I Live to Serve - Chapter 2
This chapter has a bit more going on than the last, but it came up a bit short. I've been going along with an outline the whole time, but I'm going to start combining chapters together after this one to make things last a bit longer. With that said, enjoy the second chapter!
Their first few weeks together were about as normal as one could expect. When Master wasn't in the basement doing whatever he called "work", and Nanani wasn't exploring the house with just about the same level of wonderment every single day, they were playing together. Or on occasion cuddling up in front of the television, watching nothing of real importance or particularity. Something Master had been planning, however, was some sort of social event in regards to his business. He had these frequently (or so he told the Eevee, while also ensuring she knew to be on her best behavior, to which she replied with the same innocent enthusiasm), and several other humans would be arriving at the house.
"Oh boy! More tummy rubs!" Was all she could think of at the news.
In preparation for the event, the two - or rather, Master did so, while Nanani simply skipped around, pretending to help - spent an entire day setting up tables lined with all manner of food and drink, as well as a few decorations here and there. Even some furniture was rearranged to accommodate more people. And to top it all off, Master had bought Nanani a miniscule dress to wear that evening, which only accentuated how adorable she was once on. Though, she at first had a nasty desire to tear away at the fabric, to which she was promptly scolded.
The night of the party arrived, and at seven on the dot, guests began to file in. Nanani was to sit on a stool placed by the door and greet each one as they entered with any of her happy and excited Eevee noises, to which she was rewarded with an "Aww..." or a pat on the head. Aside from a single half-hearted escape attempt out of sheer boredom during a twenty minute period of quiet, she did her job well. Once everyone had arrived and she was free to go, however, Master lifted her from the stool and let her loose on some toys placed in the dead center of the living room.
Backpedaling a bit, about mid-way through the guests, one arrived with some strange company. At his side, a Houndoom, and a large one at that. Though Nanani knew no better, giving it the very same "Hello!" she'd given the others.
Though the man assured "He's very well-behaved." Master made it a point that Nanani never leave his sight.
The Houndoom was also aware of this, and just a few seconds after the little Eevee had begun its wrestling match with its various plushes, it piped.
"Good evening, little miss." Came a low and somewhat raspy voice.
Already mid chinlock on a stuffed Politoed, her head popped up from behind it, to where she spotted the Houndoom sitting at the edge of the carpet.
"Hello mister!" came her eager reply, a huge grin on her face.
Even other Pokemon were quickly softened by her demeanor, drawing a light chuckle from the canine. Though, it didn't last.
"You sure are a cute little pup, I must admit. But, ah... a little small for my tastes." he continued with the same flat tone as before, appearing all the more unamused.
"What's wrong with being small?" Nanani inquired, though muffled, her maw full of cotton Poochyena.
"Isn't it obvious? Something so small surely won't fill something as big and strong as I am." Came the reply.
"Fill you? You mean like food?" she returned, still unphased, having not grasped what he was alluding to.
"Yes, like food. However, I do make it a point of marking my territory in every human home I enter, and with you gone, that shouldn't be too much of a problem."
"Marking your... territory? Where am I going?" None of this made much of any sense to her, naturally.
For that alone, this creature was asking too much of her. He never responded to her again, so she simply went back to playing. Though he remained anxious over at his perch, eyes darting from the Eevee, to her master (who would occasionally poke his head over the counter to check on her from the kitchen), and back again.
The night continued, however, without many problems. After dinner, the guests moved upstairs for games and a movie, though again, Master made it a point to hang by the balcony, periodically checking on his Eevee.
She never seemed to grow tired of the toys, as a matter of fact. Whether it really was that fun, or she just had so much energy to burn, even she didn't know. The Houndoom had never ceased watching her, though, even when Nanani asked him if he wanted to join her in chewing on toys, he replied with "I'll get around to it."
A voice could be heard above all the commotion upstairs, and whatever caused it was enough to draw Master's attention away to the point of him even leaving his spot at the railing. This was his moment, and the Houndoom sprang into action, bolting straight for the Eevee. Before she could even comprehend what was happening, he had her on her back, one powerful paw pressing down on her chest to hold her. His face was no longer flat and expressionless, but rather fierce, and drooling. He was drooling.
"I-is this a game?!" Nanani squeaked uncomfortably, trying fruitlessly to squirm out of his hold.
He didn't respond. Instead he braced his other fore against her cheek, giving him plenty of room to go for the neck, and make the kill. Held in such a position, her eyes widened with fear. Whatever he was about to do, it clicked now that she should be scared.
And in he dove. The moment his teeth made contact with even her fur, however, he was gone. Nanani quickly jerked her now free head to see Master, standing over the canine, who was writhing on the floor in a yelping fit, only made worse by another swift kick to the side. She scurried into the nook between the couch and the wall, panting quickly and as heavily as her little body would allow. By the time she had turned around to see the rest of what was happening, Master and another human were yelling at each other, and the Houndoom was nothing but a wheezing heap on the floor. The arguing continued for a few more minutes, until the other human scooped up his wounded Houndoom, leaving the house with a flurry of profanities and a slam of the door.
Master didn't search for her, though. Once everything subsided, he returned to the party upstairs, leaving the petrified Eevee to cower in the corner for the next hour.
On constant repeat that whole ordeal played out in her mind. She was going to be eaten. That was all she could think. Eaten! She didn't dare even go after a single toy, for fear that the Houndoom may pop back in at any time.
The night wore on, and soon all the guests left one by one. She supposed she didn't have to see them off, as Master never called her name. Instead he was the one at the door, which she had a clear view of from her hiding spot. As soon as the last one had left, he disappeared upstairs to begin cleaning.
She was no longer standing frozen, now curled up on the carpet, tucking her head in, as if to somehow hide from the trauma she had just endured. All this shaking and whimpering until--
"Nanani?" his voice brought her to attention immediately, and she found herself face to face with Master, he leaning in from a cross-legged position.
She looked on the verge of tears, shaking quite profusely still. He stretched out his arms for her, and with no hesitation she leapt into the embrace.
"You know I would never let something like that happen to you, right?"
What now? Her brief nuzzles interrupted as she stared back with those big, blue eyes.
"I will protect you from anything, and everything." he added. "No matter what happens, okay?"
His words seemed so genuine, even to her. She affirmed what he said with a nod, before snuggling in again, to which he returned the favor, bringing her to his chest. For the next several minutes they stayed like that, before he broke the silence in letting her know it was time for bed.