A Loving Animal

My fingers slow on the keyboard as Jette leans forward beside me, a huge smile on her face. Her tail sways gently, brushing against the chair as she rocks on her heels. I smile back, taking a moment to admire her dark, shimmering grey hair as it catches the light, and those equally beautiful dark eyes that always seem to look straight through me.

“Dinner’s ready, love.”

Only then do I register the smell drifting in from the kitchen - warm, rich, unmistakably comforting. My smile grows without me meaning it to.

“It smells amazing.”

Her tail immediately wags faster, ears perking up like I’ve just given her the greatest praise imaginable.

“Really? I’m so glad!”

She always reacts like that when I compliment her - every single time - no matter how often she’s already done the same thing before. And I love that about her.

“Do you want me to follow you?” I ask, pushing my chair back slightly.

She nods rapidly.

“Yes please. I’ve made it special tonight.”

Since she moved out of the spare room and into my bed - which had been a surprise, though far from an unwelcome one - we’d converted the spare room into a small lounge. It wasn’t like anyone would ever be coming over anyway. Not until I could prove her existence. Not until I could make the world believe me.

And even then… that felt impossibly far away.

I stand and follow her down the short hallway. Halfway there, I get the strange sense that something’s different - but I can’t quite place it. Jette stops in front of the lounge door, which is closed. She reaches for the handle, hesitates for just a fraction of a second, then clicks it open and gently pushes.

The room beyond is dim, lit only by soft candlelight.

It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust. The coffee table between the couch and the TV has been transformed into something straight out of a romance novel - two carefully set places, candles flickering in the center. Red petals are scattered across the floor and couch, leading inward like a trail. Even the air smells different, faintly sweet and floral.

The romantic intent is unmistakable.

Jette steps inside first, standing a little way from me. She fidgets with her fingers, tail swaying nervously now instead of happily.

“I… I wanted to make it nice,” she says softly. “So I copied a book I read…”

That doesn’t surprise me. Most of what she knows - about people, about love, about the world - comes from books. I’m sure there’s more to this than just a pretty setup, but for now I smile at her anyway.

“It’s lovely,” I say honestly. “I can’t wait to eat.”

She brightens instantly, tail resuming its energetic wag.

“Really? I’m so glad!”

She almost forgets herself entirely before suddenly gasping.

“Oh! The food will be getting cold. Come on, I made your favourite. Gyudon!”

I can’t help but grin.

“You’ve been practicing, haven’t you?”

She looks sheepish, ears tilting back slightly.

“Y-yeah… I hope you like it…”

“I already know I will,” I reply gently. “Anything cooked by you is a masterpiece.”

She’s still learning, and she’s not great at taking criticism - but she never stops trying to improve. That determination, that earnestness… I love that about her too.

She leads me to the table, and we sit close together as we eat. Normally our dinner conversations are light, filled with small observations and shared jokes. Tonight, though, she barely touches her food before speaking again.

“How long will you study me for, love?”

I freeze mid-chew.

“…Pardon?”

She looks at me with those eyes I can never refuse - but this time there’s something else in them. Something fragile.

“You’re always writing things about me,” she says quietly. “But why?”

I swallow.

“You already know that,” I say. “I want to prove that you exist.”

Her gaze drops to her bowl. The light from the candles flickers across her face as sadness washes over it.

“But…” she murmurs, “…is me being here not enough?”

I shake my head, the weight in my chest growing heavier.

“No. They keep saying I’m faking it.”

She looks back up at me - but her eyes don’t quite meet mine. Instead, they drift to my neck, my collarbone, anywhere but my face.

“Well, if they do that…” she begins, then hesitates.

She exhales slowly.

“When is it time to stop?”

I freeze. But she isn’t done.

“You’re always writing… I want some of your attention too. But not the kind you give me.” Her voice trembles, but she doesn’t look away. “I don’t want to be observed. I want to be loved.”

Then she sees my expression and panics, waving her hands frantically.

“N-no, I didn’t mean-”

I smile before she can spiral. A patient smile. A warm one.

“You’re right.”

She blinks.

“Huh?”

I reach out and place a gentle hand on her head.

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly. “I wasn’t thinking about you. I’m still quite new to all this.”

Her ears dip as she blushes, a small, embarrassed laugh escaping her.

“I’m newer,” she admits. “I just… read it in a book, and realized how much I was missing out on.” She looks away. “I’m sorry.”

I shake my head, slipping my hand from hers.

“No. You’re right.”

I smile again, softer this time.

“So what do you want to do?”

Her tail begins to thwap against the floor.

“Well,” she says brightly, “I’d really like to go out on a date sometime!”

I wince despite myself.

“But… your ears. And your tail.”

She doesn’t lose her smile for even a second.

“I can hide them!”

I blink.

“How?”

“In my clothes! And then we can go places together!” Her tail picks up speed. “Because you’re my mate!”

I chuckle.

“That’s a big difference from what you were used to, isn’t it?”

She nods.

“I didn’t really know much about it when I lived in the forest. I’ve never mated before, see.”

Her eyes glint.

“And I still haven’t really…”

I inhale sharply.

“Jette…”

But just as quickly, she snaps back to her usual self.

“And I want to go on vacations! And I want you to whisper everything you love about me while we snuggle on the couch! And I want to feel you everywhere!”

Then she hesitates, suddenly nervous.

“And… I want to get married. The human way.”

There isn’t even a heartbeat of doubt.

“I’d love to do all of those things with you.”

Her tail turns the floor into a drum.

“Really? You really do?”

I nod.

She squeals.

“Yippee!”

Then she quiets, her ears drooping.

“But I feel bad… you put so much time into that report…”

I smile and pat her head.

“I was thinking about it earlier,” I admit. “It doesn’t prove that you exist. It never could.”

She looks confused - but I keep going.

“In fact, it only proves one thing.”

She stiffens.

“That love exists.”

Her expression shatters into something radiant.

“So we’re really in love?”

I laugh.

“You weren’t sure?”

She shrugs, suddenly shy.

“I-I mean…”

I laugh again.

“Well, now you know.”

Her smile widens, lips parting slightly, and then she launches herself at me with outstretched arms. I catch her instinctively and pull her close. Her eyes sparkle as she looks up at me.

“Take good care of me, okay?”

I grin.

“I’ll do my best. I’m sorry about-”

She doesn’t let me finish, closing the distance and kissing me. I let her. The warmth, the familiar sweetness of her scent mixed with dinner, everything blurs together. When she pulls back, her tail still hasn’t slowed once.

She touches her lip with a finger, thoughtful.

“You’re adventurous.”

I flush. I must’ve lost myself for a moment. But she doesn’t look upset - if anything, she shivers.

A happy shiver.

“Oooo.”

I watch her carefully, waiting. She doesn’t disappoint.

“Um…” She fidgets. “I’m yours tonight. I think that was it.”

I blink.

“Huh?”

“That’s how the characters in one of my books asked,” she explains quietly. “I think the full line was… I’m yours tonight, all yours… or something like that.”

My heart pounds - but the worry is gone.

“I’ve made up my mind.”

She stiffens, suddenly anxious.

“I’m going to delete the report,” I say calmly. “But first, I’m going to spend some time with you.”

Her eyes widen.

“Delete it?! I didn’t mean-”

I cut her off with a kiss. When we part, her worry is gone, replaced by a soft smile. She cups my cheek.

“Okay… thank you…”

I smile and kiss her again, dinner forgotten.

The report no longer matters.

All that matters now is us.