Spooky

Chapter 37

-Scourge's POV-

I don't want to wear Shadow out, so we're staying at home today. I know that today, of all days, his mental health is going to be at the absolute worst, so I won't stress him too much—if need be, we can spend another day on the couch. I just want to take his mind off it for as long as I can. I just hope it doesn't upset him—every time I do these nice things for him, I see guilt flash across his eyes, but I don't know why. I don't want him to feel that again, I just want him to know how much he means.

So, today's mission is to smother him in love.

The first task is to slip away before he wakes up in order to buy what I'll need. I wake up when it was still dark out, Shadow in my arms; it's still a little too early to get up and go, but I don't want to go back to sleep. Instead, I shift position so that Shadow and I are at the same level, moving carefully to keep from waking him, and I start to run my fingers gently through his quills. Every now and then I stop, to scratch behind his ears in the way he likes. He snores sweetly, eyelashes fluttering with dreams, and I smile, just watching him for a while as his eyebrows and nose twitch a little bit. I wonder what he's dreaming about. I press a little kiss to his forehead, and he stirs slightly; I hold my breath, worried I've woken him, though I don't stop petting him. After a moment, Shadow starts snoring again, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I continue to run my hands through his fur and quills until sunlight starts to glow through the window. Carefully I disentangle myself from him, putting the blankets back around him as I rise from the bed before plucking my jacket from the floor, sliding it and my gloves back on as I slither out the door. I tiptoe down the stairs, pausing by the front door to slip my shoes on, then borrow the keys sitting in a little cubby above the spot for the shoes to lock the door behind me. The suburbs are quiet as ever, the sun just beginning to creep over the horizon, and I hop on my motorcycle, zipping up my leather jacket to block out the chill. The thin sunlight hasn't warmed the air yet, and frost is still thick on the ground. My bike is freezing, but it flares to life nonetheless, and I speed off quickly; normally, I'd sit and let the engine warm up a little first, but I don't want to risk the rumbling noise waking Shadow up. I zip off to the local donut-shop, trying to make this errand quick; they've just opened up for the day, and I'm the first person in, so that gets done rapid-fast. Afterwards, I stop by the grocery store, then rush home.

Slithering in the front door, I slide my shoes off and put the keys back where they go, locking the door behind me. I make a quick detour to the kitchen to put away what I bought at the grocery store, then slip up the stairs as fast as I can, unzipping my jacket as I go, opening the door just in time to see Shadow sitting up and scrubbing at his face; his ears perk when he sees me, and he sits up straighter. I smile, feeling a rush of warmth as our eyes meet. "Good morning," I greet him, shutting his bedroom door with one hand, the other holding the donut box, "have you been awake long?" I walk towards him.

"No," he replies softly, still sounding a little sleepy. I set the box down at the bottom of the bed, shrugging off my leather jacket; his eyes drift to it, glowing curiously. "What's with the box?"

I dump my jacket on the ground, beaming at him. "Donuts! Go on, take one." I climb in beside him and give him a little nuzzle, "I wanted you to start the day off with somethin' sweet." Pulling back, I smile at him, and he smirks in return.

"Sweeter than you?" He says flirtatiously, and I laugh, caught off-guard, feeling my face heat up. "Doesn't sound possible to me."

"Oh, stop it," I reply, embarrassed and amused. Leaning forward, I pluck the donut box from the foot of the bed and drop it in his lap. "Today," I inform him, "we're gonna do some fun stuff." My eyes scan across his face quickly, trying to figure out if he's feeling better today; with a bit of concern, I add, "If you're up to it, that is... I don't exactly have plans, I just wanted to us to do something," I hesitate for a moment, already feeling like I'm being too sappy, so I tack on a little "'n stuff" to make it more casual.