A/N: Welcome. I am, in no way, putting on hold Wilting Away. It is nearing its end, so I thought it would be nice to write something to create anticipation. This will be a short story, unless I'm asked to write more. I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Attack On Titan
The colourful streets of Kenmare, Ireland were greeted by the sight of a beautiful pale woman with dark red hair. Well, at least, that's what I told myself to sleep at night. I had just moved to Kenmare, County Kerry and I was thrilled to open up my own Norwegian bakery. Unlike most people that lived in Kenmare, I wasn't Irish. I was born and raised in Norway. A battle born Viking. I chuckled at my own stupid antics whilst waking down the street. The aroma of spices and food filled my nose and I closed my eyes in contempt.
A couple walked past me and I sighed. It had been years since I had last been in a relationship. I had long forgotten how it felt to have a man's arms around my shoulders. A man's touch and the security it provided. It wasn't like I needed a man to be happy, I sure as hell didn't. But, having someone to happily greet you with love as soon as you got home, sure made it a lot easier. I had grown accustomed to being single, and it deeply troubled me. I didn't please me to think that I would end up with eight cats on an abandoned cabin in the woods - I would still have to pay taxes, though.
I still had a lot of time to find someone, hell, I was only 25 years old. I was so young, yet I felt so old. I felt a drop of water hit my cheek. I looked up at the sky and walked faster. A storm would surely be pouring down on the town before I even managed to make it to my flat. People were covering themselves with their jackets and the lucky ones were being protected by umbrellas. Drop after drop, water started covering me. I knew I would have to wait it out somewhere. I entered the first store that came into view and shielded myself from the rain.
-Good morning, miss. Can I help you? –I heard a lady behind me say. I turned around, embarrassed over the fact that I had only entered her shop to shield myself.
-I…uh…I hope you don't mind. I'm waiting for the rain to stop. –I confessed, inspecting my surroundings. It didn't seem a store. There were posters and fliers of dogs everywhere.
-It's fine, honey. It's freezing outside and you're drenched. Would you like some tea? –The woman offered, pouring me a cup before I had the chance to answer.
-Thank you. –I thanked the woman, taking a seat on one of the chairs of the animal shelter and sipping my tea silently. The sound of the rain in the background was like a soft lullaby. It was calming.
The woman retreated back to her desk and resumed whatever paperwork she was sorting out. I could hears barks coming from the door behind her. I stood up and approached her. There were no cat fliers or posters. Only dogs. I eyed the room curiously. I stood up from my chair and approached the woman.
-Excuse me, ma'am. Can I see the dogs that have been put up for adoption? I'd like to adopt one.–I asked, finishing my tea.
-Are you sure? We've got puppies. You can just purchase one. –She offered, looking up from her paperwork and eyeing me with confusion.
I looked at the puppies sleeping on their cages and smiled. They would easily find a home. I knew, for a fact, that older dogs were rarely adopted. People wanted a puppy. They wanted a small bundle of joy they could make into whatever they wanted. I didn't want that. I wanted a dog that could learn to love me as much as I loved him. Something was still missing as I attempted to settle into my new life, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. It would give me someone to talk to.
I shook my head and flashed the woman a smile.
-I want to adopt. –I stated, placing my empty cup of tea on her desk and tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
The woman seemed moved by my words. She smiled warmly and pulled out a folder from one of the many drawers on her desk.
-What kind of dog do you want? –She questioned, flipping through the many pages on her folder.
-I don't know. Perhaps a suggestion would help me. –I whispered, smiling at every cute picture I saw. The woman took off her glasses, closed her folder and stared into my eyes with a hint of something I couldn't quite place.
-I've got someone. A brown Labrador, quite timid. He's been here for about a month now. I haven't been able to get any kind of playful response from him. Perhaps you can. Would you like to meet him? –She asked, standing up from her chair and opening the door behind her.
I nodded. She signalled for me to follow her and I did as told, eager to meet my new friend. I hadn't even finished settling into my new flat and I was already brining someone to my home. I feared I wouldn't be able to take care of him.
I couldn't help but to gasp when my eyes caught sight of the brown Labrador. She told me his name was Sam as I looked at him lying on his pen. The shelter was really clean and every person that walked past me waved.
-A lot of people have been wanting to adopt him. But, they didn't look like Lab people, you know? –The woman started, kneeling down in front of Sam and petting his head.
She must've thought I did, because of my curiousity I ended up taking Sam home with me.
When I finally arrived home with Sam, I started considering that the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Sam and his things. For a dog that had been put up for adoption, he had things most people wouldn't even bother to buy for their dogs. The whole package consisted of a dog pad, a bag of toys which were brand new tennis balls, and a sealed letter from his previous owner.
Much to my dismay, Sam and I didn't get along at first. We struggled for two weeks, which was the time the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home. Maybe it was because I was trying to adjust as much as he was. Perhaps we were too much alike. I could feel his discomfort and the fact that I couldn't do anything about it bothered me. I could often felt powerless when trying to bond with him.
For some reason, his stuff, expect for the tennis balls –he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth, got tossed in with all of my other unpacked boxes. I didn't think he'd need his old things. I thought I would buy him new stuff once he settled in, but it became pretty clear pretty soon that he wasn't going to.
I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" and "stay" and "come" and "heel", and he'd follow them –when he felt like it. He never really seemed to listen when I called his name. He'd look in my direction after the fourth or fifth time I said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever he was doing. When I'd ask him again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey.
I tried to be as patient as I could. I would end up falling asleep on the floor next to him in a sad attempt to get him to show affection. It felt as if wasn't going to work. He chewed on a couple of shoes and some unpacked boxes. Sometimes I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell. The friction go so bad between us that I couldn't wait for the two whole weeks to be up. I felt bad for thinking that way, but it was just all of my frustration showing its ugly head.
When the two weeks were up, I decided it was best for someone else to adopt him. Someone whom he actually liked. I had been searching for my phone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the kitchen, where I spent a lot of time baking, I knew it could be there but I also voiced some rather cynical thoughts.
-Bloody dog probably ate it. –I mumbled as I tried not to trip with the boxes.
I looked for it for over an hour before I was finally able to locate it. My head was aching and I was tired. I had focused on opening my bakery and I had barely had the time to get my own shit together. My phone had been sitting next to his pad and other toys from the shelter. I eyed the pad and sighed, tossing it in Sam's direction. He snuffed it and wagged, some of the most enthusiasm I'd seen since bringing him to my flat.
-Hey, Sam. Do you like that? –I called excitedly, hoping for him to give me some sort of answer.
Instead, he sort of glared in my direction and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down on the floor with his back to me. I chuckled bitterly, dialling the shelter's phone number.
-That's not going to do it, either, Sam. –I whispered sadly. As I waited for anyone to answer my call, I looked around the room. A small sealed envelope caught my attention. I kneeled down and picked it up. I hung up, not wanting to be interrupted whilst reading.
-Okay, Sam. Let's see if your previous owner has any advice for me. –I said, observing his back.
I tore the envelope open and carefully held it. The handwriting was incredible. There were a few spots on the letter, as if someone had sprinkled water on it. I pulled my knees close to my chest and read.
To whoever gets my dog:
I cannot say I'm pleased about the fact that you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Sam's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. If you're reading this, it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the shelter. He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time…it's like he knew something was wrong. And something is wrong…which is way I have to try and to make it right.
So, let me tell you about my Lab in hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.
First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't been able to do it yet. It doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll run after them, so be careful. Please, don't do it by any roads. I made that mistake once, and it almost cost him dearly.
Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them again: Sam knows the obvious ones – "sit", "stay", "come", and "heel". He knows hand signals: "back" to turn around and go back when you put your hand straight up; and "over" if you put your hand out right or left. "Shake" for shaking water off, and "paw" for a high-five. He does "down" when he feels like lying down. I bet you could on that with him some more. He knows "ball" and "food", and "bone" and "treat". I trained Sam with small food treats. Nothing opens his ears like little pieces of bacon or hot dog.
Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and again at six in the evening. Regular food, the shelter has the brand.
He's up on his shots. Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when he's due. Be forewarned: Sam hates the vet. I wish you luck getting him the car – I don't know how he knows when it is time to go to the vet, but he knows.
Finally, give him some time. I've never been married, so it's only been Sam and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and especially me.
Which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to live with someone new. And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you…
His name is not Sam.
I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter, I told them his name was Sam. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting that I'd never see him again. And if I end up coming back, getting him, and tearing up this letter, it means that everything's fine. But if someone else is reading it, well…it means that his new owner should know his real name. It'll help you bond with him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change in his demeanour if he's been giving you problems.
His name is Tyrion. Because I am a big fan of Game of Thrones.
Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area, maybe my name has been on the news. I told the shelter they couldn't make "Sam" available until they received word from my company commander. See, my mother is gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tyrion left with…and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter…in the "event"…to tell them that Tyrion could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my commander is a dog man, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he kept his word.
Well, this letter is getting downright depressing, even though, frankly, I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was writing it for my wife and kids and family. But still, Tyrion has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family.
And now I hope that you make him part of your family and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.
That unconditional love from a dog is what I took with me to Iraq as an inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from those who would do horrible things…and to keep those people from coming over here. If I had to give up Tyrion in order to do it, I am glad to have done so. He was my example of service and of love. I hope I honoured him by my service to my country and comrades.
That's enough. I deploy this evening and I have to drop this letter off at the shelter. I don't think I'll say another goodbye to Tyrion, though. I cried too much the first time. I cried too much whilst writing this. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.
Good luck with Tyrion. Give him a good home, and give him an extra hug –every night – from me.
Thank you,
Levi Ackerman.
A/N: I am crying like a goddamn bitch. Before anything, I'd like to give credit to the 9gag post that helped me write this.
/gag/a7dMBye
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter, if you did, please feel free to review, it really does help me out a lot.