Because I always found Mr Canis and Red to be two of the most complex characters in the series, and I loved their father-daughter relationship. Plus, I have to include something other than Puck and Sabrina, which I have been failing abysmally at.
Sandbox
Mr Canis hates sandboxes. They are literally the opposite of everything he's strives for in life, all the order and peace he longs for. It's so... messy, and difficult to keep tidy, and whenever he sees one he'd reminded of his days as the Wolf, the chaos of a past life, when he had to constantly fight for control of his own body. It brings back bad days, dark days, and the taste of blood is revolting in his mouth. So when Jake suggests building a sandbox for Basil to play in, Mr Canis growls so fiercely at him that the idea is quickly abandoned, with pale faces and shaking heads.
"Well we can't just keep him cooped up," Henry says, after a tense minute, "he needs to go out and get some fresh air. Being stuck in a house all day can't be good for his health."
"Oh me and Red can take him!, Daphne pipes up, they've got a new playground in the park!"
Henry smiles at his daughter's energy, and nods. Squealing, Daphne leads the toddler out of the room, while everyone else leaves, prepping for lunch. All except for Mr Canis, who leans back in his armchair, eyes closed as his breathing slows. Suddenly he feels a tugging at his shirt, and he looks down to see Red pulling at his sleeve.
"Yes dear, what is it?" he says
"Can you come with me and Daphne to the park?" she asks hesitantly.
His eyebrows come together, and he looks at her, confused. "Of course of course. But why?"
She flushes, and her gaze drops to the ground, mumbling 'I... I like being with you."
He blinks, surprised. "Oh. Alright then."
...
They reach the park, and immediately Daphne runs towards the swings, excitedly pushing Basil. Letting go, Mr Canis gently leads Red towards the pair, and goes to sit on a nearby bench, eyes sliding close. Breathing rhythmically, he enters a deep trance, but his keen ears remain listening.
He detects Daphne's growing boredom with the swings, and her rapid moodswing as she spots something else to play on. I wonder what it is, he thinks. He opens his eyes, and sees to his horror the two girls playing in a sandbox, the little boy laughing between them.
He coughs harshly, fist clenching as a vein sticks out of his forehead. Turning away, he breathes deeply, focusing on the chuckles of delight from Red, instead of the terrifyingly haphazard sand. When they leave, he couldn't be more prepared, and strides quickly out, with long, loping steps. Thank God that's over, he thinks.
...
How wrong he was. It appeared that Daphne and Red loved the playground, particularly the sandbox, and went every day, dragging Mr Canis with them. For an hour, he sat on that same bench, fidgeting uncomfortably as he endured the torture of memory, remembering what he used to be like, what now lurked in the body of that small girl in red.
But as he watches, his eyes glaze over, and he finds himself looking not at the sand, but at the people in the sand. Their smiles, their laughs, the sheer fun they exude, the passion and energy. They begin to overcome his memories, close them off, and gradually he gets over his anger.
With each passing day, he feels more of their joy sink in, fighting his past life, bringing him a sense of idyllic calm and peace, until finally they no longer hurt. He looks forward to every trip, lips twitching upwards in fondness as he watches them play, and shriek.
Until one day he sees this little boy in blue walk in, flashing a charming grin at his daughter, and seeing her smile shyly back. Then he sits up, glaring intently, as he see them begin to talk. He growls, and the hackles rise.
Thanks for reading. Please review.