The park was eerily quiet. Car doors shut noisily as the two of you left the vehicle and began nosing around the area for Meatloaf. It was fenced in and from what you could see with your phone's flashlight, the gates weren't open. There was no way your dog could get in or out unless he found a hole in the fence and wiggled his way in. You doubted that was the case though. He wasn't willing to put in that much effort usually. Which made you wonder why he wanted out of the dorm so bad in the first place.

You still searched around the area, calling his name and looking around every nook and cranny. Heat whistled in hopes of getting his attention. It was one of those super loud, long ones and it ended up just making you jump in surprise.

"Sorry." He said when he noticed he spooked you.

"It's fine." You breathed out. "Kinda lost in thought."

It was really starting to get chilly out. More so than you thought it should this time of year but you can't argue with the weather. You shivered. It would've been a good idea to bring a jacket of your own but that was the last thing on your mind before you left.

After a few moments of you trying to shake the cold and fruitless searching, you gave up on the area. He wasn't here. Another shiver traveled down your spine as you let out a frustrated sigh.

"Here." You received your second surprise of the night when Heat offered you his jacket. "The cold doesn't bother me all that much."

"Oh, I'm fi–"

"You're shaking like a leaf. Take it." He'd never been so demanding before but at the same time, he spoke as softly as ever.

You couldn't find the want to argue with him when he was like this. So you took the offered jacket and slipped it on. It was solid black with a white lining on the inside. Because Heat was wearing it, it was already warm and you instantly felt a little better. Of course it was entirely to big for you as well. The sleeves went past your fingertips and the bottom hit about midthigh on you. And interestingly enough, it smelled like a bonfire. Strong hints of smoke with a more subtle, woody scent mixed in to it.

"Thanks." You murmured on the way back to the car. He noticed there wasn't anything to be found here either.

"Can't let you freeze while looking for him."

"For everything, not just the jacket."

He paused and turned to you. "I'd be a terrible friend if I didn't help you out."

"I don't think you could ever be a terrible friend." You said, tugging the jacket closed around you.

He opened the passenger side door for you and leaned into it slightly. You weren't quite sure with the dark, but it looked like he almost had a slight blush across his face.

"I'm glad you think so."

When you'd hopped back in, he continued.

"Is there anywhere else he could've tried to go to?"

You thought hard for a moment and then another spot hit you. "Maybe. He likes to swim so I take him to this pond a short drive from here. It's his favorite place to go."

"We'll check there then."

He closed your door and went around to his side, slipping in and starting the engine. When you were back on the road and had given him the rundown of where to go, he started glancing over at you occasionally. It almost looked like he was looking you up and down. You caught him in the act and shot him a puzzled look.

"Warming up?" He asked.

"Oh, yeah. I should've grabbed my jacket before we left."

"It's fine." His fingers drummed along the steering wheel. "Why do you think he got out?"

"I've been trying to figure that out." You sighed and let yourself sink further into the seat.

"Anything different happen today?"

"Vivi left for a trip. She's gone for a week so maybe her packing shit up did it?"

"Is the duck okay home by itself?"

"She took him to someone else's place for the week..... Maybe that's it."

Karoo and Meatloaf were like best friends. It made sense that he'd be thrown off when his feathered friend was suddenly gone.

"You think he went looking for the duck?" Heat asked.

"They have this weird friendship so that wouldn't be all that far fetched. I didn't think he'd lose it over Karoo being gone for a few days."

"Sounds like one of those times when you don't realize how attached you are to someone until something happens to them."

"Is that really a thing?" You puzzled over it while staring out the window.

"I bet it is." Heat said, taking the chance to glance over at you again now that you weren't paying attention. He liked how you looked in his coat. It didn't fit you but that was part of it's charm.

"This is the spot." You pointed out the front window to a dirt road leading down to the pond

He turned onto the road slowly, the headlights bouncing along and illuminating the way with every pothole and dip. Then he slowed down further, squinting as he looked at something.

"Is that him?"

You gasped and nearly pushed out of the car while it was still rolling forward. If it wasn't for Heat leaning over and snagging the back of the jacket, you would have. As soon as he had stopped and thrown the vehicle in park, he let you go and you were stumbling out to the little oddly shaped lump by the side of the road.

Heat trotted out after you, leaving the headlights on so both of you could see what you were doing. You almost cried when you saw it was indeed your dog. He was laying in the dirt, backside twitching with his pitiful attempt at a tail wag. It was obvious something was wrong but you were happy he was alive.

"Hey baby." You cooed and got on your knees beside him.

He whined in response, trying to scoot closer.

"Hold on, let me see if I can find the problem."

You could hear Heat calling one of the other guys to let them know you'd found Meatloaf but your attention was solely on the dog. You shone your phones light on him for better lighting and quickly saw the issue. His front right leg was bloody and looked like it had gotten ran over. That made sense with you finding him by the side of the road. Some asshole hit him and left.

"Heat? He's gotta go to the vet."

He hung up and came over, eyeing his busted leg. "I think there's an emergency clinic we can go to near the college."

"Okay." You nodded.

He picked Meatloaf up gingerly, doing everything he could to avoid jostling his leg. Your dog let out a few whimpers but that was it. He was a real trooper. Heat had you get back in the car before placing him on your lap as delicately as possible. You didn't think you would've been able to find him alone, much less take him back without hurting him in the process.

It took some serious effort on Heat's part to get back on the main road without hitting too many bumps but he did a good job. You were really impressed. Then it was a relatively short drive back towards the college and the clinic he had mentioned.

You were glad that the office was practically empty once you got inside. It was just you, Heat, and the receptionist. She helped you get signed in as you clutched your dog close and then had someone else come and take him. It was like a whirlwind for you.

You were out of the clinic just as fast as you'd gotten in. They told you he'd be kept overnight and you could pick him up the next morning. Now you were just standing outside, trying not to cry. Again.

"I can't believe I let him get hurt like that." You shook your head, unable to stop the few tears that began to escape.

"You couldn't plan on something like this happening."

"He's five Heat. I've had him since he was little. I should know all the stupid stunts he pulls by now."

He shifted around on his feet a little awkwardly as you tried to wipe up your face with a jacket sleeve. It wasn't all that effective but it wouldn't stop you from trying. Finally, it looked like he gave in to some internal struggle he was having and pulled you in for a hug. You were stiff at first but let yourself relax into it. It was honestly astounding how warm he was, even without a coat to keep out the chilly weather. The sweet moment was quickly ruined when your stomach started growling.

"Hungry?" Heat asked, slowly releasing you.

"Yeah." You felt a bit of color rise to your cheeks. It would've been nice if that hug lasted a bit longer.

"Let's go get something then. I skipped dinner."

"I don't think I've had anything since this morning." You thought it over. Classes had you busy and you never paused to eat.

"How's Mexican sound then? There's a place on campus open till late and it's got decent burritos."

"I could eat just about anything right now, but that sounds fantastic."

----

"This tastes a little questionable." You said between bites.

You and Heat sat together at your place, watching TV while finally eating something. It was just after nine and you were exhausted. You weren't keen on having the place to yourself without your dog around and asked him if he wanted to stay for a bit. Just for dinner and maybe some time to talk afterwards. You could imagine Vivi's reaction if she knew he was over this late at night.

"Last time I had one I was pretty shit faced. That probably made it seem better than what it was." He nodded in agreement, taking another bite even though he didn't care for the taste as much as he thought he would.

You giggled. "Yeah, alcohol can do that."

A few more bites in and you figured out a question to ask him.

"You ever been so drunk you did something regrettable?"

Heat licked a bit of food off the side of his mouth and grinned slightly. "Don't tell him I told you this, but I once took a ton of jager shots with Wire and ended up kissing him on a dare."

"Nooooo, really?" You laughed. "Like, on the lips and everything?"

"While nine yards."

"Tongue too?"

He nodded and you burst into a fit of laughter.

"What about you?" He asked.

"Hmmmm well I was invited to a party I didn't want to go to not long after highschool and a friend suggested I drink some to loosen up. So I did and before I knew it I couldn't walk in a straight line."

"And then?" He noted how you paused.

"I-its pretty embarrassing but I ended up hooking up with a guy."

"People do that." He said with a shrug.

"Except it was my first time and I couldn't focus on one thought long enough to tell him that." That was easily one of, if not the, most embarrassing story you had. Nothing like getting with a girl only to find out she's a virgin the hard way. Choices were made that night and none of them were good.

"Oh. Yeah, that's pretty bad."

"But you kissed Wire?"

"Even drunk I could tell it wasn't all that great."

You giggled at the mental image of them trying to kiss drunk. You'd bet money it was Kid that dared them to do it.

As soon as you two finished eating, you leaned back into the couch and chatted back and forth for a while. At some point, your eyelids started to feel heavy but you ignored it. Sleep was unavoidable after the day you had though and you fell asleep on the couch.

Heat didn't think you'd fall asleep with him there but he wasn't bothered by it. If anything, he found it sweet when your head slid down to his shoulder and you almost cuddled closer. But he couldn't stay. That was a boundary he couldn't cross. Not yet.

So instead, he moved off the couch carefully and let you lay down. There were a couple blankets strewn about the room he used to cover you with and then he made his way out of your dorm quietly. He could check in with you later in the morning.