Thinking abt Hybrid! Dabi, and a reader in need of a big scary dog
Hybrid! Dabi bites. That's the first thing you read on his plated-sign against the bars of the tiny cage he's placed in. After walking into this hybrid store, you made an immediate beeline away from all the cuter, softer hybrids. The ones with wagging tails, cute eyes, and friendly greetings and chirps. Those weren't the ones you needed. You need an intimidating hybrid.
Dabi bites. It's printed in big, bold red letters. Underneath that text, is basic information about his breed, age, health, and a brief summary of his behavior with his past owner. Underneath that, is his euthanation date.
'Has been roaming the streets for quite some time. Bit last owners hand so severely they were in need of medical attention. Aggressive.'
That's the summary of the sign, and you slowly avert your gaze from the sign to the hybrid inside of the cage. He's in his animal form, but his eyes speak volumes. It holds a certain type of understanding and knowledge that no ordinary animal can ever acquire. It's how you know the store isn't lying about him being a hybrid so that they'd be able to sell him for a higher price.
You take him in. Black, unruly fur, patches of it is missing— mostly near his torso, eyes, ears, mouth, and hands. A burn incident maybe?
You stare back at the sign.
He bites.
His last owner had to be sent to the doctor for immediate medical attention.
You turn your back around and keeping surveying all the pets.
You wouldn't go for such an aggressive hybrid. That tiny little text of his euthanization means nothing to you. You need a hybrid that will be able to protect you, not hurt you.
***
You end up going home with him, he's seated in the backseat of your car, muzzle strapped tightly to his maw as he sits quietly in the doggy cage provided.
When you're desperate, you rationalize, you do stupid things.
Or, when you have a heart, you do stupid things.
It was definitely that tiny text that made you take him in. That, and the burns.
That, and the slop the owners of the establishment were feeding him. If he's going to die, what's the point in feeding him properly? That must've been their reasoning.
When you finally reach home, and get to the point of taking off the muzzle, Dabi bites.
And he bites hard.
For the next few weeks, your hand is treated, and in another 2 weeks it's healed. There's a scar, similar to sharp canine teeth, that you think will never leave. You and him are similar in that regard, both with scars.
Dabi is agitated. Confused and agitated, or agitated because he's confused. You brought him back to your house, even after spending a long time staring at the clear warning sign on is cage. You brought him back, and you didn't even try to interact with him. Didn't try to put him through the same regime behaviour training that he had to go through in the past, and you didn't even send him back. He bit you, and you still treated him the same.
You ignore him most days, but you always leave a plate of cooked food by his door, accompanied by a glass of water or juice.
You are home often, you barley leave the house.
It makes him question, why you even brought him back in the first place.
Dabi is confused.
He finds out later that your ex is batshit, makes sense you'd want to stay safe inside. You're both closer than before, he thinks, but anything can be considered closer now that you aren't ignoring him. You talk to him about little things, or you just complain out loud. Your hands are never near him, and whenever he tries to move closer, your hands are always far.
He pretends it doesn't bother him, like how you pretend you aren't scared whenever his jaw opens.
For the next couple of months, Dabi finds himself trying to get on your good side. It's strange, he thinks, because usually it would be the other way around. Though, you have him treating you as if you were the frightened puppy.
(He can't help but think you'd make a good hybrid, and him a good owner. He wouldn't ignore you so blatantly as you had done to him)
"Hey." He calls, voice gruff and sore from the misuse. He can't remember the last time he even bothered speaking. He didn't have to use his words in most cases, but he finds that if he doesn't then the silence in the house can stretch on for long periods.
He doesn't like that.
And if Dabi doesn't like something, he's going to do something about it.
You don't seem surprised by his voice, instead offering a glass of your own water as you continue to stare at your phone screen, mindlessly texting your friends.
Dabi finds that you aren't the socially awkward type, and you would always go out with your friends when the time proved right. Though, that's changed after your ex.
Even though Dabi feels some resemblance of guilt, he can't help but to be happy you're always at home with him. That he bit you, and you'll forever have a scar. Proof that he exists, if he's ever to kick the bucket. And he's glad your ex was shitty.
It makes impressing you really easy (makes doing nice things for you less embarrassing, if he words it like that).
"Hey" he tries again. This time you nibblie on your bottom lip, putting you're home down and looking up with him. An empty glass clutched in his hands.
"Let's go for a walk"
It seems strange, he thinks, this sort of dynamic between the two of you. Sometimes, he likes to think about if your roles were reversed. If anything, you'd probably be a support dog. Though, he quite likes how things are right now.
unedited, like all my thoughts
right now i am in a hybird phase!! save me dog dabi
also, as an added thing, when you're finally comfortable enough to touch dabi (with quivering hands, and eyes that dart to his face every time you think he isn't looking) you decide to wash him. when you do, you're surprised to find that his hair is white, not black
he says it's dye, but you know he's been mistreated in the shelter
(you don't bring it up again after that, but you always make sure to keep him healthy)
Dog hybrid! Dabi used to get jealous, most frequently when he was a stray.
He was envious of other hybrids with a roof above their heads. He used to think, 'they didn't have to look through trash for food'— they had it easy. Little, obedient house pets.
So, his 'jealousy' has never been for superficial reasons.
Well, up until now.
Dabi stares at the woman you're talking to, a growl wanting to desperately tear it's way up his throat. You seem close to her, so, so close— and he wants to deny the feeling he's experiencing.
He's just territorial, he reasons. He's territorial, and this strange woman is in his home. Too close to you.
Dog hybrid! Dabi gets jealous— watching people mile about with their days as he's forced in cages far too small for his malnourished body.
Now, he has no reason to get 'jealous'. He has a roof above his head and food on his plate every day. He doesn't have to go tracking through bins.
So, if he's jealous, he's ungrateful.
But that woman is far too close to you, and something itches at the back of his mind.
So he'll scratch it, like a good dog.
Dabi stalks closer towards you, and you're surprised because he usually isn't too fond of guests. Probably scared, but now that he's grown to trust you— and you him— you're glad to see this positive development. Though your more surprised by what happens next, as he slips his arm around you and brings you closer, glaring at the woman you were talking to.
i think dog hybrid dabi becomes so spoilt by reader and he just doesn't realize it yet
like, he used to be wild stray, fighting for food and surviving in the cold— but now he's turned into the one thing he used to mock— a house pet
now, if the temperature is even a bit too low he immediately finds solace in your arms, and if the food you decide to cook isn't up to his standards be prepared to hear him groan about it
dog hybrid dabi also becomes really, really lazy. he'd rather spend time lounging at home with you, why go for walks early in the morning if he can just laze about, is there any way he can convince you to wait until some other day?
though really, it is your fault. i mean, how can you say no when he's just too cute?
it's the same way dabi can't seem to say no to you; when you treat him so kindly. Though, he'll never let you know you've got that sorta control over him— it's only funny when he does it.
When he finally starts warming up to you he comes to curl up on your bed at night. Sitting closer to you during the day. Cuuute~
"Tch, don't get the wrong idea. It's jus' the cold.." Dabi would grumble, sitting next to you on the couch. He's so close, close enough for your knees to bump against one another and for his shoulder to press up against yours.
You're going to ignore the fact that he naturally runs hot; that the cold had never seemed to bother him before.
"Ah, okay, then." You keep your voice neutral, though if Dabi were to look up he'd see you struggle to hide the small smile on your face. He just huffs, ignoring your burning stare.
During the night though, it's a completely different story. It doesn't matter if you're asleep or not, he'll find a way to climb into your bed. His excuses sometimes vary. It's either 'I like your sheets more' or the classic 'your room's closer'.
Though, during Summer his clingy behaviour turns out to be a real pain in the ass. Like I've mentioned before, Dabi runs naturally hot. Sometimes he acts like he doesn't— but you're pretty sure he's aware of the pain he puts you through whenever he drapes his taller frame against yours.
"He-hey! Get off of me, you're way too warm..!" You grumble, trying to push Dabi off of you but to no prevail. You can tell he takes joy in your suffering, because it's seems as if he digs his head further into the crook of your neck, arms wrapping around you so tightly, so that even if you had the strength to knock him off you just wouldn't be able to.
You can also tell he's enjoying himself, because of the insistent wagging of his tail.
" 'm schwo cmfy tho.." His raspy voice is muffled against your skin, and you fluster at the vibrations it sends to the side of your neck.
"So you want me to burn to death.." You grumble, playfully flicking at one of his ears and resigning yourself to your fate. To melt into your couch.
You sense his lips curling into a sly grin, and your instincts tell you to intervene before he voices the undoubtedly ridiculous thought brewing in his mind.
"Whatever you're thinking, no—"
It's too late, it seems, because as the words spill from your mouth you feel his cool tongue lick a stripe along your neck, to your cheek.
"Ewwww" you childishly scrunch your nose, whining at the feeling of his saliva on your face.
"Don't complain now, thought you wanted to cool down, babe?"
I don't think dog hybrid dabi bites anymore, maybe nibbles on your cheek or something if he's bored— but your reactions are far more entertaining when he licks your face!! (eweeewwwwwww)
Though, he's unaware that it isn't just disgust in your tone, you're really flustered too...
