[C][M] Test Run

"Sounds good, I don't want to keep him locked up inside all the time, it's not healthy."

For the first few walks though he would wait to go with Dario until his confidence with the pup grew and he thought he might be able to do it himself.

Hayden gave a soft purr as his head was kissed nuzzling up against Dario comfortable.

Jika on the other hand looked up pleadingly as he begged, another long whimper sounding.

"We'll make sure he gets good exercise."

The man grinned widely. "We could save up for a treadmill if we can't and have him walking as we sit and watch TV."

He'd never do that, but joking about it was amusing.

His gaze stayed fixed on the whimpering Jika.

He was enjoying seeing the poor thing whimper as he waited impatiently.

Hayden gave Dario a soft, scolding tap on the arm.
"No we wont be being that. Ever. Poor thing would get sick if we left him inside like that, Elves need to be out in nature."

He knew Dario was joking but he did worry about the pup's safety.

Jika gave little huffed whimpers, he was hungry, he was nervous before meeting Dario and couldn't bring himself to eat, now that he was relaxed his appetite had kicked in and he could hear his tummy growling for food.

The pups tongue stuck out trying to lick at the treat on his nose but he was only just unable to reach it.

Dario's arms wrapped around Hayden, hoisting him up so the boy was in his arms and his feet were dangling.

He pressed a soft peck to the boy's lips.

"We won't be doing that," he assured. Dario was a good Master. He wouldn't make anyone do something like that.

His lips caressed Hayden's in a slow, lingering kiss.

Hayden gave a soft yelp as he was hoisted up, though he snuggled into Dario eagerly, wrapping his arms around the man's neck and his legs dangled.

He kissed the man back gently, a small smile gracing his lips as he pressed closer to the man.

"You're a good man."

He purred softly, he was glad Dario wouldn't do that to the pup. He kissed him again, letting his lips linger for as long as possible.

Hearing Hayden say that made his heart swell.

For so many years he hadn't been a good man. He'd been a terrible person and for as long as he could remember he'd been called a bad person for it.

The alcohol and drug abuse; the sex working. He'd been a bad man to people for as long as he could remember.

But his little Hayden thought he was a goo man. That meant more to him that anyone could possibly imagine.

"Je t'aime."

He muttered softly as he nuzzled close to the man, cuddling him tightly. Dario meant more to him than anything else.

These last few weeks had been the best they had in a long time, Dario was finally joking around and smiling again.

Hayden would let Dario do and have what ever he wanted as long as it made the man happy, he deserved it, and so much more.

Dario hugged the boy closer, nuzzling into his bright copper hair.

He caught the boy's lower lip between his teeth and sucked it gently as he pulled the boy's body as close as possible.

His Hayden. His wonderful little Hayden.

His eyes flickered up after a few long moments wrapped in Hayden's presence, though. There were others in the room.

One of which was waiting surprisingly patiently.

Dario grinned as his attention turned back to Jika.

Hayden gave a soft little mewl as his lip was sucked on, he could spend all day wrapped up in Dario like this.

The man always made him feel so happy and safe, he couldn't be without the man now.

Jika had occupied his time trying to reach the cookie with his tongue and as Dario looked down at him the pup was struggling to lap at the side of it without knocking it off of his nose.

It took a great amount of difficulty but he was managing it.

Dario chuckled softly as he watched Jika attempt to lap at the cookie.

"What do you say, Hayden? Should we let him have his cookie?"

The pup looked pretty desperate for said cookie, and though it was amusing seeing him struggle like this, the poor pup did deserve the cookie.

Hayden gave a soft giggle as he looked down and saw the pup, poor thing.

"Don't be mean, let him have it."

The boy replied nuzzling in under Dario's chin as he looked down at Jika.

The pup gave another whine, looking up desperately.

"But being mean is so fun."

His gaze turned up to Ray. "What do you think/ Should I let Kajika have the cookie, Rayner?"

He was just putting off giving Jika the cookie for as long as possible.

Seeing the pup whine and look up at him pleadingly was just too adorable.

Rayner turned around to answer but his lips cracked into a grin as the Vampire actually started to laugh, it was the first time he had actually laughed around them.

"I think it's too late."

Jika had lapped at the cookie and pushed it off his nose, quickly grabbing it mid-air. Scared of getting it taken off of him he scampered off to find somewhere to eat it, slipping on the floor boards to hide behind to couch, the cookie held firmly between his teeth.

The pup looked out from behind the couch, looking guilty and worried.

Dario's laughter followed suit as he watched Jika skid across the room.

"It looks like even a puppy doesn't have infinite patience."

The guilty expression of his face made Dario laugh harder. Poor pup.

The human moved to take a seat on the couch, leaning over the armrest to pat Jika's head gently.

"No more being mean," he promised. "You can have it."

Jika gave a happy whine as Dario pet his head and let him have it. He padded around the couch and lay down by Dario's feet, setting the bone down between his front paws as he leaned down and chewed on it contently.

Hayden moved over and sat beside Dario as Rayner sat happily on the floor, stroking Jika as he chewed on the bone.

"I think he likes it, Hayden."

Rayner murmured as he watched the excited pup chew on it.

"They are just normal oat cookies with honey and cinnamon, there is more in the kitchen if you want one."

He replied with a soft laugh.

Dario leaned down to pet Jika's head with a little smile.

The pup was already fitting perfectly into their dysfunctional little family. It was perfect.

The four of them gathering together in the living room; him and Hayden curled together on the couch and Ray sat on the floor giving the pup attention.

"You're just a brilliant little baker. Everyone loves your baking."

Hayden smiled brightly, he was happiest when people were enjoying something he had made for them.

"That's because it's made with love."

He had sat around and watched Nanna cook for years, he had learned everything off of her.

Jika gave a happy purr as he managed to bite off part of the cookie and chewed on it eagerly, crunching on the hard biscuit loudly.

Dario snorted softly.

"I think that was the cheesiest thing I've ever heard."

But he leaned forwards to press a soft kiss to the Shifter's lips. Even if he was cheesy, he was well loved.

Jika was happily enjoying the cookie.

"You gonna share your cookie with us, Kajika?"

Hayden pouted, puffing out his cheeks a little as Dario snorted, he couldn't help it if he was a little bit of a romantic.

He kissed Dario back, giving he man's hair a little tug in retribution for teasing him.

Jika looked up as he was questioned, a soft growl rumbling in his chest as he curled around, shielding the cookie from view with his body, he was determined to eat all of it.

Dario grinned at the Shifter when he tugged his hair, pulling him closer so he could deepen the kiss.

His hands ran slowly down the boy's sides as he pulled him closer.

He pulled the boy into his lap and tucked his head under his chin so he could cuddle him.

The human chuckled when Jika growled and curled protectively around his cookie.

Hayden gave a soft purr as his sides were stroked and slid into Dario's lap happily, squirming a little as he got comfortable but then ducked his head under the man's chin and nestled in against him.

Dario always gave him the best cuddles.

"I don't think you'll be getting any of it."

Hayden laughed softly as Jika growled, despite the potential threat of losing part of his cookie he still ate it slowly, enjoying chewing on the tough biscuit.

Dario gave a little pout.

"Are you being mean and not sharing with us, Kajika?" he chuckled as he cuddled Hayden closer to him.

He knew he had no chance of getting that cookie.

Jika was being very protective. Must have been a really nice cookie.

Kajika clutched onto the cookie and shifted away from Dario, moving to curl up closer to Rayner before chewing on the cookie again, looking up at the human warily, he didn't trust Dario to not steal it.

Ray gave a soft smile, the pup's soft growls dying down as he stroked the pup's head as he ate.

"That would be a no."

Rayner replied, he wasn't even going to try and take it off of him in case he lost a finger.

Dario chuckled softly as Jika moved away from him.

He nuzzled closer to Hayden with a little pout. "Jika doesn't love me enough to share his cookie with me, Hayden."

His lips brushed against Hayden's ear gently.

"Do you love me enough to get a cookie for me?"

Hayden chuckled and Dario cuddled up to him in order to get a cookie, he would have to start using his cooking as a way to bribe the man.

"Alright."

He chirped as he sat up out of the man's lap and headed to the kitchen, he would do as Dario asked since the man had been working hard all day.

He went to the cooling rack and grabbed three more cookies before heading to the living room, giving one to Dario, one to Rayner and nibbling on one himself as he sat back in Dario's lap.