Longer Writes

Observant (Pt. 1)

People-watching had always come easy to Brin. Sitting still for hours on end and simply observing the space around him was most likely the only reason he'd been able to get this far; though, now the skill was used for less life-threatening incidents, and more making sure his pack was doing okay. They may all be stupid 20-somethings with a massive amount of power and hearts of gold, but they were still carrying the weight of a galaxy on their shoulders.

An "I'm okay" didn't usually cut it for Brin anymore, not when he could see the minute twitch away from that one diplomat, or smell the subtle thread of anxiety when they touched down on a desert planet. This was his pack, and he'd rather dive back into the Zuunian mines suitless than let something painful wear them down to nothing. Which also meant it pissed him off when that painful something evaded his attention for too long.
———

Garth danced around the kitchen, chattering loudly about anything and everything with zero regard for volume. Or personal space, for that matter. Every time he needed something from the cabinets above, he'd simple lean over Brin and get it himself -loosing a wild checkle at the wolf's growled threats- or hip check him if he wanted a dish from below. Hot plates came with back brushes, and input was asked by using Brin as a rather awkward armrest, it was something that came with the territory of helping the hyena cook.

"...we've known the idiot maybe thirty minutes at this point, and he'd already bolted! Saturn was pissed at me, which, fair, but B's Bubbles weren't always 100% reliable back then, so I was still convinced he was just some stupid strong hick right up until Brainy pointed out the crusher's level!"

"And, lemme guess, you still haven't said sorry for it?" Brin paused in his veggie chopping to raise an eyebrow at Garth, who spun around and shot an absolutely scandalized look back at him, dark red ears flopping sideways.

"What kind of man do you take me for, B? Of course I apologized! I know how to admit when I'm wrong, thank you very much!"

"Uh-huh. Pot's getting ready to boil over."
Garth squawked and slid across the tile in his socks, nearly cracking his face on the oven. With a dramatic flourish and a wagging tail, he pulled the lid off the pot, transferring it to the counter before nabbing a spoon.

"One of these days you're gonna bust your face doing that, and I'm gonna laugh at you."

"You laughed at Ferro for getting trucked the other week, that's not a threat." The hyena jabbed him accusingly with the handle end of his spoon.

"Fair point." Brin shrugged and scraped the last of his chopped vegetables into a bowl. "What do you need from me now?"

"Soak 'em and salt 'em." He snatched a couple cubes and mumbled around his mouthful: "Because nobody on this godforsaken team will eat them otherwise."

"You're such a dad." He teased as he walked to the sink, not missing the small curl of delight that tinged Garth's scent at the remark.

"Well shit, someone's gotta step up. And as your Pack Alpha and co-leader, I have a moral responsibility to do so."

"You just like bossing people around." Brin snarked as the dining room door slid open.
The wolf made a noncommittal noise of acknowledgement as Cosmic swaggered in and plopped down on the middle most barstool, the one right in front of him. Abyssal black eyes burned into the top of his head, a silent challenge that the wolf had never bothered to rise to before, so he didn't this time either.

"So, makin' pasta?"

"Yeah."

"Need any help?"

"I don't-"

"Nope! Almost done. 'Scuse me, Tims." Garth popped up beside him with the giant pot occupying his hands. The wolf shuffled over with his own bowl, swirling the cubed veggies in their salt water and watching noodle water spill out of the colander-covered pot.