A/N: I'm no dog owner, and even then its a mystical world in lotm, so assume the mc is clueless (bc he is...) and naturally Amanises can eat anything.
[Do Not Attempt This At Home, Specially with a Demonic Wolf.Author here won't be held responsible for any stupidity that his readers catch from his own works, after all remember, knowledge corrupts.]
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Theo's POV
"So," I said, settling back in my chair while the little wolf pup finished her steak, "I guess I should introduce myself properly. I'm Theo." I gestured to myself with a little wave. "And you... well, you need a name, don't you?"
The pup looked up at me with those incredibly intelligent eyes, head tilted slightly. She really was remarkably smart - almost like she understood every word I was saying.
"Let me think..." I tapped my chin thoughtfully. "You're pretty and dark-furred. Maybe... Shadow?"
She immediately shook her head. Actually shook it, like she was saying no.
"Okay, not Shadow." I chuckled. "You really are something else, aren't you? How about... Luna? You've got that mysterious nighttime vibe going on."
Another firm head shake.
"Picky, picky." I was grinning now. This was actually pretty fun. "Midnight?"
No.
"Raven?"
Definitely not.
"Sable?"
She gave me what I swear was an exasperated look.
"Alright, alright. Let me try something shorter. How about... Ame?"
She went completely still. For a moment, I thought maybe she was just tired, but then I noticed her expression had changed. She looked... thoughtful? Almost like she was listening to something I couldn't hear.
"Ame?" I repeated gently. "Do you like that one?"
She didn't shake her head this time. Just kept looking at me with those deep, intelligent eyes.
"Ame it is then!" I said, pleased with myself. "Nice to officially meet you, Ame."
Perfect. Now that we've got that sorted out...
I looked around at my cozy little living room setup. It was nice, but if I was going to have a companion now, I should probably make things more... entertaining.
"You know what? I think it's time for a movie night." I stood up, already envisioning what I wanted to create. "Let me show you something cool."
I focused on transforming the space, and the shadows responded eagerly. The comfortable living room expanded, the lighting dimmed to a warm, ambient glow. A massive screen materialized on one wall, while the floor sloped gently downward toward it. Plush theater seats arranged themselves in perfect rows, but I made sure there was one extra-large reclining sofa right in the prime viewing spot.
"There we go," I said, admiring my handiwork. "Full home theater experience."
I gestured toward the sofa. "Come on, Ame. Want to watch something with me?"
Amanises's POV
Oh no. Oh no, oh no no no no.
My heart was pounding as I stared at the invitation. He was gesturing toward this massive, comfortable sofa, clearly meant for more than two people to share, and asking me to join him.
Ok Amanises, calm down, you're being ridiculous. I'm a wolf pup. He's just being nice to his pet. This is not a date.
But it felt like one. The way he'd so carefully created this romantic movie theater setting, the dim lighting, the intimate seating arrangement... and the way he was looking at me with that gentle, hopeful expression, like he really wanted to share this experience with me.
I've never even been on a real date before. Always too busy with work and going out with Hela for some mystical adventures. Yet here I am about to experience what a date would be... so long you don't take into account being a pup.
The absurdity of it all should have been funny, but it still just made my stomach flutter.
"Come on Ame, Don't be shy," Theo said softly, patting the sofa beside him. "There's plenty of room."
Shy. He thinks I'm just being shy. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. If only he knew I was having a full-blown panic attack about sitting next to him.
A/N: Women...
Slowly, on trembling legs, I approached the sofa. Each step felt monumental. When I reached the edge, I hesitated, looking up at him uncertainly.
"Here, let me help," he said, and before I knew it, he was gently lifting me up onto the cushions beside him. His hands were warm and careful, and the brief contact made my heart skip.
Ok Ame, this is fine. This is totally normal. Just a man (cosmic deity) and his pet (subsidiary god) watching a movie. Nothing weird about this at all.
But as I settled against his side, feeling his warmth and catching his scent, my brain kept screaming that this felt way too much like cuddling with a boyfriend.
"Comfortable?" he asked, and I could hear the smile in his voice.
I managed a small nod, not trusting myself to make any other movement.
"Great! Now, let me get us some proper movie snacks."
With another casual gesture, a small side table appeared with a large bowl of popcorn and two drinks - a soda for him and a bowl of water for me. But then he did something that made my heart flutter again: he took a handful of popcorn and held it out to me.
"Want some? I made it with extra butter so it's tastier."
He's sharing his food with me. He's actually sharing his food with me like... like we're...
I carefully took a few kernels from his hand, our contact sending little electric shocks through me. The popcorn was perfectly seasoned and delicious, but I could barely concentrate on the taste because I was so aware of how close we were sitting.
"Perfect," he said, settling back and reaching for the remote that had appeared in his hand. "Now, what should we watch? Mecha's!" His eyes lit up with genuine excitement. "The romance of men!"
Mechas? Seriously? I couldn't help but give him a look - not quite an eye roll, but close.
He caught my expression and laughed. "Oh, I see. You're one of those who thinks mecha shows are silly, aren't you?"
Actually, yes. They're completely ridiculous. But the way you're getting all excited about them is...
...kind of adorable.
"Trust me," he continued, grinning as he scrolled through what looked like an endless selection of movies. "This one's gonna blow your mind. It's got everything - friendship, sacrifice, robots punching things in space... the whole nine yards."
Despite myself, I felt a smile tugging at my muzzle. His enthusiasm was infectious, even for something as silly as mecha anime.
"There we go," he said, apparently taking my expression as acceptance. "I knew you'd come around."
As the opening credits started rolling, I found myself genuinely curious about his choice. What did someone's taste in movies say about them? From what I could see, he seemed to gravitate toward stories about friendship and heroism, tales where people fought against impossible odds to protect the ones they cared about.
He's got a good heart, I realized, stealing a glance at his profile as he watched the screen with genuine enjoyment. Whatever cosmic entity he is, whatever power he wields, at his core he's just... kind.
The movie was actually better than I'd expected. The action was exciting, the characters were surprisingly well-developed, and honestly, some of those robot fights were pretty cool. But more than that, I found myself watching Theo's reactions almost as much as the screen.
He got excited during the fight scenes, making little comments under his breath like "Oh, come on!" and "Yes! Get him!" He looked genuinely moved during the emotional moments - I swear I saw his eyes get misty when the mentor character died. And when one of the pilots made a heroic sacrifice, I saw his jaw tighten with emotion.
He's really into this, I thought, finding myself scooting closer to him. Look at him getting all teary-eyed when that guy died protecting his squad. He must see himself in these heroes...
It was during a particularly intense battle sequence that I realized how comfortable I'd become. Without thinking about it, I'd curled up against his side, my head resting near his leg. His hand had found its way to my fur, gently petting in that absent way people do when they're focused on something else.
This is...
This feels really nice.
The thought hit me like a revelation. When was the last time I'd felt this relaxed? This safe? This... happy?
In my previous life, I'd always been rushing around, focused on work or helping Hela with her latest mystical obsession. I'd never really had time for relationships, never really experienced the simple pleasure of just... being close to someone.
I never knew what I was missing.
But even as I allowed myself to enjoy the moment, a part of my mind was already preparing for the inevitable. This couldn't last. Eventually, I'd have to figure out what I was supposed to do with this new existence. I'd have to decide whether to try to return to my original form, or find some other path forward.
But maybe... maybe I don't have to decide right now.
Maybe I can just stay here a little longer. Keep pretending to be his pet. Keep enjoying these quiet moments.
It's not like I have anywhere else to go.
The realization should have been depressing, but instead it felt liberating. For the first time since waking up in this body, I wasn't desperately trying to escape my situation. I was just... living in it.
Is this what happiness feels like? I wondered, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing and feeling the gentle motion of his hand in my fur. This warm, content feeling?
I'd been so focused on grand mystical adventures with Hela, on unlocking the secrets of the universe, that I'd never stopped to appreciate something as simple as sharing a movie with someone who cared about me.
Someone who cares about me.
The thought made my chest warm. Even if he thought I was just a pet, even if he didn't know who I really was, Theo genuinely cared about my wellbeing. He'd created this perfect evening just because he wanted to share something he enjoyed with me.
I could get used to this...
Actually, I can't imagine what it would be to lose this...
What will happen when I have to leave?
The thought came unbidden, and with it, a stab of something that felt suspiciously like panic. I'd been so focused on the immediate comfort and safety that I hadn't really considered the long-term implications of my situation.
What if I don't want to leave?
What if I want to stay here, with him, even if it means staying in this form?
The idea should have horrified me. I was a human soul trapped in a wolf pup's body, pretending to be his pet. It was absurd, temporary, unsustainable.
But watching him laugh at a funny scene, feeling his gentle touch, surrounded by the warmth and safety of his presence...
Maybe something this absurd isn't so bad.
Could I've been taking life too seriously before?