A Welcome Mat at Death’s Door
Llors’ Grim Dog AU is why I get up in the morning just saying. Here’s an almost-fluffy fic about a very fluffy death omen.
Sunrise broke through the kitchen window of the Mystery Shack. It washed oranges and pinks across the sink, the tile, the fridge—now decorated with two dozen photos of Soos, Melody, and the Pines family. Ford sat at the table, one leg crossed, and sipped from a warm porcelain mug. It was quiet, save for the birds, the rustle of his newspaper and—
–an ominous, bleak, pulsating dread, like veins of ice in his chest. Ford shivered, then sighed, and looked around for—yup, standing in the doorway, smoky tail wagging. The Grim stuck its snout in the air, sniffed twice, then returned to panting.
“I haven’t seen Stan around, Grim. You should perhaps check his bedroom.” Ford took a gulp of coffee in an attempt to replace the ice in his stomach. He wasn’t certain the thing could understand speech. He’d never been dumb enough to try pursing a Grim to study.
“Nah don’t worry Ford I’m here. It’s with me.” Stan appeared in the same doorway then, buttoning up the collar of his shirt. Not quite his Mister Mystery get up—that’d been passed along to Soos at the end of last summer—but it was still nicer than his usual tanktop and boxers.
“The clothes are a bit unusual. As well as the hour. I’m not used to seeing you awake before noon. Plans?”
“First—uncalled for, also screw off, I’m allowed to enjoy sleep in my old age. Second—I’m taking the Grim out for some air.”
“And that requires nice clothes?”
“Well I aint taking it to the dog park, Ford.”