Chapter Text
His Bobby was one stubborn little hamster. Well, she wasn’t his. Not yet. She asked for time. Space too.
Fuck if he understood everything she told him. What he got was that fucktard Julri hurt her and did a number on her self esteem.
She wanted time to figure out who she was and he got that. He did. Because of his Bobby, he was figuring out who he was…or who he wanted to be.
It was going to take some time but they were friends too. At least he considered them friends. He shouldn’t. His life was dangerous and he didn’t want a target on her back should the clan take notice. Any more notice, that is, than just being Quince’s editor. Fuck, even that was too much. He could strangle the princess for putting Poppy within the clan’s circle, no matter how periphery it was.
Tora sighed and let those thoughts go. It was too late on that subject. She was Quince’s editor and he just needed to be sure she stayed safe. He already tried keeping his distance from her too. Also thanks to the spoiled brat that didn’t work but he couldn’t be too mad at his friend though.
Poppy was…she was…fuck, she was his safe haven. His world. His home. He’d only known her a couple of weeks but it felt like a life time.
He didn’t have to be the Tiger of Ares Street with her. He was just Tora. She wasn’t afraid of him and gave him a raft of shit. No one did that.
She looked at him with those big beautiful eyes and he gave her whatever she wanted. He was so gone on her.
She thought her baggage was insurmountable right now, but she hadn’t seen the pile of luggage that came with him. She had an idea since she wanted space she shouldn’t see him. Fuck that.
He’d been showing up a couple of times a week, whether with Quince at GGP or at her apartment.
After she let slip that she was looking for a part time job, he’d looked into her finances. She barely made enough to cover her expenses. There was no extra.
He’d figured as much when she said a birthday gift wasn’t in her budget. He’d also heard her turn down offers to go out with Erdene and he knew it was lack of funds.
He had tried to give her money for food since he ate so much of hers but she refused. He’d looked in her cupboards a few times when he was there and they were always sparse.
He figured she couldn’t turn down groceries when he brought them though and so far that had been successful.
She didn’t need a second job. He saw what she did during the day and he saw what she brought home with her.
Her boss was shady as fuck and was taking advantage of her, as was her co-worker Jacob. He asked her to run reports for him so he could leave early and he used phrases that undermined her self confidence.
Tora clenched his fist and took a breath. He could hear Bobby calling him Mr. grumpy pants but fuck if he was going to let anyone treat Bobby like crap again. Too bad he couldn’t drop kick that little punk.
Poppy was slowly coming into her own though and he wanted to be front and center when she decided she was ready to date. Not that he knew how to do that. He beta read for the princess and knew what it was; he’d just never done it. Never wanted to until Bobby.
He also had a hard time seeing her on a regular basis. What little time he had with her would be gone if she got a second job. He understood he was probably being selfish but damn it; Bobby was exhausted now, no way was he gonna support her having a second job.
He also had no right to tell her otherwise but if he eased her financial burden in other ways maybe she would quit looking.
Tora made a lot of money. Between his salary and the bonuses for special jobs that earned him a hundred grand in one pop, he'd put a lot away. He wasn't stupid either.
He may not have done well in school but he was smart. He also paid attention and did some investing. He was sitting pretty good. Really good. He had few expenses.
He had a couple of different ID’s but Gyu had helped him create banking accounts under one of them where he put all of his money. He could disappear and never have to work ever. Just lay low and enjoy his days. That had been the plan until Poppy.
Tora pulled up in front of the store Poppy had brought him to before, and where Tora now shopped every week.
It was always late, which he preferred; less people to stare at him. Since he had started supplying her groceries, Bobby had started making big enough portions to fill Tora up and she was a good cook.
He really liked those rice balls though so he grabbed a large bag of rice this time. He always put the groceries away while they talked.
He’d learned what to buy a little at a time until he knew brands and prices. He quit scaring the checkout lady since he was there so much.
She had one hand on the emergency speed dial the first couple of times. One single event softened her to him. Poppy had called while he was being rung up. He answered like he always did.
“Hi sweetheart, you ok?”
"I’m good! I was wondering if you were up for art night?”
“Art night? Ya mean I get to watch ya paint? I’m always up for that sweetheart. I’m gettin groceries. Need anything special?”
“Oh. Would you mind getting some strawberry juice? Oh and rice?”
“Strawberry juice and rice. Got it.”
"Thank you Tora – and don’t scare the checkout lady with your grumpiness. Smile, call her by name and thank her.”
“Oi! I’m not that bad. I don’t scare – do I?”
He looked at the checkout lady who was smiling and nodding.
“You do. Not me, obviously, but yes.”
*Sigh “I’ll try sweetheart”
"Thank you Mr. Grumpy, see you soon.”
Tora had hung up and looked to be sure he had the requested items. The checkout lady cleared her throat.
“Sir? The rice and strawberry juices are already in the bag.”
Tora glanced at her and she turned white. Huh, Bobby was right. She was always right. Smart ass little hamster.
He glanced at the lady’s name tag. Janice. He was supposed to smile at her? Why?
Bobby was the only one that made him feel like smiling. She was such a sexy ass feisty hamster.
He smiled, looked at Janice and thanked her. Her face softened.
“You are welcome young man.”
She must have lost her fear because she started talking.
“I’ve seen you in here a few times now. It’s good to know there are younger people moving into the area.”
Tora nodded. What was he supposed to say? Bobby would have the deets on her already.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on you but you were right there.”
She bit her lip, and then squared her shoulders.
“It’s customary to bring a gift when invited to a lady’s house. Flowers perhaps?”
Tora scowled. Was he supposed to bring flowers every time he went to Poppy’s? His eyes got big and he looked at Janice.
“I’m supposed ta bring flowers every time? Fuck. Why isn’t this written down somewhere? How am I supposed ta know that?”
Janice patted his hand.
“Calm down young man.”
“Tora”.
She smiled.
“Tora then. Not every time no. But when they call and invite you it’s a nice gesture. A bit old fashioned perhaps but a nice gesture all the same. Does your lady like flowers?”
Tora liked that Janice called Poppy a lady. It sounded fancy and he repeated it. “Lady”. But it sounded like a question and Janice’s face got red.
“I apologize. Perhaps not flowers for your young man unless he likes them?”
Now Tora’s face was red. He started babbling.
“What? No! I – we –she’s a she. Poppy’s a girl.” He trailed off lamely. “I liked you called her a lady.”
Janice smiled big.
“Is it the young lady I’ve seen you with on occasion?”
Tora nodded faintly, deer in the headlights. Janice took pity on him.
“I’ve seen her looking at the plants.”
She led Tora over to the plants on display.
“This plant in particular.”
Good thing no one else was in the store. Tora studied it, thinking of all the plants at Poppy’s place. He looked at Janice. She wasn’t as old as Alice but she must have been in her late 60’s.
“You wouldn’t steer me wrong would you Janice? I really like this girl.”
His face flamed. What possessed him to say THAT!? And to a perfect stranger??
“I would never.”
Tora nodded and took the plant. Janice smiled and glanced at the clock. Ten minutes past closing time. She excused herself to lock the doors. Tora frowned.
“I didn’t mean ta keep ya late.”
“It’s fine Tora. I’ll ring the plant up and close down.”
He looked outside. It was a relatively safe neighborhood but it was dark.
“I’ll wait for ya and walk ya to ya car.”
Janice started with surprise then smiled in relief.
“Thank you. I get scared sometimes.”
Tora just nodded. Baffled that she felt she would be safe with him. Most people looked at him like they were expecting him to attack them with an axe or something.
It made him feel good too. Poppy gave him that same feeling, but with tingles.
Tora came back to the present. Pfft. Janice talked to him all the time now.
He knew the deets on her and he smiled thinking that Bobby would be happy with him if she knew.
He parked in front and got out of the car. He glanced up at her balcony and saw that her light was on.
He smiled softly and marveled that he could. That he felt like it. He leaned against the car and pulled up her contact info.
T: Hey sweetheart, how ya doing?
He waited a few minutes while looking at her balcony thinking she was painting and didn’t hear her phone but then saw that she was typing.
B: … … … …
Tora smiled. He hoped she was painting. He liked to watch her. She was so restful. And sexy. He smirked. He had trouble hiding his reaction from her sometimes. She turned him on beyond belief.
He’d never had trouble passing opportunities by before but Bobby just did it for him.
He frowned when he didn’t get a reply yet. She had been typing but she wasn’t now.
He looked up at her balcony again. He straightened up from his slouch when he heard a frightened squeak.
He vaulted the fence and was scaling the building in seconds.
He heard a gasp, a thump then a shriek and he was over the railing, pulling his knife.
He paused a moment to get his bearings and try to pinpoint where they were. Bobby squeaked, then another thump.
Whoever was hurting his Bobby was DEAD!