Author's note: I was looking through some old files today and found this. Hope you enjoy!
-x-
The rabbit regarded Jason with wary eyes and wiggling nose.
"It's okay," Trini soothed. "I know he's big and scary, but he won't hurt you."
Jason tried to ignore her, but her words were just a bit irritating. Kimberly had said the same thing about him in relation to that rabbit not that long ago. Well, he might be big (especially from the rabbit's point of view), but scary? Did his friends really see him that way?
"Jason," Trini said, her voice gently teasing. "Stop sulking. He hasn't bolted yet this time."
She had a point. When he came to visit, the rabbit usually disappeared with a thump of alarm or sat in a suitably distant corner and glared at him for daring to invade its space and approach its human. But this time Trini had been able to settle it on her lap and coax it to stay. It was progress. Hopefully.
After a few more minutes of gentle soothing, it was now or never. "Let him sniff your hand."
Jason slowly reached over and allowed the rabbit to sniff the back of his hand. Much to his surprise, it made no attempt to run.
He glanced to Trini for reassurance and she nodded enthusiastically. "See if he'll let you pet him."
He carefully stroked a finger along the rabbit's tiny forehead, and got the impression of surprising softness before the rabbit took off running. It stopped to glare at him from the opposite end of Trini's bed.
"I don't think that rabbit is ever going to like me," Jason muttered.
Trini suppressed a giggle. "You're doing better," she pointed out. "He's not hiding. I'm sure he'll warm up to you eventually. We just need to keep at it."
"Yeah, sure," he said, deliberately avoiding the rabbit's disgruntled gaze.
Trini leaned over, bumping her shoulder against his arm. "Jason, stop worrying. I don't like him better than you."
He glanced down at her, surprised. He hadn't been thinking that.
Had he?