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- 11/29/2014
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Neko Shorts - 3. Prompt #374: Shopping in Town
Prompt #374--Use the following words in a story: large dinner, shopping, a fight, snow, and a football
"Come on, kitten," Damien called, trying to stifle his laugh.
The young feline hybrid was stomping through the snow covered streets, making footprints with the boots that he hated. Damien had almost relented when Kayden put up such a fight about putting on the damn boots, but he knew if he'd given in he'd have to deal with the neko's cold toes later in bed. And that was just not happening.
Kayden looked up at him with his bright green eyes, smiling as the soft snowflakes fell on his ebony hair. Damien laughed as he watched the kit's black ears flick at the tickle of the snow falling in. Damien couldn't believe just how innocent the boy looked bundled in the warm cloak, white flakes falling on his long lashes.
Geoff Brenner, his guard captain, was smiling from behind Kayden. Since Kayden had come into their lives sometimes the most simplest of things didn't seem quite as mundane anymore. The young neko had spent most of his life abused as a slave, and now that he was basically free, he was discovering things that he'd never been able to really enjoy before with new eyes.
Before snow and winter had meant nothing but misery for the boy--cold, hunger, torment by the hunters who had enslaved him. Now that he didn't fear for his life constantly, didn't worry if he'd die of starvation or cold, Kayden had begun to see the beauty of winter.
"Come on," Damien urged, wrapping an arm around the slight form of the feline. He could practically feel Kayden purring his joy even under the layers of wool. "We need to finish our shopping. I want to pick up one more thing for Harrison's engagement party this week."
As they walked toward the leather shop near the end of the row, Damien smiled at all of the people who stared at him in awe, dipping and bowing at his presence. He nodded gracefully, acknowledging their reverence. The street had gone quieter as he, Kayden and Geoff, as well as several servants, walked down the row. Parents and children alike were pointing in awe at the presence of their esteemed lord, since Damien rarely took the time to actually shop himself. He would tour the towns often, but it was usually from the back of his horse.
Woosh!
Kayden skittered behind Damien as something flew out of the door of the leather shop. Geoff immediately jumped in front of his lord, as Damien jerked back slightly.
A leather ball rolled in front of them after bouncing off the wall of the shop across the street.
"You can't play with that damn football in the shop!" came a loud voice.
Kayden peeked out from behind his master at the round ball of stitched leather rolling back across the wet street. A young boy flew out the door of the leather shop, chasing after his precious ball. Kayden watched in amazement as the young red-headed boy jostled the ball between his feet before scooping on his toe and popping it into the air to catch it.
The boy froze when he turned and looked up and saw the Duke standing there watching him, fear chasing away any smile that had started when he'd played with the ball.
Kayden pricked his ears forward curiously at the odd leather ball. He'd never seen someone kick a ball like that before. He inched his way out from behind Damien, as Damien smiled down at the boy.
"Um, my lord," the kid finally managed, ducking into a bow.
"It's quite alright, lad," Damien said, smiling. "I think Kayden is very interested in your ball there."
The wide-eyed boy was flush with embarrassment as he glanced down at the leather in his hand.
"That was quite some fancy footwork you did with it," Damien continued.
"T-thank you, my lord," the boy stammered.
"What did your father call it? A football?" Damien asked, and he could slowly see the boy's fear fading away, pride beginning to inch in.
"Yes, sir," the boy's chest puffed out. "He made it from scraps of leather. Since I kick it around, he calls it my football."
Damien smiled as he watched his young neko lover inching closer to the boy, eyeing the leather ball with wonder.
"Maybe you could show Kayden some of those moves you were doing while I go shop," Damien said easily.
The boy's face lit up, and Kayden grinned back at him.
"Yes, sir!" he said, eager to show off for one of the lord's companions.
"I'm Samuel," the boy greeted Kayden, holding out his hand.
Kayden's small hand snuck out from between the folds of his cloak. "Kayden."
"Nice to meet you, Kayden," Samuel said as he turned and bounced the leather ball on his knee. "Here, watch, it's easy. You just let it bounce like this."
Damien watched as Kayden was suddenly unclipping his cloak and it dropped into the slushy street. He rolled his eyes as Geoff chuckled. The guard scooped it up and handed it to one of the servants trailing behind them with their packages.
As he stepped into the leather shop, Damien was immediately greeted with surprise and a frenzy of excitement from the shopkeeper. "My lord! It is so kind of you to grace my humble shop. Is there anything in particular that I can help you with?"
The Duke looked back out the door at his young neko lover. The joy on his face as he bounced the leather off his knee, his sleek black tail swishing in excitement as he then kicked it and ran after it.
"Yes, actually. I'd like to purchase one of those."
The shopkeeper frowned, unsure of what the duke was indicating.
"I'm sorry, sir, what exactly do you mean?"
"That," Damien pointed out the door at the two boys playing in the street. "I want a football."
"I-I'm s-sorry, sir?" the man stammered. "You want that? It's just scraps of leather that my son kicks around."
"What could be more fun than watching that after a large dinner? Certainly better than listening to wedding plans," Damien said, "And anything that keeps Kayden from climbing on the roof is worth it."
The shopkeeper smiled, "I'll get right on it, sir."
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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