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          “So you just… scrape them with the file?” Kia looked confused and almost worried as Verdigris filed Cosmo’s claws down, holding the wriggly baby close on his lap. Sabrina’s horns needed to be filed down, and Verdi was in the process of showing her how he handled the less-than-pleasant job. “Wouldn’t that hurt if you got it too close to the skin?”

            “I mean she’s never thrilled when I do it, but it doesn’t really hurt her.” Verdi dangled his tail tip in front of Cosmo’s face in a feeble attempt to entertain her. The wyngling was having none of it and let out a loud grunt as she tried to wriggle away. She’d been practicing her crawling lately and it was everything Verdi could do to keep her in one place.

            “I mean, considering that there’s three of them and if one of them cries, they all start crying, I’d like to avoid as many fits as possible-“ Kia was cut off by a couple voices. Familiar ones, one comfortingly so, and one not so much.

            "I didnt dislike you. I disliked your actions. When you came in and I saw that you didn’t know who I was… I thought I had lost my son..."

    A sigh “Guess I was a bit of an ass. I’m sorry, sorry you ended up with me as your kid out of everyone you could have got. I’ll try be better.”

            Alec. Last he had seen him, he had been taking off after jumping out of his window with a few of his good linens after he’d broken into his house. After April had caught him.

            “…Kia? Could you keep an eye on Cosmo for a moment?” Verdi plopped the baby on her lap.

            “Verdi, what are you doing now, you-“ Kia’s voice was drowned out as Verdi stood and headed towards Alec’s voice.

            He and Traumer were just separating after a hug. Perfect. He gave Alec little time to breathe before approaches and lashing out his tail to yank Alec over to him like a hook pulling an actor off the stage. Alec spun for a moment as he regained his balance, only to have a hand snap out and grab his chin, pointy claws digging into his cheeks. Traumer gasped and jumped back, and she seemed to fade into the background as Verdi met Alec’s wide eyes.

            “Ohh, I’ve been waiting to have a little chat with you.” Verdigris purred, silver eyes glinting maliciously at him.

            “V-Verdi, fancy seeing you here…” Alec stammered, “I actually wanted to talk to you, I-“

            “I do hope it’s about my good sheets.” Verdigris’s voice was smooth and eerily calm, “You know, the ones you swiped from my home, you little thief?”

            “A-About that-“

            “I do hope they did you well, wherever they are.” Verdigris said, “My daughter wasn’t very happy when she realized they were gone. She certainly wasn’t happy when she saw somebody in her house. My house. You see Alec, dear sweet brother, ragged criminal brother, you probably could have gotten away with breaking into this house, or Inwien’s, or Gupp’s, and you might have even gotten away with breaking into Kia’s. But no. You picked the worst possible house to rob, you little termite.”

            Kia walked into the room, Cosmo in her arms and batting at one of Sabrina’s antennae while the other baby giggled. Verdigris turned Alec’s head so he could see the teal baby. It was plainly obvious who Cosmo belonged to, and it showed on Alec’s face as it paled.

            “See that little girl? She was an egg when you broke in. I’d left her on the dresser, and do you know what was in that dresser? Come now, I know you remember that, even if you’re too far gone to remember your youth.”

            “S-Sheets…?”

            “Sheets.” Verdigris turned Alec back around, “You were too close to her. You endangered my children. Would you like to know what happens when someone endangers my children?”

            “Uh…”

            Verdigris held up his other hand, claws glinting in the light. “Well, why don’t we practice using that beaten up brain of yours? What happens when very, very sharp claws go into your eyeballs?”

            “Verdi, please-“

            “Now, I just got my claws polished, and I do believe you’ve wet yourself like the pansy you are, so I’ll spare your sight today. But know this, brother.” Verdigris’ grip on his chin tightens, his teeth and eyes letting Alec know just how dangerous he can be if he wants to. His voice is the same smooth, calm, dangerout purr as he moved one down to press into the fur lining Alec’s neck, a warning. “I am not Traumer. I am not Kia. I am not Mocha, or Inwien, or any of our other siblings. I do not let shit like this go. I will not hesitate to set your ass straight. I don’t like to get into any physical confrontation, but if you ever break into my home or so much as breathe on my daughters in a way that I don’t approve of again? You will learn that my claws are just as sharp as my words. Am I understood?”

            “Y-Yes…”

            “Wonderful.” Verdigris let him go, the other gro stumbling back and grabbing his chin. He brushed off his paws and curled his tail in amusement, “You really do look like some sort of stray coatala right now. Fluffy and shaking and not knowing his place in the world. But don’t worry; they’re exceedingly kind here. I’m sure you’ll find something. Even if it is being Russel’s personal stress ball for the rest of your life.”

            Alec didn’t respond as Verdigris approached Kia, taking Cosmo out of her arms. “I really should be going, if you need any help with Sabrina’s horns, just let me know. I’ll file them for you if I must.”

            “Thanks…” Kia blinked before Verdi waved and strutted out the door.

            He purred. He felt amazing.

            He caught a glimpse of Maw, no, Dash, working on the farm out of the corner of his eye, and for the first time since he’d come back, he didn’t feel the sinking sense of dread. Why should he be scared of a drowned rabbit, the same way he had no reason to be scared of that stray coat? He didn’t even do anything to Alec, and he had the little thief in the palm of his hand. And Dash? Dash was an absolute wuss. He could do so much as breathe wrong and the toddler would grovel like you whipped his puppy. Kia had beaten the life out of him, he was weak. He had no reason to be scared of people who were weak.

            Alec and Dash were a lot alike. They were children who thought they would never experience consequences, acted selfishly with no regard for the others around them, only to realize that the world doesn’t work that way and be sent home with their tails between their legs to grovel for forgiveness that they didn’t deserve. Fortunately for them, they groveled to the people who would give it to them. Perhaps they were smart in that way. But it wasn’t enough to earn Verdigris’ satisfaction.

            He purred, bouncing a giggling Cosmo, as he thought up his next stage outfit. His paternity leave, his paranoia leave, was over.

            Verdigris was back.
----------------------------------------------

That was much longer and much more intense than I intended it to be, but look, Verdi remembered that he's a badass.

Alec belongs to
Traumer, Kia, Sabrina, and Maw (All mentioned) belong to

Headshot x2 (2)
Story (1)

3/888

Description

          “So you just… scrape them with the file?” Kia looked confused and almost worried as Verdigris filed Cosmo’s claws down, holding the wriggly baby close on his lap. Sabrina’s horns needed to be filed down, and Verdi was in the process of showing her how he handled the less-than-pleasant job. “Wouldn’t that hurt if you got it too close to the skin?”

            “I mean she’s never thrilled when I do it, but it doesn’t really hurt her.” Verdi dangled his tail tip in front of Cosmo’s face in a feeble attempt to entertain her. The wyngling was having none of it and let out a loud grunt as she tried to wriggle away. She’d been practicing her crawling lately and it was everything Verdi could do to keep her in one place.

            “I mean, considering that there’s three of them and if one of them cries, they all start crying, I’d like to avoid as many fits as possible-“ Kia was cut off by a couple voices. Familiar ones, one comfortingly so, and one not so much.

            "I didnt dislike you. I disliked your actions. When you came in and I saw that you didn’t know who I was… I thought I had lost my son..."

    A sigh “Guess I was a bit of an ass. I’m sorry, sorry you ended up with me as your kid out of everyone you could have got. I’ll try be better.”

            Alec. Last he had seen him, he had been taking off after jumping out of his window with a few of his good linens after he’d broken into his house. After April had caught him.

            “…Kia? Could you keep an eye on Cosmo for a moment?” Verdi plopped the baby on her lap.

            “Verdi, what are you doing now, you-“ Kia’s voice was drowned out as Verdi stood and headed towards Alec’s voice.

            He and Traumer were just separating after a hug. Perfect. He gave Alec little time to breathe before approaches and lashing out his tail to yank Alec over to him like a hook pulling an actor off the stage. Alec spun for a moment as he regained his balance, only to have a hand snap out and grab his chin, pointy claws digging into his cheeks. Traumer gasped and jumped back, and she seemed to fade into the background as Verdi met Alec’s wide eyes.

            “Ohh, I’ve been waiting to have a little chat with you.” Verdigris purred, silver eyes glinting maliciously at him.

            “V-Verdi, fancy seeing you here…” Alec stammered, “I actually wanted to talk to you, I-“

            “I do hope it’s about my good sheets.” Verdigris’s voice was smooth and eerily calm, “You know, the ones you swiped from my home, you little thief?”

            “A-About that-“

            “I do hope they did you well, wherever they are.” Verdigris said, “My daughter wasn’t very happy when she realized they were gone. She certainly wasn’t happy when she saw somebody in her house. My house. You see Alec, dear sweet brother, ragged criminal brother, you probably could have gotten away with breaking into this house, or Inwien’s, or Gupp’s, and you might have even gotten away with breaking into Kia’s. But no. You picked the worst possible house to rob, you little termite.”

            Kia walked into the room, Cosmo in her arms and batting at one of Sabrina’s antennae while the other baby giggled. Verdigris turned Alec’s head so he could see the teal baby. It was plainly obvious who Cosmo belonged to, and it showed on Alec’s face as it paled.

            “See that little girl? She was an egg when you broke in. I’d left her on the dresser, and do you know what was in that dresser? Come now, I know you remember that, even if you’re too far gone to remember your youth.”

            “S-Sheets…?”

            “Sheets.” Verdigris turned Alec back around, “You were too close to her. You endangered my children. Would you like to know what happens when someone endangers my children?”

            “Uh…”

            Verdigris held up his other hand, claws glinting in the light. “Well, why don’t we practice using that beaten up brain of yours? What happens when very, very sharp claws go into your eyeballs?”

            “Verdi, please-“

            “Now, I just got my claws polished, and I do believe you’ve wet yourself like the pansy you are, so I’ll spare your sight today. But know this, brother.” Verdigris’ grip on his chin tightens, his teeth and eyes letting Alec know just how dangerous he can be if he wants to. His voice is the same smooth, calm, dangerout purr as he moved one down to press into the fur lining Alec’s neck, a warning. “I am not Traumer. I am not Kia. I am not Mocha, or Inwien, or any of our other siblings. I do not let shit like this go. I will not hesitate to set your ass straight. I don’t like to get into any physical confrontation, but if you ever break into my home or so much as breathe on my daughters in a way that I don’t approve of again? You will learn that my claws are just as sharp as my words. Am I understood?”

            “Y-Yes…”

            “Wonderful.” Verdigris let him go, the other gro stumbling back and grabbing his chin. He brushed off his paws and curled his tail in amusement, “You really do look like some sort of stray coatala right now. Fluffy and shaking and not knowing his place in the world. But don’t worry; they’re exceedingly kind here. I’m sure you’ll find something. Even if it is being Russel’s personal stress ball for the rest of your life.”

            Alec didn’t respond as Verdigris approached Kia, taking Cosmo out of her arms. “I really should be going, if you need any help with Sabrina’s horns, just let me know. I’ll file them for you if I must.”

            “Thanks…” Kia blinked before Verdi waved and strutted out the door.

            He purred. He felt amazing.

            He caught a glimpse of Maw, no, Dash, working on the farm out of the corner of his eye, and for the first time since he’d come back, he didn’t feel the sinking sense of dread. Why should he be scared of a drowned rabbit, the same way he had no reason to be scared of that stray coat? He didn’t even do anything to Alec, and he had the little thief in the palm of his hand. And Dash? Dash was an absolute wuss. He could do so much as breathe wrong and the toddler would grovel like you whipped his puppy. Kia had beaten the life out of him, he was weak. He had no reason to be scared of people who were weak.

            Alec and Dash were a lot alike. They were children who thought they would never experience consequences, acted selfishly with no regard for the others around them, only to realize that the world doesn’t work that way and be sent home with their tails between their legs to grovel for forgiveness that they didn’t deserve. Fortunately for them, they groveled to the people who would give it to them. Perhaps they were smart in that way. But it wasn’t enough to earn Verdigris’ satisfaction.

            He purred, bouncing a giggling Cosmo, as he thought up his next stage outfit. His paternity leave, his paranoia leave, was over.

            Verdigris was back.
----------------------------------------------

That was much longer and much more intense than I intended it to be, but look, Verdi remembered that he's a badass.

Alec belongs to
Traumer, Kia, Sabrina, and Maw (All mentioned) belong to

Headshot x2 (2)
Story (1)

3/888