Chapter Text
There was a monster living in the General’s house.
It had been there, waiting, when they arrived.
This one wasn’t like the scary lady or the man in blue. This one was large and white and had blue eyes that followed their every move. This one didn’t seem to bother the General at all.
Instead, the General walked up to it, pat it’s head with a fond smile, and when it nuzzled against his leg Yanqing could hear a strange rumble come from it. Those bright eyes closing and long tail flicking. And for a moment, Yanqing thought that maybe this monster was okay. If the General didn’t mind then that meant it was safe, right?
But then those blue eyes opened and saw him.
Triangle ears flattened against its head, its back bent and it hissed.
Nope.
Not safe.
Not safe.
Sharp teeth filled its mouth and Yanqing flinched, quickly hiding himself behind the General’s coat tails, taking the pen in his hand and pointing it at the monster. It growled crouching low and- “Mimi. Enough.” The monster glanced at the General for a moment, then looked back at him. Tucked its head in, growled louder with its sharp sharp teeth. He could see its claws now. Long and sharp. Claws that would dig into his back like the scary lady. Claws that would rip him apart. Claws that would-
“Mimi.” The General repeated, voice colder than Yanqing had ever heard it before. He went to take another step back only for a hand on his shoulder to stop him. It pulled him close to the General’s side and Yanqing couldn’t help but lean into it. Pencil still pointed at the monster. “I said that was enough.”
The monster -Mimi?- looked at the General, who simply looked down at him and smiled softly “Yanqing,” his voice completely different from before, the sudden shift making him flinch from the whiplash. “This is Mimi, my pet lion.” Then he looked back at the monster “Mimi, this is Yanqing.” It’s ear twitched. “He's going to be staying with us for a while.” his voice turned cold again as he faced it. “So play nice.”
Flicking its tail harshly against the floor, the lion turned and stalked away. With a shake of his head, the General sighed “I apologize for her behavior.” He says, carefully squeezing Yanqing's shoulder, looking down at the boy. “She doesn't like sharing much.” Yanqing just nodded, how else was he meant to respond? This man was living with a monster. A monster that clearly didn't like him.
Would it hunt him down like the scary lady had? Would it hurt him? It seemed to listen to the General. But what if it tried something when the General wasn't there? What if-
“Hey now,” the General cut through his thoughts “None of that.” and Yanqing looked up to meet his eyes “She’s all bark, no bite. I promise.” Somehow he didn’t believe that. “Just give her some time to warm up to you.” He looked back to where the monster had walked and unconsciously brought the notepad to his chest. Fingers fiddling with the corners of the pages as he shook his head.
How could he trust it? How could he know that it was safe? Just because it didn’t seem to mind the General didn’t mean it wouldn’t come after him. The hand on his shoulder squeezed again. “Come.” The General said kindly. “Let’s get you settled in. Things will be better in the morning.”
With nothing more to add and nothing he could say that wouldn’t take forever to write, he followed.