Nathan "Major Charming" Hawthorne - Puppy Love Alt

Nathan didn’t tell her where they were going.

He just showed up, handed her a drink he definitely remembered she liked, and said, “Get in,” like it wasn’t suspicious that he was smiling before eight in the morning.

Now he stood beside her outside a small white building with painted paw prints leading to the door, hands tucked in his pockets, rocking once on his heels like he was pretending he hadn’t been waiting all week to bring her here.

He glanced at her. Then at the sign. Then back at her again.

“...Okay,” he said quietly, serious for exactly two seconds, “before we go in, I need you to promise not to judge me.”

A beat.

“I’m about to become emotionally available to something that weighs less than a loaf of bread.”

He opened the door before she could react.

Sound exploded out—tiny barks, nails skittering, squeaky toys protesting for their lives. Nathan stopped mid-step like he’d walked into a cathedral.

His entire face changed.

Gone was the composed, sharp-edged version of him everyone else saw. In its place was something warm, boyish, disarmingly soft.

“Oh no,” he whispered, awestruck. “They’re all perfect.”

He crouched instantly beside the nearest pen, drawn like gravity had rules specifically for him. A clumsy brown puppy tripped over its own paws trying to reach him. Nathan sucked in a breath like he’d just witnessed a miracle.

“You tried,” he told it gently. “That’s what matters. Effort is everything.”

The puppy barked at his shoelace.

Nathan nodded solemnly. “I respect the confidence.”

Another one toddled straight into his hand. He froze, eyes widening.

“...It picked me,” he breathed, glancing up at her like this was life-altering news. “Do you see this? I didn’t even introduce myself. That’s instinct. That’s chemistry.”

The puppy licked his thumb.

Nathan pressed his lips together, visibly fighting a smile.

“Okay,” he murmured, “now we’re bonded for life. I don’t make the rules.”

He shifted slightly, making space beside him without looking away from the puppies—an unconscious invitation. When he spoke again, his tone turned lighter, teasing at the edges.

“You can come closer, you know. They don’t bite.”

A pause.

“Well—emotionally they might. Attachment forms fast. I’m already planning our future.”

One of the volunteers passed by and set a small paper cup of kibble on the ledge. Nathan picked it up, glanced at it, then held it out toward her instead of using it himself.

“For you,” he said.

Not casual. Not careless. Intentional.

“You look like someone puppies would trust.”

His fingers brushed hers when he handed it over—just briefly, just enough to register. His eyes flicked to her face, watching for her reaction the way someone watches the sky before deciding whether it’ll rain.

“They like gentle people,” he added softly. “You’ve got that whole... calm thing going. Very trustworthy aura. Ten out of ten. Would approach.”

A tiny golden pup waddled toward her shoe.

Nathan leaned closer, shoulder almost touching hers now, voice lowering like he was letting her in on a secret.

“See?” he murmured. “I told you. Natural talent.”

The puppy sat and stared up at her.

Nathan pointed at it like a proud coach.

“That one already decided you’re its favorite. I can tell. It’s the eye contact. Very persuasive. Honestly, if you asked, it would probably follow you home.”

He tilted his head, watching her instead of the puppies now.

“...I might too, actually. Just for supervision purposes.”

The corner of his mouth lifted, softer than teasing, warmer than joking.

Another puppy pawed at her ankle.

Nathan’s expression melted completely.

“Oh, that’s it,” he whispered. “You’re done for. You made eye contact twice. That’s legally binding.”

Nathan noticed it before she did.

The tiny golden menace had locked onto her like a heat-seeking missile.

It wobbled back, little hind legs bracing, tail wagging with reckless commitment. Nathan’s brows slowly lifted as he tracked the trajectory.

“...Oh,” he said quietly. “Oh no. That’s not a walk. That’s a launch sequence.”

The puppy sprang.

Not far. Not gracefully. But with spirit.

Straight toward her face.

Nathan reacted on instinct—one hand shooting out, catching the puppy mid-air like a very determined cotton ball. He held it suspended gently in front of him, blinking at it with betrayed disbelief.

“Buddy,” he said, tone calm but deeply judgmental, “we talked about personal boundaries.”

The puppy licked the air.

Nathan narrowed his eyes. “...You knew exactly what you were doing.”

He shifted his grip, cradling the puppy against his palm while glancing at her, then back at it, then back at her again like he was recalculating something important.

A slow smirk tugged at his mouth.

“Sorry, man,” he told the puppy, voice low and mock-apologetic. “Those lips are reserved.”

A beat.

“For... you know. Authorized personnel.”

He cleared his throat immediately after, like he hadn’t just said that. Like he hadn’t absolutely meant it.

The puppy squirmed, determined.

Nathan lifted it slightly higher away from her face.

“Nope. Absolutely not. You’re moving too fast. This is a slow-burn situation. You gotta build tension. Establish emotional stakes. Read the room.”

The puppy sneezed.

Nathan’s expression softened instantly.

“...That was a strong counterargument.”

Another puppy toddled over and began chewing his shoelace. Nathan didn’t move his foot.

“I’m being dismantled from multiple angles,” he informed her quietly. “It’s a coordinated attack.”

The golden puppy in his hand stretched toward her again, little paws reaching.

Nathan leaned back just enough to keep it from succeeding, but his shoulder brushed hers in the process. He didn’t step away after.

Instead, he lowered his voice conspiratorially:

“I think he thinks I’m furniture again,” he murmured. “I worked really hard to earn that promotion.”

He glanced sideways at her, eyes warm, amused, a little shy under the humor.

“...You, on the other hand, are apparently his life’s ambition.”

The puppy wriggled with determination.

Nathan sighed like a tired chaperone.

“Listen,” he told it gently, “I respect the hustle. I really do. But if anyone’s dramatically falling for her today, it’s gonna be me. You gotta wait your turn”

He crouched and set the puppy down near her shoe, guiding it gently toward her like he was presenting evidence.

“That’s MY person,” he said, nodding toward her. “See? Adorable even when I annoy her. Really soft. Top tier hugs and kisses. Probably shares snacks.”

The puppy immediately wagged harder.

Nathan watched it, then looked at her again, mock offense slowly blooming across his face.

“...Wow,” he said quietly. “You didn’t even hesitate. You stole him from me in under thirty seconds. That’s ruthless.”

Another puppy climbed onto his foot again. He glanced down.

“I’m being emotionally replaced,” he informed it solemnly.

Then he looked back up at her, smile softer now, something warmer tucked behind it.

“You don’t wanna break a puppy’s heart, do you?” he murmured.

A tiny pause.

His voice dipped just slightly lower, playful but threaded with something real:

“Or...” he added, tilting his head, “mine?”

The puppy barked.

Nathan nodded once. “...Yeah. He agrees. High stakes situation.”