Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the Bottom.
Word Count - 417
Of Panthers And Claws
Seamus kissed Dean goodbye before he left the flat. He left his very human boyfriend with a pile of books to read, and expected that, when he returned, he would be returning to his still very human boyfriend.
He didn't realise that someone could be so wrong in such a simple assumption.
…
The living room looked normal. There was no damage done from a struggle or a fight. The art was still up on the walls, the rug was in position, even the 'Best Boyfriend Ever' trophy that Dean had bought him for a joke was still on the mantle and hadn't moved an inch.
"Dean?" he called cautiously, slipping his wand into his hand.
When no reply came, his brow furrowed.
He didn't move his eyes from the panther that was sitting on top of the rug, staring at him with wide eyes and a tail that was leisurely making the journey from left to right and back again.
"Dean?" he tried again.
Still no answer, but the panther's ears twitched.
Stepping cautiously closer, Seamus didn't really know how to proceed. What kind of defence was he supposed to use against a panther anyway? Nothing he'd learnt in school, or even Dumbledore's Army had prepared him for this.
A book on the table caught his eyes, and he reached out to look at the covers.
"Animagi; the animal within."
Seamus looked between the book and the panther. Understanding dawned.
"Dean?"
The panther huffed.
"Really? A panther? Are you trying to give me a bloody heart attack?"
With no warning, the panther stood up, first on four legs and then up onto two, its front paws resting against Seamus' chest.
"Dean?"
The panther… Dean… licked his face with a wet yet sandpaper-y tongue.
"Oh, ew. Is this payback for me making things go boom? Is that what this is?"
Seamus tried to move, but that only landed him flat on his back on the lavender rug, with a heavy big cat laid out over his torso.
The panther… Dean… yawned wide, showing Seamus a closer look at his teeth than he'd ever wanted, and laid it's head against Seamus' shoulder, closing its eyes.
"You're… really? Really, Dean?"
He tried to move, but Dean chose that moment to contract his claws gently against Seamus' chest and he stilled immediately.
At least the rug was comfortable to lie on. Dean felt like a very heavy, very warm quilt, and after a long day at work, Seamus was growing more and more to like the idea of a nap.
As he buried a hand in the panther's fur, he closed his eyes. "You're a bloody menace, Dean Thomas."
A huff was all the answer he got.
Written for;
The Brand's War - T'Challa - Panther / Claws / Dean Thomas
Character Appreciation - 24. Dumbledore's Army
Showtime - 39. Journey
Geek Pride, Stand 4 - Comics - Read / Boom / Art
Debate Club, Team OTP - Lavender
Cooking Corner - Guinness - Trophy
Insane House - 23. Dean Thomas