Offer To Watch Keagan For Her

Staying late isn’t something you want to do either, especially if it’s just gonna be Ozzy here. The Hyena is harmless, loud and abrasive sure, but he isn’t mean spirited. Janna will be fine. “Sorry, I can’t.” You say. Her ears lower in some sadness. “Oh… that’s fine. If you could…. I mean. I need the money so, thanks.No worries.” She begins to walk away. “Wait,” you call. “I can watch Keagan. You can finish your shift, and I can go.” Janna turns to look at you meeting your eyes with her soft expression. She thinks about it for a second, weighing your relationship. “I’m not… no… but Y-yeah…. Yes. Could you?” The Doe stops walking away and gives you a nervous look.

The rest of your shift goes uneventful. Putting away dishes, serving a few guests, cleaning a couple messes. You do notice Janna steal glances at you and smiling. Eventually it’s 8:30, time to go home. Just before you leave Janna comes up to you and gives you her address. “Ozzy says I can go home right at 10. I’ll be there soon. When you get there, knock on the door with the ‘Shave and a Haircuts’ pattern and he’ll open the door. I’ll text him you are coming, but text me when you get there.” She smiles lovingly. “Thanks you. I’ll be there soon!” With a bounce in her step Janna walks away.

The address Janna gave you is just around the corner, actually you could’ve walked there within 10 minutes, in your car it’s barely a trip. Strange for her to live so close and worry. The day is already dark as you pull up to a long unlit street. With your headlights you search the numbers. “1134, 1136, 1138….” You are looking for 1148. Eventually you pull up to a dark house with closes curtains hiding the inside. With a sigh you park, then walk up to the door. “1148…” you whisper. With your heavy you you knock the pattern. ‘Dun.DunDunDun.Dun…..Dun.Dun’. For a minute nothing happens. You keep waiting. ‘Dun.DunDunDun.Dun…..Dun.Dun’ you try again but nothing. You are just about to text Janna the door creeks open to someone in the dark standing inside. “Hello?” Says the dark voice. “Hello.” You respond and continue. “Your mom asked me to come, she’s still at work.” You watch the fugue behind the door shuffle a little then flick on the porch light and house light on lighting you both up as the the figure opens the door wide. Standing behind the door is a lanky Buck, with antlers filed down to stubs and scruffy shaggy hair around his jawline and neck. “Oh, are you the baby sitter? I’m here to watch Keagan till his mom gets back.” You say. The Buck doesn’t respond. “Is everything alright?” You ask, but no response. The Buck looks back inside the house for a second and shifts. He’s hiding half his body with the door but you can see him move. Eventually he turns back to you. “I’m Keagan.” He mutters and begrudgingly swings the door open to let you in.

The Buck must be your age, grown up but still a kid to anyone older. You thought Keagan was a kid from the way Janna worries and talks about him. Keagan walks into the house. “She texted you were coming, may as well text her you’re here.” You do. ‘I’m here, see you when you get home.’ Keagan, who is taller than you, looks down to meet your eyes.

“Were you expecting a kid?” He says.

“Yeah, but we’re about the same age.” You reply.

“No, we aren’t. To Mommy I’m only a kid. She watches me…. All the time.”

Yikes. “I…uh… Why?”

“Dunno. But she does.” He pauses for a moment, nervously glancing around. “You can go, I’ll make up a reason why you left. I can take care of myself.” He makes a heavy sigh.