Chapter Text
Sebastian sighed as he stood in the kitchen, watching his dinner in the pan in front of him. It was simple, like it always was when he cooked for just himself, simple but nutritious. He was tired, having been going back and forth between opening moving boxes and putting stuff away, and having some online meetings for work.
His new home was spacious but still cozy, with some chicken already roaming in the yard. He was sure he was going to be happy here, but he just wanted the moving stress to be over. Sebastian stretched lazily, striped tail flicking behind him. He ran his fingers through his hair, scratching at his fluffy little ears a bit. He was proud to be a tiger, proud of his characteristics, now that he finally had accepted himself and his instincts.
Said instincts seemed on edge today, making Sebastian restless as he paced around the home, fluffing up pillows and blankets here and there but not being able to focus on anything. He brushed it off to it being because of the new home, where nothing smelled quite right just yet. A few nests and things would get better.
Sebastian’s ears pricked up when he heard a peculiar noise outside the kitchen doors, where the bins were. He normally would ignore it, but something about the soft rummaging sounds made the hair of his tail and ears stand up. He shuffled closer to the door, tail flicking tensely as he moved slowly, like a predator closing in on prey.
He slammed the door open, teeth baring a bit as he got ready to fight. But the aggression quickly fell away when he saw the perpetrator.
A tiny pup was rummaging around the trashcans, soft little ears poking up from his hair and a long, thick, striped tail swishing behind him. The pup startled when Sebastian came out, whining and scurrying away to hide behind the trashcan. Big green eyes peeked around though, watching Seb closely as the older Omega knelt down. The pup hissed a bit, but he was clearly trembling, and Seb felt guilty for scaring him like that
“Hello.” Seb said softly. The pup stared, before disappearing further behind the trash cans. Sebastian shuffled forward a bit. “Are you hungry, little one?” he asked, purring soothingly. The big eyes appeared again, still wary but clearly interested in the mention of food.
“I’m sorry for scaring you. I won’t hurt you.” Sebastian promised. The pup scooted further out of his hiding spot. Sebastian realized now that the Omega pup was a little raccoon.
“Cold…” the pup muttered a bit, shyly shuffling even closer. He was a little scruffy looking, tail fur dirty and matted and his clothing clearly old. Sebastian purred softly at him.
“You can come inside, okay? I will give you some food.” Sebastian promised. The pup shuffled even closer now, little hand grabbing Seb’s finger as Sebastian brought the little one into the kitchen. Sebastian quickly retrieved some blankets, wrapping the pup up when he saw how much the tiny raccoon was shivering.
Sebastian watched the little pup munch on Seb’s dinner at the kitchen table, huddled in his blankets and squeaking happily as he stuffed his face with the veggies. The pup still gave him wary looks every once in a while, but seemed less scared now he was warm and fed.
“What’s your name?” Sebastian asked the little one. The pup’s little ears flicked a bit.
“Charles.” He murmured, soft French accent to his words.
“Nice to meet you Charles, I am Sebastian.” Seb answered, and Charles nodded quietly, grabbing a piece of potato. “Where are your parents, Charles?” Seb added, wary about the answer. Charles froze, big eyes tearing up.
“Maman et papa didn’t want me. ‘Cause raccoons dirty.” The pup muttered, suddenly seeing unsure about eating, about touching any of Seb’s belongings. Seb cooed softly at the little one.
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Charles. But raccoons aren’t dirty at all, they are wrong there.” He soothed. He slowly reached out, giving Charles the chance to pull away, but gently stroked the pup’s cheek. Charles gasped, and leaned into the touch, green-blue eyes closing and ears relaxing. Poor little boy must have been so touch deprived.
“I’m going to call the police, Charles. Not because I want you gone or punished, but because they need to know what your parents did.” Sebastian explained, still gently stroking the little raccoon kit’s cheek. “You are safe now okay? I promise you. This is just to help you, not to hurt you.” He soothed the pup, sitting down on the chair next to him, his tail instinctively curling towards the kit. The pup surprised him by crawling onto his lap, snuggling against Seb’s chest, and Seb held him tightly in return, purring softly as the still cold pup sighed and nosed into him.
Sebastian had always wanted pups, had only a year before been cleared as a future foster parent but had never been assigned any pups. He knew it was because he was so young, and even though he passed all the test, the organizations still seemed wary of him. Maybe this was what he had been waiting for.
The call with the police was brief, ending with the promise of a specialized officer coming to visit them in the next hour or so. Charles seemed happier now that he had some food in his tummy, and was content enough to stay snuggled on Seb’s lap, the tiger Omega gently rocking him until the inevitable knock on the door came. Charles whined but seemed to calm when Sebastian held him in his arms still as he headed to the door. The little kit tucked his face into Seb’s neck, whining as Sebastian opened the door.
“Evening.” A gruff Alpha with pale blue eyes spoke. “I’m Kimi Raikkonen, I work for the Omega Pup Trafficking and Abandonment taskforce, or OPTA. You called saying you found a raccoon kit?” he murmured, looking at Charles. Seb snarled a little on instinct, not happy that the officer was an Alpha. He didn’t want the little kit in his arms to get hurt.
“Come in.” he said reluctantly, making sure to hold Charles even closer just in case. The pup was shivering, but Sebastian knew he wasn’t cold anymore.
“Don’t let Alpha take me.” Charles whimpered into Seb’s neck, loud enough for the officer to hear as well. Sebastian shushed the little one, pulling the blanket closer around the little one as he led the officer to the living room. Kimi took a seat opposite Sebastian on one of the chairs while Seb said on the sofa with Charles.
“What’s your name, little one?” Kimi asked Charles, his voice turning soft. Charles peeked over his shoulder at the Alpha, mumbling his name. He still clung onto Seb with all his might but seemed curious about the officer. Kimi nodded. “Okay Charles. Can you tell me where your parents are?” he asked softly, scribbling something down.
“Left me. Because ‘am dirty…” Charles muttered. Kimi gave him a sad smile.
“I’m sorry, Charles.” He muttered. He got up, heading over and crouching down in front of them. Seb turned Charles around and sat him on his lap, the little one facing Kimi as Kimi gently took notes of his ears and tail and his overall condition. He gently tickled Charles’s belly and made the kit giggle.
Sebastian felt a pang of something in his stomach watching the big Alpha be so gentle.
“I can call a foster home for him. But doing a background check on you, revealed you got the necessary certification.” Kimi muttered at Seb. “Can he stay?” It surprised Sebastian he was even considered, given his age and how many times he had been scoffed at and ridiculed for wanting to foster.
Sebastian looked down at the little boy on his lap, at the fluffy ears twitching on Charles’s head and the matted tail he had curled around him. Charles cocked his head back to look up at Seb, and there was undeniably hope in his eyes.
For a pup that had been let down so much already, little Charles was so trusting.
“Yes.” Sebastian found himself saying. “Of course he can.”