Puss and Kitty just stared at the little pup, his back to them as he stood at the prow of the ship, softly giggling as the salty sea-spray tickled his nose. And while the feline couple couldn't help but smile at this exuberant youngster, so innocent and full of life, they suddenly felt very sad, and despondent. For no matter how hard they tried to push it from their thoughts, they just couldn't purge that awful story from their minds.
But in the end, it wasn't so much the story, but the way Perrito just told it like it was the funniest thing he had ever heard. And the more she replayed that moment over and over and over again, Kitty could have sworn she felt her heart break into smaller and smaller pieces. And yet, the more she thought about it, the more she felt the burning hatred for those…Those…BASTARDOS grow in the very core of her being until eventually, she shared a knowing look with her handsome Gato, his hands keeping the helm steady as the, er, "borrowed" ship sailed towards Far Far Away.
No words were needed.
The heartache in their eyes was enough.
They knew what needed to be done.
Perrito didn't even notice when kitty sat down beside him, the little perro's eyes closed in content bliss as he felt the tranquil breeze on his fur. But luckily, the faint sent of what he could only describe as a very expensive perfume had hit his sensitive nose. And the moment his large, blue eyes landed on her, a bright, beaming smile spread across his muzzle.
"OH, HIGH KITTY!" he exclaimed in his practically permanent good mood. In fact, Kitty actually forgot her solemn mission as she let a little laugh escape her throat.
"Hola Perrito," she cooed as she sat beside, one paw unconsciously finding purchase on the pup's head, the monochromic cat scratching his scalp, or rather what she could manage with no claws. But, even as both of them looked out at the tranquil sunset, Kitty knew she couldn't put off the inevitable conversation.
"Perrito…"
The pup looked to the side as his name was called, his big blue eyes gazing at Kitty with the same youthful optimism and innocence. And oh, how Kitty wanted to back out. But, she knew that if Perrito was bottling his emotions, then it would not be the best thing to do. And so, with a deep breath, she continued.
"That story you told us…about your owners…"
A pause as a shiver ran up Kitty's spine.
"…and the sock."
"Oh yeah," Perrito shrugged off with a laugh.
"Hilarious, right?!"
At this point, Kitty felt her patience wearing thin. She didn't want to have to do what she did next, but she knew she had to.
For Perrito.
"PERRITO!" she practically snapped. The exclamation actually made Perrito shrink back a bit. Kitty wanted to apologize, but she knew that this was the moment for some tough love.
"It is not 'hilarious,'" she continued in a calmer, but still very stern, only going when she knew she had Perrito's undivided attention.
"They were not playing…They were trying to get ri-…"
At this point, Kitty was fighting back tears, her voice cracking as she tried to steel herself to deliver the painful truth to the pure pup by her side.
"They were trying to kill you."
For a solid ten seconds Perrito just sat there, his expression neutral as he just stared at Kitty, who at this point had let a single tear slide down their cheek. But, to Kitty's utter frustration, the loud, boisterous laugh that erupted from Perrito just pained her even more.
"It's even funnier when you say it!" Perrito exclaimed, his whole body shaking as he laughed, much to Kitty's heartbreak. But what happened next made Kitty's heart break even more as the painful sound of Perrito's loud, exuberant laughter slowly breaking into quiet, anguished sobs echoed in her ears as thick, wet, salty tears cascaded down his cheeks.
"Why didn't they want me Kitty? What did I do wrong?"
"Oh Perrito," Kitty quietly sobbed with the pup, her soft paws immediately feeling like a warm blanket to him as she hurriedly scooped him into her lap, her tender grip holding him firmly to her chest as she began to rock him, almost like how a mother did with her child.
"You have done nothing wrong. Those people are cruel monsters, who did not realize what they had."
For several minutes, Kitty and Perrito just sat there, the poor pup pouring out all his grief. And to Kitty, it broke her heart even more, for the tuxedo cat couldn't help but wonder just how long Perrito had been bottling up all these feelings. Did he even allow himself to cry when he was alone.
"That's why I want be a therapy dog."
This caught Kitty's attention, the female casting her gaze to meet a now slightly happier Perrito, though a few stray tears trickled down his cheeks.
"I didn't have anyone to make me feel better…but now I can help others do that."
What Kitty did next shocked them both.
With a tender smile, she leaned down.
And the moment her soft lips touched his forehead, Perrito knew he found the ones who could help him through his OWN demons.
And as their gaze went toward the horizon, Kitty whispered something that made Perrito's heart flutter and his tail wag.
Something no one had ever called him before now.
"Good Boy, Peritto…Good Boy."
Puss watched the scene with a tender smile. He couldn't hear it, but he knew given Perrito's reaction, and Kitty's gentle embrace that some healing was starting to take place. But as he kept his hands steady, his lungs inhaling a deep whiff of ocean, his breath suddenly caught in his throat, his heart skipping a beat and his fur standing on end as he heard it…
That damned whistle.
But surprisingly, the feeling passed like a fleeting shadow, much like how the cloaked figure at his side did with great ease. And Puss knew he was the only one who heard his arrival, as Kitty and Perrito's attention remained on the horizon. Which was perfect in Puss's mind, as he had a serious question for the Lobo, who was surprisingly silent. Puss even dared to glance out of the corner of his eye. And to his surprise, he was not staring down the muzzle of Death, who merely sat beside him, his hood down, his arms casually draped over his knee as he looked at the pair on the forward deck.
Finally, Puss couldn't resist…
"Why didn't you take him that day?"
A stiff moment of silence…followed by a soft, almost mocking chuckle.
"I didn't think the Great Puss in Boots cared."
The answer he got was not one he expected.
"Answer me."
For once, Death's crimson eyes were wide in surprise as his head snapped to the side, half-expecting to see the insufferable ginger-furred bane of his existence staring him down. Instead, Puss's attention never diverted from the sweet pup. And Death couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw a tear leave a darkened track on Puss's cheek.
Since when does Puss in Boots Cry? He thought to himself. It was only then that he realized perhaps this little, arrogant legend was actually trying to better himself, in that he actually deeply cared for someone…or rather two someone's other than himself. And at that moment, Death felt HIMSELF humbled by this once boastful gato. And it was only after he released a low sigh that he answered.
"I couldn't."
"Why not? You are DEATH! You can do anything you want!"
Ah, the Lobo thought, a little smirk on his lips, there's the gato I remember.
"I may be death," he responded, some of his morbid mirth seeping back into his voice, "but I still have rules to follow."
For the first time in their conversation, Puss looked towards Death, the stabby tabby's tear-filled eyes now filled with curiosity. And Death internally laughed at this, as he knew full well where curiosity leads a cat…
Right to him.
But he was willing to humor the Leche Whisperer.
"Four rules…"
He held up to three fingers and a thumb, counting down from pinky to thumb as he spoke.
"One; I must respect life, which I do without any complaint or contempt…though with my OWN exception…our nine."
Puss, despite himself rolled his eyes, which Death did not mind. In fact, he welcomed it with a good-natured laugh, filled with warmth and camaraderie rather than cold condescension.
"Two; I must go where I am sent without question. Three…"
The mirthful smile fell into sad frown as his gaze turned back to the little pup, his spirits now greatly lifted as Kitty playfully scratched his belly. His gaze then turned to that one specific sickle, the one etched with…
"I cannot bring people back from the afterlife…once they are gone…"
A sad sigh once again.
"They are gone."
"And four?"
And once again, the frown turned upward only slightly. And it was then that Puss realized that little smile was not one of glee, or malice. But rather something he thought he would never see from Death.
Relief…for Perrito
"I can never take anyone before their time."
It was at that moment that Puss gained a new respect for Death, and to a greater extent, life. But, something didn't quite fit with these rules, or rather one in particular.
"Wait," he said as the Lobo rose to his feet, a clear sign he was getting ready to depart. And being just as curious as any cat, Death looked down to meet Puss's confused expression.
"You said you go where you are sent…but who sends you?"
In that moment Puss couldn't be sure, but he could have sworn he saw a flicker of…fear in Death's face.
But who could Death possibly fear?
But then, a Mediterranean-accented voice sounded…a voice that made Death wince and groan, almost like a child who knew he was in for scolding.
"Someone who is very perturbed that a certain WOLF is not doing as he is told…again."
At that moment, Puss watched as Death, putting on a nervous smile, a similar laugh escaping his throat, turned to the aft-most deck of the ship, where, to the feline's utter astonishment, he laid eyes on what he could only describe as the most beautiful female deer he had ever seen, the doe, who stood on her hind legs as Death did, literally glowing in the sunlight, her golden fur covered from her chest down in a cascading, white-silk dress. And adorned on her head, a crown of white lilies.
But on her back...a bow and quiver of arrows.
But, despite the warmth her aura gave off, her unamused, sky-blue eyes glared at the know very bashful lobo, the canine attempting to close the distance with outstretched arms.
"AH, MI AMOR!"
But before he could close the distance…the doe had a firm hold of his ear, treating the now silently chuckling Puss to a truly once in a lifetime sight of Death whimpering like a little pup.
"My apologies Puss in Boots," the doe explained in an unamused deadpan, "but when I send this anóitos to do one simple thing, he still will not swallow his pride long enough to admit he was a BAD BOY in breaking one of MY rules."
Puss's smile was now gone, his curiosity now greatly peaked.
"YOUR rules?"
The doe's face relaxed, a tender smile replacing her otherwise stern frown as she looked at Puss.
"Yes. When I know someone is nearing the end of their life, I send my VLAKAS husband to collect them. But, being the rather proud, impatient, and easily OFFENDED oaf he is, he has tendency to run off on his own."
"Husband?" Puss gasped, still unable to wrap his head around what he was hearing...
Until finally, he couldn't resist.
"Who are you?"
And much to his relief, but further shock, the doe was very direct.
"I am Artemis."
"Artemis," Puss gasped, his eyes wide in wonder, and a bit of fear, as he gazed at the fabled Greek Goddess of the Hunt, who, despite her love of hunting, was also revered for her love of the wilderness, for nature, from the plants in the deepest forests to the wildlife residing in them.
And to her love and care of children.
And the middle child of three prominent Goddesses of life.
The Eldest, Gaia, Goddess of the Earth, and the youngest, Hebe, Goddess of Youth.
Yes, alongside her sisters, she helped to preserve life when necessary.
And to send Death when it had reached its end.
And right now, Artemis was very cross with her husband.
"And the reason I am here," she continued with a smile of gritted teeth, the doe staring daggers at her husband as gave an extra hard tug of his ear, causing another yelp to escape his lips.
"Is because my little Koutávi has something to say after that UNAUTHORIZED hunt of his."
At that, Artemis released Death's ear, the wolf holding a deep frown on his muzzle as he rubbed the tender thing, looking at the deck instead of the know smiling gato.
"Go ahead," Artemis said, slapping Death's elbow, who grumpily issued a reply.
"Florry," he grumbled under his breath.
Artemis did not like that.
"PES TO SOSTA!"
Once again, Death found his ear in the does grip.
"OW! OW! SORRY!"
"Good," the doe cooed, her grip immediately loosed as she looked to Puss.
"Puss in Boots, is there anything you would like to say?"
Puss smiled as he truly enjoyed the sight before him, the smile quickly developing into a teasing smirk.
"No hard feelings, Muerte…especially since I know who wears the boots in your relationship."
Artemis stifled a giggle as she saw a deep crimson blush bleed through her husband's white fur as he snarled at the arrogant cat.
"DON'T PUSH YOUR LUCK, GATO! YOUR TIME WILL COME! AND BELIEVE ME, YOU WILL KNOW...YIP!"
Another high-pitched yelp as Artemis once again pinched his ear.
"Play nice," she cooed in a threatening manner, a devious smirk on her lips as she once again relinquished her hold on Death's ear, only to whisper a little message in his ear that made his breath catch in his throat and his fur stand on end.
"Now come along, Agápi Mou. My sisters and I have a proper 'punishment' waiting for you…and reward if you promise to behave yourself."
Not caring that this little flirtatious conversation was being observed by the gato that had been a pain in his side, Death, with a mischievous smile, pulled his wife close to him as he placed a deep passionate kiss on her lips. And Puss, being as polite as he could, let his gaze drift to the side, allow a peak hear and there until the supernatural couple parted.
"Yo Te Amo," Death growled against his wife's lips, earning a response in her native tongue...which he could still taste on his.
"Kai s 'agapó," Artemis whispered back, before the duo departed, vanishing in a soft golden glow, leaving a much happier Puss behind as he turned his gaze back toward Kitty and Perrito, the two still blissfully unaware of the exchange that occurred behind them. And in the end, Puss thought it was better this way.
And as the ship sailed on, he knew that future never looked brighter.
There you go, my first Puss in Boots fic!
I gotta say, I never thought I would make a fic for this fandom, but to be honest, after watching the movie, I fell in the love with the Character of Death. And in truth, I hadn't planned how the ending turned out, but when I was writing this, I was hit with the idea of shipping Death in an Ironic Relationship with Artemis, who is represented by a deer. And I love that bit of irony too, as in nature, the WOLF hunts the DEER!
Also, since I know have tendency to fan-cast my OC's, I figured I would let you know that I would cast Gal Gadot as Artemis.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the story. And if it all goes well, you may be seeing Death and Artemis interact with our heroes in future installments.
Anyway, Stay Safe, Stay healthy, and HAPPY READING!
Greek Translations;
"Anóitos"-"Fool"
"Koutávi"- "Puppy"
"PES TO SOSTA!"-"SAY IT RIGHT!"
"Agápi Mou"-"My Love"
"Kai s 'agapó"-"And I Love You"