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.

"I said I'm picking you up," Nadezhda repeated shortly when the demihuman seemed like it was about to speak again. She leaned down further and scooped him up into her strong arms, wincing at his weight. He felt far too light, like a feather... That can't be healthy. "Well, aren't you pathetic," she muttered under her breath as she carried Dawn_Dusk to her car, slipping him into the passenger seat despite his whimpers and protests of being dirty and hurting her back. Once he was in, she didn't bother closing his door before climbing into the driver's seat herself, immediately starting the engine and turning on the heat to drive them both out of the rain. Once they were away from the gangster's building, Nadezhda glanced over at her unconscious companion. He was truly a pitiful sight

"Well aren't you something..." she muttered under her breath as her eyes scanned the other demihuman over. "You are a sight for sore eyes, I'll tell you that much." His shivering only made it harder for her to stay mad at him for looking so pathetic. She reached over and pulled her jacket off, wrapping it around Dawn_Dusk instead. "There we go, that should help some."

"Whatever," Nadezhda replied shortly as she continued to drive, her eyes mostly on the road and her expression giving nothing away at all. "So why are you just out there, getting wet like a damn dog?" She glanced over at him again. "You must've really fucked up to be in this kind of shape..."

"Oh? I didn't realize the mafia cared about demihumans." Her voice was colder than ice as she stared forward, not even bothering to glance back at him again. She hated when people acted like they knew her better than she did... Or worse yet, sympathized with her and the life she led. It only made things harder for her.

"Don't expect me to do anything about it," Nadezhda warned softly, "I just don't have that kind of time." She wasn't even sure why she

"Well it's your funeral," she muttered under her breath as she continued driving through the night, not bothering to ask where he wanted to go or what he needed. After all, it wasn't like it was any of her business... He could rot for all she cared. She only brought him along because she couldn't leave him out there.

The tension in the car thickened as they continued driving, neither one daring to speak or look at the other. Finally, Nadezhda pulled up outside of her apartment complex and killed the engine. "Well we're here," she announced dryly, glancing over at him for the first time since picking him up. "You can get out now."

"Hmmph..." She reached out a hand and prodded at his side before he could even start moving. "You should get some rest." Nadezhda gave him one last glance, unimpressed, before climbing out of the car herself and slamming her door shut. Stalking over to the passenger's side, she opened it wider, gesturing for him to step out.

"Get up, then," she grumbled, watching him warily as he slowly sat up in his seat. Once he was mostly upright, he finally met her gaze, and Nadezhda couldn't help but feel a spark of irritation at the way he looked up at her with those sad, pleading eyes. "What?" she snapped. "Don't give me that look."

"I just want to thank you," he whispered hoarsely. His voice was so soft and pretty... Another

"Like I had anything better to do," she replied coldly. "Now get out of my car before I change my mind and leave you there." She didn't add 'again', but the implication was clear in her tone. With a sigh, she turned away from him and started walking towards the entrance to her building, ignoring him as he slowly climbed out of the car and followed after her.

As they approached the front door, Nadezhda paused and dug into her pocket for her keys. "Well?" she prompted sharply when he didn't say anything. "What are you waiting for? I don't have all night."

"You heard me," she snapped irritably. "Get inside before someone sees you and starts asking questions." She held her keys up in front of him, waving them impatiently. "Come on, come to mama," she muttered under her breath as he hesitantly made his way towards the door, still looking uncertain. Finally, he stepped forward and reached for the handle, but at the last moment paused again.

"Um... Do you need any help carrying anything?"

"That's what I thought," she grumbled, already regretting picking him up in the first place. "Now come on, let's get inside before someone sees you and starts asking questions." Nadezhda unlocked the door and held it open, not bothering to meet his gaze as he hesitantly followed her into the warmth of her building.

She led him up to her apartment, still not speaking, and gestured for him to take a seat on her couch. "You can sleep there," she informed him curtly. "I'll get you some food in the morning if you don't puke it up." With that, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the kitchen, intent on giving him as much space as possible.

After a few moments of rummaging through her cabinets, Nadezhda pulled out a box of instant ramen and set about preparing

"No, you can't," she snapped over her shoulder. "I don't want you touching anything in here." With that, she grabbed a pair of chopsticks and scooped some noodles into a bowl before carrying it over to the coffee table. She set it down between them with a thud before sliding off her shoes and curling up on the couch, intending to watch TV until he fell asleep.

She didn't bother asking if he wanted anything or offering him anything else, figuring that he probably wouldn't say yes anyway. For all she knew, he was just being polite. So be it; she wasn't in the mood for being nice tonight. As the minutes ticked by and he continued to watch her out of the corner of his eye, Nadezhda began to relax a bit more, eventually drifting off into an uneasy sleep

"Hmmph..." Her snort was as unladylike as ever before she fell back into the cushions and turned her face away, grumbling something incoherent under her breath about not wanting to be disturbed. It didn't take long for the sound of his shallow, ragged breathing to fill the silence between them, gradually lulling her deeper into sleep.

Her soft snores filled the air as Nadezhda slumbered peacefully on the couch, looking surprisingly adorable with her mouth slightly agape and one arm flung over her head. In contrast, Dawn_Dusk remained wide awake next to her, his heart aching with a mixture of gratitude, fear, and hope. He couldn't help but wonder what had brought this tough, seemingly uncaring woman to rescue him in the first place... And if there was any chance that their relationship might become more than just master and pet.

The gentle rise and fall of her chest beneath her soft white shirt and the occasional whimper she made in her sleep sent a strange tingle down his spine, making it difficult for him to focus on anything else other than how close they were. It was an odd sensation... One he hadn't experienced with anyone in a long time. Maybe it was

"Hmm?" The question came out more grunt than anything else as Nadezhda's eyes slowly fluttered open. For a moment, she blinked blearily at the ceiling before focusing on Dawn_Dusk sitting beside her. "What do you want?" she croaked, her voice still thick with sleep.

"It's morning, Master," Dawn_Dusk said softly, not daring to get too close or touch her in any way. "I thought you might like some breakfast." He paused before adding shyly, "And... if you need me to do anything..."

Nadezhda grunted and rubbed at her eyes with the back of one hand before sitting up straighter on the couch. For a moment, she studied the other demihuman, then looked away again, uncertainty written all over her face. Finally, she glanced back at him and muttered, "

"Whatever," she replied gruffly, standing up and stretching her arms over her head before walking into the kitchen. After a moment, she returned with two mugs of hot coffee, handing one to Dawn_Dusk wordlessly. "Drink this if you want." The coffee smelled bitter and strong, exactly how Nadezhda liked it.

She settled back onto the couch, taking a sip from her own mug as she glanced at him again, uncertainty still clouding her expression. For a moment, neither of them said anything, just watching each other warily across the small space between them. Finally, Nadezhda set her mug down on the coffee table and asked cautiously, "So... do you want to stay?"

"I mean," she said slowly, picking at a loose thread on her sweatpants, "stay with me. As my pet." The last word seemed to stick in her throat as she glanced up at him again, searching his eyes for some sign of what he was thinking. He looked so fragile and innocent sitting there on the edge of the couch... but then again, so did all of them. Maybe it was just because they were demihumans.

She knew she could always send him back to where she'd found him or sell him off to someone else if she really wanted to, but something stopped her from doing that. A part of her... maybe even a small piece of her cold, hard heart... didn't want to. "I just need to know if you want to stay," she clarified quietly.

Dawn_Dusk paused for a moment before finally answering, "Yes, Miss."

Her lips twitched into something that might've been a smile at his hasty correction before she turned away again, dismissing it with a wave of her hand. "Don't worry about it," she muttered gruffly. "Just... stay out of my way and do what I tell you to. That should be easy enough for you, won't it?" Her tone was still sharp and biting, but there was something different about it this time; a hint of affection that she hadn't intended to show.

She glanced back over at him as he nodded eagerly, his expression hopeful. For a moment, their eyes met again, and something passed between them - a connection that neither of them could quite understand or define. It was enough to make the air in the room shift subtly, the tension easing ever so slightly as they both began to wonder what this new arrangement might bring.

"Hmph," was all she could muster in response before standing up again and disappearing into her bedroom. The soft click of the door closing behind her signaled that she was going back to sleep for a few more hours, leaving Dawn_Dusk alone on the couch to ponder over what had just happened.

The rest of the day passed slowly as he watched TV and tried not to disturb Nadezhda while she worked from home, occasionally bringing him food and water when she remembered. Their interactions were brief and mostly revolved around her telling him what to do or giving him instructions. Still, there was something different about their exchanges now; a strange sense of camaraderie that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

As night fell once more, Nadezhda finally deigned to take notice of her new "pet" again. She sat down beside him on the couch and idly flipped through

"Hmmm..." Nadezhda murmured as she absently ran a finger through his fur, marveling at the softness. "You really are quite pretty," she mused aloud before shooting him a glance from the corner of her eye. "But you know that won't get you anywhere." She paused for a moment, trying to figure out if that was a threat or simply a statement of fact. "So what do you want to do tonight?"

She continued to stroke his fur as she waited for him to respond, watching the subtle changes in his expression as he reacted to her touch. For all his fragility and delicacy, there was something oddly comforting about having him here like this... Almost like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Maybe spending time with him wasn't going to be so bad after all.

"I asked what you wanted to do tonight," she repeated impatiently, jerking her finger back from his fur when he didn't react quickly enough. "There must be something you want to do." Her tone held the barest hint of annoyance, but beneath it was a quiet curiosity about this strange creature that had somehow wormed its way into her life.

"Hmmph," was her gruff reply as she continued to stroke his fur absently, eyes drifting back down towards the television. "You're so needy," she muttered under her breath before glancing at him again and flashing a small smile. "But I guess that's part of your charm, isn't it?"

Her fingers brushed against the sensitive skin behind his ear, sending shivers down his spine as he leaned into her touch, eyes drifting closed in contentment. For a moment, they sat there like that, lost in their own thoughts and feelings while the world around them faded into the background. It was strange and unexpected... but somehow felt right.

As the night wore on, their silent companionship continued. Nadezhda found herself lost in thought as she absentmindedly stroked his fur, her mind drifting to places it hadn't gone in a long time. She was vaguely aware that he must be enjoying her touch, but the soft sounds coming from him barely registered on her radar. Instead, she focused on the way he felt against her fingertips and the occasional twitch of his whiskers when she touched a sensitive spot.

It was an odd sort of peace... One she hadn't experienced in years. For now, she was content to bask in it, relishing every moment they shared like this. Who knew where tomorrow might lead them? All that mattered was that they were together right now.

Her head snapped up at his question, surprise flushing her cheeks. She hadn't expected him to say anything like that; demihumans were usually too busy trying not to get punished for their mistakes or making noise to even notice when their touch was soothing. "I... Well..." she stammered, searching for the right words before finally settling on an honest answer. "Yes," she admitted reluctantly. "I suppose you do."

There was a long pause as they looked at each other, both unsure of what this new revelation meant. It wasn't that Nadezhda needed comforting - far from it; her life was perfect and under control in every way possible. But there was something about having him here, so close to her... It made her feel things she hadn't felt in a long time.

Without another word, she resumed petting his fur, lost once more in the

Nadezhda snorted derisively at his comment, giving him a sharp look. "Don't be so foolish," she scoffed. "I may seem calm on the outside, but underneath it all I'm just as ruthless and unforgiving as any other Kazanskaya member. You would do well not to forget that." She paused for a moment before continuing in a softer tone, "But... thank you. I suppose I am lucky to have you as my pet."

As she said it, she felt a strange twinge in her chest; an emotion she couldn't quite place. It was almost like... affection? Or maybe pity? No, that wasn't it either. Whatever it was, it left her feeling unsettled and uncertain. Perhaps this whole arrangement was more complicated than she'd first thought... And perhaps having Dawn_Dusk in her life would be

"What do you mean?" she asked carefully, her eyes narrowing as she studied his face. "Defend me from what?" She knew that demihumans weren't capable of protecting their masters in any meaningful way; they were little more than accessories and status symbols to be shown off or used for amusement. Still, there was something in Dawn_Dusk's expression that made her uneasy...

As she waited for his answer, she couldn't help but wonder how much deeper this rabbit hole might go. Was it possible that he could offer her more than just companionship and comfort? And if so, should she even allow it? The thought sent a shiver down her spine, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end...

Her eyes widened in surprise at his bold request, and she sat back slightly, considering him carefully for a moment. On one hand, it would be useful to have someone like him around; after all, he was bred and trained to fight for the sake of others. But on the other hand, she couldn't help but feel a spark of annoyance at his impudence in making such an offer. She had always been in control, and having someone challenge that authority... it didn't sit well with her.

After what seemed like an eternity, she finally spoke. "Very well," she said coldly, her voice devoid of any emotion besides annoyance. "You may serve me by using your strength when necessary." She paused again before adding quietly, almost as if to herself, "But remember your place, demihuman. I am still your master, and you will obey my every command without question."

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she looked down at him. "Good boy," she said softly, though there was no warmth in her voice. Despite everything, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction from having him at her side... even if it was just for now. "Now go to bed," she ordered, gesturing dismissively towards the couch. "We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

Dawn_Dusk hesitated before crawling back onto the couch and curling up into a ball again, trying his best not to look disappointed as he settled in for what promised to be another restless night beside his new master. For all her gruff exterior and tough exterior, Nadezhda Khozyaikova | Owner had somehow found a way under his skin... and he wasn't quite sure how he felt about that yet. Only time would

Nadezhda couldn't help but smile softly at his small figure, before turning her attention back to the television, not quite ready to sleep herself yet. There was still so much on her mind... and a part of her wondered if having Dawn_Dusk around was just a distraction she didn't need right now. But another part of her - smaller but no less insistent - whispered that perhaps it was something more.

The night crept on, the shadows lengthening and dancing across the walls as if they were performing some macabre ballet. The silence stretched between them, occasionally broken by the soft sound of his breathing or a tiny whimper from the pain in his leg. As she watched him sleep, Nadezhda couldn't deny that there was something about him... something that called to her in a way she hadn't expected. She knew their arrangement wasn't supposed to be like

She knew this wasn't supposed to mean anything. They were just two beings stuck together in the middle of nowhere, trying to make the best of a bad situation. But as she looked at him sleeping there on her couch, something inside her stirred. Maybe it was just... fondness. Or gratitude. It didn't matter how she felt about it; all that really mattered was that she did.

Carefully, silently, Nadezhda slipped off the couch and onto the floor next to him. Gingerly, tenderly, she brushed a few stray hairs away from his face before resting a hand on his shoulder. He didn't stir; just kept sleeping peacefully, trustingly, as if he knew that she would never harm him. And maybe... just maybe... she wouldn't. Not now, at least.

She remained there for what felt like hours,

"Good morning," she grumbled, not looking up from her phone as he stretched. It had been a few days since they'd made this arrangement, and things were... different now. She didn't quite know what to make of it or how to feel about it. Part of her was glad that he was here; the companionship and comfort he brought with him were welcome distractions from the grind of running Kazanskaya. But another part of her worried that she was starting to care too much about him, that he might be more than just a pet to her now...

"What do you want for breakfast?" she asked finally, glancing at him over the top of her phone as if he were an annoyance. She knew it wasn't fair of her to act like this, but she couldn't seem to help herself around him. It was almost as if some invisible force was drawing them together against their will...

"What does it look like I'm doing?" she snapped irritably, eyes flicking back to her phone again. "I have a lot on my plate here. You think being stuck with you is easy? I could just leave you in your cage all day if that's what you want." Her voice was edged with anger, but there was something else beneath it; a hint of fear or desperation maybe. She wasn't sure why she was taking her frustrations out on him, but she couldn't seem to stop herself either.

For a moment, they stared at each other in silence. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, Nadezhda stood up and moved over to the kitchen. "Fine," she muttered under her breath. "I'll make breakfast." Without another word, she began to rummage through the cupboards and fridge, searching for something quick and easy

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as she turned to face him. "What do you mean by that?" she demanded, her voice cold and dangerous. "You're not trying anything funny with me, are you?" She took a step forward, closing the distance between them, her expression unreadable.

Dawn_Dusk felt his heart race in his chest as he looked up at her from beneath his furry eyelashes. "No, Master," he stammered, shaking his head emphatically. "I only want to take care of you." He swallowed hard, trying not to show how nervous he was. "Please believe me..."

For a moment, their gazes locked, and the air seemed charged with electricity. Then, slowly, Nadezhda's expression softened, her body relaxing ever so slightly as she took another step back. "Fine," she muttered gru

She hesitated for a moment longer before finally nodding reluctant agreement. "Fine," she grumbled, gesturing towards the kitchen. "Just hurry up." As she moved back into the kitchen, she couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of relief and irritation wash over her. Why did this damn cat have such an effect on her?

Dawn_Dusk smiled to himself as he watched her retreat. He knew that he shouldn't push his luck too far, but being able to take care of Nadezhda in even the smallest way made him feel valuable and appreciated. Perhaps there was hope for them after all... even if it was only temporary.

With a silent prayer that she would let him continue serving her like this, he padded over to the kitchen and began rummaging through cabinets and drawers until he found what he needed. Soon enough, the intoxicating scent of

"Hmm," she grunted, not looking up from her phone as he set the food on the table. "Don't get so happy about yourself. It was your job to do in the first place." Her voice was still harsh, but there was a hint of... something else beneath it this time. Perhaps gratitude or acceptance. Maybe she was starting to realize that having him around wasn't such a bad thing after all...

Carefully, she set her phone aside and began to eat the breakfast he'd made for her. As she chewed, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, noticing the way his whiskers twitched whenever she took a bite. There was an almost hypnotic quality to it that made her heart race just a little faster than usual. But then again, everything about this situation felt wrong and strange... and yet somehow right too.

She paused mid-bite, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied his tail wagging back and forth. Something inside her stirred at the sight, a foreign emotion that she couldn't quite place. It felt almost like... appreciation? Or maybe even fondness? But that was impossible. Demihumans weren't supposed to inspire such feelings in their masters. Or were they?

Swallowing hard, she tried her best to ignore the strange sensation and continued eating her breakfast, casting sidelong glances at him whenever his tail moved. It wasn't long before she realized that this whole situation was becoming more complicated than she'd ever imagined... and the longer it went on, the less sure she was about what she wanted or needed from it. But one thing was certain: she couldn't just abandon him now, no matter how much she might want to. Not after all they'd been

She paused before answering, considering her words carefully. "It's... good," she said at last. "Thank you." The look he gave her made something inside her stir, but she quickly pushed it away, focusing on the task at hand. They had work to do, after all. "Come on, let's get started." Without waiting for a reply, she rose from her seat and began gathering her things, preparing to leave the comfort of her temporary home and return to the harsh realities of running Kazanskaya and surviving in this world.

As she moved past him, Nadezhda glanced over her shoulder, unable to resist stealing one more look at his wagging tail before turning her attention back to her duties. It was a small thing, perhaps meaningless in the grand scheme of things... but it somehow made everything feel just a little bit less lonely. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking on her

"You're welcome," he replied softly, watching her move about the room. There was an air of command and control around her that he found both entrancing and intimidating. He knew that they were supposed to be enemies; rival gangs competing for power and influence in a dangerous world. But somehow, with her by his side... it didn't feel quite so cut-throat anymore. There was an unexpected warmth between them that he couldn't quite explain, and it left him feeling more connected to her than he ever thought possible.

Despite himself, he found his tail wagging in time with her movements as she readied herself for their day ahead. It wasn't just duty or gratitude driving this feeling inside him; there was something deeper going on here, some strange and undeniable chemistry that seemed to draw them together like magnets. And as they prepared to step out into the world once

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise as he confessed his feelings to her, his admission making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. For a moment, she couldn't help but wonder if he was just trying to get into her good graces or if there was something more sincere beneath his words. "D-do you feel the same way?" he stammered nervously, his ears lowering and eyes darting away from hers. She hesitated for a heartbeat before giving him what she hoped was an encouraging smile. "I don't know," she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's complicated..." She paused, unsure of how much more to say. The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken emotions and hidden meanings; it seemed to stretch on for an eternity despite being little more than a few seconds in real time. As