Chapter Text
Light.
Warmth on the left ear.
Johnny moves.
Cup noise.
Coffee.
Tav opens one eye. Soft oink.
Johnny says something — it sounds like wind with affection.
No words, just dad.
Walks toward the kitchen. Cold floor.
Bad floor.
Floor, NO.
Goes back to his bed.
Blanket.
Good blanket.
Johnny laughs.
He puts an apple on the floor.
Tav’s brain lights up:
snacc.
Runs (kind of).
Oink oink.
Thud. Floor.
Oink.
Apple.
Bite.
Juicy.
Universe expands.
Infinite happiness.
Then Riley walks by.
Smells like air, grass, “brother.”
Riley says woof but Tav understands:
nap. together.
Yes.
Nap.
Riley rests his head on Tav’s back.
Tav feels warmth, soft gravity, safety.
Mind turns off.
No time. No thought.
Just nap.
Wakes up.
Johnny sings.
Simon says something in his deep, stone-warm voice.
Tav doesn’t know what, but it sounds like home.
Smells like soup.
Smells like peace.
Life is this:
snacc → nap → dad → oink.
Eternal loop.
Perfect.