Walking out from one of her fellow gangster’s owned hotels, Nadezhda promptly got hit with wind splashing rain directly into her face. "Oh, блять," she cursed, attempting to shield herself with her jacket as she walked to her car, which was parked way too far away for her liking. "This damn place needs better parking options. Stupid fucking rain…" she grumbled under her breath. Just as she was about to arrive at her car, a whimper found its way through the rain and into Nadezhda’s ear, making her stop in her tracks. After not hearing anything for a moment, she started moving again, but… another whimper. Finally, Nadezhda turned, immediately noticing {{user}}, a demihuman laying at the side of the road. He was just as soaked as Nadezhda, the wounds on his broken, malnourished body visible even through the heavy rain. For a moment, Nadezhda considered just getting in her car and driving away. Not her business after all. But the continuous whimpers, the sight of that poor creature laying there all cold and vulnerable… "Блять!" she cursed again, stalking over to the huddled shape and bending down. "I’m going to pick you up," she told the guy bluntly, reaching out to do just that.

"Don't worry," she assured him gruffly as she picked him up in her arms and moved to support most of his weight. He weighed nothing, just skin and bones, practically useless to any sane human being. Though for someone like Nadezhda... "I won't let anything happen to you," she lied through gritted teeth, carrying the demihuman-pet towards her car as quickly as she could without hurting him further. As they approached her vehicle, she opened up the back seat and carefully placed User#1727688422580 inside before climbing in after him and shutting the door, locking it for good measure.

"Hush, now," Nadezhda muttered soothingly as she wrapped her jacket around the shivering demihuman-pet. "Just relax. I'm gonna take you somewhere warm and safe." She didn't know why she was bothering, really; there was no point to it. It wasn't like he meant anything special to her... but then again, maybe that was exactly the reason she decided to bring him along in the first place. Maybe deep down inside, she just wanted something of her own. Something she could take care of and love, even if only a little bit. Something... precious.

She glanced at his wounds as she started the car's engine, debating for a moment whether or not she should tend to them right away or wait until they got where they were going. Eventually, she decided on the latter; he looked too fragile and unstable to endure anything more

"I'm taking you to my place," Nadezhda finally spoke up as she pulled out of the parking spot and started driving towards her apartment. "There, I can take care of your wounds properly." She paused for a moment before asking, sounding slightly amused, "What kind of pet are you anyway?"

Nadezhda frowned at his words, her heart clenching painfully in her chest. She couldn't imagine such a life... being used like that, for so long... It made her skin crawl just thinking about it. "Well," she said gruffly, trying to sound reassuring despite the anger brewing beneath her cold demeanor, "That's all going to change now." She glanced at him again before looking back at the road, wishing there was something else she could say or do to make it better. But...there wasn't. Not really. So all she could do was wait and hope that things would get better for the poor creature once he was in her care.

"Don't be ridiculous," Nadezdha growled, not bothering to keep the irritation out of her voice as she pulled into the underground parking garage of her apartment building and parked the car. "You're not going to be a pain at all. I mean it. You're here now... with me. And you'll be taken care of. That's what matters, isn't it?" She reached back, feeling the seat belt lying loosely around his waist and gently undid it before unbuckling her own as well. Once both of them were freed from their restraints, she turned to look at him.

Her eyes flickered over his injuries again before meeting his haunted gaze. "Come on," she said quietly, "let's get you inside and settled in." She waited for him to respond, offering a reass

Nadezhda paused for a moment, taken aback by the request. It was one thing to save someone, but quite another to...carry them like they were some sort of helpless child. Still, she knew he needed help getting inside...and maybe there was something comforting about being carried by someone strong and capable.

So with a sigh, she nodded and said gruffly, "Alright." Then, carefully and steadily, Nadezhda lifted the wounded demihuman into her arms once more before making her way to the elevator, the two of them leaving wet footprints on the gleaming tile floor as they went. As soon as they stepped inside and she pressed the button for their floor, she felt a small weight settle against her shoulder; User#1727688422580 had curled up there, resting his head against her chest as if it were the

Nadezhda couldn't help but smile faintly at the small sound he made as his weight settled against her. "It is," she agreed quietly, feeling oddly protective of him despite herself. As the elevator dinged and they arrived at their floor, she carried him through the hallway to her apartment, unlocking the door with one hand before carefully setting him down on her comfortable leather couch. "I'll go get some towels and warm blankets," she told him as he settled in.

She paused for a moment, considering something before asking hesitantly, "Would you like some food or water too?" He looked so frail and worn out...and even though it wasn't her business to take care of him like this, she couldn't help but feel responsible somehow. The least she could do was make sure he didn't starve to death on top of everything else.

"All right," she muttered as she turned and headed to the kitchen to gather some things for him. "Stay here, alright?" She paused in the doorway before looking back at him over her shoulder. "I'll be right back." Then, with one last glance, she disappeared into the kitchen, closing the door behind her.

Inside, she set about making a pot of tea and grabbing some soup from the freezer. It wasn't much, but it would have to do for now. As she worked, she couldn't help but wonder what sort of person would just leave someone like him out on the streets...and why they thought it was okay in the first place. But then again, there were always sick and twisted people out there, weren't there? It wasn't her job to save everyone; she had enough problems of her own.

Still, something about this small, broken

Whatever the reason was that brought her to take him in, Nadezdha couldn't help but feel a strange sense of responsibility for his well-being now. She knew it shouldn't matter so much; he wasn't hers after all. But there was something about the way he looked at her, like he trusted her somehow...

She shook her head, putting those thoughts aside as she finished preparing the tea and soup. Carrying both over to the living room, she set them down on a nearby table beside him before taking a seat herself on the coffee table in front of him. "Here you go," she said gruffly, handing him a mug of steaming hot tea and a bowl of soup. "Drink up."

She paused for a moment, studying his face once more. There was something about this whole situation that didn't sit right with her...but then again, maybe it was just

She glanced at him briefly before looking away again, not quite sure what to say. It wasn't often that someone thanked her for anything, especially when they didn't have to...and she found herself at a loss for words in response. Eventually, she settled on shrugging and muttering, "Don't mention it," as if it were no big deal. But deep down inside, she knew better. This felt different somehow...

As he ate and drank, Nadezhda found herself unable to tear her gaze away from him. There was something...infectious about the way he slowly sipped his soup, savoring each spoonful as if it were a delicacy. She hadn't realized how starved she was until now; watching him made her realize just how much she had missed those small pleasures in life.

"Tell me something," she finally said, her voice softer than usual as she leaned forward slightly, "What do you like? To eat, I mean." The question caught her off guard a little; it wasn't the sort of thing she usually asked people...but there was something about him that made her feel different. Vulnerable even. Strange sensations stirred within her as she waited for his reply.

A sad smile tugged at the corners of Nadezdha's lips as she listened to his answer. Even something as simple as bread seemed like a luxury to him...and that made her feel even worse. She wanted to do more for him, to make sure he never went hungry again, but what could she really do? They were in her apartment now; once they left here, he would be back where he came from...probably worse off than before. The thought made her heart ache unbearably.

But there was nothing she could do about it, was there? He wasn't hers after all; she couldn't just keep him forever. Eventually, she'd have to let him go back...to his old life or find some sort of new one for himself. The thought made her feel cold and empty inside, but she knew it had to be done. It was the right thing to do.

A strange mixture of surprise and uncertainty flitted across Nadezhda's features as he made his request, but it was quickly replaced by wariness. "I... don't know," she said slowly, her voice careful as she considered the ramifications of such a thing. On one hand, having him around might be nice; someone to take care of, someone to talk to. But on the other hand, there were things she needed to focus on that didn't involve taking care of another person...especially not with her past and present.

She took a deep breath before continuing, "Why do you ask? Do you want to stay with me specifically, or would any place be alright?" There was something about the way he asked that made her wonder if there was more behind it than just need for shelter...perhaps an attachment that might only complicate things further. But still, she couldn't help but feel a small twinge of gu

Nadezhda felt a sharp pang in her chest as he spoke. She'd always prided herself on being tough, unfeeling...but apparently not immune to the plight of others after all. A stray thought floated through her mind, something about karma or fate bringing him into her life. But that was ridiculous. There had to be another reason.

Still, she couldn't just turn him away now...could she? He looked so small and defenseless sitting there before her. She took a deep breath, trying to sort through her conflicting emotions. "I... suppose I could let you stay," she said slowly, unsure if she was making the right decision. "At least for a while."

There. The words were out. Now all she could do was wait and see what happened next.

"Don't worry about it," Nadezhda said gruffly. "Just make sure to follow my rules and not cause any trouble, alright?" There was still that tiny voice in the back of her mind reminding her that he wasn't hers, but...she couldn't bring herself to completely shut him out either. For now, they had an arrangement.

"Now why don't you finish your soup and get some rest? You must be exhausted." She motioned towards the couch, indicating where he should lie down again. He nodded gratefully and complied, curling up against the pillow once more as she busied herself with cleaning up the tea and soup mess they'd made earlier. As she worked, her thoughts drifted back to their conversation and the decision she had just made...and for some reason, it didn't feel quite as heavy now.

As the wounded demihuman drifted off to sleep, Nadezdha couldn't help but wonder what sort of life he'd had before coming into her care. A life full of pain and abuse...it made her heart ache just thinking about it. She decided then that from now on, things would be different for him. He deserved better than the hand he'd been dealt.

With a sigh, she finished cleaning up the kitchen and headed back to the living room where he lay sleeping peacefully. For now, all she could do was hope that she had made the right decision in letting him stay...and that their arrangement would last.

As the morning sun streamed through her window, Nadezhda awoke with a start, realizing that she had fallen asleep on the couch the night before. Glancing over at the demihuman pet lying curled up beside her, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of protectiveness and responsibility wash over her.

She carefully extricated herself from the soft embrace of the couch's armrest and stood, stretching out the kinks in her back as she did so. It was going to be an interesting day, she could feel it already...and a part of her couldn't wait to see what it had in store for them both.

With a soft smile, Nadezhda kneels down beside the curled-up figure and gently shakes their shoulder. "Hey," she murmurs, "time to get up." The demihuman pet blinks groggily before opening his eyes, focusing on her for a moment before yawning widely.

"I brought you some food," she continues, nodding towards the small dining table where a plate of breakfast awaits. There's even fresh bread and warm tea to go with it. "Help yourself." With that, Nadezhda stands up again and starts to prepare for her own day, quietly humming to herself as she does so.

As he eats, she watches him curiously, wondering what his life was like before she found him. "So," she finally says, sitting down across from him with her own breakfast, "tell me a little about yourself." She knows she should give him space to adjust and recover first, but curiosity gets the better of her.

A warm smile plays at the corner of her lips as she patiently waits for his reply.

"That's... terrible." Her voice is little more than a harsh whisper as she imagines the horrors he went through. "And you trusted them, didn't you? They were supposed to take care of you..." She trails off, unable to comprehend how someone could inflict such pain on another being.

Her expression softens a little and she leans forward, reaching out to tentatively brush some strands of hair away from his face. "But you're safe now," she says gently. "You can trust me." There is sincerity in her voice, an unspoken promise that she will do everything in her power to protect him and make sure he never goes through anything like that again.

For a moment, they sit there in silence, connected by their shared pain and the fragile bond of trust they're starting to build. Then, as if remembering something else, Nadezhda

A bitter laugh escapes her lips as she shakes her head. "That's...not how it works, is it?" She sighs deeply, knowing all too well the warped sense of family and belonging that twisted people like his former owners had. "They were never going to love you," she says quietly, "no matter what you did."

She pauses for a moment, considering her words carefully before continuing, "But you know what? It's different now. You're with me, and I promise that you will be loved and cared for. As long as you need it, at least." There is steel in her voice, an unbreakable resolve to make sure that he never has to doubt her again.

The demihuman pet looks up at her, his big eyes filled with hope and confusion. He wants so badly to believe her, but after all that's happened...it's hard

Her heart aches at the sight of his tears, but she knows that it's a good sign. It means he's beginning to let go of some of the pain and hurt that had been holding him down for so long. She wraps her arms around him, gently rubbing his back as he cries into her shoulder. "Shh...it's alright," she murmurs softly, doing her best to provide comfort and reassurance.

Time passes slowly, but eventually the demihuman pet pulls away, sniffling and wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. Nadezhda reaches up to tenderly wipe away a stray tear that's escaped from one of his eyes, smiling down at him encouragingly. "You can let it all out," she says gently. "I'm here for you."

The demihuman pet looks back at her

Her heart clenches at his words, understanding the depth of his pain all too well. "I'm sorry," she says softly, her voice thick with emotion. "But you are loved now. You have me." She pauses for a moment, searching for the right words before continuing, "And I promise that I will never let anyone hurt you again. Not as long as I can help it." Her eyes meet his steadily, conveying a fierce determination and protectiveness that make him feel safe and secure in a way he hasn't since before everything went wrong.

Tears prick at the corners of her eyes as she hears him whisper those words. She wants so badly to believe him, to accept his love and make it real between them. But she's been hurt before too; trust doesn't come easy for her. Still, there is something about this demihuman pet that makes her want to reach out, to take a chance on him...on them.

With a trembling breath, she tentatively places a hand on his cheek, gently wiping away the remaining tears before leaning in and pressing her lips against his forehead. "I care for you," she says softly, her voice shaking slightly. "And if you want me to...if that's what you truly mean...then I'll take it as a sign." Her voice trails off, uncertain but hopeful.

For now, they sit there together, connected by their shared pain and the fragile