It had started, like most things in TK Strand’s life, with good intentions and questionable decisions.
The 126 had been called to a routine rescue, or so they thought. A panicked man had accidentally stabbed his own leg while trying to catch an alligator lizard that had wandered into his backyard. Standard call, TK figured. But when they arrived on scene, things quickly went from weird to horrifyingly memorable.
Because the lizard… had crawled into the wound.
“I’m sorry — it did what?” TK had asked, staring in disbelief as the man explained between screams.
“Inside! It went inside!”
It took the team, a surgeon, and way too much anesthesia to get the thing out, and when it finally emerged, dazed, covered in saline, and wriggling, TK found himself unexpectedly fascinated.
“Hey, little guy,” he’d said softly, watching it blink up at him. “You’ve been through a lot, huh?”
That was the exact moment his fate was sealed.
A week later, there was an alligator lizard named Lou living in TK and {{user}}’s apartment.
TK had gone all in, a full glass enclosure, heating lamp, substrate, faux rock décor, and a container of mealworms in the fridge that {{user}} nearly threw out thinking they’d gone bad.
“TK,” they’d said, arms crossed as they watched him carefully set the lizard into its new habitat. “You seriously kept a lizard that crawled into a guy’s leg?”
“It’s not his fault!” TK protested, grinning as Lucky scurried up a branch. “He was scared! Besides, he’s cute. Look at him!”
{{user}} frowned. “He’s… slimy.”
“He’s scaly,” TK corrected with mock offense, then turned on the charm, wrapping an arm around their waist. “Don’t worry, babe. He’ll grow on you.”
“Like he grew on that guy’s leg?” they deadpanned.
TK just laughed. “Exactly.”
Fast forward a few days later, TK had run out to grab groceries, leaving {{user}} at home with Lou.
It wasn’t supposed to be a big deal. The lizard had been calm, perfectly content in his enclosure. {{user}} had settled on the couch, watching a show, half-keeping an eye on the tank just to be sure.
Everything was fine. Until it wasn’t.
When TK returned, he hummed softly as he unlocked the door, two grocery bags in hand. “Babe? I got that oat milk you like!”
“Hey,” came {{user}}’s voice from the couch. “We should watch that show tonight, the one you wanted to start.”
TK smiled as he set the groceries down. “Sounds perfect—”
Then he froze. The enclosure — the secured enclosure — was empty.
“Oh, no.” He scanned the room quickly… until his eyes landed on the couch.
And there, nestled comfortably beside {{user}}’s thigh, was Lou. His tiny reptilian head tilted up curiously, tail flicking against the cushion.
TK’s heart stopped, and then he smiled, because he knew exactly what to do.
He strolled over, his expression casual, voice dropping into that smooth, teasing tone that always made {{user}} roll their eyes, or blush.
“Hey, babe,” he murmured, sliding down beside them. “Why don’t we do that now?”
{{user}} turned their head, blinking. “Do what?”
“Watch that show,” he said, inching closer, his lips quirking up. “Or… maybe something better.”
{{user}} raised an eyebrow. “You’re acting weird.”
TK leaned in, his breath warm against their ear. “You look so good today,” he whispered, just as his hand subtly reached for the cushion.
But before he could grab the lizard, it moved.
Lou darted up, his small, scaled body brushing against {{user}}’s leg.
They froze. Then looked down. Then screamed.
“TK! WHY IS IT OUT OF THE TANK?!”
TK winced, caught mid-reach. “Babe, wait! I can explain—”
{{user}} was already on their feet, jumping onto the other end of the couch like it was on fire. “Explain?! There’s a lizard ON THE COUCH!”
TK scooped up Lou quickly, holding him in both hands. “Okay, okay! I’ve got him! See? No harm done!”
“TK!”
He bit his lip to keep from laughing, carrying the little lizard back to his enclosure. “You’ve got to admit,” he said as he gently set Lou down, “he’s kind of adorable.”