Probably.
Mostly.
Really, Chaos had been skeptical about the whole thing, but the absurd ways humans interacted online wasfascinating. He was all full from the meeting already—chaotic energy buzzing in his veins—but he could see this becoming a solid source of food down the line. A bit strange maybe, with the fuzzy-edged electronic taste to it, but it would still be filling enough.
He’d just posted in a forum called NYParentsOfLittles:I don’t believe in bike helmets. We have skulls around our brains for a reason. To wear a helmet is an affront to our Maker.
Chaos was cackling quietly to himself as the replies came in—a weird number of which seemed to agree with him—when Cooper let out a small, triumphant, “I did it.”
Chaos added a few exclamation points to his latest comment (Well I thinkYOU’REstupid!!!!) as he asked, “What did you do, puppy?”
Cooper startled, like he’d forgotten Chaos was there for a moment, even though Chaos was pressed against him, arm to arm and hip to hip. “Oh.” He pushed his glasses up. “Um, just a side project I’ve been working on for a friend. A proving-my-mettle type of thing. But it’s done now.”
Chaos looked up from his trolling. “Friend? What friend?”
“An internet friend. I haven’t met him in person.”
Chaos hooked his chin over Cooper’s shoulder, peering at Cooper’s laptop instead of his own. Cooper was messaging with someone named RedRabbit.
It’s done, Cooper had typed.Good challenge, by the way. I enjoyed myself.
Chaos didn’t know how to feel about this. He supposed it was a good thing that Cooper had an internet friend—Chaos didn’t like that his puppy was so lonely—but Chaos also didn’t like that he hadn’t met them himself and scoped them out for Cooper ahead of time. It made his talons itchy.
What if this friend was tactless and hurt Cooper’s feelings? His puppy’s feelings were tender, like his fragile human body. This RedRabbit person needed to be made aware.
“Tell them your feelings are very tender,” Chaos commanded.
Cooper blinked, his lovely fingers poised on his laptop keys. “Um. What?”
Chaos sighed, his gusty breath making Cooper’s ear twitch. “Never mind.”
Chaos would just have to deal with it himself, if it came down to it.
He watched as RedRabbit replied,Knew you’d get it. You’re the first. Probably the only.
Well, that seemed all right. This person appreciated Cooper’s fine mind, at least.
Still…
Chaos dug his chin more firmly into Cooper’s shoulder, ignoring his wince. “Tell them they’reonlya friend. Not a lover or family or god of intercourse.”
“So, um…” Cooper cleared his throat. “No. I’m not going to do that.”
Chaos let out another sigh. Was this what it was like when one’s mate was being unreasonable? It was so rare for Cooper to be stubborn like this.
But then Cooper twisted his torso to pat at Chaos’s head. “They don’t want to be my lover, Bracchus, I promise. They haven’t even ever suggested meeting in person.”
The patting was nice—Chaos butted his head into the touch—but Chaos remained skeptical. “What if they want to cybersex you?”
Cooper let out a strange, choked noise, cleared his throat, then answered, “I’ll politely decline.”
“Rudely decline,” Chaos corrected.
“Okay, I’ll rudely decline.”
“All right.” Placated, Chaos shuffled back into position—arm to arm and hip to hip—and went back to his laptop, typing out a statement about helmets being the leading source of microplastics in the water supply.
“When should I steal the Book back from Ivan?” he asked after having received many, many wonderfully rude replies. “I don’t want to leave you alone yet. You’re still recovering.”
