THE BAD GUYS IN: raising princess

Helping a friend

The sun was high in the sky, casting warm golden rays over the city park. Lush green trees provided shade as people strolled along the winding paths, children played near the fountains, and birds chirped overhead. It was a peaceful afternoon at least, for most.

Princess, dressed casually in a cute but stylish outfit, had been enjoying a quiet day when she spotted something unusual. Sitting alone on a park bench was a massive T-Rex. His scales were a deep, green, and he wore a slightly oversized hoodie that barely covered his broad frame. His expression, however, was what caught her attention the most. He looked utterly miserable his large claws resting on his knees, his head hung low, his golden eyes filled with a loneliness so deep it made her heart ache.

Nearby, people cautiously kept their distance, whispering nervously or outright avoiding him. It wasn't hard to see why. A towering dinosaur in the middle of a public park wasn't exactly a common sight, and many likely assumed he was dangerous.

But Princess saw past that.

She grabbed her smoothie and walked straight over to him, undeterred by the nervous glances from onlookers.

"Hey there," she said, flashing her warmest smile as she stood in front of him. "Mind if I sit?"

The T-Rex blinked in surprise, lifting his head slightly. He looked around, as if making sure she wasn't talking to someone else. When he realized she was addressing him, he hesitated before giving a small nod.

Princess plopped down beside him, swinging her legs playfully. "So, what's got you looking all gloomy?"

He sighed, his voice deep and rumbling. "Just... life."

She raised an eyebrow. "That's a pretty broad answer, big guy."

He glanced at her, surprised she wasn't intimidated by his size or demeanor. Most people ran the other way.

After a moment, he mumbled, "I don't have anyone. No family, no wife, no kids... not even cousins close by. It's just me."

Princess's heart squeezed at that. She knew what it felt like to be alone, to feel like you didn't have a place where you truly belonged.

"That sounds tough," she admitted. "But, hey, I don't think you're as alone as you think. You've got me now." She nudged him lightly. "What's your name?"

He hesitated, then muttered, "Titus-Rex... or just Ty."

"Well, Ty, I'm Princess." She grinned. "And I think you could use a friend."

For the first time, Ty seemed genuinely caught off guard. "You... wanna be my friend?"

"Duh," she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "But only if you can handle my awesomeness."

Despite himself, he huffed a small laugh. But the moment was short-lived as two familiar figures stormed over.

Wolf and Snake had been watching from afar, and neither of them liked what they saw.

"Princess!" Wolf barked, pulling her back from the bench. "What are you doing?!"

Snake crossed his arms, eyeing Ty suspiciously. "Kid, that's a T-Rex. You know, giant carnivore? What if he eats you?"

Princess rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. He's not gonna eat me."

Ty, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden attention, stood up slowly. "Maybe I should just go—"

"No!" Princess interrupted, breaking free from Wolf's grip. "You don't have to go anywhere. They're just being overprotective."

Wolf gave her a look. "And for good reason! You don't know anything about him."

Princess crossed her arms. "I know he's lonely, and I know what that feels like."

Wolf's expression softened slightly, but he still wasn't convinced. Snake just let out a sigh, muttering, "She's got her mother's stubbornness, alright..."

Despite their protests, Princess was determined. Every day after that, she made a point to visit the park, finding Ty on his usual bench and trying new ways to cheer him up. Some days, she brought snacks. Other days, she dragged him into playing frisbee or just made dumb jokes until he cracked a smile.

At first, Ty was resistant. He wasn't used to having someone care. But slowly, over time, he started to open up.

And then came the day that changed everything.

Princess had brought a ball to the park, tossing it absentmindedly while chatting with Ty. But when she threw it a little too hard, it bounced off the pavement and rolled straight into the street.

Without thinking, she ran after it.

A truck came barreling down the road, the driver not seeing her in time.

Everything happened in a flash.

Ty's eyes widened in horror as he lunged forward, grabbing her just in time and yanking her back onto the sidewalk. The truck zoomed past, the rush of wind hitting them hard.

Princess's heart pounded as she realized what had just happened. "Whoa..." she breathed, looking up at him.

Ty's claws were still gripping her shoulders, his entire body tense. "You okay?" His voice was strained with concern.

She nodded slowly. "Yeah... thanks to you."

For the first time since she'd met him, Ty actually smiled. It was small, barely there, but it was real.

Wolf, Snake, and the rest of the Bad Guys had seen the whole thing from across the park. They ran over, their initial panic shifting into relief.

Wolf exhaled, placing a hand over his chest. "Geez, kid, you really know how to scare me."

Snake, though trying to play it cool, muttered, "That was way too close."

Diane stepped forward, looking up at Ty. "You saved her."

Ty shifted uncomfortably. "Uh... yeah, I guess I did."

Wolf sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, big guy... guess we owe you one." He looked at Princess. "What do you think—should we invite him to dinner?"

Princess grinned. "Absolutely."

Ty hesitated. "Dinner?"

Wolf nodded. "Yeah. It's the least we can do. Just... don't break my table."

That night, at the Bad Guys' hideout, Ty found himself sitting at a dinner table for the first time in years. Plates of food covered the surface—steaks, mashed potatoes, veggies, and even some gourmet fish dishes. It was overwhelming.

Ty felt out of place, shifting nervously. He wasn't used to this. The warmth, the conversation, the way everyone bickered like a real family.

His claws trembled slightly as he tried to cut his steak, only to accidentally send the knife flying across the room.

Everyone stared.

His heart pounded, panic setting in. "I—I shouldn't be here—"

Princess reached over, placing a hand on his. "Hey, it's okay."

He looked at her, his breathing still uneven.

She smiled. "You're allowed to be here. You're our guest."

The Bad Guys nodded in agreement. Even Snake, who had been the most skeptical, gave a small shrug. "Eh, you saved the kid. You're alright."

Ty swallowed hard, then slowly picked up his fork again. This was new. This was different.

And for the first time in his life, he didn't feel so alone.

(A request from Flashbolt157ninja )