“Damn it,” Ottis said. He had noticed that Marcie was a little... different sometimes, but he hadn’t realized it was because she wasa whole other species.
And here I thought we wouldn’t be a target.
“You’re fine,” Doc rumbled. He wrapped his arm around Ottis’ waist and pulled him close. “Calm down. I’ll keep you safe.”
“I’m trying to calm down,” Ottis hissed.
They couldn’t stick around. They should be home, somewhere safe, so Ottis could properly freak out without feeling as though someone was coming to steal his baby away.
“Here’s what we’ll do,” Doc said. “We have all the things we need. Hijinks will run them through the checkout stand. In the meantime, we’ll get out of here.”
“I don’t think I can carry a lump out of the store,” Ottis whispered. “It’s going to look so suspicious. What if someone thinks I’m shoplifting? Hell, we haven’t even paid for this blanket.”
“Hmm,” Doc said. And he unbuttoned his shirt, leaving his pecs and abs in full view.
“Wow,” Ottis’ mouth said without his permission. “You could walk around like that, and no one would look at me. Your nipples suck in all the attention like twin black holes of lust.”
Doc huffed, his chest and abs vibrating with laughter.
Ottis froze. Then he buried his face in his hands, horrified at himself. “Did I really say that? Twin black holes of lust? Fucking hell. If this doesn’t chase you away then—”
“I find it very attractive,” Doc said.
“Oh,” Ottis said, his heart stuttering. “You find the strangest things attractive. There’s probably a word for it.”
“Let’s not find out.” Doc’s eyes crinkled again. “C’mon, help me get my shirt off, and we’ll wrap it around Marcie. Don’t look around; that’ll be suspicious.”
It was so difficult not to look around. Especially when they were doing something suspicious as fuck.
But Doc had a point—if Ottis accidentally caught someone’s eye, they would attract attention they didn’t need. Instead, he walked stiffly next to Doc, watching the wriggling bundle in Doc’s arms.
In a quiet corner, Ottis helped to peel Doc’s shirt off his broad, muscular shoulders. He wrapped the thin shirt around Marcie, pulling off all the other things Doc had piled on her. Luckily, Ottis had dressed her in loose clothes today; she would’ve been so uncomfortable otherwise.
“Better,” Doc murmured, glancing around discreetly. “Here.”
He handed her over to Ottis.
As a dragonet, Marcie felt different in his arms. She was heavier than a furry pup, and she felt sturdier, less soft. Her fluttering wings felt fragile, though. Ottis was terrified of accidentally hurting them while she was bundled up like this.
“How do I hold her when she’s... flapping?”
Doc stepped up close behind him, grasping Ottis’ hands. Gently, he guided Ottis’ arms around Marcie so she rested more comfortably against him, the warmth of his hands soaking into Ottis’ skin.
It felt like an embrace, Ottis realized, both of them holding onto Marcie, Doc wrapped around him.
“Wow,” he breathed. “It’s like I’m in a D-word sandwich.”
“D-word?” Doc huffed.
“You know, the family-friendly D-word. Not the other one.”
“I wasn’t thinking about the other one.” Doc was laughing harder now.
“Damn it! I wasn’t trying to be funny!” But it was kind of funny. He had a dragonet in his arms! Ottis bit down his smile.
“Of course you’re not funny,” Doc said obligingly, smoothing his calloused thumb over Ottis’ knuckles.
“Actually, you’re also a D-word,” Ottis realized. “Your name. Imagine if there were two of you sandwiching me.”
