Facing His Fears

Despite being a soldier, there were many things in this world that Nikolo was afraid of. Of course, it was natural; fear and other emotions were unavoidable, soldier or not. He feared the titans he was taught about in school since he was a child, he feared the devils of Paradis that were said to be the worst of the worst, he feared pain and death in general. Most people would, after all, but this wasn't all.

He also feared dogs.

It was irrational, he knew, especially since he was fine with literally every other animal, except perhaps wolves. He just couldn't shake off a trauma from his childhood when the neighbor's huge dog had charged at him.

So obviously, seeing the creature that had somehow gotten to his kitchen terrified him to no end.

"Hi Nikolo!" he heard Sasha greet, only then noticing that the girl was in the room as well "Fuzzy and I have been waiting for you!"

It took him a while to register that "Fuzzy" must've been the dog's name. It had to be Sasha's, then, or at least she was the one who brought it over "Why the hell would she do that!?"

"Why did you bring that thing here?" Nikolo asks, and when Sasha looks at him in confusion, he hastily comes up with an excuse: "It's unhygienic to bring such an animal to the kitchen!"

"It's fine; I scrubbed him up before we came here" before Nikolo could protest, she added: "And I'm here to make sure he doesn't cause trouble. Don't worry!"

So much for his excuses. Well, if Sasha kept an eye on it and it didn't get to him all would be fine, right? There was no reason for him to worry…

"Fine, but you better keep it away from me" he relented "And I don't want you causing any trouble either, are we clear?"

"Do I have to promise that?"

Nikolo only gave her a glare as a reply, causing Sasha to smile sheepishly "Okay, I try not to bother you."

That was the best he'd get, Nikolo knew. Well, he better start working.

…

Well, he tried to, but it was hard to concentrate with that creature in the room. It was rather big, too. Could Sasha even control it if it decided to start trouble? Sure, she was a soldier and so stronger than what he'd expect from an average woman, but was she strong enough? He really didn't want to find out with experience…

"Should I just pretend that I ran out of some ingredient and convince her to leave to get some?" he wondered. That could work, but it'd have to be something easily available on the market to seem believable. Curse Paradis and it's still present lack of food resources!

"Hey Sasha" he said, getting her immediate attention "It seems I've run out of eggs. Can you go get some? I need them for this dish."

"Sure!" Sasha says, jumping up immediately "I get to try it once you're done, right?"

"Of course," Nikolo says without hesitation. Anything to get rid of the dog and besides, Sasha would've done what she could to sneak a bite even if he said no "Just hurry; I don't want this to go bad."

"I'm on my way!" Sasha said, and Nikolo heard the door close soon after. He let out a sigh of relief; he'd never been this glad to be rid of her before.

"Woof!"

Woof?

Dread filling him, Nikolo slowly turned around, only to see the dog still next to the table where he'd last seen it.

"She didn't take it along?!" well, logically thinking, he supposed it was to be expected that Sasha wouldn't take the dog with her to the market. Now he just wishes he would've realized this sooner "But it's okay; it's just sitting there. If I leave now, I should get out of the door before it comes after me… it'll be fine…"

Nikolo started inching towards the door, but as soon as he did so, the dog got up and started to lazily walk in to his direction. Gulping, Nikolo tried to be as fast as he could, but later he supposed that it just provoked the beast as it jumped at him, licking his face. He knew it wasn't the case, but part of him couldn't help but feel that it was trying to eat him.

"Get off! Get off!" he screamed in panic but, with the dog not obeying, he did his best to push it away before scrawling away from it. However, now the dog was between him and the door "Shit…"

Thinking fast, Nikolo climbed on to the table Sasha'd been sitting at, hoping that the dog wouldn't follow. It could easily get on the table by jumping, but he prayed that Sasha had trained it better than that and that it was more well mannered in the kitchen than it's owner "Sit, Fuzzy! Stay!"

To his relief the dog did sit, but it kept staring at him, making Nikolo feel like if he moved, it would too. He was stuck.

"Damn it"

When Sasha came back from her errand, she was greeted by the peculiar sight.

"What are you doing Nikolo?" she asked, staring at the cook who was still on the table, absent mindedly patting Fuzzy's head as it walked up to her.

"…Nothing. Nothing, really" Nikolo said, red faced as he got off the table "Did you get the eggs?"

"Yeah!" Sasha cheered, going to put them down, but frowning as she saw that there already were some eggs right on the counter "…Nikolo, why are there eggs here? Plenty of them; weren't these enough?"

Nikolo cursed, remembering he'd already taken all the ingredients out. He should've hidden them!

"Well, that's…" he didn't want Sasha to know the embarrassing truth. Just what should he tell her?

Turning to him with the frown still on her face, Sasha asks: "Were you trying to get rid of me?"

"What?" Nikolo asks, registering how hurt Sasha looks, even though she seems to try to hide it "No! I was trying to get rid of that!"

He points at Fuzzy, who just tilts its head, looking as happy as ever. Surprised, Sasha blinks before looking at the dog "Fuzzy? Why? He's so cute!"

"I don't like dogs" he simply says "I wished you would've taken it along when you went out."

"Oh…" Sasha still looked a little hurt, which made Nikolo feel a little guilty. Well, it can't be helped.

Wanting to get back to work, Nikolo was about to take the few steps to the counter, but as soon as he moved the dog bounced on him once more, bringing him down again. Sasha laughed as the cook yelled at the dog to get off "You might not like him, but he certainly likes you!"

"Just get this thing off of me!" Nikolo yelled again, ceasing Sasha's laugh as the girl realized that he didn't sound just angry. He kind of sounded… scared. Realization finally hitting her, Sasha rushed over to command her hairy friend off of the terrified soldier "Fuzzy no! Get off!"

Sasha had to take a hold of the dog to get it to listen, but once she did, it got off on its own. Breathing heavily, Nikolo scrambled away from the two. Staring at him, Sasha said: "Nikolo, you're… afraid of dogs?"

She voiced it like a question, but it wasn't one, not really. It was painfully obvious that it was true.

His face flushing again as he got his breathing under control, Nikolo mumbled without looking at her: "So what?"

He got up, returning to the counter, wanting to finally get to work again.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" Sasha asks, confused as she watches Nikolo's back that has been turned to her "I would've never left you alone with him if I'd known!"

Nikolo stays silent, not saying anything, hoping that she'd just leave so that he'd get rid of the dog. And he kind of wanted to get rid of her too right now; he was too embarrassed to face her. However, a sudden sniff from behind him makes him turn around.

"I'm sorry…" Sasha mumbles, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes "I didn't know…"

Again, Nikolo panics. This was not what he had wanted. He wants to go and comfort Sasha, he would go and comfort her, but the damn dog is still right next to her. He can't go near it! "Don't cry… it's not…"

Seeing his companion distressed, even Fuzzy whines. Sasha wipes her eyes hastily, saying: "Sorry, it's my fault. We'll leave right away."

"No, Sasha, wait!" Nikolo doesn't want to part ways like this, so he gathers his courage and goes over despite the dog being there, laying a hand on Sasha's shoulder "It's fine, I'm the one who should apologize for snapping."

"But… are you okay?" she asks him, and he answers truthfully: "Well… I'm okay enough. Just make sure it doesn't get that close to me again, okay?"

"We can stay?"

"Yeah, you can" Nikolo confirms, secretly afraid of his own words "Just… keep it under control, okay?"

"Okay!" Sasha cheers, guiding the dog to lay next to the table as she sits down. She wants to ask why he's so afraid of dogs, but decides against it. Maybe some other time, though. Now she's just glad that she and Fuzzy can both enjoy Nikolo's company, even if the cook himself is still nervous. But maybe, just maybe, she'll slowly get him used to her furry friend.