Chapter Text
After pestering Custard with his Abalone bullshit again, he was left satisfied with whatever manipulation (mostly kissing) he had with him. Fully beknownst to him, Scotch had pressed an ear against the hallway door. He sputters as Abalone twists the knob and Scotch pretends to stand next to his post.
Abalone strolls down the hall, but unfortunately for him, he has a little hitchhiker. Following behind him, as silent as he could, was Scotch.
Annoyed by his pattering, hoping Scotch would take the hint, he spared him a glance with crossed arms. Unfortunately again, Scotch does not take this hint. He huffs defiantly and stays close behind. Nearing a balcony, Abalone begins to tire of this little fiasco and suddenly stops.
“You already made yer point, mutt.”
He digs in his pocket, “I'll be right out..Just need a smoke.”
There is a silence between them.
“Now go, shoo!”
Scotch squeaks, “No, mister Abalone, sir! I must walk you out! I cannot let any suspicious behavior happen within the mansion!”
Abalone turns to him to scoff,
“Lad. I'm a trusted ally of House Custard.” He lights his cigarette, already impatient.
“Is this the type of hospitality all yer other guests get?” He says with a mumble as he adjusts it in his mouth.
Scotch replies with a grumble at this and tucks his ears.“You would receive hospitality if you followed the rules.”Abalone chuckles, not taking seriously the fact that the dog is trying push authority over him. He waves him off and goes to grip the handle. Scotch reacts and growls, “As long as you're in this mansion, you will abide by me.”
Abalone glares at him.
“Ya must be mistaken. I don’t answer to anyone, especially not a lowly soldier.”
Scotch frowns and looks down. He presses his ears flat sadly. Abalone, too impatient, goes to grip the door handle again.
“I'll… I’ll tell custard you're misbehaving! And, and.. I'll make him stop working with you!”
Abalone fucking laughs.
He presses on, finding pestering the dog much more interesting than a cold smoke outside.
“Are ya that intimidated by me?“
Of course, Scotch is! Instead of Custard calling him in to his chambers at night for some lovely affection, now all he hears is creaking and faint groans of “Abalone!!” He has a stupid ass name to moan too!
He stumbles closer to him, smirking. Scotch steps back like the little bitch he is. He presses his little face up into a snarl.
“Leave!”
Abalone doesn't, “Aww, look at ya, getting all worked up?”
He reaches forward to roughly tug at his cute little cheek condescendingly.
“Lad. Look, I’m not trying to intrude on anything you or Custard have!”
He looks down at the hand, almost mistaking it for genuine affection.
“If anything, you might be underperforming. Custard asks for me himself.”
He snaps and pushes him off, perhaps a bit too roughly.“Get your hands off of me!”
Abalone growls and grips him by the collar. “Watch. Your. Self, Mutt.”
Scotch flails and claws at every surface he can, and eventually he bites the offending arm. Abalone winces and tries to shake him off, which causes Scotch to latch and grip on harder. Abby chooses the easier option and slams him into the wall. This knocks all the wind out of the other, and he yips.
“Get off of me!” Scotch attempts to claw at him again, but Abby takes the opening to pin both his arms against the wall.
He squirms uselessly, “I’ll.. I’ll tell Custard!
“Custard isn’t fucking saving ya.”
Abalone moves his hand up to roughly choke him.“You’re overpowered now.”
Scotch coughs, and eventually, he hiccups and squirms.
Finally, he whimpers…. A little… too vocally.
Abby drops him and stares at him, bewildered. Scotch looks at him tearfully and presses his paws against him, trying to squirm away. Abalone behands him and pushes him back. He sputters but stays glued to the floor as Abby grips the balcony door and slams it. At least he had let him off easy.
________
Later, Abalone had already found himself within Custard's chambers. Custard had not settled for the night, leaving Abalone sitting up in bed. He peared through whatever the fuck Republic Times had to say about the houses. He gripped and crinkled the pages whenever he’d get pissed, like it would do anything about them talking shit. Shit about the precious House and man he’s mooching off. Scotch peeks in the door, staring Abby straight in the face. Abalone looks but glosses over him; it's just Scotch.
“Custard isn’t here right now.”
Scotch pads up to the bed and sits on the edge to shed his gear. Abalone glares at him curiously but forces himself to return to his scowling. Scotch trills softly and tries to settle next to him. The asshole of course, grumbles and shoves the offending furry body away.
“What do ya think you're doing?”
Scotch frowns and attempts to nuzzle against the same bitten arm that feeds.
“Custard suggested I join you before he settles down.”
Abalone yanks back that same arm. The other begs,“Please, he said we should try to get along.”
“Get lost.”
He puffs his cigarette in Scotch’s face, leaving him coughing. Scotch gets the hint, finally. He curls down on the opposite side of the huge, pampered bed, looking at him with sad, sad puppy eyes.
After getting sick of the paper, Abby sits up to burn out his cigarette and tries to relax to sleep. He thinks again about Custard's encouragement to bond his lovers. He opens his eyes and turns around to see that sad puppy face also shut off for bed.
“Scotch. Cmere.”
Scotch snaps awake and trills curiously. Abalone opens his arms. He’s cuddled with uglier whores on his ship; doing this for Custard wouldn't be the worst. And it isn’t that bad as Scotch nuzzles against him.
“What made you change your mind?” He trills groggily.
Abalone just frowns and smooches him to shut him up. This works effectively as Scotch complies, Abalone pulls away, and the other nuzzles into him to fall asleep.
Custard later joins after awing at the show, of the two, all cuddled up. Abalone, still awake, smirks in his head that he pleases Custard. Custard finally has hope that their spats will end as grips onto Abby's side for bed.