Chapter Text
Severus ambled down a path in the forest, kicking a lopsided rock as he went. He savored the thudding sound as it rolled against the dirt. The density of the trees around him was comforting, it never felt as claustrophobic as the rotting walls of his home. Perhaps, their trunks were not as bloated with blood, sweat, and alcohol. It was strange that his father thought of being kicked out as a punishment, he mused. Soft wind cooled his face and gently brushed hair out of his eyes. The only thing his household really offered was shelter from the rain. The current drizzle was pleasant on his skin, certainly no need to sneak back in yet.
Skinny dogs skirted around him, never getting too close; small packs of terriers, labradors and whatever other mutts had been interbreeding out there. He watched them duck in and out of the brush and train their leery eyes on him. An occasional grunt would accompany the rustling leaves. Severus propped himself against a particularly lush tree and watched a yorkie try and tug on the tail of a much larger dog. The strays had grown used to his presence for the most part. Slowly, he lowered himself to the ground, uncaring of how the damp seeped into his worn trousers.
The greyhound he had taken to calling Tuco nosed the ground by him and padded softly towards him. It snuffed his shaking hand and gave a solitary lick before circling the tree and standing guard a few feet away. They all tolerated his presence, but being so wild made them skittish enough to shy away from any affection he offered. Even the bits of meat and bread he’d swiped from the corner store hadn’t endeared them to him. Maybe if he’d brought more and frequently- but he really couldn’t afford it. Still, they offered him a sort of belonging amongst their group. The dogs were comfortable enough to play with each other beside him. Several times now they had kept him company when he was out and alone. He’d even begun to recognize some of them. Like Tuco, who was digging around a tree root and gnawing at it with another shaggy, white dog he’d named Blondie. Or at least, it should be white underneath all the grime.
Sometimes he wondered what life would be like if he had been born different. If he had been born into a wealthy family, or even a loving one, how different might he be. Underneath all the grime of poverty and neglect, there could have been something pristine and beautiful like Blondie’s coat. How his life might have been by simply being born more beautiful. Lately, he had stopped pondering on beauty and wealth; such things were far outside his reach. He thought about what it would have been like to be born a dog. What kind of breed would he be? Would he have been a part of this pack of strays? Would it have been freeing to run around the streets with no responsibilities, or would the need to survive be as suffocating as it was now?
He watched a brown labrador resting across from him. Lazy and at ease. He liked to think he would have been a border collie. The ears of the dog flicked straight. He’d probably fit in better as an animal. Its head jerked up, seemingly catching the attention of the others. Animal hierarchy and social rules were so much easier. The lab stood and Severus saw Blondie and Tuco in his peripheral, tense and upright. He stopped his train of thought to try and look where the pack was staring. A few seconds passed and he finally heard the soft rustle of something coming their way. The dogs were still now, a few growled under their breath, but none dared to bark. All was silent save for the rain coming more steadily now, and padded feet creeping closer. A paw stepped out from thick foliage and revealed another dog. Though it could hardly be called one, a wolf would almost be more apt. A great, hulking, black canine, whose coarse fur dripped with rain water.
Its shuddered puffs of air were loud and several strays started cowering and backing up. When it fully limped into the slight clearing, it pulled back its lips, revealing sharp, snow white teeth and a blood red mouth. Snarling set most of the smaller dogs running in the opposite direction. Tuco and Blondie followed suit, not that the boy would blame them. As it was he couldn’t take his eyes off the monster. So dark that its coat seemed to suck in the light, it was strangely beautiful. The larger dogs seemed torn on whether to stand their ground or bolt. Surely all of them together could overpower it, no matter how ferocious. However, once the beast reared back and whipped its tail up the outcome was quickly decided. The pack whined and flinched in a wave before bolting as fast as their lean bodies would allow.
The scruffy canine made no effort to follow and returned to a standing position, its head bent and body heaving with deep breaths. Clouds formed in the air and Severus was sure that it was getting colder, but he felt no urgency to do anything about it. All he could focus on was this thing of nightmares, with such a presence as to scare off a giant pack of dogs with no effort. As his eyes roamed the sharp angle of its jutting shoulder blades and made their way down, he finally noticed that it was holding up a front leg. Something thicker than water dripped from it sluggishly. An injury most likely. Being so caught up in his observations, Severus did not realize that the creature had finally noticed him. At least, until it let out a deep, impossibly loud growl which vibrated in his lungs and stole his breath. Those glittering, grey-blue eyes were trained on him. Two bright spots among all the black. He could only keep watching, stuck to his spot.
It ambled forward, teeth bared, straight for him. Was this… was he going to die now? Torn apart by some beast in the woods. A collection of his death debt for managing to escape a werewolf. Probably for the best, he thought. Better to die in the comfort of the woods by his home, under cooling rain, rather than where he most likely would’ve ended up rotting. The monster barked angrily, the whites of its eyes now visible. Yes, this was his end. He couldn’t really muster up the presence of mind to care. It was in front of him now, towering over his seated position. Severus saw now that it was most certainly a dog, a massive one sure, but no less deserving of the title as man’s best friend. There was some comfort in the fact that his body would serve to feed the animal. It didn’t look to be in great condition.
His gaze found the limp paw again and he frowned. He reached out to touch it, just to see what he could do for it, when the dog bit him. The snap of white teeth in his flesh was so sudden that he didn’t feel anything for a moment. Blood soaked easily in his thin, white shirt. Painful throbbing in his arm was subtle, likely numbed by the frigid air. The boy stilled, waiting for it to happen again. For white teeth to again, tear into his skin and open him up. To swallow him whole. He waited. But there was nothing.
He looked up to see the dog with its mouth open, lightly stained with blood. Its body language no longer indicated aggression. It whined, high pitched and quiet. The ears on its head flattened and suddenly it looked almost fearful. It huffed and shifted on its feet, backing up a little. Severus looked down at his arm and back up again.
“It’s okay,” his voice croaked slightly from disuse.
Unsure of why he was doing so, he reached out again. Eye whites were again visible as the dog growled in warning, but Severus paid no mind. In a flash, his wrist was caught in a cage of teeth. Their points barely put pressure on his skin. Another warning, and still the boy ignored it. In fact, he found himself smiling for some odd reason. His other hand came up to the head of the beast and it bit down a little harder, but not enough to break skin. The wiry hair on its back stood on end as Severus brought his shaky fingers to the side of its face. They were both quite motionless. Growling could no longer be heard. He let himself cup the hinge of its jaw and caress that magnificent coat.
“You’re quite handsome. I wonder how you ended up in this slum.”
Continued panting was the only response. He tested his luck and moved his hand up and behind a tufted ear, scratching lightly. The stray finally snapped to attention and let his hand go with a huff. Those blue eyes seemed so aware, like they were evaluating him. Angel Eyes, he thought. An unused name, none of the dogs with their avoidant gazes fit it. Pale hands moved of their own accord, petting the soaking scruff in long strokes. He lowered himself and peeked underneath the dark body, allowing himself a view of the injured paw. Something sharp and metal poked through the skin. He stopped petting in favor of trying to dislodge the offending object. Warning growls started up again as he crouched down for a better angle. He could feel hot breath against his exposed neck, so at odds with the cold air.
Testing his luck, he pulled the metal out quickly. It came out easily with a squelch quickly lost in the roar of the dog coming down upon his neck. His body dropped, the metal still clenched between his fingers, teeth pressed into his adams apple and he was sure that if he swallowed it would burst. Once again, there was a pause. This dog didn’t seem very experienced in killing.
“It's okay,” he repeated. The words were hard to get out with the pressure on his neck. “You can bite down.”
The dog’s breath stuttered. It was likely the cold finally got to it. He buried his fingers in the fur just below its head.
“Just leave a little for the other strays. They’ve been good to me.”
He wasn’t sure why he was trying to reason with the thing, but the dog felt almost more intelligent than the other mutts. Maybe it was just those eyes. He was sure now, he’d much like to be killed by this powerful, intelligent dog. It’d be nice to help such a beautiful creature live. But again, the animal seemed to go against its wild nature and removed its teeth. It let out a proper whine this time, sorrowful and pleading. From his spot on the ground, the boy watched it inspect the injured paw, licking the wound. After a moment it looked back at Severus, who desperately missed the warm breath against his cold skin. It whined again and scrutinized his body, focusing on that bleeding arm. Carefully, it began lapping at the skin through the small tears in the sleeve.
He couldn’t help but chuckle, “You really can’t make up your mind can you? That’s alright. You can try and kill me again another time.”
No longer occupied with his own death, he began to pet the dog again. This time it seemed to lean into his hand and accept the affection with a melancholy howl. It laid down and pressed its wet nose to his chest, sniffing deeply.
“You’re quite the specimen. I wonder what kind of breed you are. You must have some wolf in you.”
A piercing gaze met his own and he found his mouth loosening.
“It wouldn’t do to let you starve, whether you’re eating me or not. Since I’m living another day that responsibility falls on me. Promise me you’ll wait here so I can bring food. And maybe something for your paw.”
Severus wasn’t really expecting an answer, but was pleased all the same when the dog lowered its head. Could a dog be intelligent enough to understand him through tone alone? He smiled and gingerly lifted himself up. He looked at the object still in his hand. A small metal blade. It looked like a letter opener without the handle.
“I should give you a name. No offense to the other strays, but I don’t think I could just lump you in with all of them. Tuco and Blondie are already taken. Luckily, I think Angel Eyes fits you just fine,” he held up the dog’s head in the palms of his hands to better stare at those hypnotizing, grey irises. Angel let out an odd sound and wagged his tail slightly.
“Father wouldn’t like you,” he felt his smile drop and his eyes unfocus. “It’s best you stay here. People in Cokeworth would shoot you on sight.”
He stood and dusted off what mud he could. “Take care, Angel. I’ll be back.”
As he walked, he lost himself in his ponderings once more, not noticing the grim who watched attentively as he walked away.