Easy To Love | LapiDot (Human AU)

XIII

(Peridot's POV)

Things have been quite peaceful lately, for once. For the last couple of weeks, Lapis has been the happiest I have ever seen her. She's much more outgoing and sweet as she begins to let go of her insecurities a little - it's a beautiful thing to witness.
Though, I can't help but be concerned as well. I constantly feel as though there's a looming threat of everything falling apart. Whether it be paranoia or just caution, it's causing me to always be on guard.

I shake my head lightly and focus on the road ahead, gripping the steering wheel in an attempt to ground myself. I'm doing my best to set my anxieties aside as I head home from the grocery store.
Lapis is at my house right now, but, she practically always is by this point. Somehow, she never gets angry calls from home or curfews. I've asked about it before, her response was that her parents "just don't care". Another thing I try not to think about too much.

As I turn a corner into my neighborhood, something flies in front of my car, causing me to slam on the breaks for dear life.
     "Fuck!!" Throwing the car in park, I get out to see what tried to kill me.

     It's a puppy.

A little golden retriever puppy with the biggest brown eyes I've ever seen sat on the asphalt in front of my car. Looking up at me and wagging his tail like he had no idea what just happened...or could've.
     Hesitantly, I approach the pup and set a hand gently on top of his head. He smiles and nudges up at my hand happily.

     No collar...great.

     I sigh. "Looks like you're comin' with me, huh?" Picking up the puppy, I head to the back door of the driver's side and plop him on the seat before getting into my own. The two of us arrive shortly.
     I park my car in the garage as per usual, not only out of habit but to make sure I don't loose the puppy once I open the car. With some struggle I eventually lead him to the door and into the house.

     "...Hey Lapis?!" I call out. In only a few seconds I hear her coming down the stairs. She opens her mouth, but before she can speak her eyes land on the fluffy puppy at my feet. Her eyes widen in pure joy.

     "OH MY GOD, HI SWEETHEART!!" she exclaims as she walks over and bends down by the dog. I swear her voice rose two octaves once she saw him.

     Lapis sits down on the floor and the puppy promptly sits in her lap. She looks up at me while she pets his head.
     "So what's the story here?" she giggles.

     "Little shit ran in front of my car on the way home, almost gave me a heart attack. He didn't have a tag, so I gotta take him to a vet to see if he's chipped."

     At that, Lapis looks up at me and pouts. I sigh, holding back a smile at her cute behavior.
     "Well we can't just take him, he might belong to somebody."

     "But he loves me, look!" she laughs as the dog licks her face.

     I smile at her, "Just let me check first, okay?"

     She rolls her eyes with an exaggerated huff. "Okay. But I'm coming with you," she sets the pup gently aside and stands up. She kisses my cheek before running off to change. Looking down at the puppy, I smile at him.

     He's a plump little fluffball...He kind of looks like a little pumpkin.

     Lapis returns shortly in a hoodie and shorts before throwing her shoes on. The three of us head out to my car, where I sit in the driver's seat as usual and Lapis takes shotgun with the puppy in her lap.

     I have to use a map to find the nearest vet, but we make it there eventually. Lapis carries the puppy in, as we don't have a leash for him. A staff member takes him back to a room, and the two of us sit in the waiting room.

~

     The appointment doesn't take long, and the puppy is brought back out on a spare leash the vet must've had. The man walking him makes his way over to us with the little fuzzball in tow.

     "Well, we didn't see any chip inside of him. Would you like to take him home, or should we send him to a shelter?"

     "No, we'll take him!!" Lapis speaks up immediately. I smile.

     "You want to make an appointment for the vaccines, then?" The vet asks.

     "Sure, I'll handle all that," I respond, before looking back at my girlfriend who's cooing at the pup that is now in her lap again. I think she needs something like a puppy in her life.

~

Lapis and her newfound best friend enter the house before me and I shut the door behind us with a sigh. She takes her shoes off before plopping onto the couch, patting the spot next to her and telling the puppy to come sit with her. Which he does.
     Smiling, and walk over as the pup lays his head on her lap and she pets him gently.

     "So, what's his name?" I ask.

     Lapis looks up at me, then back to the dog, then back up to me.

     "Pumpkin."

     I smile.

911 words.

Sorry for the delay, I have had a lot going on. I will do my best to update more frequently.