Private Lost Dog Returns Home

EmiRose

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Jacota's ears were firmly pressed against his head and his tail was down, almost between his legs, as he stood in the street corner fidgeting anxiously. He didn't know why he was so anxious, Ishvi had been the only one he had truly missed when he had been away and to see him was something Jacota wanted so much he ached. Jacota knew where Ishvi worked and knew his shift would probably end soon, so he should have at least some time for Jacota. Ishvi cared about Jacota too and probably wanted to see him too. Probably. Jacota knew this but he was still scared. He'd sent postcards from his trip and he had only been away for few months, it wasn't such a long time. But his hair had grown and his height had grown slightly too, maybe Ishvi wouldn't recognize him? No, that was silly, Ishvi had to recognize Jacota. They were...friends. Although sometimes Jacota felt like that wasn't a heavy enough name for it...

Jacota whined quietly to himself, grit his teeth and forced his feet to walk across the street and to the right, where the pet shop was. Jacota's body wanted to shift to a dog, that would make this easier, and Ishvi liked his dog form. But it was night now, which meant he'd be a shadow and Ishvi wouldn't be able to touch Jacota. And Jacota wanted to feel Ishvi's warmth if they did touch...
Jacota took a shaky breath and opened the door to the shop, pausing by the door to scan the shop. And when Jacota spotted Ishvi he swallowed and slowly walked over, opening his mouth and speaking softly once he got close enough to be heard.
"Ishvi..."


@Boop
 

Boop

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Ishvi was just putting the last few things on a display when Jacota walked in, his back to the door. Not being a salesperson, Ishvi didn't even pay attention when he heard it open, keeping his focus on the bags of rabbit food, and on the cute little bunnies hopping in a cage next to the display. One of the bunnies was especially distracting, looking straight at him, and he was wiggling his nose back at it when he thought no one was looking.

When he heard his name, Ishvi's first thought was that his coworker had caught him making faces, and he turned to face the other way, embarrassed. Then he realized whose voice it was and turned all the way, Heart suddenly racing a little. "Jacota!"

Caught off guard, Ishvi just stood awkwardly looking at Jacota without saying anything for a long moment, though he was smiling. And when he did speak, he stumbled over his words, his mouth faster than his brain in his sudden happiness. "You're back - I mean you're tall- No I mean I, I missed you.. I missed you. "

He felt oddly frozen, one hand stuck halfway between himself and Jacota, even though Jacota *had* been sending him postcards. That was letters, but this was- what if Ishvi speaking made the other man not want to stay with him? Ishvi opened his mouth then closed it again. "Jacota I... you still?..." he trailed off uncertainly.
 

EmiRose

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There was a smile on Ishvi's face and instinctively a small smile appeared on Jacota's face as well. When Ishvi was happy so was Jacota, and his heart was elated at seeing Ishvi smile. There was still a weight in Jacota's stomach, a weight that wasn't helped by the long silence. Jacota wasn't sure what to say either, he just wanted to reach over and take Ishvi's hand and hope that was all they needed.

Finally Ishvi was the one to break the silence, and the familiar way in which he spoke with uncertainty was wonderful. And he said he had missed Jacota. Jacota's tail had been subtly seaying before, but now it truly began wagging.
"I missed you too...a lot."
Jacota said quietly, he had mentioned missing Ishvi in his postcards but saying it out loud was different. Jacota looked down at the hand Ishvi had between them, and carefully he reached out his own hand and took it, slowly so Ishvi could pull away if he didn't want the touch.

"I didn't notice. That..I'm tall now."
Jacota said, bit embarrassed, and his ears slumped slightly. Maybe Ishvi didn't like it that Jacota had grown? Jacota hadn't paid attention to his height while traveling, but he really was even taller than Ishvi now. Jacota couldn't really make himself shorter if Ishvi didn't like it....

Ishvi didn't finish his question, and Jacota tilted his head slightly with a question in his eyes.
"I still...?"
Jacota repeated slowly, not really certain what Ishvi had wanted to ask. But then Jacota realized that Ishvi should probably still be working, and his ears slumped down again. Perhaps Ishvi had meant to say Jacota was in the way?
"You still...have work? Should I wait outside?"
Jacota asked, looking at Ishvi with slightly guilty eyes. Maybe he should've just waited until Ishvi was done with work and not just barge in like this...
 
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Boop

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When Jacota took his hand, Ishvi squeezed lightly, still mostly silent gazing at him. It felt like it had been a long time, and any words he wanted to say were so jumbled up they stuck in his mouth. He wasn't bothered by Jacota being taller, it had just stuck out to him, and now he was embarrassed to have mentioned it at all. He didn't look away, but tilted his head to try and hide the faint flush on his face.

"You still.. want to be here? around me?" The last two words were whispered in the direction of their hands. Which Ishvi was not letting go of. And then Jacota's guilt hit him and he wasn't able to completely hide his wince at the sudden headache. "No - yes - no... please don't go. I do have to finish, but I'm almost done and you're not, you're not a bother."

Ishvi glanced over at the shelf and then back at Jacota, some of his worry home in his concern for the other young man. "I'm glad you're here. I - if you don't want to watch me, there's um bunnies... I won't take long. "
 

EmiRose

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Ishvi thought Jacota didn't want to be around him anymore? That was silly, or it would've been if Jacota didn't understand why Ishvi felt that way. Jacota was really uncertain too, though he was also more honest and straight about what he wanted.
"I do. Always."
Jacota said back without hesitation and brushed his thumb over Ishvi's knuckles. The time off island had made one thing certain for Jacota, and that was that Jacota didn't want to be far away from Ishvi. Not if he could help it. And Jacota could, so he had returned and wanted to be with Ishvi as often as possible, if he allowed Jacota near.

Jacota had briefly forgotten that guilt made Ishvi hurt, so when the man winced Jacota in turn felt guilty about making him hurt. But Jacota had learned how to quickly bury his guilt thanks to spending a lot of time with Ishvi. Jacota took a breath and thought about his happy place on the bench in Oceania park. And soon the guilt was gone. What was left was mostly happiness over Ishvi wanting him here.

Jacota glanced at the bunnies when Ishvi mentioned them. They were small and fuzzy and Jacota could tell they were cute. But despite that he looked back at Ishvi, his ears back up and tail wagging.
"I'd rather...watch you."
Jacota admitted and tilted his head just a bit. Ishvi needed to get back to work, but Jacota still held his hand. He didn't want to let go until Ishvi would let go.
 

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"I um..." Ishvi tried to say something, but he had no idea what. He was happy Jacota was staying. It still felt unreal that anyone could like him. The headache was gone quickly, and he wished he could bury his own guilt so easy and just enjoy this. Aside from that he really did have to get back to work.

Lightly squeezing Jacota's hand again, Ishvi turned so he could look at the shelf without letting go. "I only have a couple things left. I ... probably should use both hands even if I could lift those bags with one hand. It'll be quick." He was also reluctant, but with a sigh Ishvi released Jacota and placed the last two bags neatly on the shelf. He moved a little more quickly than he might've with no one waiting, but even in a small thing like this job, he was careful to not be sloppy.

Once he was finished, he automatically reached for Jacota's hand again without even realizing it. "I just need to clock out. And then we could um did you want to walk with me? I haven't been able to say anything to you but if you just want to be quiet or.. I don't know... I want to hear you talk. The writing was nice but... I missed you..." Ishvi noticed he was repeating himself and trailed off, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand.
 

EmiRose

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Jacota understood it was easier for Ishvi to use both hands and finish his job. Really, he did. But even so Jacota's ears and tail both sank when Ishvi reluctantly released his hand, and Jacota reluctantly let him go. And as Jacota had said he stepped a bit to the side as Ishvi continued working. He occasionally glanced at the bunnies but mostly Jacota watched Ishvi with soft and adoring eyes.

It was like the two's hands pulled each other together, because just as Ishvi automatically reached for Jacota's hand so did Jacota reach for Ishvi's. Jacota intertwined their fingers as he listened to Ishvi talk, his tail wagging a bit yet again. Jacota nodded and gave Ishvi a small, sheepish smile.
"I want to walk and talk with you. I missed your voice, and scent and warmth. Everything."
Jacota said quietly, not really feeling all that embarrassed. All he said was the truth, and Jacota always told Ishvi the truth. No matter what.
 

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Ishvi wasn't embarrassed, though his cheeks did warm up a bit when Jacota said he missed his scent. He knew that it was the truth but wasn't sure what to say to that. So he smiled down at their hands before looking back up at Jacota's face for a moment, quiet and content. Then he went and clocked out, not letting go of Jacota's hand this time, and also not paying attention to any coworkers that might be watching the two of them.

Once they were out of the shop, Ishvi paused taking a breath of air, and looking over at Jacota, actually taking his time now that he was off work and had nowhere else to be. "Things have been... strange. I don't really know where to start. I kept wanting to write while you were away. Have you been back long?"

As they spoke Ishvi walked with no particular destination in mind, enjoying the closeness, and willing to let Jacota take the lead if he did have a preference.
 

EmiRose

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It made Jacota happy that Ishvi didn't seem to want to let go of his hand, as much as Jacota didn't want to let go of Ishvi's. The moment he had seen Ishvi the store might as well have been empty, that was how little attention Jacota gave to any other people there. All he cared about now was Ishvi, and holding his hand.

The two stayed quiet until they arrived outside, where Jacota took a breath like Ishvi. It wasn't exactly chilly out but it was chillier than inside, which worked just fine for Jacota.
"I came back today. Haven't been back long, I wanted to see you first."
Jacota said and gave Ishvi's hand a small squeeze. He still had to go to the school and enroll but that could wait until tomorrow. Ishvi had been the main priority in Jacota's mind upon arrival.
"I moved around a lot, writing would've been difficult."
Jacota said with half a shrug, but he did look apologetic. Jacota would've missed Ishvi no matter what, but perhaps letters would've made it easier.

"I want to know how you've been. You can start from beginning, we have time."
Jacota said with an attentive expression, more than ready and willing to listen to anything Ishvi had to say. Jacota noticed Ishvi didn't have a particular destination in mind, so he gently guided them towards a place he had in mind.
 

Boop

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Ishvi found himself smiling again at Jacota's words. He still had trouble understanding why Jacota would want to see him first, but it made him happy. And even though he felt like he should be guilty for taking up Jacota's time, he was too glad to have him back.

"I just wanted you to know that I was- I would have written. I was thinking about you when you were gone. I did get the things you wrote.. It sounded like a bit of an adventure. I've never been anywhere on Earth, y'know, I mean outside of this island. And home was outside of it. "

Ishvi looked away when asked how he'd been. He wanted to be honest, but he also didn't want to let Jacota know how bad he'd felt. Not now having just gotten back. "I- it was... I met some new people. And I helped when someone stole the ocean. That was, that was definitely something." Ishvi shivered slightly at the memory of the water, but then his smile returned when he added. "There was this friendly sea dog at the end of it. Well, not an actual dog, but it was friendly and wanted to be petted. I think it was a kraken, some sort of cute giant marine animal.. that was the biggest event probably."
 
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