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Yoo Joonghyuk should’ve known better than to trust Yoo Mia’s, a child’s, judgment on animals. At the very least, he should’ve had greater reservations for adopting one. Maybe then, maybe if he simply acted like an adult and said no he wouldn’t be in this situation. Chasing down a white, annoying dog whom acted like it’s one motivation in life was to torture Yoo Joonghyuk’s very existence. Of all things the dog could have taken for a toy, it decided to steal the man’s game controller. Right before his stream started.
He was going to be late at this rate!
“Reader! Bring that here!”
The white dog sat on it’s bed, one of the only times it would ever actually use the bed bought specifically for the animal. It kept its front paws outside of the fluffy fabric however, like telling Yoo Joonghyuk the dog was ready to zoom out if the man dared to walk too closely. The controller lay loosely in the bad boy’s mouth. Any movement forward, the dog would growl and spread its hind legs. It was ready to run but Yoo Joonghyuk did not have the time to give chase.
Ten minutes.
-
“Oppa, doesn’t this one look ugly?”
Yoo Joonghyuk shrugged in response, petting the dog as it nipped at the man’s fingertips. Yoo Mia’s gaze snapped between her brother and the dog, sure, this dog may’ve been the ugliest here with it’s squid-like face, but she couldn’t deny it seemed like Yoo Joonghyuk got along with this one the most out of any other dogs they looked at at this point.
“Oppa, I want this ugly one!”
Her brother gave her a weird look, like she was trying to play a trick on him, but there really was no trick. What was the point in getting a dog if her brother didn’t also like it? ...That and she wanted an excuse so she wouldn’t be the only one taking care of it, but she still wins in the end.
“Reader, bring it here!”
-
The basenji huffed in response, glaring at it’s master as it’s front paws fidgeted, ready to spring into action at the slightest trigger. This man had a stream to start! He was actually in the mood to play today, instead of just playing for the sake of fulfilling his company’s contracts, but his pet seemed to sense his determination for the game today and decided to ruin the man’s mood.
Yoo Joonghyuk stepped forward and the dog set off like a bullet fired. First it jumped atop the couch, making Yoo Joonghyuk follow and nearly crash into the cushions before side-stepping the end and following the dog towards the connected, open kitchen. It rounded the countertop island before jumping underneath the kitchen table and seats, letting Yoo Joonghyuk immediately run to the table before it ran out from underneath, nearly tripping the large man as it zoomed towards the hallways. The large man in black gave chase, but the elusive dog sprinted like a rabbit from its prey, fighting for it’s life.
Unfortunately for Reader, the closed doors in the hallways of the house meant he would eventually reach a dead-end, and sure enough the dog soon found itself cornered by the human. Yoo Joonghyuk leaned forward, further caging in the animal, before it suddenly growled as the man took another step in a weak attempt to halt him. Yoo Joonghyuk’s hands slowly moved forward, moving into position to capture the mut, before the dog leaped.
The human’s senses were shaken as the dog leaped through his hands and headbutted his chest, making a small whine as it shook its head. Yoo Joonghyuk himself had to take a moment to regain himself, a deadpan stare on the basenji dog in front of him, both of them finding themselves staring at the other.
And then the damned dog shot through the human’s legs like a rocket, making it’s way back to the living room they just fucking came from.
“Reader! You- Dammit, I need that!”
“Oppa, isn’t he funny?”
The dog ran in circles as the man held up a piece of chicken, before abruptly stopping and putting its paws up, standing on its hind legs. Yoo Joonghyuk fed the pup in reward, giving the dog’s head a pat as the dog sat back down properly.
“What should we name it?”
Yoo Joonghyuk pet the dog with the slightest smile on his face, Yoo Mia watching before she called out another trick for the white basenji to perform. She can’t remember many times her brother would smile for anybody other than her or Lee Seolhwa, somebody the girl hadn’t even seen in years, the woman leaving to pursue her studies and despite the efforts both Seolhwa and Oppa put into reaching out to each other… well, suffice to say that Yoo Joonghyuk was very lonely, her oppa would be even lonelier without his brother.
“It’s face is kinda like a squid, don’t you think, Oppa?”
“We’re not naming it after a squid.”
“Hmmph.” Yoo Mia turned away as she crossed her arms, still watching from the corner of her eye the interaction between the dog and her brother.
The night slowly went by, with Yoo Mia being tucked in and Yoo Joonghyuk reading her a bedtime story about a wolf and a hunter slowly becoming companions, the man looked interested at the stars of intrigue litten up in the dog’s eyes.
“Reader.”
The dog’s ears perked, it’s tail wagging like a fan.
What name could be more fitting?
-
The dog gave no heed to Yoo Joonghyuk’s demands as it ran back to its bed. Laying down but still in an aggressive stance, ready to run off once more. Yoo Joonghyuk levelled a glare at it, but the dog only glared back, telling him to try again. Testing him. Finally, Yoo Joonghyuk sighed and resignation filled his being. He only had about three minutes or so, his own pet had simply… won.
He huffed to the kitchen as he went into the fridge and pulled out a tupperware of leftover cooked chicken and veggies, glaring at the dog as Reader’s eyes and ears perked up at the sacred storage of treats being opened. Yoo Joonghyuk always insisted on cooking for the pup, chicken being his favorite and thus usually only used for training.
Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t even heat up the chicken, like hell he’d put in the effort for this overgrown rat just because it stole his controller. He had about a minute now and he couldn’t afford to spend any time recooking the food, so he couldn’t even if he wanted to. Reader, meanwhile, watched as Yoo Joonghyuk walked over with a bowl of his favorite chicken… not steaming, but nonetheless it was and would always be his favorite. Especially with eggs and rice yet there is only chicken and small veggies, like tomatoes and potatoes strewn about the shredded meat.
‘Disgusting’ the dog’s mind said, his slightly colorblind eyes making the red of the tomatoes immediately standing out amongst the konjac yam, potatoes, and chicken. The dog nearly hissed as Yoo Joonghyuk tipped the bowl towards him slightly, Reader buried himself in the bed, taking his human’s controller with him, deeper into the pillowy fabric.
“Reader! Give it here…” The man took a piece of chicken into his hands, gently holding it between his fingertips towards the dog. Reader wasn’t having it, his snout furiously sniffed and his head dipped in a huff before it’s paws moved aggressively open, once more displaying his readiness to zoom off. Yoo Joonghyuk groaned at his stubborn dog’s attitude, already knowing that at this point… he’d be late.
He didn’t have any time left.
His phone’s timer chimed as his dog wagged its tail at the noise, victorious in tormenting its owner. Yoo Joonghyuk, however, didn’t really feel… upset. Angry? Yes, but for some reason, deep within his chest, he felt… content.
Funnily enough, Yoo Joonghyuk can’t remember the last time he fussed over Reader this much, and he seemed to finally understand why his pet was so furiously distracting him. The human put the bowl on the floor beside the dog’s bed and sat down, crossing his legs as he stretched his arms upward. Reader’s eyes lit up and the ears atop the dog’s head also jolted slightly, moving the slightest bit forward to try and gauge his human’s intentions.
Yoo Joonghyuk stared at the dog as he let quietly sighed, bringing up his hand to stroke the dog’s head, giving the spot behind the ears, the dog’s white fur slightly ruffled in due to the motion. Reader stared back up at the human, crawling forward with his paws, letting his underside drag against the fluffy cotton. The fabric behind Reader moved as his tail aggressively wagged.
The human master took this opportunity to sneak one of his hands under the dog, scratching the rat’s chin before shooting forward and gripping his controller. Reader didn’t have enough space to duck forward and stop the human’s hand at this point, he growled and his paws moved outwards in reaction, aggressive and confident, but it was too late.
-
The dog laid on Yoo Joonghyuk’s stomach after he went to bed, as much as Yoo Joonghyuk would try to brush Reader off, the pup would always go back to his chest, stomach, or lay against his side weakly to keep near his master.
Yoo Joonghyuk blinked at the ball of fur before finally dropping his head against the soft pillow, one hand of his going up to the dog’s head and patting it softly, the fur almost pricking him due to the short length.
What was a dog like this, if not the perfect companion for him?