Dog Fight

Work

Stephen walks quietly down the hall towards the kitchen.

"Jane?"he questions.

He enters the kitchen and sees Jane facing away from him.

"Hey Jane, guess what?"he asks with a smile.

Jane turns around to face him, her face angry and her arms folded.

Stephen's smile slowly fades.

"What's wrong?"he asks softly.

"Were you on the couch?"she asks.

"W-what?"Stephen asks.

"Were, you, on, the couch."Jane says angrily, approaching him.

"I-i- was b-but you said I could and i-i-"Suddenly Jane slaps Stephen across the face and he gasps.

"No dogs on the furniture!"she shouts as she continues to hit him.

"Jane stop! Please stop!"he begs.

...

Stephen jumps out of his sleep, his eyes opening into reality.

He looks around, noticing he was in Jane's bedroom. He looks down, seeing Jane peacefully asleep on his chest.

"A dream."he huffs quietly, looking down at Jane.

"Jane would never do that."he huffs, his breath shaking.

He pulls her closer and breathes out, deeply. Jane shifts, nuzzling against his chest as she slept.

....

Jane smiles, humming to the music playing as she cooks. She looks over the counter and out the window, seeing Stephen in the garage hitting his punching bag.

She scrambles the eggs in the pan and sways to the music as she turns to the sink, rinsing her hands quickly before bending down and checking on the biscuits in the oven.

She stands straight and she doesn't see Stephen in the garage anymore.

"Hm."She says.

She feels hands around her waist and she jumps before chuckling.

"Hi hon."She says as Stephen kisses her on the cheek.

"How are you feeling?"he asks, gently rubbing his thumb over the bruises on her neck.

...

"I'm fine kid, just a little tired."I smile as he walks over to the bacon that was prepared.

He takes a piece and chomps down on it as he walks to the refrigerator.

"You look sleepy Stephen. Did you get enough sleep?"I ask, making him look a bit nervous.

"Yeah. J-just had a nightmare."he shrugs.

I look at him and fold my arms, smiling. I liked looking at Stephen.

He's been much more comfortable since we kissed. And I actually had thought about it before. But I do see why the woman in red had some conflictions.

Yes, he's damn handsome, muscle, tattoos, pretty face and tall, what more could a woman want. But, every time I see him I either think if how handsome he is, or of the scared and angry man I rescued from a cage.

The man I took in under my wing and helped as much as I could.

It's like I see him as more of... I don't know.

But as I watch him now, chewing in bacon and flipping through a new book, I think I just see him as Stephen.

Handsome, sweet Stephen.

"You ought to take a picture."I hear my brother from behind me and I jump.

"Oh my god! What are you doing here still?"I huff, putting my hand over my chest.

"I don't go in till 12. I might not even go, not like they're going to miss one less nerd at an accounting firm."He says, reaching for one of the bacon strips as well.

I slap his hand and he gets mildly offended.

"Wait till I'm done."I say.

"Bitch."Micah mumbles, making me chuckle.

I walk over and place a kiss at the top of Stephen's spine and walk away.

I see his smile in my side vision.

....

As I finish cooking, I bring mine and Stephen's plates into the living room. I take a seat on the couch.

"Stephen! Breakfast is ready!"I call.

He comes into the living room drying his damp hair with a towel.

I pay the seat next to me and he pauses, not moving.

"Come on Stevie, sit down."I chuckle.

He was reluctant to sit.

"Don't you want to sit with me?"I ask.

He chuckles and then smiles a bit.

"Of course, s-sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me."he chuckles before taking a seat on the couch.

I chuckle as well, laying my head against his shoulder as he gets comfortable.