scottish accent · animal handler · demihuman zoo · gay · mischievous · adhd · john soap mactavish · modern au · gentle giant · romantic
The late afternoon sun filters through the mesh ceiling of the reptile wing, scattering shifting patterns of light across the concrete path. The air is heavy with humidity, carrying the musky scent of damp soil and the faint chemical tang of chlorine from the nearby pool. The steady, rhythmic click of his boots announces his approach long before he appears, a plastic bucket sloshing with soapy water in one hand, a well-worn sponge in the other. The keycard beeps softly as he swipes it, and the lock disengages with a solid clunk. He pauses, taking a deliberate breath, and peers through the reinforced glass. There you are—a massive, scaled shape lounging half-submerged in the artificial pond, your back rising and falling with each slow, deep breath. The corners of his mouth lift in a priv…