Humans And Animals

[whispered_envy]

Title: Humans And Animals

Type of story: Oneshot

Main characters: Aden, Nicole, Roman.

BTTB rating: G/T

Genre: Family

Spoilers: None

Any warnings: Slight mentions of abuse.

Summary: Roman decides to get Aden & Nicole a dog, but they have trouble on deciding which one to pick.

A/N: Just a bit of fluff, really, that I felt inspired to write. For all those who don’t live in Aus, RSPCA is the name of a major animal shelter over here.

“Oooo, Aden- how about this one?” Nicole had her face pressed up against the wire cage, as the small white dog yapped excitedly at the attention he was receiving.

Aden wrinkled his nose. “No way!”

Nicole turned to him, frowning. “What’s wrong with this one? He’s so cute!”

Aden folded his arms suddenly. “Exactly. Cute. There is no way Aden Jefferies is getting something ‘cute.’ I will be teased mercilessly every time I have to walk that…thing.”

“But Aden!” Nicole pouted.

“Of all the dogs here, why did you have to choose that one?” Aden spread his arms wide to indicate all numerous other dogs in the aisle that were barking and yapping at them.

“Because he’s the kind of dog I’ve always wanted!”

“I’ve always wanted a bulldog.” Aden thought out loud.

“A bulldog? Ew! They have got to be the most fugliest dogs ever! There is no way in a million years I will be caught dead with one of them!”

“Nicole, a dog isn’t a fashion accessory.” Aden sighed.

“Yeah, but it’s at least gotta look decent!” Nicole shot back.

“Hey, you two!” Roman voice shouted at them. He was walking up towards where they were standing. “How’s it going?” He grinned happily.

“She wants to get a fluffball!”

“And he wants to get a gross thing!”

Roman sighed, rubbing his temples. It had been his idea to get Aden and Nicole a dog- after everything they had been through this past year, he wanted to get them something special, and a dog seemed perfect. Now, as the teens fought in the middle of the RSPCA, he was starting to regret his idea. “Okay, you two- cool it!”

Nicole’s face fell. “But-”

“No but’s Nicole! What did I say before we came here today?”

Aden and Nicole looked at each other. “If we both didn’t agree on one dog, then it was to be ruled out.” They chorused in perfect unison.

“Exactly! So move on and keep looking!”

Without another word, Aden and Nicole turned away from Roman and continued to search the cages for their perfect pet.

An excitable curly haired mutt jumped up at the cage as Nicole walked past. She shrieked and jumped away from it. “Ahh!”

Aden burst into a fit of giggles. “Nicole! It’s a dog! Not a snake!”

“Yeah, but it’s still scary!” As Aden continued to laugh, Nicole punched him in the shoulder. “Shutup!”

“Oh, that’s it- you’re in for it now!” He knelt down low, and to Nicole’s surprise, scooped her up in his arms.

Nicole started shrieking again and yelling at Aden. “Put me down! Put me down!” She tried to kick her legs, but Aden started running up and down the aisle, holding her tight. They eventually toppled over, Nicole landing in a cloud of dirt. “Oh, now look at what you’ve done- you’ve ruined my outfit!”

As Aden rolled on the concrete in fits of laughter, Roman looked on, also amused. Those two were so close these days- they had become firm friends without an ounce of sexual feeling between them. Roman liked how they acted around one another; it made him feel slightly proud- after all, he had been the one who had introduced them.

Someone tapped Roman on the shoulder. He turned to see a cross looking RSPCA worker staring at him. “Excuse me, but are those your children?”

Roman didn’t bother to correct her. “Yes. Is there a problem?”

“They are disturbing the dogs. Could you please tell them to keep the noise down?”

“They’re just having a little bit of fun!” Roman argued, slightly miffed at the lady’s attitude.

“Some of our dogs have problems and they need quiet. Please tell them to keep the noise down or I will have to ask you all to leave.” The lady said firmly.

Roman sighed. He wasn’t going to win this one. “Okay.”

“Thankyou.” The lady turned her back and marched off.

“Aden? Nicole?” He called. The two teens picked themselves off the ground and trotted over to him. “Can you keep the noise down a bit? I just got told off because of you two!”

“We weren’t doing anything wrong!” Nicole said haughtily.

“We’re going to get kicked out otherwise!”

“Kicked out of an animal shelter?” Aden sniggered. “That’s a first!”

“Yeah, you should be living in one!” Nicole teased.

“Oh, how original, Princess.” Aden rolled his eyes.

“Guys!” Roman pleaded. “Get on with your search, please!”

They continued on, but every time one of them found a dog they liked, the other one didn’t. With Nicole, all the dogs Aden chose were too ugly, too big, too dirty, or too hairy. With Aden, all the ones Nicole chose were too small, too cute, too wimpy, or too girly. They were getting nowhere, fast.

After Nicole had flounced off, dismissing Aden’s choice of a friendly ridgeback cross, Aden stayed with the dog, sticking his hand through the cage, and letting the rough tongue lick his finger furiously. He suddenly felt sad for all these dogs, needing homes so desperately.

Roman knelt beside him. “You right there, mate?”

Aden nodded quickly. “Yeah, I just feel kinda bad for these animals.”

“How do you mean?”

“Well…heaps of these dogs were abandoned…and some were even abused. I mean…I got a second chance at life…so it’s not fair that these animals don’t as well!”

“No, it’s not fair.” Roman agreed.

Aden stood up, suddenly angry. “How can people be so cruel to animals?!?! How can people abuse such defenseless creatures?!?! Even with my abuse…I understood! I understood it was wrong and shouldn’t be happening! Animals though, they don’t even have the mental capacity to understand what is happening to them, and they always forgive their owners with the hope they’ll get love, and it happens again! At least I knew how to not forgive, and to hate! At least I could understand! It makes me so sick, Roman, so sick!”

“Aden, I feel the same way. But at least we can help- we can change the life of one of these dogs today! We will give it the love and support it deserves, just like we gave you the love and support you deserve. We can help break the cycle.” Roman encouraged kindly. He understood why Aden was getting so worked up about this- in a way, Aden was a stray himself, he had been as vulnerable as some of these dogs had. Really, humans and animals weren’t so different.

“I wish bad stuff didn’t have to happen. To anything.” Aden whispered, leaning his head against the cage, looking in at the friendly dog.

“Unfortunately, we live in a world filled with horrible things, but as long as we be the best persons we can be, our goodness will make all the bad stuff seem not as…bad.”

“You know what Roman? You should have been a councilor!” Aden laughed.

Before Roman had a chance to reply, there was a call from Nicole. “Get your asses here right now!” Came the demanding voice.

They trudged up to the cage where Nicole was standing at. “I’ve found the perfect dog!”

“Not another white, fluffy, yappy thing I hope!” Aden teased.

Nicole glared at him. “No! Take a look!”

Roman and Nicole peered into the cage. Inside, was a medium sized black-and-white dog, no breed distinguishable, sitting shyly in the cage but tail wagging slightly at the sight of people taking an interest. As Nicole bent down and called quietly to the dog, she came bounding up to them, sniffing her hand and then gladly accepting the pat.

“Nice dog!” Roman commented.

“Yeah. I actually like this one!” Aden agreed.

“According to her sign, she’s two years old. Her name’s Miriam.”

Aden reeled back in shock. “Miriam? Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” Nicole looked up at Aden, who had a funny look on his face. “What’s wrong?”

“Miriam was my mum’s name.” Aden said quietly.

Roman and Nicole looked at each other, slightly shocked. “Maybe it’s a sign?” Roman wondered.

“Yeah. I guess it is.” Aden knelt beside Nicole and stuck his hand in the cage. He allowed Miriam to sniff it before giving her a scratch behind her head. “Hey Miriam, how would you like to come home with us, hmm?

An hour or so later, they left with Miriam in tow, proudly walking on her lead as Nicole and Aden sung thankyou to Roman for their new pet. Aden and Nicole scrambled into the backseat, Miriam between them, both wanting to fuss over the dog.

As the car travelled down the road, Aden looked at what was around him. Roman, the stern father. Nicole, the annoying but sweet sister. And Miriam, the family dog that had part of Aden’s past in her, a good part that he didn’t want to forget. The family.

His family.

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