smith fic
inspired by belleferret userpic
Smith sat quietly on the trip back to Thunder Mountain. So quietly in fact that Kurdy was convinced there was something wrong with him and voiced the fact to Jeremiah several times.
“He’s just sat there, nursing that damn box as it there’s something important in there. It’s just a box.”
Jeremiah looked at him for a moment before turning his attention back to the road. “Well maybe he’s got something inside it.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know... something Markus asked him to pick up maybe.”
There was a scoff and a snort. “Yeah right.” He turned round in his seat. “Hey Smith, you okay man? How’s the chaffing?”
“Fine,” came the distracted reply. Smith didn’t look up, hoping Kurdy would just leave him alone. Finally he felt Kurdy’s eyes move and heard the other man turn back round. He sighed in relief. “Not long now,” he whispered, making sure the hole in the top of the box wasn’t covered.
Finally they arrived back at the mountain and Smith scampered away before he could be stopped. He went straight passed Markus without so much as a hello; despite having been gone the best part of a week.
Markus just stood there then looked at Kurdy.
“Don’t ask me. He’s been in a strange mood since we left Abbotsbury.”
Markus reached over and picked up Smith’s rucksack. “I’ll go take this to him.”
Smith shut the door to his room and sat hunched up on the bed, his back pressed against the wall. Slowly he lifted the lid of the box. A small nose peeked out, sniffing the strange air. “Hey Peanut,” Smith said. He held out a hand. “It’s okay.”
Slowly the rest of the face peeked out, the familiar scent reassuring him.
Smith picked up the ferret and held him gently. “We’re going to get along just fine.” A tap on the door made him look up. “Come in. Carefully though.”
Markus opened the door slowly. “So what’s up?” he asked.
Smith smiled at him. “Hey.”
Peanut sniffed at the stranger for a moment and then looked back at Smith, snuggling into him.
Markus smiled. “You found one then.”
Smith nodded. “Don't think the others will approve though.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Markus said one hand gently rubbing Peanut’s head. “The only approval you need it mine and so long as you keep him under control you have it.”
“Thank you. See Peanut, told you he’s an alright kind of guy.”
Markus raised an eyebrow. “Peanut?”
Smith nodded. “It’s where we found him, in an old peanut factory. Seemed kind of fitting to call him that.”
Markus nodded. “Well I’ll leave you to settle him in.”
Smith nodded, barely noticing him leave. He was too busy with his new friend, someone who wouldn’t tease him about the chafing he got from the back of that truck.