The Apartment Above Luke's, Thursday Evening

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Kathy was still glowing from yesterday's museum trip with Anders and now tonight Dante was coming over for the evening, too. She appreciated the lengths they were going to make sure she didn't feel too lonely or lost while she was still adjusting to being back. She'd had a whole evening planned out as a thank you to Dante over it...

But then there had been puppies. She'd come in from her shower and decided to take a minute to refresh her Tumblr before drying off and getting dressed, and then she'd stumbled over a link for a pet adoption website that curated pictures of dogs that needed to be adopted from nearby shelters if you put in your zip code. Which Kathy, more fool her, had done.

And now was scrolling through picture after picture of adorable romping puppies and distinguished older dogs all looking for forever homes and who even knew what time it was anymore, there were puppies.

[For that guy]

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Dante tilted his head. "... Okay, fine. I'd fuck Idris Elba," he said. "You happy?"

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"Yes, because now I get to think about you and Idris Elba fucking," Kathy said with a dreamy smile. "Even if I'm not involved, that would be really pretty."

She rested her legs in Dante's lap. "If I were gonna go lesbian, it would be for Cate Blanchett in that lady heist movie, too, cause goddamn."

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"Oh, so it's just that you have a thing for older women, now I get it," Dante said, patting her knee.

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"You're just not gonna be happy until I'm facedown in the lap of some woman with my tongue out," Kathy declared. "Doesn't matter who, just someone."

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"I mean, and I'd want pictures, but yeah," Dante said merrily.

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"Maybe for your birthday," Kathy leaned over to pat his face. "I'll go down on a girl just for you."

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"Awwww, best girlfriend," Dante said, kissing her cheek. "...Were you gonna show me the puppies? Why were you looking at puppies?"

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"There's a website that you put your zip code into it and it shows you a bunch of pictures of puppies nearby for you to adopt," Kathy said, her face alight. "Well, also adult dogs and stuff, but all dogs are puppies."

It was fact.

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"You planning to get one for real?" Dante asked. "Then I really gotta see."

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"Oh, I...I dunno," Kathy said, winding her hair around and around. "I haven't talked to Raven about getting a puppy and she might not want one. And who would watch him when I'm at your place for the weekend? It's a big responsibility..."

Sure she wanted a dog. But what if she couldn't take care of one properly?

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"You could always take him with you," Dante said easily.

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"You guys would be okay with that?" Kathy asked. "I wouldn't have thought...I mean, there are the cats and Anders doesn't really like them, I don't think."

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"I mean, we'd have to ask Anders too," Dante allowed. "But I'm cool with it."

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"I didn't think you liked dogs much, either," Kathy said, tilting her head at him.

She appreciated the offer, she really did, but if it was gonna be something the guys just, like, put up with, it would probably be better to just...not. Right?

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"I don't," Dante said.

He shrugged. "But if you want a puppy, fuck, I'm gonna do my best to love the shit out of it."

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That was...that was exactly what Kathy needed to hear, actually. Not that it would be one more thing of hers for them to deal with or to get through, but one they would try to love. To accept. To welcome.

She launched herself at him, burying her face in his chest and wrapping her arms around him tightly. "If I do get one, I'll try to make sure it's one you like," she promised.

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Dante laughed softly. "Then don't make it one of those tiny barking shits," he advised, hugging her close.

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Kathy shuddered. "I would never," she assured him. "A proper dog knocks you down, not trips you up."

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"Something huggable," Dante said, kissing her cheek.

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Kathy nodded. "Something that takes up room in the bed with me," she murmured.

Her bed was perfect for three, fun with two, and lonely for one.

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Dante nodded, hugging her tighter. "Yeah," he said quietly.

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"I hope he still likes you when he realizes he doesn't get overnight cuddles on nights when you guys are over," she said, trying to make it sound less...sad. "He's gotta be a smart dog, too."

Beat.

"Or she, I'm not a dog-sexist."

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She didn't sound sad. Lonely, yeah, which made Dante feel bad, but not sad.

"We'll go talk to Anders, see what he thinks," he said. "And if he says yes, all three of us are gonna pick out a puppy together, no sexism and shit, how's that?"

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Her expression probably said it all, didn't it?

"I have to talk to Raven, too," she said. "I wouldn't want to spring a random puppy on her some time when she comes in from the woods, but I'd love that."

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"That way it belongs to all of us," Dante said. "I mean, you'll be the girl in charge, but... you get what I mean."