(Hybrid! Sophia Laforteza x Hybrid! Fem Reader)
- You, a sharp, standoffish cat hybrid don't give a fuck about anything except until you met Sophia, a straight‑A, teacher’s pet golden retriever hybrid who, well, decided that she is just utterly, hopelessly, smitten with you.
Dogs chase cats after all.
a/n: so.. writer's block a bitch but i'm working on it!! decided that it was time to be progressive so i'm giving y'all a compensation while i still work on spectral and spicy, mwah.
In this world, hybrids wear their nature loud and clear. Ears twitch like radar, tails have minds of their own, and every move screams exactly what they are.
Wolves are boisterous and incredibly loyal to their packs and friends, foxes are clever little tricksters who will absolutely steal your lunch money if you blink, rabbits are twitchy and fast but secretly great listeners… and cats?
Cats like you are quiet, observant, fiercely independent, and deeply protective of their personal space. You transferred here, to a new university, hoping for a calm, low‑key year— no drama, no unnecessary attention, just mind your own business, keep your grades steady, nap in the sun whenever possible, and slip back into your dorm at the end of the day without anyone bothering you.
You lasted exactly twelve minutes.
Because of a certain bright, cheerful dog that somehow fixated on you.
She's the school’s unofficial golden girl— literally.
Pretty figure, light warm honey‑toned skin, soft long dark waves that fall perfectly no matter how much she runs around, big floppy golden retriever ears that twitch at every little sound, and a tail that never, ever stays still.
She never misses a deadline, never talks back, volunteers for every boring chore from organizing the supply closet to carrying stacks of homework to the office, and raises her hand before anyone else has even finished reading the question.
Students adore her just as much.
She remembers everyone’s birthday, shares her snacks freely, helps freshmen find their classrooms, and somehow always ends up holding everyone’s extra stuff without ever complaining.
And from the very moment you stepped foot onto school grounds? She knew that she was yours.
She had ultimately decided that you were now the most important thing in existence. Grades, reputation, common sense— all instantly fell to second place.
You, the stubborn, aloof cat, became her whole world.
You’re standing by your locker, ears flattened in quiet frustration as you wrestle with the stupid combination lock that clearly holds a personal grudge against you, tail flicking sharply enough to create a small breeze.
It hadn't even been ten minutes yet when the world had decided that this day was going to be your first and last at this university.
You had managed to trip over a step earlier at the entrance, some fox hybrid saw it and snickered. The wolves laughs too loud for your own liking, you contemplated just throwing a bone over there or something. And while you were trying to find your locker earlier, you caught two bunny hybrids dry humping against each other inside the janitor's closet.
You mutter low and grumbly under your breath. "Stupid lock. Stupid school. Stupid horny people who can't keep it in their fucking pan-"
You flinched so high you nearly crack your skull against your locker, fur bristling instantly along your spine, tail puffing out to twice its normal size as you whirl around, ready to hiss your displeasure right into someone’s face— only to freeze.
A golden retriever hybrid that was staring at you with those dilated, big eyes and bright smile, looking like she just came out of a Disney movie.
She was grinning like she’s just discovered the eighth wonder of the world while she holds a few books close on her arm. Her fluffy golden ears were perked so high and her tail was thumping away behind her so vigorously that it has already knocked a math textbook off the next locker.
"Hi!" She beams, completely unbothered by the fact she nearly gave you a heart attack.
"You’re the new transfer student, aren’t you? I saw you walk in and my brain literally just went OH! and my tail started wagging on its own so hard I felt like I was gonna fly away!"
She twists sideways to show you, and sure enough, that fluffy golden tail is going a mile a minute. "Look! It’s still doing it!"
It was loud enough to rattle the lockers around her at this point.
You stare at her, unimpressed, ears slowly lowering back into a very judgmental slant. "Can you… stop that? You’re shaking the whole hallway."
Sophia blinks, then immediately grabs her tail gently with both hands like she’s physically restraining an overexcited puppy, which, let’s be honest, she basically is.
"Sorry! So sorry! It just does that automatically whenever I see something I really, really like! And I really like you already!"
Your brain short‑circuits for a solid three seconds. You smooth down your ruffled fur with one hand, tail giving one sharp, disgruntled flick. "You don’t even know me. And let go of your tail, you look ridiculous."
She immediately lets go, tail springing right back into motion like a rubber band, and her smile somehow grows even brighter.
"I know! Isn’t fate wonderful? It’s destiny! The universe practically screamed 'Sophia, look! This is the girl you’re going to follow around like a very devoted, well‑educated pup for the rest of the school year!' It's romantic, right?"
You winced at the volume of her voice, your tail flickering in annoyance more at how loud she is instead of what nonsense-batshit-fate-thingy she was yapping about.
Sophia leans in just a fraction closer, nose twitching delicately as she breathes in, and sighs so dreamily it borders on embarrassing. "You smell amazing, by the way. Like clean linen and vanilla and sun‑warmed cushion covers. I could stand here and breathe you in all day, well, not in a weird way! In a very respectful, deeply appreciative way! I promise!"
You take a very large step backward until your back hits the cold metal of the locker, ears twitching rapidly.
"That is exactly the kind of weird way."
She giggles, bright and warm and completely undeterred, and holds out her hand. It warm, soft, perfect, with the enthusiasm of someone offering you the keys to a kingdom. "I'm Sophia! Sophia Laforteza. Straight‑A student, teacher’s favorite, holder of the school record for most Jollibee peach mango pies eaten in one sitting, don’t ask, it was a very competitive bet, and now officially your personal guide, homework helper, snack provider, and designated admirer! Nice to meet you!"
You look from her hand, to her overly hopeful, shining face, to her tail which is now dangerously close to knocking over a freshman’s backpack, and sigh so deep your shoulders slump.
You just could never get the quiet life that you want, could you?
Reluctantly, you shake her hand and mumble your name quietly. Her grip is firm but incredibly gentle, like she’s terrified of squeezing too hard.
You immediately winced again, pulling your hand back at her loud voice.
Seriously, does this girl have any button where you can turn the volume down?
Sophia gasps, eyes lighting up so bright you swear you see little sparkles floating around her. "Aw! That’s such a pretty name, it suits you so well. Absolutely going to say it at least fifty times a day until you get used to hearing it!"
"Please don’t." You deadpan, already feeling the beginnings of a headache throbbing behind your eyes.
"Don’t worry!" She chirps, already falling into perfect step right beside you as you turn to walk away, tail still thumping rhythmically against the floor. "I’ll make sure to pronounce it perfectly!Teachers always compliment my enunciation, you know? I practice in the mirror sometimes!"
It was going to be a long year for you.
Weeks passed and it doesn’t take long to learn just how terrifyingly smart Sophia actually is.
She’s the kind of student who raises her hand before the teacher even finishes asking the question, who keeps every single handout color‑coded and organized in labeled binders, who somehow always knows the answer even when everyone else is still squinting blankly at the board.
Teachers and professors absolutely adore her, they call on her constantly, ask her to help grade quizzes, treat her like half student, half walking campus trophy.
And yet? The very second you walk into the classroom, her brain seems to completely short‑circuit.
You’ll be sitting there, minding your own business, taking notes quietly, when you feel a burning intensity on the side of your face. You glance over, and well, for the hundreth time, there she is.
Sophia, pen hovering uselessly above her notebook, completely forgotten, cheeks turning steadily pink, ears tilted so far toward you they’re almost sideways, tail swaying that slow, rhythmic 'thump, thump, thump' you know against the leg of her desk like it has a mind entirely of its own.
"Is there something on my face?" You whisper, trying your hardest to sound annoyed even though your stupid heart is doing that familiar little flip it always does whenever she looks at you like that.
She jolts like you just shocked her awake, nearly knocking over her ink bottle, and scrambles to sit up straight, ears flattening just a tiny bit in sheepish embarrassment.
"N‑No! Not at all! Your face is.. perfect! It’s a very, very good face! Um, shit- I mean-! I was just admiring your focus! Yes! You just look so smart when you concentrate, it’s honestly very inspiring!"
"Sophia." You narrow your eyes at her. "You haven’t written a single word for the last ten minutes."
She glances down at her completely blank page, then back up at you with a smile so sweet and guilty it’s actually kind of impressive. "Potatoe, potahto. I'd rather learn you anyways.."
You watches as Sophia leans over slowly, carefully, like she’s approaching a skittish wild animal she doesn’t want to scare away, and slides over a perfectly neat, detailed set of notes. It was olor‑coded, highlighted, with little helpful doodles in the margin, written in her neat handwriting. "Plus, I already took double notes earlier! One set for me, one set for the new student, which is you. Because I’m helpful, and thoughtful, and definitely not hopelessly distracted by how pretty you look."
You stare at the paper, then up at her, looking at the way her ears twitch hopefully, at the way her tail picks up speed again, thumping softly but happily against the floor. And you try very hard to glare. You really do.
"You're absolutely ridiculous."
"Thank you." She beams, preening a little like you just gave her the highest compliment in existence. "I work very hard at it! Just for you."
Later, when you’re struggling your way through advanced math homework in the library after school, she sits across from you, working quietly, until you huff in frustration, tail flicking sharply back and forth, pen tapping angrily against the paper.
Before you can even look up and look at anyone who might saw you being frustrated for being stupid, a warm hand gently covers yours, stopping the tapping, and a soft voice murmurs. "Here, let me show you. This part is super tricky, but once you see the pattern, it’s actually kind of fun, I promise."
Sophia leans in close, her shoulder brushing lightly against yours, and explains it so clearly, so patiently, never once making you feel stupid, never rushing you. Her breath was warm against your ear. Her scent, consistin of sunshine, honey, and fresh paper, wrapping around you like a soft blanket.
And every single time you glance sideways, she’s already looking at you again, her eyes soft and full of such obvious, adoring affection it makes your cheeks burn hot enough to rival a stove at this point.
"See?" Sophia murmured quietly and when you finally solve the problem correctly, a huge, proud grin spreading across her face. "You’re smart! I knew you would be. Everything you do is smart."
"Stop saying things like that." You grumble, turning your face away so she won’t see how pleased you actually are, your traitor tail curling slowly, involuntarily, around the leg of her chair.
"Good!" She whispers back, so soft you almost miss it entirely. "I like being a nice distraction to you."
And you don't know if you're starting to like it.
Lunchtime is where Sophia's utter lack of subtlety really shines the brightest, it only gets more elaborate as the weeks go by.
You make a beeline for the farthest, quietest corner of the cafeteria every single day, fully prepared to eat in blessed silence.
And every single goddamn day,
Before you’ve even taken your first bite, there’s already a warm weight settling on the bench beside you, followed by the distinct sound of an overexcited tail thumping rhythmically against the metal table leg.
"Hi!" Sophia chirps brightly, that same sweet smile tugging up to her plump lips as she already starts unloading half her lunch onto your tray like it’s an official royal offering. "I brought the apple slices dusted with cinnamon you mentioned liking once three weeks ago! And the really good orange juice, the not too sour one, don't worry."
Your tail fell as you sighed internally, your ears flopping back at the thought of your quiet lunch being invaded by a hyperactive, yapping golden retriever.
"And this little chocolate cookie I baked myself last night! I tested three batches to make sure it wasn’t burnt! I ate the first two so you wouldn’t have to suffer my failures. It was very noble of me, I know, don't fall too hard."
You stare down at your suddenly overflowing tray, then up at her. Her ears are practically vibrating with hope, her tail moving so fast it’s a blur, her cheeks pink with pride.
You sigh, but you don’t push any of it away. Not anymore.
"You realize you don’t have to feed me like I’m some feral stray cat you’re trying to domesticate, right?"
She gasps dramatically, one hand flying to her chest, looking absolutely scandalized as if you insulted her whole country and bloodline.
"Don't say that to yourself! You're not feral! You're mysterious and beautiful. This is the proper courtship protocol! Retrievers are very good at bringing gifts to the people they love, usually it’s sticks or half‑dead birds, but I figured baked goods were a much safer for you."
You snorted, actually snorted before quickly covering your mouth, ears twitching in surprise at your own reaction. Crap.
"Courtship protocol? Really?" You deadpanned, trying to cover the slip up you had.
"Um, yeah?" Sophia retorted out in a 'duh' tone, nodding her head while leaning forward, elbows on the table, chin resting in her hands, staring at you with the kind of devotion usually reserved for religious statues.
"I have a whole mental checklist! Learn your favorite things, check! Walk you to every single class, check! Carry your books when they look even slightly heavy, check! Laugh at your grumpy little jokes even when they aren’t actually jokes, double check! Eventually I plan to graduate to walking you home, then holding your hand, then cuddling in the library, then moving in together, then growing old together, etcetera. I even made a timeline! It’s very organized! I used Excel and color‑coded it by milestone!"
This girl couldn't be for real.
You gaped at her, staring at Sophia with an unreadable expression.
"You.. made an Excel spreadsheet about turning me into your permanent housemate?"
"It’s titled Project: Win The Grumpy Cat’s Heart." She admits, ears turning a very bright shade of pink, tail slowing down a little like she’s suddenly shy.
"The success rate is currently at 47%. Mostly because you let me sit with you now! And you haven’t hissed at me in almost two weeks! That’s massive progress!"
No, scratch that, baffled is an understatement, you were in pure disbelief as you processed Sophia's words.
You burst out laughing, quiet and breathless and genuine, the sound that rarely ever escapes your lips when someone is around, the infectious and unfiltered kind that only comes with comfort.
Sophia’s eyes practically went huge and shiny, irises dilating, like she just watched the stars align right there in the middle of the noisy cafeteria. Her tail instantly kicks back into overdrive, thumping so loud nearby students glance over.
"Oh.. my god. You.. You laughed. And it’s even better than I imagined. I’m- I'm never going to recover from this. I think my heart just fell into my small intestine."
"Stop it." You snickered, but you’re smiling now, soft, warm, completely unable to hide the curve on your lips.
You took a bite of the cookie to distact yourself from Sophia's lovestruck gaze, the dessert's taste immediately melting at your tongue.
It was perfect, sweet and soft and exactly right.
Just like the certain golden retriever hybrid next to you.
You glance sideways at Sophia, at how happy she looks just seeing you eat it and your heart did that awful flip again.
You swallowed down the sweetness and perhaps, also the feelings that were brewing up inside before mumblung, quieter this time.
"... It’s good. Thank you."
Sophia practically melts into a puddle right there on the bench, ears flopping sideways in pure bliss. "You’re welcome. I would bake you a thousand cookies if it meant you’d keep looking at me like that."
You'd think that she'd get tired of always following you and trying to appease your needs but no.
Sophia Laforteza is the most stubborn, hard-headed girl you had ever met.
After school, she insists on walking you all the way back to your dorm, even though it’s in the opposite direction of her own, even when it’s raining, even when you tell her repeatedly you can find your own way.
When you would go out to buy some stuff or grocery, she would somehow always appear beside you, saying that it was a coincidence even when you could practically see her tail wagging behind her in a low manner— a sign that she is most definitely, absolutely, lying.
Sophia would always walk on the side closest to the road, instinctively shielding you from traffic, always keeping a respectful distance, well, until you slow down, and then she drifts closer, close enough your arms brush occasionally, making your breath catch in your throat every single time.
She also memorizes your favorite sun‑drenched spot in the library which is a wide windowsill that gets warm golden light in the afternoons. She would somehow always manages to claim it ten minutes before you arrive, saving the best spot right next to her with a little handwritten note:
"Reserved for the most beautiful cat hybrid in the campus! Do not move or I will cry (and also, don't come for me, the librarian knows me)."
And yes, it doesn't even stop at that.
Once, you complained about your dorm room being too cold at night, and the very next afternoon Sophia showed up at your door carrying an enormous, fluffy knitted blanket in soft cream and gold— clearly handmade, clearly stitched with love, because every few inches there’s a little paw print stitched into the fabric.
"My grandma taught me!" She said proudly, tail wagging happily. "I was just about to get you a weighted blanket at first but I figured this would be more special if I made it myself. Like I'm transferring my own warmth to you."
You just stared at Sophia, your heart thumping that familiar manner in your chest against as you watch her ramble proudly.
"It took me three weeks! See? It’s just the right weight. Warm enough but not too heavy. It's sooo perfect for naps!" Sophia beamed, that same bright smile tugging up to her plump lips as she boasted off her gift to you.
You tried to act annoyed, but you ended up wrapped in it every night after that, pretending it was just the blanket keeping you warm and not the thought of her.
Everything felt too good.
Too warm, too easy, too perfect, and slowly, a terrible, creeping fear began to settle deep in your chest.
Sophia was everything anyone could ever want. She was kind, sweet, endlessly patient, smart, capable, and beloved by literally everyone who met her. She was sunshine made flesh. So bright, open, warm, overflowing with love she gave freely to everyone around her.
But you? You were the opposite. You were quiet, guarded, slow to trust, easily overwhelmed, and far too used to keeping people at arm’s length because you knew how much it hurt when they eventually left.
You were a cat through and through, you needed space, silence, independence.
Sophia was a retriever, naturally drawn to constant connection, affection, and closeness.
You were polar opposites.
You started telling yourself, over and over, until it felt like truth: She deserves someone like her.
Someone bright and open and just as full of life. Someone who laughs easily, who isn’t always suspicious, who doesn’t constantly pull away like she expects to be rejected. Someone who matches her energy.
Someone who's not afraid to love her back.
You're quiet, too grumpy, too wrapped up in your own head. You thought that you would only hold her back, that she’d be so much happier with someone who fits right into her world.
And so, that fear only grew worse when you saw Marquise.
It was a crisp Tuesday afternoon, the sun filtering golden through the trees lining the path between the main building and the dormitories. You were walking slowly, books clutched tight to your chest, ears half‑flattened against the faint breeze, when you spotted them near the stone courtyard.
Marquise, the husky hybrid, tall and striking with silvery‑white fur, bright brown, and that easy, bright aura that made everyone turn heads. She was the captain of the track team, outgoing, funny, effortlessly charming, and just as popular as Sophia, the kind of girl who could make a whole room light up just by walking in.
And there was Sophia, standing right beside her.
They were laughing, really laughing, loud and bright and carefree. Marquise leaning casually against a pillar while Sophia gestured wildly with her hands, her whole face lit up, her tail wagging slow and steady, relaxed and happy in a way you’d only ever seen when she was with you.
You watched as Marquise reached out, giving Sophia’s shoulder a playful, affectionate nudge, and the Filipina giggled, ducking her head, her ears pink at the tips, before she nudged her right back.
They looked so natural together, like two pieces of the same puzzle, like they understood each other without even needing words, like they belonged side by side just as everyone expected them to.
Your heart sank so deep it felt like it was dropping straight through the pavement.
You stopped in your tracks, hidden behind a thick hedge, and watched them for a long, aching moment while your mind whispered stuffs cruelly. That’s how it’s supposed to be after all. She belongs with someone like her, someone open, energetic, easygoing.
Someone who doesn’t overthink every little thing, someone who doesn’t flinch away from affection, someone who can keep up with her brightness. You're just … too much work. Too much shadow next to her sunshine.
And so, you made the hardest decision you ever had.
You started pulling away.
At first, it was small, almost unnoticeable. You started leaving class the second the bell rang, slipping out before she could even pack her things to catch up. You stopped heading to your usual lunch corner, choosing instead to eat in empty classrooms or hidden benches far away from the cafeteria crowds. When she called your name in the hallways, bright and hopeful, you’d pretend you didn’t hear, keeping your head down and walking faster, your tail held stiff and low, every step feeling like you were tearing a little piece of yourself away.
Sophia noticed immediately.
Of course she did, she noticed everything about you.
The first few days, she was confused. She ran after you, long legs carrying her quickly until she was right beside you, her brow furrowed with gentle worry, her tail slowing down to a hesitant sway.
"Hey! Wait up, you left before I could walk with you today. Did I do something? Did I say something wrong? Because if I did, I swear I’ll fix it. I’ll buy you extra snacks? I'll rewrite all my notes in a different ink! Anything you want!"
Sophia rambled, earnest and sweet, her big brown eyes wide and searching, like she was terrified she’d already messed everything up, and god, did it broke your heart.
You just shrug your shoulders despite the guilt brewing in you, keeping your voice cold and flat, harder than you ever meant it to be. "Nothing’s wrong. I’m just busy. Go find someone else to bother."
The words hurt you more than they hurt her, but when you saw her ears droop, folding halfway back against her head, her tail tucking low between her legs like a scolded puppy, your resolve only hardened.
You kept that manthra on your head, swallowing the lump rising thick and hot in your throat. She’ll get used to it. She’ll stop trying. She’ll realize you're not worth all this effort, and she’ll go find someone who actually deserves her.
But Sophia didn’t stop. She never stopped.
She started waiting outside your first class every morning, holding a warm muffin that she baked or a carton of your favorite juice, her smile wobbly but determined, only for you to walk straight past her without a single glance.
She’d leave little notes slipped under your dorm door. The sweet, thoughtful ones, hoping that you'd at least read one of it.
"Saw this cat sticker and thought of you!"
"I saved you the best library sunspot today… it’s not as warm without you there."
"I miss hearing you laugh at my terrible jokes."
And every single time, you’d find them later, crumple them up, and throw them away, your chest aching so bad it was hard to breathe.
It went on like this for weeks. Weeks of you shutting her out, weeks of her growing quieter, more unsure, her bright smiles fading, her wagging tail becoming slower, sadder, until even the teachers started commenting on how quiet and distracted their favorite student had become.
You saw her walking alone sometimes, her head down, her golden ears drooping, and every time, you had to bite your lip so hard you tasted blood to keep from running over and pulling her into you, to keep from telling her it was all a stupid, terrible mistake, that you loved her more than anything, that you were just so scared you’d never be enough.
You kept walking away, breaking your own heart over and over again, convinced you were doing the right thing.
It was a rainy Friday night, the sky dark and heavy, thunder rumbling soft and low in the distance. The kind of weather that comes with yearning and regret.
You were curled up on your bed, the thick knitted blanket Sophia had gave you wrapped tight around your shoulders despite your best efforts to avoid everything that reminded you of her.
You listened to Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department album earlier and somehow ended up going into a complete psychosis from how painful every track was.
Like, seriously, it seemed like that whole album was made to spite you and your avoidant issues.
You continued staring blankly at the wall, feeling emptier and lonelier than you ever had in your life.
You thought avoiding Sophia would make it easier, but all it had done was make every room feel colder, every silence heavier, every day gray and dull without her sunshine lighting it up.
It was close to midnight when you heard it. A loud, clumsy thud against your door, followed immediately by a very dramatic, muffled whine.
You froze, ears twitching straight up, heart suddenly hammering against your ribs. Slowly, cautiously, you got up and padded over, opening the door just a crack, and immediately, your breath caught right in your throat.
Your perfect, straight‑A, teacher’s‑pet, never‑does‑anything‑wrong Sophia— standing swaying slightly on your doorstep, hair a messy halo of dark waves, her cheeks flushed bright pink, her eyes glassy and unfocused, and her usual steady posture all wobbly and off‑balance.
She smelled distinctly of sweet fruit wine and rain, and her ears were drooping so far down they nearly covered her eyes.
"Sophia?!" You gasped, yanking the door fully open, reaching out instinctively to steady her before she could topple over. "What the fuck are you doing here? You’re drunk?!"
Sophia stumbled forward, immediately latching onto your arms like you were the only solid thing in the whole spinning world, and let out a loud, indignant huff that was adorable even when she was clearly batshit intoxicated.
"I'm NOT drunk!" She slurred loudly, eyes narrowing fiercely like you’d just insulted her favorite fast-food restaurant, Jollibee. "I'm… m.. just… extremely emotionally.. distressed. And Dani said wine helps heartbreak. She lied. It just makes me wanna yell at you. Sooooo, I came here t’ yell!"
You stared at her, half horrified, half helplessly fond despite everything while you guided her, well, technically, dragging her inside your warm room, kicking the door shut behind you. "You came here to yell at me?! Sophia, you literally never drink! You’re the girl who lectures everyone about responsible choices and staying hydrated and never missing morning classes! How did this even happen??"
Sophia wobbled over to your bed and plopped down unceremoniously, bouncing slightly, then fixed you with the wobbliest, angriest glare you’d ever seen, which, honestly, just made her look like an upset golden retriever puppy with those pouty lips and watery eyes.
"Because you HATE me!" She sobbed suddenly, throwing her hands up dramatically, nearly losing her balance again.
"You ignore me! You walk away when I call you! You won’t sit with me, won’t take my snacks, won’t even look at me like I’m something good anymore! And I don’t even KNOW WHY!"
Her voice cracked, and big, shiny tears started spilling over, rolling down her pink cheeks. "Did I mess up the notes? Were the cookies too burnt? Did I breathe too loud? Did I wag my tail too much? I can stop! I can sew it down if I have to, well, no I can’t, that sounds painful, but I’d TRY! I’d do anything if you’d just stop hating me!"
Your heart shattered completely right then and there. You rushed forward, dropping to your knees in front of her, hands hovering uncertainly near her legs, your throat tight and aching so bad you could barely speak. "Sophia… I don’t hate you. I could never hate you, you stupid, adorable do-"
She practically screamed, completely intoxicated as you winced a bit, your ears flattening on top of your head.
Jesus, you'd never thought she could get louder than her original volume when sober.
Sophia's tears kept coming faster now, her tail thumping erratically against your mattress in angry, hurt, desperate thumps. "Why d'you treat me like I'm nothing?? Why'd you look at Marquise and then act like you don’t wanna be near me ever again?! I saw you watching us! I saw your face go all sad and distant! Did you decide you like her better?! 'Cause if you did–"
She hiccuped loudly, burying her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking violently. "– if you did, then fine! She's perfect, everyone says so, she's charming and sporty and not difficult like me— but it hurts! It hurts so bad 'cause I don't want you to want anyone else! I saw you first! You were mine first!"
You stared at Sophia as you processed her words, watching as the drunk golden retriever hybrid ramble, face flushed, tears rolling down her cheeks. She thought you liked Marquise.
She thought that since she saw you watching the both of them, she figured that you must've liked the husky hybrid.
This smart yet so, so stupid girl.
"Sophia. I don't like Marquise." You murmured softly, gathering those hands in yours.
Sophia stilled at that, her hazy, glossy eyes immediately finding yours as it narrowed. "Then why the hell have you been avoiding me??"
"I.. Well.. I just.." You stammered for the first time, trying to get your point across.
Shit. This was harder than you thought
You took another sigh, gathering all of your pent up thoughts and feelings, gathering all the words that your heart had kept as a burden for weeks. "I just felt like I don't deserve you. That I can't deserve you. I'm... me and you're.. all of this. We're polar opposites while you and Marquise click like you had known each other all your life. You need someone who's as bright as you, someone who's not dull, someone who'd love you out loud, someone not me and someone exactly like.. her."
By the time you finished your words, Sophia's hands suddenly left your, grabbing your wrists instead in a grip surprisingly strong even in her drunken state. She yanked you up closer until your faces were inches apart, her eyes wide, shiny, and painfully sincere.
"You think... You think I'd want Marquise? You think I want her? I want you! The grumpy cat who hisses at lockers and glares at loud people, the one who acts all tough but secretly loves warm blankets and sweet cookies, the one who lets her tail wrap around my chair leg when she thinks I'm not looking!" She rambled, words tumbling over each other, raw and messy and completely honest.
"I don't care if you're quiet! I don’t care if you're complicated! I like complicated! I like you! I love you! Every single grumpy, sharp‑clawed, sun‑loving inch of you! And it kills me that you think I'd ever look anywhere else!"
She collapsed forward as her voice broke, burying her face against your shoulder, sobbing openly now, warm tears soaking through your shirt, her whole body trembling against yours. "I don’t care if the whole world thinks we don’t fit. I don’t care if everyone says huskies and retrievers go together better, or that cats are too shitty. I don’t care about any of it. All I care about is you looking at me like I'm still your person… 'cause you’ve always been mine. Even when you’re pushing me away. Even when you hate me."
You sat there, frozen for a long moment and before you knew it, tears had already started to fog your vision from how the heaviness in your heart had suddenly been lifted.
Your hands come up slowly, trembling, to wrap tight around Sophia's figure, pulling her as close as humanly possible, burying your face in her soft dark hair, breathing in the familiar scent of sunshine, honey, and something entirely, uniquely her.
"I'm so sorry." You whispered, broken and wobbly, kissing the side of her head over and over again, holding her like you were terrified she'd vanish if you let go. "I was so stupid, Sophia. So, so stupid. I didn’t push you away because I hated you. I pushed you away because I love you too much. Because you’re so perfect, so bright, so good… and I thought you deserved someone who could shine just as bright back. Someone like Marquise, someone easy, someone who wouldn’t be scared all the time… someone who wouldn't feel like a shadow next to your sun."
Sophia pulled back just enough to stare at you, her eyes wide, misty and shining with so much love it almost knocked the breath out of you. Her hands coming up to cup your face, thumbs brushing gently over your wet cheeks.
"You think you’re a shadow?" She whispered, soft and raw and so full of adoration it made your chest ache. "You think I want easy? You're the best thing that ever happened to me. You're the only thing that matters. You're not a shadow, you're my favorite part of every single day. You're the reason my tail wags before I even see you, the reason I study extra hard just to make you proud, the reason I bake a hundred cookies until I get them right just to see you smile. I don't want anyone like me. I want you. Exactly as you are. Grumpy, quiet, sharp‑tongued, and completely mine."
She leaned in as soon as her words finished, capturing your lips, claiming it the same way that she claimed your heart.
It was clumsy and sweet as you feel her pressing a soft, warm, lingering kiss right against your lips gentle, unsure, like she was waiting for you to pull away, terrified that even now, after everything, you might still slip through her fingers.
Her lips were soft, warm, tasting faintly of sweet wine and salt from her tears, pressing against yours with a desperate kind of tenderness, like she was trying to memorize every inch of you before you could change your mind. Her hands rested lightly on your waist, trembling slightly, her fingers curling into the fabric of your shirt just enough to hold on, but never pushing, never demanding— just.. always waiting, always giving you the choice.
And so, when you immediately kissed her back, hard, hungry, and completely unafraid as you poured every single second of longing, every hour of fear, every ounce of love you’d been hiding away right into it, Sophia made the happiest, most broken, little whimper you'd ever heard, vibrating right against your mouth.
She melted instantly, completely, pressing her body flush against yours like she wanted to fuse herself to you, her arms wrapping tight around your neck, pulling you closer until there wasn't even a breath of space left between you. Her tail finally started to wag again in a slow, steady pace, so full of overwhelming joy and relief that it shook the whole bed frame, thumping softly but insistently against the mattress, a rhythm only you could feel, only you could understand.
Sophia kissed you deeper then, bolder now that she knew you weren't going anywhere, her tongue sweeping softly against yours, warm and sweet and messy, everything she'd been too scared to do for weeks finally spilling out.
She tasted like sunshine and rain and everything you'd ever missed. Her fingers tangled into your hair, tugging gently, making you gasp, making her hum low in her throat like she was starving for every little sound you made. She shifted closer, climbing into your lap without breaking the kiss, her legs wrapping tight around your waist, her weight heavy and warm and perfect, exactly where she belonged. Every movement was clumsy from the wine, slow and uncoordinated, but so full of raw, aching need it made your head spin.
She pressed kisses along your jaw, down your neck, nipping soft, sweet little marks into your skin that would definitely be there tomorrow, murmuring against your skin between kisses, "Missed you… missed you so much… thought I'd die without you… my girl… my only girl…"
Her hands wandered, warm and curious, sliding under your shirt, palms rough from years of writing and carrying books but so incredibly gentle against your skin, tracing every curve, every line, like she was mapping you out, like she needed to know every part of you by heart. She shivered when you touched her back, when you dug your fingers into her hips, when you whispered her name like a prayer.
Sophia pulled away a bit for air, pressing her forehead hard against yours, her breath hot and shaky, her eyes half‑lidded, dark and blown wide with love, want and pure, unfiltered devotion.
"I'm never letting you go again." She mumbled sleepily against your mouth, her voice thick and rough, heavy with exhaustion and wine and all the emotion she’d been holding back.
Her eyelids were drooping heavily now too, the adrenaline finally fading, the alcohol and overwhelming relief catching up with her all at once, but her arms never loosened their hold, never let you pull away even an inch.
"Never. Not ever again. Even if you try to hide. Even if you hiss. Even if you act all grumpy and pretend you don't care. I'll find you. I'll chase you. I'll follow you to the ends of the earth and back if I have to. You’re mine. You’ve always been mine.”
You chuckled softly through fresh tears, your heart beating so hard you were sure she could feel it against her chest. You guided Sophia carefully back until she was lying fully on your bed, pulling her down with you, wrapping your own arms tight around her waist, keeping her pressed right against you.
You pulled the heavy knitted blanket up over both of you, tucking it tight around her shoulders, brushing her messy dark, hair away from her flushed face, tracing the soft curve of her ears, the line of her jaw, the way her eyelashes fluttered as she fought to stay awake just to look at you.
Your heart felt so full it could burst, every empty, aching space you'd carried for weeks suddenly filled with her warmth, her weight, her scent, the soft, happy little purr rumbling deep in her chest as she snuggled closer, burying her face right into the crook of your neck, breathing you in like you were air.
She tangled her legs with yours, her tail curling tight around your ankle, soft and warm and possessive, a silent promise she wasn't going anywhere, not now, not ever.
"I won't try anymore." You whispered back, quiet and sure, pressing one last lingering, searing kiss to her forehead, then her cheek, then her lips, soft and sweet and everything you'd ever wanted. "I promise. I’m right here. I'm always here. I won't go anywhere either."
And as Sophia finally drifted off, safe and warm and exactly where she belonged, you knew— that no matter what happened, no matter how much you'd scared each other, you were home. Right here, wrapped up in her arms, loved louder and deeper and more sincerely than you ever thought possible.
No matter how different you were— you, the distant cat who loved peace and quiet, and her, the sunshine retriever who knocked things over just by walking past— or how many people thought you didn't fit, how many people said you were the weirdest pair ever, none of it mattered.
You fit right here, perfectly, exactly where you belonged, right beside your sweet, dorky, overly-smitten golden retriever.
And you'd choose this, every single time.
a/n: had so many pendings in my drafts but this was cute, i liked this idea when it randomly came to me one night, knew that i just had to write it lol
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