Hello! Sorry, this may of shown up earlier but it was highly unfinished.
Here's the ask in question;
And here is my answer, again sorry for any confusion!
Hey there! I sure can, I do apologise for the LITERAL years this took... but I think my writing’s improved, so that’s somewhat of a plus ;-;
(If anyone does read this, thank you for enjoying this very fun drabble! ;3; )
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Bunny Business
The front door creaked open far later than usual, followed by the click of the light switch, the silence somewhat eerie to the Canadian currently toeing off his snow-slick boots. Matthieu didn’t look up at first, simply moving with his usual absent mindedness toward the kitchen to sit at the long mahogany table he’d built himself for fun one summer. A yawn would pull at his slightly chapped lips, a sun-kissed hand running through the bristling hair of his beard before making his way to the cabinets—a cup of coffee in his favourite chipped mug sounding divine in the moment.
The steam would curl and plume around Matthieu as he took in the aroma; slightly nutty with hints of oak, a Canadian national favourite. Running a thumb over the chip on the rim of the mug, Matthieu would mentally comment on the silence—too quiet in the rustic cabin even at this time of late day—just through the kitchen window the sun was dropping into the horizon behind a snow-covered lush treeline, orange and reds scattering across the floorboards like flickering flames of a fire.
Then, amidst the silence—he’d hear it. Shuffling footsteps, followed by a soft thump and a muffled, breathless, “Don’t panic...” That got his attention immediately, his head slowly turning toward the sound of their voice. The sight that would greet his gaze would be something that made the corners of his lips twitch upwards, a deep blonde brow raising upward.
You were stood in the entryway to the kitchen now—boots scuffed and muddy, jacket askew and unzipped, cheeks flushed from the winter air and what Matthieu could only assume was exertion—and a sight that made him hold back a chortle, an armful of tiny white balls... bunnies. Barely old enough to open their eyes, nestled into the crooks of your elbows whilst finding comfort in the warmth of your chest.
“...the fuck?” The words escaped Matthieu’s lips as he adjusted in his seat and raised a hand to shift his glasses, thinking this may be an illusion—but no, it very much wasn’t. “I found them...” A small smile pulled across your features as your gaze met Matthieu’s, speaking quick enough that his eyes would widen before he’d blink a few times in quick succession. “They were out by the ravine, in a box Mattie. A practically destroyed cardboard box. Someone just abandoned them and I couldn’t exactly leave them alone at this age—” Matthieu had stood from his seat now, placing a hand on your shoulder in a show of reassurance before speaking in a clear yet calm tone, “You don’t have to keep pleading your case maple, I hear ya loud and clear...”
Matthieu would look down and do a quick headcount of said bunnies, his brain overworking when the digits became double, “...but twenty bunnies?...”, “I didn’t really count as I was getting them all, it was far too cold to double think it at the time!” You’d crouch down and place the bunnies atop a blanket on the sofa, rubbing the woven fabric against their shivering bodies. “Mattie, I don’t think they’ve eaten in days...” A bunny would let out a sneeze moments later as if sensing your words, whilst Matthieu began moving toward the chair he was seated in before this scene had unfolded, leaning back in a reclined yet thinking manner.
“...you’re covered in so much fur.”, “Honey, I can see that...don’t give me that look either, it isn’t helping!” Your words held no bite, far too exhausted to seriously complain—just a pout twitching at your lips. “I ain’t givin’ you a look.”, “You’re at least thinking one, sweetness.” A tired smile would tug either side of your lips, an exhale leaving the gap in Matthieu barely parted lips before he’d slowly pinch the bridge of his nose beneath black trimmed glasses in-between his fingers, “We live in the middle of the woods. There are coyotes, bears and hawks swarming the area—”
“—Now we can add bunnies to that list.” You’d chirp up in response, hopeful that your speech had swayed Matthieu enough. With lips pressed into the thinnest of lines, Matthieu would stand from his seat with the weight on his shoulders of a man about to be deeply inconvenienced from being unashamedly in love. “They definitely ain’t stayin’ in the kitchen.” That made your ears perk up as your head raised, that smile still pulled on your wearying features before shifting on the sofa for Matthieu to sit beside you and the bunnies. “So that means we can keep them, huh?”, that made Matthieu’s footsteps halt before he’d give you a playful eyeroll, “I didn’t say! Shit...”
He bit the tip of his tongue to hold himself back as a small blur of white rushed into his lap, Matthieu then trying desperately to ignore the softness shifting against the deep denim blue of his jeans, “I’ll sort ‘em a corner of the livin’ room, go into the woods tomorrow and find ‘em proper substrate and shit.” The moment he spoke so solidly about his plans, your eyes would widen in surprise before letting a satisfied smirk tug at the corners of your lips, “Already thinking ahead, I like that Mattie.” Matthieu would scoff in response, before letting out a sigh. From the deepest crevices of his chest. “If you weren’t damn cute, I’d be puttin’ my foot down.”
A deeper smile graced your features, worry melting from you when noticing his shoulders loosening up and the tension dissipating from him as he lightly ran the back of his scarred knuckles along a snoozing bunnies back. Matthieu would catch glimpse of that smile, the same one that meant you were thankful he said yes even though deep down you had an inkling he would. Through a grumble he’d lean back with sluggish movements, but there was something extremely soft in the way he muttered, “Goddamn bunny sanctuary situated right here in my livin’ room.” As you stood from the seat beside him, you’d catch the subtle smile growing on his now deceptively peaceful features, the lamp-light casting a glow over Matthieu that made your gaze linger on him far longer than intended.
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I thought I’d clean up some of my drafts, I really did enjoy how fun this scenario was to imagine! Have a good day everyone.
