THE WATERS :: ZAYN

dogs

???

Zayn woke up the next morning to rustling downstairs. He figured it was Rhino playing with his chew toys until he remembered there was a whole mermaid in the house and she couldn't get around and had no idea what was in his house.

He got up and put some pants on, sliding into his slippers and walking downstairs. He reached the bottom of he stairs and heard a glass fall on the floor and break.

"Oops."

"Solána?" he peeped over he counter and of course she was on the floor, the cuts on her hands disappearing as her skin healed. But there was still broken glass and black liquid on her hands and he floor.

"Don't yell at me," she flinched not out of fright, but as she kept crawling over the mess and to the fridge.

"What--"

"I'm hungry," she muttered, sitting on her bottom and staring at the open fridge, "can I eat something?"

"Yeah, sure," he blinked slowly and go the broom and dustpan from the pantry, "stay still, I'm cleaning this up."

"Sorry," and she pouted, making Zayn smile at her and shake his head.

"It's okay, just a glass."

"So what's this?"

"Iced tea," he replied, making sure he got all the pieces and dumping them in the trash, "want some?"

"No," she smacked her big lips and kept looking, "ooh, what's this?"

"That? That's salmon."

"Aww. What about this?" she got out a small pack of patties and held them up.

"Turkey sausage," he said, leaning against the counter and watched her, "I can make you some with biscuits and eggs."

"Okay," Zayn took the bag from her and got out his cookware.

"Have you tried to stand today?"

"No I'm very afraid of the consequences, Zayn. Like, I'll bleed and everything, it's not pretty."

"I didn't ask for pretty, I asked for progress. I'll help."

"Really?" she looked up at him hopefully and he just smiled, "thank you."

"It's nothing, alright? I'm gonna cook a lil' something and then I'll help you stand."

"Okay," and her grin was wider, closing the fridge and crawling to the other side of the counter.

"Solána."

"Yes."

"Where's Rhino?"

Silence.

"Uh, I think he left out for a bit."

Zayn frowned, following her into the living room, "he's not a person, he doesn't just leave, okay? We're the only two out here."

"He'll be back--"

Zayn heard barking from the laundry room and opened the door. His dog was trying to get out of the dryer and whimpering in the process. "Yo, what the fuck?"

"He bit me!"

"Did he really?" because that was impossible to believe. Solána hated dogs, he guessed, but that didn't mean she had to try and kill him. "Seriously, he could die--" he opened door and Rhino ran right to him, his paws on Zayn's shoulder.

Zayn picked him up and rubbed his back, feeling Rhino's shallow breathing and the rapid thumping of his heart. Poor guy.

"Is he okay?"

"Why do you care again?"

"I mean, I wasn't trying to kill him," she shrugged, lying on the living room floor.

"How long had he been in there?"

"Like an hour."

Zayn just huffed, looking at his dog who seemed to have calmed down a little, "hey, guy. Are you okay? Jesus, you're honestly scaring him, Solána. He's not gonna hurt you."

"I have terrible history with dogs, okay?" she admitted, "I said it, are ya happy?"

"Okay, well, this dog is nothing like those dogs back in the day."

"Sure--"

"I'm serious, he's not gonna hurt you. But he's scared now, thanks to you."

"I'm sorry."

"I know what we should do today," Zayn grinned and she just rolled her eyes, "get over your fear of dogs!"

"I'd rather drown."

"You know that's hilarious because you can already swim. Gills and everything, be a comedian, Solána, honestly."

"I'm not gonna participate."

"Yes, you are. As long as you're in my house."

Solána just turned away, crawling to the living room and leaving Zayn behind. "I'm going back to sleep."

Zayn set Rhino down and he ran after the mermaid, his tongue handing out happily. That dog was persistent, too nice, actually.

"Zayn, get him away from me," she was face down on the floor, not looking at the dog who just lied beside her.

"He's not doing anything," and Zayn tried not to laugh but it was impossible, "Solána, just look up. He's not going to kill you and he's not trying to bite you."

Solána slowly looked up, her fluffy and big hair all over her face, which made it hard for her to look at the dog. Rhino curled up closer to her, licking her elbow and causing her to laugh.

"Ew."

And it was adorable.

Zayn just smiled at the interaction, going back to the fridge and getting out whatever she wanted to eat.

???

Rhino would not leave Solána alone.

Like, when she moved a little, so did he, and he stuck to her side as if Zayn wasn't the one who rescued him last year.

And for some reason, Solána didn't mind anymore.

Of course, she flinched when he moved too quickly or all of a sudden his wet nose was on her skin. But she was fine.

"Get off me," Solána pushed Rhino away and curled up on the couch, but the dog was adamant on getting her love and affection so he wiggled under her at and lied on her chest.

Zayn just laughed, flipping through channels on the TV to find a good show to watch.

"Ugh," she flinched when he barked again, "sheesh."

"You'll get used to it, trust me, babe."

???

bye,