Chapter Text
Retsuko's seat has been empty for nearly a whole month now.
It wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last time her seat was empty. But being vacant for nearly a whole month was worse than worrisome. It was something that, surprisingly, only Haida asked about.
"Oi, Fenneko." He hissed from his computer, sneaking a glance at Director Ton. He was too busy swinging his newest golf club, Tsunoda squealing by his side. "What's with Retsuko?"
Fenneko paused. She glanced at the empty seat beside her. "What are you talking about? She isn't here."
"Exactly." Haida hissed. "She hasn't been here for almost a whole month! The last time she was gone was... was after the incident with the stalker!"
The words left a bitter taste in his mouth, and a scowl twisted on his lips before he smothered it. A phantom feeling of dread twisted in his gut. God, he had been lucky to be sitting at that table that night, hearing those panicked snippets. He had been lucky he followed her out. He thanked his instincts for rearing their heads when the world slowed down. And he thanked every universal power he could think of that he had been there when the man pulled out the knife.
In his 25 years of life, he had never felt so much anger. Not when Retsuko dated Resasuke from Sales, not even when she dated his idol, Tadano. Never in his 25 years of life had he been so scared, so quick to act. It went black when the knife appeared, and when Haida blinked, he was straddling the psycho, his heart pounding in his ears. The sight of Retsuko laying on the concrete not too far away, unresponsive, the knife glinting nearby, would forever haunt him. The psychotic laughter of the fucker rang in his ears, and he nearly went sick when Retsuko didn't respond.
Never in his 25 years of life had he ever wanted to beat someone so badly.
"She's fine." Fenneko's monotone voice snapped him from the haunting memory. Her eyes glued to her computer, she spoke to him past the monitor. Her ear flicked. "She should be back in a few more weeks."
Haida groaned. "Why the hell is she gone for so long?!" He hissed, panic swirling in his gut.
The last thing Haida needed to consider was her being alone. The incident was only a few months ago! Was she having a relapse!? What if the guy escaped the police and was after her again?! What if--
"Haida." Once again, Fenneko snapped him from his thoughts. "She's fine, and she's on vacation leave. She should be back soon."
"Fenneko, you're not answering my question!" His ears pinned. God damnit. "Is she okay?!"
The question went ignored, Fenneko's keyboard clacking in her silence. Sucking his teeth, Haida begrudgingly returned to work, glancing at Retsuko's empty seat.
The hours of his shift dragged by, his eyes never seeming to leave her seat until he bid farewell and clocked out for the night. The soft February air nipped at his snout, his nose tickling at the scent of blossoms. Shuffling his jacket closer to himself, he trudged through the streets, huffing. If Fenneko wasn't giving him straight answers, then it was something she really didn't want to tell him. Fenneko kept tabs on all her friends, him included, so whatever had happened to Retsuko, Fenneko knew about. Fenneko was the one to go to for information, second to Kabea.
And still wouldn't tell him.
He sucked his teeth again, groaning as he reached his apartment door. What the hell was so important that they couldn't tell him? The last thing he wanted to do was barge into Retsuko's home, but the last thing he needed was to go to bed, knowing she was alone and had been AWOL for a whole month and was supposed to stay that way. His keys jingled, and the lock clicked open. Light split across the living room. A lamp post nearby flickered, muffled chatter slipping from a neighbor's window as he slipped by.
He stormed to the fridge and snagged a beer. The bed creaked as he sat; moonlight streamed from his window. His ears and tail flicked.
Was Retsuko in trouble? He didn’t hear anything about her being sick; Director Ton would be pitching a fit. Did she get hurt? Was she attacked? Did she get lost? No, she never went anywhere she didn't need to go.
He chewed at his lip. His tail lashed, and his ears flicked back against his head. Another swig of beer chilled his throat.
"What do I do?" He sighed.
The heel of his hand pressed against his forehead, the oncoming headache throbbing softly behind his skull. Fiddling with the lip of his bottle, Haida huffed, resolute as he shot from his bed. Retsuko needed help. What it was, he didn’t know, but he was going to help her!
No matter what it was.
He downed his beer, tossing the bottle in the trash before shrugging on his leather jacket.
Twenty minutes later, and twenty-five dollars poorer, Haida’s boots clack against the stairs leading to her apartment. A knot twisted in his throat, his hands shaking in his pockets. He hadn't been to her apartment in a whole month. A tight squeeze clutched his heart. He could still hear Retsuko’s timid voice calling out to him, muttering about how he didn’t have to walk her to her apartment anymore, and he could still feel the chip it left in his heart. Air spasmed in his lungs, heat bled into his cheeks.
Why was he getting nervous now?
He was at her door now. Heaving a deep breath into his lungs and shoving the feelings into his stomach, he paused before knocking on her door.
"R-Retsuko?"
There was no answer. A knot twisted in his throat before he swallowed heavily.
"R-Retsuko, are you okay?" A quiet shuffle beyond the door. "It's me, Haida."
Another quiet shuffle, but no answer. Anxiety danced in his chest as his fingers pressed against her doorbell. As the vibrating chime echoed inside, there was a thud. A heavy one, like something, fell. Haida jumped in his skin.
He began to panic. "Re-Retsuko?! Are you okay?"
More shuffling grew closer; the lock snapped free. Haida's heart stuttered when the door cracked open, something sweet flooding his nose.
What was that smell ?
Vibrant flaxen fur peeked from the crack, followed by dark, round eyes and a flushed muzzle.
"H-Haida?" Retsuko's soft voice slurred.
Shaking the scent from his head, he flushed when his eyes laid on Retsuko for the first time in a whole month. Her fur was tangled, with a deep flush around her cheeks. What looked like a blanket wrapped around her tiny shoulders, clutched in one hand.
He straightened. "H-Hey, I- I was worried about you! So-Sorry to barge in like this," He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head as his eyes darted here and there. "But- But why were you gone for so long? It's not like you and Fenneko wouldn't tell me, and I really didn't want to bother you," The scent lingered, clouding around in his head, and his breath went heavy. "But I had to know if you were okay, and I'm sorry I should have just called-"
"You smell good…." Retsuko muttered, her eyes fluttering softly as they trailed down his figure.
His heart stuttered.
"W-Wh-What?" He squeaked, finally looking, truly looking, at his crush.
Her eyes were hooded, and long eyelashes nearly painted her cheeks. The blush lining her cheeks seeped down her neck and festered in her ears as if she had a fever.
The scent was everywhere, flooding his nose and clouding his mind. When he breathed through his mouth, it coated his tongue—a sweet taste of natural scents that made Retsuko her . A shuddering gasp dragged the smell down his throat, and he nearly choked. Horrified, he felt his dick twitch.
“R-Re-Retsuko?” He squeaked, his ears flickering uneasily. “R-Retsuko, what-what’s wrong? Are you okay-”
A doorknob next door rattled, twisting and turning. A surge of panic rattled through Haida, snapping a look at the offending handle. Another wave of emotions surged through him as realization dawned on him.
There was something obviously wrong with Retsuko; the scent that coated her was thick and sweet. So, Fucking, Sweet.
And someone else was about to smell it.