Note: written for the Free-For-All-Fic-For-All at the AskTheSquishykins tumblr.
Prompt: Jonathan Crane and Kitten
CATverse, takes place when Kitten is around a year old.
Jonathan Crane was not an animal lover. His girls were, but they knew better than to bring home any stray pets. If they did, the mangy creatures would only end up in his lab.
Unfortunately, Kitten hadn't gotten that memo.
Jonathan hated going to the park—too many witnesses—but the baby loved fresh air and sunshine, so every once in a while he would walk down with her and dump her in the sandbox with the other brats for half an hour or so. She seemed to enjoy socializing with other toddlers, as far as shouting, "Dah dah dah!" and flinging toys at each other could be considered socialization.
That Thursday, the park was nearly deserted, so he could only assume her "dah dah dah" was directed at him.
Then he saw the mangy pit bull puppy running toward them.
He snatched up the baby in alarm, already picturing the hungry-looking beast taking off her head with a single snap of its jaws.
Kitten laughed.
The dog plowed into him at full speed, knocking him flat on his back. He wouldn't admit it later, but his first instinct was to shield the baby with his body. But when the beast chomped down on sleeve and started shaking its head back and forth, growling and barking excitedly through its clenched teeth, he suddenly remembered to be concerned for his own exposed throat.
Kitten lunged over him, grabbed the dog by the ear, and yanked with all her strength.
"Kitten, no!"
The dog released his arm and pounced on the baby. Jonathan squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn't see this.
Kitten was screaming.
With laughter.
He opened one eye.
The puppy was licking her face with such enthusiasm, she might be in danger of drowning in slobber, but nothing more than that.
As Jonathan opened his other eye, the dog suddenly bounded away to chase a nearby pigeon, wagging its tail so hard it couldn't keep itself running in a straight line. Kitten stretched both hands after it.
"Dah DAH!" she shouted gleefully. Jonathan scowled.
"No! You can't have a dog!"