Lion!Reader x Canine!141 Part 2
Part 1
CW: scottish accent innacuracies, making up whatever I want about hybrids, medical whump, Kyle fluff
Sorry it's short :P
"Stop fockin' lickin' yerself!" Johnny's voice is a mix of concern and disgust. You look up blearily from where you were nuzzling into the cuts on your forearms. You weren't aware that anyone else was in the room. You don't even know where you are, come to think of it. Or how long you've been here. Or why. No matter. Nobody else is gonna groom you, that's for sure. Johnny moves into your line of sight, and as you try to focus on his sideways form your sudden dizziness distracts you from your task.
"Jesus, ye open yer eyes and instantly go full fockin' feline- don't you know we've been- been waiting for you to wake up for fockin'- Christ." His agitation dissipates somewhat and his voice draws closer. You realize you can see a little better - Johnny's big head is blocking the painful lights.
"You... yer a right fockin' eejit you know that?" It takes a second for you to realize what he's said, because his words are so at odds with the softness of his tone.
"Boil y'r head." You croak, more dust than sound.
"Naw ye cannae do that. Sounds daft when ye say it like that," he grumbles. The sound of a door opening has him turning, light suddenly piercing into your eyes again. You turn your face into your arms more, but there's a tugging on your wrist.
"Hey, hey you'll pull your IV out." The voice is Kyle. The lights dim after a few seconds. Cool hands help settle your limbs beside you. You want to turn onto your back, but something is wedged behind you. Your ears flick at the rhythmic click of a machine nearby.
There's noise filtering in from outside, too. Too much of it. Talking and beeping and clattering. And the smells! You aren't sure if the strong, chemically smells are hurting your ears or your nose- your tail hurts too.
"Shhhhh-shhush," you wine.
"Sorry. Loud out there, I know. They didn't have any hybrid rooms available."
"Guess she's not the only dumb animal trying to get herself killed," Johnny mutters. If it was a human saying shit like that, you'd bite them in the face. But Johnny just makes you snort. And then you're coughing, because your throat is so dry. And then you're gasping, because you had been blissfully unaware of any pain in your side but boy did you notice it now.
"Here, water." A straw pokes at your lips. You open your mouth clumsily to receive it. Your teeth clench automatically around it - which makes it hard for you to drink. But the cup's empty before you're ready.
"Johnny'll get you more," Kyle says, to Johnny's annoyance. But the door opens and closes, and its just you and Kyle.
"Is Price mad at me?" You murmur weakly, voicing the concern that sits top of mind - right next to the stabbing in your side, of course. Kyle lets out a startled laugh.
"Mad? Oh, he's...uh, you know what, don't worry about that. Focus on getting better so he can kill you properly," he jokes.
You nod, as if his suggestion is entirely serious.
"Did it help?"
"Hmm?"
"The manual."
"...it did. But... no don't go grinnin' like that you little menace, you're lucky you're still loopy and Price has the sense to give you some time before he chews you out."
"...never let me do anything...just...useless..." you breathe, your mirth fading.
"I just wanted..."
"I know."
"I don't wanna be a burden." It must be the drugs 'cause you haven't cried in ages, much less in front of a coworker, much much less in front of a man.
"...I know. I..." Kyle's hand settles cool and comforting on the back if your neck.
"I miss being- some... somebody... I miss my pride," you admit tearfully. "I just-"
"I know." Kyle's voice sounds watery too. You hope your emotional state isn't contagious.
"I can't even begin to... we didn't mean to-" he sighs.
You nod, though you don't really know what you're nodding about. But even through your hazy, pain-addled mind you feel like there's something to agree to, some kind of understanding forged between the two of you. Idly you hope you can remember the conversation. You also kind of hope that he'll forget the way you sniveled about being homesick.
"We'll have lots to talk about later. You just get some rest." The hand on your neck pulls away. You reach out blindly and catch it before it can go further. Johnny's scent is fading - you don't remember when he left - and you're worried the room will go back to just the stale, cold, hand-sanitizer-y smell you catch beneath Kyle's scent when he leaves too.
You're sure you're in no position to keep his hand immobile if he doesn't want you to, and besides, they owe you - so you take his wrist and press your nose into to, inhaling his warm, earthy scent. Your ears droop forward, no longer scanning through the noises in the hall. Your tail twitches minutely under the blankets. He lets you nuzzle him for a moment longer before pulling away - only to rub his scent into the pillow, right next to your face.
"Sleep," he says again. He sounds tired. You're tired too. You yawn into the smell of him and hear him echo it resentfully, clearing his throat afterward.
"We'll be back," he promises.
You're inclined to believe him.
@rac0ongirl13 @necromancernat @pricesbighonkingmilkers @cloudskami @parking-lot10

















