Chapter Text
The last thing Ed wanted to hear as he woke up was yapping. And not only regular barking from a stray animal that wandered too close to their windows. No, the yaps and snorts came right from beside Ed, where the monster in the shape of a wrinkly dog sat.
“Could you, please, kindly shut up?” He didn’t even bother opening his eyes. The response he got was something between a cry and a growl.
Ed was already regretting the choice he’d made. He, in a moment of weakness, promised to take care of Oswald’s beast while he went off dealing with some business issues. He didn’t know what irritated him more - agreeing to babysit the dog or letting Oswald leave on his own. And he didn’t even tell him where he was going! Logically speaking, Oswald was still in recovery from the grenade blast he endured in order to protect Ed. Speaking in pure logics and nothing else, someone in recovery isn’t advised to leave to god-knows-where.
To Ed's misfortune the yaps didn't stop after he opened his eyes and was forced to face a drooling mutt. He didn't understand what Oswald liked about this being. It was too dumb to think on its own and simply obeyed to others' orders. He could have gotten a servant instead.
- Edward MUST go on a walk at least three times a day.
- Feed him well. Quality meals only. If I smell a piece of some grocery store chop off him, you're out.
- Edward is intelligent (Ed doubted that), he requires to be paid attention to. Play with him, train him, pet him.
The rules Oswald had carefully written down on a piece of paper were more than unnecessary. Ed knew how to take care of a flipping dog. Without any second thoughts, he tossed the paper into the trash can and the dog’s gaze eagerly followed it as it flew through the air. He wiggled his butt in something that Ed assumed would be a tail wag if the poor beast was gifted with somewhat longer tail.
“Nope, not playing with you.” Ed said to the dog, only to be met with a sad pair of eyes. Puppy eyes, some might call it.
After a quick serving of breakfast, while Ed was gradually getting more fed up with the dog that tried to jump onto the chair next to him in order to beg for a piece of bacon, he decided it was time to check off the first thing off Oswald’s list. A walk.
The dog, as if having read Edward’s mind, wiggled in excitement. Finally , his eyes said.
To Ed’s surprise, walking a dog was quite relaxing. Many might say it gets one’s mind off things, but Ed thought the exact opposite. He now had more time to think. At first, his thoughts wandered to his future plans, the art pieces he wished to steal and clues to be left behind. However, as everyone who spends too much time thinking, his thoughts scattered to the places in his mind he simply did not intend on visiting any time soon. Guilt and Oswald were constants in those places.
Be it guilt for blowing up the Haven, ruining their friendship with Oswald or a new addition to his anxieties - the guilt of having cost Oswald his eye. The man only jumped in to protect him and now he lacked an eye. Even worse than that was that Oswald never seemed to blame Ed. He’d rather endure Oswald blowing up on him, getting angry or not speaking to him at all. Instead, the man seemed to be kinder than ever. Not to the outside world, obviously. Oswald’s public image remained the same - a man to be feared and respected. To Ed, Oswald seemed calmer, with less tantrums being thrown at him. He even agreed to let Ed watch over him until his eye recovers to the point where he could get a glass one. Of course with the exception that he will be able to attend his own duties, such as this one that had brought him out of their apartment for a week.
The dog, as if having sensed Ed’s tension, whimpered and looked up at him, wiggling his butt a little. Ed felt the indescribable need to pet the animal. And so he did, reaching down and patting his little head. He was rewarded by a happy woof.
That evening Ed came to a decision. Oswald had changed, so it was only sensible that he himself would work on bettering himself. And maybe, he’d make it up to Oswald for saving him as a result.
“You’ll help me, won’t you?” He asked the little creature.