#shifter!au

He comes back ten minutes later.

In a clean shirt, a bit of damp hair, and lines of tension carved deep into his face, but his eyes meet yours this time.

He stops in the doorway.

“Alright,” he says. “We aren’t—” His jaw flexes. “Shift back.”

You do, as slowly as you can manage. You sit on the edge of the bed, your knees pulled in, arms crossed over your chest. Still wearing the borrowed clothes. Still barefoot.

Simon exhales hard. His fingers twitch, then clench.

“Okay,” he says, again. "Just… I—fuck, what do I even say to you?”

You tilt your head a little.

“I have a job,” you say simply. “Keeping you safe. And I intend to do that job. How we go about it… well, you get a lot of say.”

His mouth pulls tight, but he nods slowly.

His eyes flick to the hall where the bowls sit, your food and water, tucked against the wall near the kitchen entryway.

“I don’t want you eating out of those anymore,” he says, gruff. “You can eat at the table. Fuck, I’ve been feeding you that shit for weeks.”

You smile, small and soft. “Simon. It’s alright. Really. I’m half a dog. I… I prefer it sometimes.”

That gets him. His shoulders hitch with a strange breath, half bitter laugh. He scrubs a hand down his face.

“We've got some work todo,” he mutters.

You shrug, gentle. “That’s alright. I glad you're willing.”

He looks at you again, longer this time.

“Eat dinner with me tonight,” he says. “At the table. And we’ll… talk about this.”

You nod. “Okay.”

He makes pasta.

It’s boxed, with jarred sauce and the cooked leftover meat from the freezer, but it smells good. He cooks quietly, like he needs something to do with his hands.

You sit at the little kitchen table.

You sit a the kitchen table, folded hands in your lap, back straight, posture calm but clearly waiting. Not anxious. Not hopeful. Just here.

Simon sets your bowl down with a small clink.

He doesn’t sit immediately. Wipes his hands on a dish towel, busies himself with decluttering the cooking mess, before finally pulling out the chair across from you.

It creaks under him.

You eat in silence for the first few minutes. Glancing up occasionally, tail swaying softly behind you when you do.

He clears his throat.

“I... This...” His voice dies halfway through. He tries again. "You can stay."

You look up, just a little startled, but open.

Simon doesn’t quite meet your gaze. “I want you to warn me when you shift. From now on.”

“Of course,” you say immediately. “And I'm sorry, about before... about not—"

He raises his hand, stopping you quietly. “And I don’t want you sleeping on the floor anymore.”

You hesitate. “I don’t mind—”

“I do,” he cuts in. “I got you that dog bed thinking you were a dog. It’s fine for that. But human body or not, I don’t want to see you curled up on hardwood like a fucking stray. Couch at minimum when you're human.”

You smile. “And if I’m in my dog form?”

“That’s your call,” he says. “Dog bed, couch, my bed, just... you don't have to be on the floor.”

"You're bed?"

He shrugs, taking another bite. "You've seen me naked, don't see why not."

You can't help the heat that flushes to your cheeks. He's changed clothes in front of you as a dog, that's different. It's casual. It's like—

"Does it bother you?"

He shakes his head.

For a moment, that's where it stays. You tuck away this gentle piece of himself that he's revealed.

He watches the overcooked pasta as it turns on his fork, thinking, before, “I want you to be comfortable,” he mutters. “Even if this is all… weird.”

Your tail sways, you can't help it.

“I am comfortable,” you say. “I’ve done this before. Just… not like this.”

Simon glances up, then frowns. “Like what?”

You hold his gaze now. “Most of the time, my foster handlers didn't want to see the person. It was for training, of course, so I stay the dog.”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment.

Then, “That’s fucked.”

You smile again. “It’s the job.”

He shifts in his seat, jaw working. “I don’t want to be one of those people.”

“You’re not.”

“I mean it.” He leans back, eyes flicking up to yours with something close to shame. “If you’re going to stay—and I’m not saying I deserve you to or that this is going to work or whatever—but if you are, then we need boundaries. Not just for me. For you too.”

You nod. “Okay.”

“No shifting without warning,” he says again. “Ask if you need something. Eat at the table. Cook if you want, but don’t wait on me. And don’t…” He falters.

You wait, taking another small bite.

“Don’t ask questions,” he says finally. “Don’t try to shrink me. Don’t pick at the scabs. I know what they are. I just—I don’t want anyone digging.”

“I understand,” you say softly. “I’m not here to fix anything, Simon. I’m here to keep you safe.”

He exhales. “Right.”

“I mean that,” you add quietly. “I’m not a therapist. I’m not your friend, unless you want me to be. I’m here to ground you when it gets bad. To help you sleep. To notice when your hands shake. That’s my job. That’s all.”

Simon watches you.

Then, slowly, he nods.

“Eat dinner with me at night,” he says.

You blink. “That a boundary?”

“No,” he says, glancing down at his plate, then back at you. “That’s a request.”

You smile. “Okay. Dinners. Not always pasta though, right?”

He huffs a laughs. "No promises."

Inheriting a lake cabin with a working farm from a great aunt you’ve never even heard about was surprisingly not on your bucket list.

But lo and behold! It’s happened!! And it’s came with 4, oddly human, monstrous sized bunnies that give you the creeps lowkey. Not that you’d ever admit it to anyone.

The first one and second largest rabbit seemed to be the leader. With dark brown/silver fur and pretty blue eyes. Where he went, so did the others. You could have sworn you smelt cigars whenever he’d hop on over, especially when he’d sit by you as you bathed, but there’s just no way.

The largest of the buns, was a blonde smokey colored rabbit whose face fur made it seem like he had on a black skull mark around his brown eyes! When this one graced you with his presence, it was always brief. You’d find it watching you at random times, and it always felt like vulture watching its prey.

The last two bunnies were around the same size but vastly different in personalities. One had beautiful chocolate fur and matching eyes! He was so sweet and warmed up to you a little faster than the other. He loved to sit by you on the porch during your morning coffee and follows you around as you explore the area.

The other one also had dark soft fur and blue eyes that, honestly felt a little creepy on a bunny. He warmed up to you the fastest, and seemed the most human like with his.. antics. Enjoys following you around and refuses to sleep anywhere but your bed.

Google said bunnies are shy and he definitely did not fit the mold. One time you had caught this particular bun with a pair of your undies in mouth, and you had to chase him down until bunny #2 tripped him up!