#rafau

it had been a long day for everyone, and nobody was exactly in the greatest of moods. well, that was except for the short lucky-go-happy Churro. seemed tons like they were always happy, but that could easily be changed with the simplest of circumstances. or worse. but it wasn’t like that could change permanently, right? Churro had finished speaking with another toon in the prison-like building, however something slipped and they managed to fix the mistake, but seemed to quickly hurry back to their designated room they were assigned before asked anything else. what they didn’t know was someone had been listening in secret, and somehow, they hadn’t noticed.

twenty minutes had passed before Churro heard…slightly aggressive knocking on their door. it made them flinch a little, but they got up off their bed slowly and came to the door with hesitance, but half way there it opened on its own. the rabbit forgot to lock it this time, as they usually locked it before doing anything, really. the door opened and the knocker was revealed to be…Dorito? Churro seemed to immediately connect the dots in their head as soon as they saw the shielded look in his eyes. the tall fox toon stepped forward and Churro proceeded backwards slowly, Dorito following at the same speed.

“..afternoon, Churro, how are you?” Dorito asked.

“o-oh i’m- i-i’m fine-” Churro’s voice was shaky as they spoke, but they tried to hide it, clearing their throat. “a- and you-?” the rabbit added.

“i’m quite fine myself. i noticed you come to your room earlier than usual, are you sure something isn’t wrong, friend?” the fox urged on.

“i- yep-! just fine and dandy, th-thanks..” Churro continued slowly walking backwards, staring up at Dorito as he continued slowly approaching, hands peculiarly behind his back.

“how come your voice is shaking when you speak?”

“i-i- w-well i mean you’re a-approaching me and you s-seem mad s-so—“

“-oh i’m not mad.” Dorito quickly cut Churro off. odd. one of his ears twitched a bit and he continued approaching anyway, making the small rabbit continue backing up.

“th-then why’re you- uh- y-y’know-?”

“because. i want to talk to you.”

“..b-but it doesn’t mean you- g-gotta approach me, i-i can hear ya just fine, Dorito.. you’re.. acting weird—“

“do not accuse me of such behavior, Churro. i’m perfectly fine, you just don’t seem to understand how my emotions process.”

Churro seemed to flinch at the tone, glancing back at the up and coming wall they were close to backing into, and then back up at Dorito. the nonchalant questions continued for a brief moment longer before the anxious rabbit touched the wall, in which they froze.

"..u-uhm.."

Dorito became silent, staring down at Churro in a way he never had before. it...was scary, especially for the little rabbit. his eyes seemed to almost pierce through them, too. the fox, however, spoke up again. but this time, he had gotten down and in Churro's face, and in a cold, quiet, menacing tone, he asked another, scarier question.

"i presume you thought it was just.. oh-so funny, to rat me out to someone else, did you?" that didn't sound good. Churro went silent, but as they went to explain...

"gNK-!"

Dorito held Churro just three or four inches above the ground with his large hands clasped tightly around the smaller rabbit's smaller neck. he was strangling Churro, and...really aggressively. the rabbit immediately tried to get Dorito to let go, trying to gasp for air weakly and flailing one arm at him with their claws, attempting to scratch at him. they, however, could thump one foot on the wall to try and get the attention of someone. unfortunately, Dorito seemed to notice and spot this action, which made him tighten his grip and make them stop. the strangling continued for four to five minutes longer before footsteps were heard approaching. Dorito quickly dropped Churro and kneeled down beside the rabbit, who was now coughing and breathing heavily, holding their neck with one hand, but gentler. Churro seemed to have coughed up some slight blood as well. the footsteps were those of Oswald, who peeked in and noticed Churro in the condition they were in.

"what- what happened-?" Oswald asked, standing in the doorway.

Dorito placed a hand among Churro's back as he lied and explained, “Churro was choking on food, i helped them lodge it out. it was scary for the lil thing. right." the fox looked down at the rabbit, who flinched when they felt his hand. Churro slightly glanced up at Dorito, and then quickly back down with quick nods and small coughs.

"m-mhm- d-damn ch- cheese slice-" the rabbit added. they were scared of what would happen if they didn't agree.

"o-oh- well uhm.. do ya need anymore help-?"

"no, we're fine." Dorito quickly replied, not letting the small rabbit answer for themself.

"..a-alright.. hope ya feel betta' then, Churro.." Oswald waved to Churro and left, and once he was fully gone, Dorito stood over Churro.

"get up."

"..i-i—“

“i said get up, damnit." quickly, Churro scrambled to stand, their legs shaky and barely able to hold them up. they still refused to look up at Dorito, but he still made them look up at him anyway, kind of gripping their face a bit in a harsh manner and forcing eye contact. scary eye contact.

"this is just a warning. sleep with an eye open tonight, maybe two if you're too pathetically paranoid." the fox seemed to harshly let go, sort of pushing them back and making them fall back onto the ground. "be lucky i didn't kill you. if i kept at it i definitely would've. you best keep your mouth wired shut about this encounter."

"..." Churro said nothing, too afraid to. so instead, the rabbit simply nodded. their breathing was raspy and they held their neck, softly rubbing it with a few winces. it was definitely going to be bruised, that was for sure.

"i'll be on my way. again, not a word about this. i will find out.” and with that, Dorito fixed himself up a bit and quickly left Churro's room, going back to his own, which, unfortunately for Churro, was a little ways down that same hallway.

the rabbit stood again shakily and just decided to go take a shower themself, locking their door real tight. god...what the hell? Churro knew it was an accident. they had no means to do so. it wasn't even their fault. it just slipped, that's all. well, if that fox wasn't going to listen to what Churro had tried to explain, then so be it. that fox wouldn't be getting forgiveness any time soon anyhow.

"..i-i'll have to make up an excuse f-for why i sound hoarse.." they mumbled to themself, their voice indeed hoarse.