Snake Struggles
"ALEEEEEEX!"
Alex rubbed his eyes and groaned. He'd pulled an all-nighter the previous night to study for a test. Tom had better be getting violently stabbed. He rose from the bed and walked into the living room. Tom was on his stomach looking under the couch in their shared apartment. Alex squinted at the other man. He couldn't quite get a menacing glare up at this hour. "What's wrong?"
Tom huffed. Alex rolled his eyes at his expression. "My snake got out again."
Most people would have panicked at that statement. Alex knew for a fact that Stella, Tom's ball python was not venomous and probably the friendliest snake he'd ever met. "Mhm, have you tried treats?"
Constrictor snakes could still hurt people. Alex didn't want to go fishing under a couch for a snake if he didn't have to. "She just ate."
Alex resisted a snort. Of course, his life wasn't going to be that easy. "Alright. Give me a minute."
Tom was giving him puppy eyes as he walked back to his room and put on a shirt. He walked over to the couch to see how wedged under there Stella was. For such a tiny snake, she was an escape artist in the making. Alex could sympathize. She was pressed against the wall under the couch. Alex began his entreaties. "Stella."
The snake curled on herself and hissed slightly. Tom patted him on the back. "See, she likes you better."
Alex rolled his eyes. For some reason, all of Tom's pets ended up liking him better. Alex felt four paws step onto his back. "Cat, I am not your moving cushion."
The fluffy brat started purring and kneading him before settling on his back. The cat curled up on his back. "Tom, come get your cat off of my back."
Alex heard the familiar click of a camera. Tom was a dick sometimes. "But Fluffy likes you best, too."
Alex grumbled under his breath. Tom's pets were the worst. Thankfully, Alex had made him adopt out most of the animals they had fostered. Fluffy was the least fluffy cat Alex had ever met. He had exactly one layer of super thin and soft fur. Fluffy also got cold and sat near the boiler in the winter. Alex felt the cat start licking his hair and pawing his ears. Alex temporarily abandoned his pursuit of Stella and gently removed Fluffy from his back. The cat sat on his foot. "Cat, I'm trying to fish the snake out from under the couch."
The cat ignored him and began nuzzling his calf. Tom was leaning against the doorway and grinning. "I feel like this cat is your spirit animal whenever we do literature analysis."
In other words, Tom was useless at best and an active distraction at worst. Tom laughed at him. Alex began trying to coax the cat off of his foot. At the moment, Stella and Fluffy were the only pets they had at the moment. Alex was quite thankful. "Cat."
The animal meowed at him. Fluffy brat. Alex gave up and scooped the cat up. It let out chirps of protest as he carried it across the room and placed him in front of Tom. The cat let out a meow of discontent and swiped at Alex's ankle.
Alex walked back towards the couch and began speaking towards the snake in a low voice. Snakes didn't typically like high-pitched or fast noises. "Stella."
The snake uncurled slightly. Her eyes gleamed even in the low light under the couch. She was a healthy snake. "Stella."
The snake uncurled a little bit more. Alex began to slowly reach under the couch. "Little baby Stella."
The snake unfurled another coil. Alex knew that didn't mean she wouldn't bite him. Snakes were touch and go sometimes. He inched his arm forward towards the snake. Alex stilled instantly as she began to slither towards him. Stella's tongue flicked against his hand and arm before she began to curl around his thumb and wrist. Alex slowly moved his arm out from under the couch. Stella tightened her coils around him as she went under the light. Alex gently stroked the snake. Tom's mouth fell open. "Why do all my pets like you better?"
Alex grinned as he cupped Stella against his chest and slowly rose. The tongue flicked against his neck. "Animal magnetism."
Alex figured that they were just kind of bratty. Like Tom. Stella's head nudged his chest. Alex began heading towards the glass cage. "It's just unfair."
Alex grinned and began trying to pry Stella off him and onto her heated rock. She did not look happy about abandoning her new squishy heat source. "Life isn't fair, Tom."
The snake was not letting Alex pry her off very easily. He sighed and began to gently uncurl her from his wrist. The snake began wrapping herself around his hand as she released his wrist. "Be nice, Stella."
Stella was now tightly curled around his other hand. Alex ran another finger down her scales and raised the hand to his face. A forked tongue flicked out and touched his nose. Tom started sniggering. Alex flipped him off with his free hand. "She likes you. Look, she even gave you a kiss."
Alex began stretching the rest of his body. Fluffy came trotting over. Alex heard Stella hiss. Fluffy hissed right back. Well, shit. "Cat. Be nice."
The cat lightly nipped him. Alex nearly dropped the snake. "Cat."
Fluffy began rubbing his face against Alex's calves again. "It's a miracle I get anything done while living with you three."
Tom grinned and walked up to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Alex gave him an annoyed look. "Well, you see, mate, it's your animal magnetism."
Alex rolled his eyes as he attempted to move towards the couch. Alex nearly tripped over Tom. "You're worse than the cat."
Tom let out a huff. Alex grinned. "Am not."
The cat meowed. Alex leaned over to pet the cat with his free hand. "Are too."
As he and Tom began to bicker, Alex reflected that he wouldn't change this for the world.
Fin
Written for Prompt #361 by Zyzyax. This is the 59th work in the Winds of Change 2022 Alex Rider Prompt event, where a new prompt (plus a short 1-3K work) is posted every day. For more details, see the AO3 collection :) Want to discuss? Leave a comment beneath, or join the discord (Link on AO3 Fics or just PM me, lol). Want to take part in our Alex Rider anniversary celebrations in September? Join the WoC discord to take part in a fanfic event!