t had any doubts or concerns, but now that he was sneaking into the house, burdened with bags of pet supplies and the little dog he’d brought home with him, he couldn’t help but worry.
What if she didn’t like the dog? What if she was mad? What if she didn’t want this?
He could hide the dog. That made sense; just keep it in his room and sneak out the window to walk it? That was totally feasible.
Evan had lingered on the doorstep for nearly a moment, adjusting bags to make sure he could move as quickly as possible—and carefully swaddling the dog in his jacket and holding it pressed to his chest. Of all the things he’d ever imagined himself doing, shoving a dog down his jacket and sneaking it into the house wasn’t really one of them.
But, here he was, and this is what he was doing.
He drew in one final breath from where he stood on the doorstep and then hastily pulled open the door. He kept one arm wrapped around his stomach, supporting the dog, and tried to hurry into his room—which would have been much easier if Cambria wasn’t walking through the living room in front of him as soon as he got in.
He kept his head bowed and didn’t look at her; he had the distinct feeling that if she saw his face, sunglasses or not, she’d know he was keeping something from her. Instead, he muttered a quick, “Hi, Cambria,” as he tried to shuffle around her and beeline to his room.
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2018 3:40 pm
Cambria had been trying to make dessert. She wasn’t great in the kitchen, and she always paled in comparison to Evan, but she had wanted to do something nice for her boys. It wasn’t often that she got a few hours alone in the house, and honestly...it was nice. It was calm and quiet and she didn’t have to worry about disturbing anyone’s...anything. Not that she ever did, but still. She really didn’t have to worry when she was alone.
When she heard the key scraping in the lock, she had made her way into the living room, hoping to perhaps beg a little help from Evan to making the dish really stand out, but his hunched form and quick steps put her into defensive mode, and her mind was suddenly whirring to figure out what could be wrong and how she could fix it.
“Hey Evan...um...you...okay?” Her eyes had dropped to the front of his jacket...which was wriggling. For a wild moment, Cambria wondered if Evan had brought home a youma...it would make some sense...he would want to save anyone he could find, she understood that...but she had hoped he would have had enough sense...not to bring it home.
She swallowed and cleared her throat softly, feeling her palms growing just a bit sweaty. “What do you have there, Ev? Is uh...there something you want to show me?”
This wasn’t how she had wanted to spend today. Not dealing with a youma in the house. It wouldn’t be difficult to save them...had Evan been there when the person was turned? Is that why he had done such a thing?
“...It’s not a youma, is it?”
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2018 3:51 pm
Evan looked like a kid who’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar—only, he seemed like he had something to really fear. “No,” he blurted, but looked up guiltily. He was pale and almost seemed like he’d broken out in a cold sweat but he was working rapidly to compose himself.
“I wouldn’t do that,” he insisted, brows knit. On one hand, he knew that bringing a youma into the house was incredibly dangerous, but on the other hand…if one needed help…
If he found one like him…
…No, he wouldn’t have brought it home; he would have called her to meet him somewhere safe. He had faith that he could at least be smart enough to do that.
Not smart enough to come up with a convincing lie, though; his shirt shifted positions again and suddenly a paw was jutting out from the bottom of his shirt, kicking desperately at the empty air as it tried to crawl back up.
Oh, hell, he was caught.
“It’s not a youma,” he could at least assure in honestly. “But…”
It was something.
And that something had suddenly stuck it’s tongue in his bellybutton and his face turned red as soon as the startled half yelp, half giggle erupted from his lips. His body arched as he tried to pull the creature away, but in the process he wound up fully exposing the dog’s rear half, and then to ensure that it didn’t fall to the ground he scooped it up into his arms and drew it to his chest.
The dog didn’t seem to have any concern that it had almost been dropped. Instead, its ears perked up and its tail wagged faster. It looked at Evan’s worried face, licked at his cheek, and then looked around.
Its eyes settled on Cambria almost immediately and while its tail froze for a second, it immediately wiggled faster.
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2018 7:54 pm
Of course he wouldn’t do that.
Cambria let out a soft sigh of relief, though blinked when suddenly a dog wriggled out from under Evan’s shirt. For a moment, she just stared at the small creature, and when the dumb little tail started wagging faster when it saw her, she couldn’t stop the grin that slowly started to grow across her face.
Reaching out a hand to the small dog, Cambria let it take a sniff and then gently stroked the silky little ears. “Oh Evan…it’s so cute! I’m glad it’s not a youma…where did you get him? He’s precious.”
She couldn’t be angry…it was utterly impossible to be angry at Evan, and something like this wasn’t something worth getting angry about anyway. Dogs were cute…and the fact that Evan found one that he liked…how on earth could she argue with that.
“Why were you trying to hide it from me Ev? Look at that face! How could anyone not fall utterly in love with that face?”
Leaning closer, she kissed the tip of the dog’s nose, and then placed one on Evan’s as well. “Tell me everything. I insist.”
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2018 8:33 pm
The dog immediately nuzzled into Cambria’s hand and began to lap at her fingertips needily. Evan made no effort to draw him away from Cambria; the more she liked him, the more likely he was going to be able to stay.
And, judging from her reaction so far, butterflies of hope seemed to spring to life in his stomach. “I don’t know, I clammed up,” Evan confessed weakly. “I was running my errands and they had an adoption thing going on outside one of the stores, and he got loose and ran into me and, I don’t know, he was so nice. So I just sort of wandered over to the puppies and he was just really sweet. And this lady started talking to me about dogs, and, I don’t know.”
He shrugged and tried to find some way to justify better than how he had already.
“I just really liked him, and he seemed like he wanted to go home, and I was on my way home, so we both sort of had the same destination and I couldn’t say no. And he was so brave and smart and I think he likes me, Cambria, and I really like him.”
He shifted positions so he could drop his too-heavy bag on the ground. He didn’t want to put the puppy down, but his arms were burning and he caved, finally relinquishing his hold on the creature.
The dog didn’t seem to know what to do with himself and began to sniff at the ground. It waddled in a circle but it didn’t seem to have the energy to explore everything and, within a few seconds, had flopped on the ground and was slowly wriggling on its back, its side, its stomach.
Evan watched him for a moment before sheepishly looking back up at Cambria. “Are you really that worried I’m going to try and bring home a youma?”
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Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 8:48 am
It took everything Cambria had not to just coo with delight at the small creature. It was too cute for words and she wasn’t sure what to even say. “I like him too. He’s so cute!” When Evan set the dog down, she scooped it right into her own arms and nuzzled her face against the warm, soft body.
“What are you going to name him, Ev? Is he going to come to the food truck with us? I think that would be utterly cute. He could be our mascot!”
Clearly she was won over, and she pretty much had been won over since the moment the puppy fell out from the inside of Evan’s shirt. Cambria couldn’t deny Evan anything, and that much was doubly true when what Evan wanted was as cute as this puppy was.
“I mean…about the youma thing, it’s not that I’m worried you will, it was just…with the purification the other day and I don’t know. You just had something wriggling in your shirt and you were acting skittish with me, and that’s just…where my mind jumped. You know if you do ever find a youma that you want to help, just call me, honestly. I’ll call the rest of the team…and we can help them. And you, Evan…I really think you should become a part of our group, just saying since somehow we got on this topic…but you have such a big heart…and you’ll fit in perfectly. They all like you.”
Shrugging, Cambria moved over to the couch and cuddled the puppy close to her chest. “This is mine now, by the way. Thank you for your gift.”
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Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 8:58 am
Evan had not picked a name; the thought seemed foreign to him and he was embarrassed to think that he hadn’t come up with anything—or even considered the fact that he needed to. “Nooo,” he whined, moving to the couch and flopping down next to Cambria. “I need him.” He didn’t try to take her away, but he reached out to stroke the puppy’s fur. Immediately, a small, relaxed smile appeared on his face and he snuggled close to Cambria as they pet the tiny creature.
The dog clearly loved every moment of attention and stretched out in Cambria’s lap, exposing more of his furry little stomach.
“I don’t know if we should have a mascot for the food truck. I don’t think people will want a dog around their food.” He wrapped his hand around one of the puppy’s paws and squeezed gently.
“…You know if I found a youma, I’d call you. I know they can be dangerous. It wouldn’t be safe to keep one in my shirt, probably.” He lingered on the topic for a few seconds, silently in thought, and then asked, “Do you think it’s a good idea to let me into your group? –How do you even know if anyone likes me? I think you’re just saying that.”
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Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 9:18 am
Cambria wrapped an arm around Evan and pulled him close, sighing happily. This dog was going to be good for him, she could see that as plain as day…and she was glad he did this. When she had mentioned getting some sort of animal in the past Evan had seemed so unhappy about the idea, but this…this was all him…and he had picked a good one.
“I don’t know why they wouldn’t want this cutie around their food…and we could get an adorable picture of him, and redo the trucks design if you want, I mean, maybe not right away, but…I don’t know. I think puppies bring people happiness and this little guy…he doesn’t have to be in the kitchen, but, if you don’t think it’s a good idea, I won’t push for it.”
She turned, kissing Evan’s cheek and let her head flop against his shoulder.
“How could they not like you though? I like you…and I mean, it’s my group so…if I say you’re in, you’re kind of in, don’t you think? Besides, Adria likes you, and the others like you a lot. They used to ask me about you quite often.”
…Or at least she was sure they would have if they had ever hung out. It was believable enough at least, and she hoped Evan would be too excited to think she was stretching the truth.
“Also, about the youma in your shirt, I know that you would do it. It just…felt like something you would do without hesitation. You’ve got such a good heart, Evan…I don’t know. I just got worried for you.”
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Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 9:46 am
Evan was quiet for a moment, but a smile was dancing on his lips as he played with the puppy’s paw. The dog wasn’t going to last long his eyes were drooping and even though his tail was lazily wagging, he was thoroughly exhausted. Evan wasn’t too different from him; his arms burned and he couldn’t help but think that a nap sounded amazing, himself.
Resting against Cambria was as comfortable a place as he could imagine. “Adria only likes me because Zac would beat him up if he didn’t. And you might, too,” he teased, but he had nothing against Malcolm. He’d never really gotten to know him and they both seemed fairly content to mind their own business and give each other space whenever they were in the same area. But, Malcolm wasn’t particularly threatening an Evan could easily imagine him genuinely being concerned for his well being.
“You always say such nice things about me, though. I hope I’m the person you think I am. I want to be,” he mused, as if he were stuck in some faraway thought. He returned to himself after only a few seconds. “How would I join your group? I thought you guys were already a thing. I don’t want to be like, the third wheel. I don’t want to mess up anything. But I guess I’d like to stick around if you guys are going to keep purifying youma, since,” he shrugged, “I’m sort of invested in that sort of thing. Or, at least, I want to be.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 3:35 pm
“I wouldn’t say things like that about you if they weren’t true, Evan.” Cambria stroked the puppy’s soft fur once more before cuddling up closer to Evan and sighing. “You know that. I tell you at least twice a week, don’t I?” Though…it was better than before when she told him at least twice a day so…hooray for the little things.
“I’m not sure…to be honest, but we’ll figure it out. We’ll take you up to our…uh…clubhouse. That’s the best way I can think to describe it…it’s really cool up there, but…I want you as a part of it for the youma thing almost as much as just for the fact that you’re my best friend…I think…you’re a perfect person to connect with the youma, and you’re a wonderful pillar for them to connect with when we’ve saved them…I mean. So often they’re confused or off kilter…and you’re the perfect person to talk to.”
Shifting slightly, Cambria pressed a kiss to the top of Evan’s head. “Besides. I really just want more excuses to hang out with you. I miss you a lot now that you’re always off with your boyfriend.” Her voice was teasing and she sighed, pulling him closer. “I’m just selfish when it comes to you. I kind of miss you following me around like a puppy…now you’re branching out and getting literal puppies of your own…you’re all grown up now, Ev. I’m so utterly proud of you.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 4:45 pm
Evan hesitated but still managed to find a smile. “I thought you wanted me to stop following you around like a puppy. I know how many dates I’ve interrupted, how many plans you’ve had to cancel because of mean. How many nights you lost sleep because I needed you. You didn’t stop being important to me, I just learned how to not be so pathetic. But I still need you, that hasn’t changed. But, sometimes when things are hard or tough, I still stop and think about what you would do. So even if I’m not bothering you about something, you’re still helping me.”
He was debating what else he might be able to say but instead just snuggled closer.
Something about the way she seemed to want him with her group made him want to try. He was cautious while powering up and still wasn’t even sure he liked being a Senshi, but…
He could connect with youma. And he could help them.
He probably wasn’t the best person for the job—for any job—but he couldn’t give himself no credit. He had some experience and he knew what had worked for him. Maybe it would work for them.
But they wouldn’t know if he stayed inside and hid the whole time—and what better way to connect with purified youma than to be them to help them out through the scariest part? He chewed on the inside of his cheek. “But uhm—I think I’d like to join your group. I want to help people. And I’d feel safe doing it with you. And Malcolm’s there too, right? …It’s still sort of hard to imagine him as a Senshi. Does he get along well with the group? He was always so shy and quiet. But…yeah, I want to help. I want to save youma. I think I’d like that much more than fighting people. And if you think I’d be good at it, if you think I could help…”
He ran his fingers through the puppy’s fur again.
“I’d really, really like to try.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:01 pm
“I mean, yeah, I wanted you to get better and have more confidence and not be afraid anymore…but I miss you being super needy sometimes. Like this, I miss when we would just snuggle all day for hours and hours on end…I don’t know. I’m proud of you though, I really am. I’m not trying to say I want you back like you were…I just…” She shrugged and let out a laugh. “God I sound like such a horrible person when I talk like that.”
Cambria watched him for a moment and nodded. “Malcolm is there. For a while he was my closest friend in the senshi, you know. He was…he was what you are now…and I kind of feel bad that I replaced him so much but…I don’t know. With you with us, maybe I can spend some more time with Mal too…I miss hanging out with him.”
Sighing softly, Cambria kissed the top of Evan’s head again and snuggled closer. “Then you will try. I’ll call a meeting soon and you can come meet everyone in a situation that isn’t…you know. Healing a youma…and we can figure things out from there, sound good?” It sounded perfect to her, and she was so thrilled that Evan wanted to join the group she wasn’t quite sure how to react…but…
This was a good thing. A very good thing indeed.
“Love you, Ev. You and your utterly adorable dog too.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:28 pm
A soft smile remained on Evan’s face and he seemed to be completely relaxed against her. “Love you, too, Cambria. I’m excited to join your group. And hang out with you. And figure everything out. But I’m really happy that you like him. I was really worried.”
He drew the dog closer, content as its sleepy body rolled easily in his arms. It wagged weakly and tried to bury its face between the two of them.
“I don’t know why,” he mused after a few seconds. I should have known you’d fall in love with him. And you always do what’s best for me, and I think he’s good for me.”
He was quiet for a moment and pursed his lips.
“…Let’s hope Zac is okay with it, too.”
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