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He sighed, giving Whinnie one last scratch before turning back toward the counter. “I don't have the time, old girl.” She watched him with the same patient expression. Jasper shook his head. “Don't look at me like that.” Her tail thumped again, and he huffed a quiet laugh. “Traitor.”

His smile faded slightly as his thoughts drifted back to Liam, Malakai, and the training. He hated disappointing people. He probably 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 spare a day here and there… maybe...

Jasper smiled down at her, reaching to scratch behind her ears. “You know, Whinnie girl, there's just not enough hours in the day.” The Collie's tail gave a lazy thump against the floor.

1111

Whinnie came trotting into the kitchen, her nails clicking softly against the floor. She wandered straight toward him before settling at his feet, looking up at him with the patient expectation she had perfected over the years. Their routine. Every night, without fail.

He washed his hands and opened the refrigerator, pulling out a few ingredients before setting them on the counter. He was still deciding what to make when the familiar jingle of a collar sounded from behind him. Jasper glanced over his shoulder, a smile already turning the corners of his mouth.

There was something about the kitchen that settled him. Cooking always had. There was comfort in the routine of it. Pulling out the ingredients. Chopping everything just right. Listening to something simmer on the stove while the rest of the house stayed quiet.

With his own blood, sweat, and hard work, he’d refinished the cabinets, replaced the countertops, added shelves along the far wall, and given the room a fresh coat of paint. Little by little, he’d made it his own without losing the warmth the room had always seemed to hold.

When he’d first taken possession of the house, it had been worn with age—old cabinets, dated countertops, faded paint. Nothing that couldn’t be fixed, but enough that the place had never quite felt like his. The kitchen had been the first thing he renovated.

1121

Jasper stepped into the kitchen and flicked on the light, tension melting from his shoulders instantly. This had always been his favorite room.

Finally, the property fell quiet. The truck was gone. The hammering had stopped. Even the old house seemed to settle around him. All that remained was the soft chirping of crickets in the darkness beyond the windows

He stood there for a moment before turning back toward the house. One by one, he put his tools away exactly where they belonged, then headed inside.

“I’m going in the morning. Give it some thought, at least. A little socialization would do you some good.” Jasper waved him off and watched as Liam finally climbed into his truck and pulled out of the driveway, his headlights disappearing between the trees.

Jasper was the definition of a creature of habit. He had his schedule, and he stuck to it. Every hour of his day had a purpose, and straying from it wasn’t an option. 𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑛, Liam liked to call it.

“It’s not that I don’t 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 to help.” Jasper glanced over at him. “Malakai’s our friend. Of course I want to help. But I truly don’t have the time for it.”

“You’ve been working on this house forever, Jas. A couple weekends off isn’t going to change anything.” Liam followed him across the yard. “Why don’t you want to help?”

Jasper dropped the hammer into his toolbox and snapped it shut before hoisting it onto his shoulder and climbing down the ladder. “With what free time? Between work and the house 𝑎𝑛𝑑 keeping Annie’s boys out of trouble? Where do you suggest I fit this in?”

071

Like clockwork, Jasper went right back to work, his attention returning to the hole in the tin roof. “Jas.” “Yes, Liam. That is still my name.” “You know you can spare him a couple of days a week.”

071

Relaxed Cat Lounging on Couch

The meds they gave me for my neck make me SO drowsy 😭 This morning I woke up to my boyfriend yapping my ear off because apparently I had started a whole ass conversation with him about some new WoW stuff and then just fell asleep mid-sentence. 🥴

static.klipy.com

ALT: Relaxed Cat Lounging on Couch

050

☽ 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝔂 ☾ @thechaoticsimp.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I managed to get a queue together so keep an eye out for it tomorrow 🤓

060

So uh between then and now i messed my neck up prettttty bad, so queue may be postponed again depending on pain and willpower this weekend😅💀

270

☽ 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝔂 ☾ @thechaoticsimp.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

No queue this weekend feeling a lil under the weather but we shall return next weekend 🤍🩷

“Your choice, man. We're gettin' up for a run at sunrise. Join us or don't. Either way, I'll see you around.” He tossed a wave over his shoulder and started back toward his side of town, leaving Jasper with Liam...and a decision to make.

The pinecone bounced harmlessly off Jasper's shoulder. “Don't be a loser and stop being a hermit.” Jasper shot him a look.

“I don't have time to—” “C’monnnnnn, Jasper.” The blond cut him off, picking a pinecone from the ground before hurling it at the man on the roof. “You've been complaining about not getting enough training in. You have the opportunity walk 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑢𝑝 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑛 𝑑𝑜𝑜𝑟, and you're gonna turn it away?”

1101

He glanced between the two shifters. “But I can't teach her what it's like to fight something that can vastly overpower her. Something that won't let her win just because she's faster or stronger than the average human.” A pause. “And that's something you two can teach her better than I can.”

The man on the roof chuckled, clearly amused by the exchange. Malakai sighed before looking back up at him. “I can teach her vampire combat easily. I can make her faster. Sharpen her reflexes. Teach her how to use her strength without wastin' it.”

“Hi, bud!” the blond greeted cheerfully. Malakai rolled his eyes and continued. “No. I got a friend that needs some help.” Liam’s grin widened. “Oooh, a friend?” “Don't.” He groaned, shoving Liam backwards. “I didn't say anything.” “You were about to.”

1101

“Training. I–” “We finally gonna get your scrawny ass to come work out with us?” Another voice interrupted from behind him as someone stepped out of the house. “Liam.” Malaki greeted with two middle fingers.

1121

“I need a favor...” That earned him a laugh. “That's never a good start. What do you need help with?”

A grin tugged at Malakai's mouth. “Didn't realize I was being subtle.” “You never are.” The man gave him a long look before glancing toward the half-finished cabin. “What brings you all the way out here?”

“Thought I heard you lurking about.” Malakai looked toward the roof just as a broad figure sat back on the edge of the tin, wiping his hands against his pants.

2101

Malakai followed the familiar path around back, the steady, repetitive rhythm of a hammer striking tin carrying through the trees.

It was old, older than most of the houses around town, but it was slowly being brought back to life. New boards had been fitted along one side of the porch, a stack of lumber sat beneath the windows, and half the exterior had been stripped down to the original wood.

☽ 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝔂 ☾ @thechaoticsimp.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

While Kass showered upstairs, Malakai headed across town. He knew exactly where he was going. The old cabin sat beyond the last row of houses, tucked beneath a thick stretch of trees where the town seemed to give up and let the wilderness take over.

0122

Yall I may have put Kass through absolute hell, but the house she gets at the end of her story makes it all worth it 🤭💅🏻

1100

“And Kass?” She looked over at him. “You tell me what you want me to know. I'm not gonna drag it out of you. That ain't me.” There was no pity in his voice. No expectation. Just permission to leave it alone. For now, that was enough. “Thanks.”

1111

After a moment, he held out his hand for the cigarette. “Head upstairs, shower. I'll order somethin’.” She handed it back. “We'll figure the rest out later.” His hand landed briefly against her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze before she stood up.

Malakai let her have it. He didn't ask if she was okay. Didn't tell her she would be. He just sat there beside her, quiet enough that she didn't feel like she had to fill the silence.

“I will…” she murmured, and a silence settled between them. After a moment, she reached over and took the cigarette from his fingers, drawing in a deep breath. The smoke burned down her throat, giving her something else to concentrate on.

He may not have physically harmed her, but he'd taken everything from her, set in motion a darkness she was only now learning how to drag herself out of. But somehow, putting that into words felt harder than any fight Malakai could throw at her.

The memories came with the threat, whether she wanted them to or not. She hugged her knees to her chest, staring out across the grass. It shouldn't be this hard. She was no stranger to bad people. Her mother… Kian… But Sabellion was different.

“You're gonna have to tell me what you're up against at some point, Kass. I don't know how hard I need to push you if I don't know the threat.” He said as he lit the cigarette between his lips. She knew he was right. That didn't make it any easier to talk about.

She glared at him. He grinned and tossed his water bottle at her. Kass barely caught it. Disheartened and sore, she took a swig. “Can we be done for the day?”

Malakai stared at her for a beat before a quiet laugh escaped him. “What a weird fuckin’ way to describe something was instinctive.”

“My magic isn't something I can rely on. Not offensively.” She leaned back on her hands. “I don't even know exactly how I did what I did to Kian. It just…” She frowned, searching for the right words. “𝐶𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑒.”