Kankri x Reader Petstuck Chapter 3

tG: i mean i know people sell them as pets but
tG: besides the fins cronus is literally a toddler there's no difference
tG: they're just different looking humans
kS: youre so right this whole thing is making me feel really weird
tG: i just bought a child this is so wrong
kS: neither of us are qualified
tG: it's way better than how the other places were treating them tho?
tG: pretty damn sure they were feeding this kid fish food
kS: oh my god
kS: kankri seems a little twitchy but he doesnt seem like he was abused exactly
tG: cronus is moody as hell but thats a toddler thing
tG: he seems pretty normal i mean he never shuts up
kS: ok thats it im coming over
tG: wait what
kS: maybe have some real food out please i havent eaten yet
kS: too busy being a pseudo-mom
kS: later alligator

Before she can further protest, you put your phone down and try to get up, but it takes you a moment to realize that Kankri is still on your lap. This presents a problem, as you sure as hell don’t want to wake him up. But as it turns out, the little troll opens his eyes as soon as he feels you shift.

“Kankri,” you ask, “do you want to go visit my friend? She has another troll.”

Kankri’s eyes widen. “A-another troll?” he repeats, and to your horror, you see his little arms start to retract inward. Worse still, when you stretch your own arm out to him, he flinches.

“No, it’s okay!” you add hastily. “Roxy is really nice. I’m sure her troll is really nice too.”

Kankri reaches his arms out and leans against your chest, and you can feel him trembling. Like an impulse, you put your arms around him again. “It’s okay. We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

“No,” he says finally, after ruminating over it for a minute or so. “Let’s go. I…” He hesitates. “I want to make new friends.”

“That’s the spirit!” you say happily. “Come on, up you go.” You hoist him up onto your shoulders, which makes him giggle. The little kid’s light as a feather, so it’s no sweat off your back.

As his paw-feet sling over your shoulders, you realize you should probably get him some clothes. Damn it, why hadn’t you thought of this sooner? You’re a terrible troll owner, you are.

You scramble into the other room as Kankri giggles and plays with your (h/c)  hair. You tear through your dresser until you find an old, too-small tshirt that says “GOT DOG? SEATTLE ANIMAL SHELTER” on it. Handing up to the troll, you say, “Put this on, will you?”

Kankri doesn’t complain, but you also can’t see him, so you can only hope he’s actually wearing it. Losing no time, you rush out the door, holding onto his feet so he doesn’t fall.

Roxy's apartment isn’t far from yours, conveniently. The complexes are almost the same, anyway. Soon, you’re approaching her buzzer and punching in the number of her apartment. When she picks up, her voice sounds just a little hoarse, but it could also just be the static on the other end. “Yo.”

“Hi Roxy,” you respond. “It’s--” Then you’re interrupted by Kankri leaning down and saying in a tone of wonder, “What’s that?”

“It’s a buzzer, Kankri,” you tell him, slightly embarrassed. “Yeah, that’s my little guy. Just lemme in.”

“Sure,” Roxy replies, and soon there’s a click as the door unlocks. You step in and try to pretend like there’s not a troll on your shoulders as you walk through the lobby to the elevator.

When you approach the door and knock, there’s a knocking sound on the other end, near the floor. You feel Kankri squirm as Roxy opens the door. Her usually neat blonde hair is awry and her off-the-shoulder top is slipping. Even her mascara looks wilted, her eyes slightly red. Still, she cracks a smile at you and the troll on your shoulders. “Come on in.”