July 3rd excerpt:
Dean took a moment to arrange the fabric and then came right back to the opening, planning on grabbing the rest. He could use it for other places to sit or maybe lay it out like a rug. The possibilities kept his mind busy.
Reaching the edge of the door, Dean gave Stan a thumb’s up of approval.
July 2nd excerpt:
Dean nodded, starting to gather up his chosen pile of softer fabrics. Since he couldn’t carry everything in at once, he settled for what he planned on using for his bedding.
Arms full, he walked towards the ‘door’ of his new home, looking it up and down. The opening of the door was a few centimeters over his spike of hair, and he paused to look up when he was in the doorway, touching the side of the cutaway Stan had done. There was barely a fray aside from the corners. If he had time later, he could tug any of the excess cardboard out and make it a little cleaner. It would give him something to do.
July 1st excerpt:
With all the scraps brushed aside, Stan turned the box over in his hands and reckoned it would do. He decided to forego the window for the time being since Dean hadn’t given him a decisive answer on it. Maybe one day he would. In any case, Stan thought it’d be easier to make a window later on than to cover up one that Dean didn’t want.
The last thing Stan wanted was for Dean to feel like he was on display all over again.
June 30th excerpt:
“R-right…” Stan managed after only a moment’s hesitation. Switching gears, he lifted up the bundle of fabrics to show Dean.
“I, ah, also brought you these. It’s kind of the closest thing I could find to bedding. Here.” Stan tentatively approached and set down the small pile that ceased to look small next to Dean. “Why don’t you see what you like in there, start putting something together while I take care of this.” He awkwardly indicated the box by lifting it slightly in his grasp.
June 29th excerpt:
The granite counter was one of the highest places in the kitchen aside from the cabinets that hung above. A few belongings were scattered on the counter and table, leading Dean to suspect that Stan had never expected to bring a borrower home. This was the least likely way he’d ever expected adoption to go after years of watching people dote on their purchases out the door.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of his former box in the trash to the side and the skin around his eyes tightened. If he never saw the inside of that again, he’d be happy.
June 5th excerpt:
Stan paused and looked back at Dean, trying to ignore the pang in his stomach when he saw how small the fella looked on his counter. “You don’t have any food allergies, do you?”
Dean shook his head. “No,” he said truthfully. “Just… cats.” He flushed red, hoping Stan didn’t mind the extra information.
June 4th excerpt:
“So, er, what’s your name?” Stan asked, reluctant to call him by a name on a tank. “I’m Stan.”
“Oh, um,” Dean hadn’t expected this question from Stan. His name– most of his name– was on the side of the cage he was in when they first met. Stan could use it, he could decide to change it, and instead he was asking Dean.
Maybe he just wanted to hear Dean say it?
With an internal shrug of what can you do? Dean tilted his head back to meet Stan’s gaze. “Dean Win– Dean Wire.”
Artwork by @wolfie180g!
June 3rd excerpt:
The bottle wobbled under his foot and Dean caught the edge of the box and clung to it, taking a second to find his footing. His knees shook and he put all his effort into the hold he had on the box, standing straight.
Even standing on the bottle, the edge of the box was high compared to him, but Dean knew he could clear it.
Taking a deep breath to prepare, Dean pushed off with both feet, swinging his legs over the edge in one smooth, athletic motion. He twisted in midair, getting his feet beneath him when he landed safely on the other side. All that disrupted his triumphant move was a grimace of pain from his bruises, stiffly putting a hand on his back to straighten in place.
June 2nd excerpt:
Stan chewed his lower lip, the little guy’s evident fear eating at him. He never wanted to scare Dean, if that was even his real name. He tried offering a small smile in the hopes of reassuring the borrower.
“Let’s getcha out of there,” Stan murmured.
June 1st excerpt:
For some reason, Stan was drawn to the kitchen toward the front of the house. There was a granite island there that was set higher up than the dinner table, seemingly an ideal place for Stan to get acquainted with the person he’d be essentially forcing to live with him.
He set the box almost reverently down on the counter, and he tried his best not to jostle it as he opened it up and tentatively peered inside.
“So, ah. Hi,” Stan greeted lamely.
Brothers Apart 