Arcana One Shots

Little Brundle [Julian X FR]

Art: Tumblr: wardenchampion

I walk through town on my way to Mazelinka's. She has invited me for lunch as an apology for Julian's mishaps. I smile as I reach the small hut, knocking on the wooden door. I hear some shuffling and the door opens revealing Mazelinka's grinning face. "Hey Y/N, come on in!" She doesn't have to tell me twice as I step through and close the door behind me. Her home always feels so cozy and comfortable. She walks back into the kitchen, where something is boiling in a big cauldron. She humms as she drops some ingredients in it and stirrs the mass. She looks up at me and nods towards Julian's room. "The boy is probably outside, at the back. It'll only take a bit until food's ready." She says and I nod, walking outside to look for him. For a while I don't see him anywhere, but suddenly a tuff of auburn colored hair pops up from one of the bushes around the hut. I shake my head with a smile and walk towards it. "Jules?" I say his name and he jumps up. I probably startled him. He whips his head around and I laugh at him. He has leaves and sticks stuck in his hair. I reach out and pull them out, a faint blush spreading across his cheeks. Just as I'm done I step back and he smiles bashfully. "Thanks." I shrug and look over his shoulder to the bush he was crawling in seconds ago. "You're welcome...So, what were you doing?" I ask him and he scratches the back of his head awkwardly. "Nothing important. What did Mazelinka say?" He asks, trying to change the subject but I cross my arms with a smirk. "Julian, please tell me. I'm super curious! What are you hiding?" I ask again, not letting go of the subject. He sighs, finally stepping to the side so I can have a closer look. "It's..well, it's a dog." He sais, pushing some sticks and leaves aside while he continues. A small puppy, probably around a month old, wags it's tail at us as soon as he sees us. He starts to bark up a storm so Julian pets his small little head, making him stop. "I found him after a specifically bad storm last week. He seemed to be all alone. I gave him food, tried to keep my distance, in case his mother came back, but." He sighs and I nod, understanding. "I'm just glad you were there to find him. He's in good care, aren't you buddy?" I ask bthe pupp, holding my hand out for him to get to know me. He cautiously approaches, sniffing at my fingers carefully, before licking them and wagging his tail once again. I chuckle and start to pet him, leaning against Julian's side. I smile, watching the little animal play and jump around, while I listen to the doctor's heartbeat quicken. "Youknow, you're pretty comfortable. Does he know?" I point at the dog while smiling up at him. He chuckles and nods. "Oh, he definitely does. Most times I can't keep him off of my lap." We share a laugh and I sigh. "Makes me kinda jealous." I mumble and Julian turns towards me, leaning his head to the right. "What? I didn't catch that one." I blush, and stumble over my words. "Oh-uh..n-nothing! Uhm, so what's his name?" I ask him quickly, trying to change the conversation and hide my embarrassment behind words. He's a bit confused at me suddenly acting weird, but he shrugs it off and sighs. "To be honest I didn't name him yet. I didn't know if I'd keep him, or if he'd find a home somewhere someday. I didn't want to grow too attached..." He sais with downcast eyes and I stroke his shoulder reassuringly. "Hey, he already found a home. Right here!" I exclaim happily with a smile, but Julian purses his lips, looking down at the small being sadly. "I don't know about that. What if Mazelinka won't be fond of him? He might have found a home, but not a place he can stay." I sigh, getting up to my feet. "Look, if things don't work out why don't we bring him to the shop? You can't keep him outside forever, what if there's another storm?" Julian's face lits up immediately and he almost crushed me in his arms as he lifted me off of the ground in a bone crushing hug. "Thank you, Y/N! I can't tell you how grateful I'd be! I'd do anything if you'd give him a place to stay at your shop!" I laughed at how happy he seemed and after he put me down I stretched, turning back towards the little pupp. "So, now that we know where he'll stay, got any names for him?" He held his chin in thought, staring down at the yet unnamed dog. He started to smile as the dog pawed at his boots. "I used to own an old hound dog back in my early years. He was a good friend until his last minute. His name was Brundle." He tells me without looking away from the animal. Then he suddenly snaps his fingers and whips his head up at me with a grin. "That's it! Brundle Junior!" He yells and I can't help but laugh at his excitement. "Well." I grin as I reach down to grab the little dog. "Come on little Brundle, better show you your new home." I say as he nestles into my arms, Julian petting his small head. "Cute.." He mutters and I nod. "He really is." I agree, but he shakes his head, quickly planting a kiss on my cheek, before walking towards the house. "That's not who I meant!" He shouts as he closes the door behind his back, but I still catch a glimpse of red on his cheeks. I chuckle, feeling myself turn red too and my gaze shifts back to Brundle in my arms. "He's unbelievable..Let's go." I say, giving him a little peck on his soft nose.