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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"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."

[rebelseekspizza]

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."

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"Yeah," Kathy said, giving him a grin. "Sorta like you and your ass when me and Anders are around, only but actually in charge of it."

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Dante poked her between the ribs. IT WAS FAIR AND WARRANTED.

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Kathy squealed and burst out laughing, inordinately proud of herself for that one.

Admit it, Dante, it was funny. You had a funny girlfriend.

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"You are the worst," Dante informed her, and started his tickle assault in earnest.

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"No no no!" Kathy wailed, grabbing a throw pillow and trying to use it to shield herself from his onslaught. "Tickles are against Treat of the House of Li!"

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"You stepped on the terms of the treaty first," Dante informed, "With your fucking slander."

He didn't stop.

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"You don't get to dictate terms in my house!" Kathy protested, writhing about in his lap, trying to keep away from his hands and failing. "And it's only slander when it's false!"

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"It's false, it's false," Dante said, at least one hand slipping into her bathrobe to go in for the kill.

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"You are gonna sleep out here on the couch tonight, I swear to god!" Kathy yelped, now trying to actually scramble off of him.

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Dante laughed, pulling away from her. "So not true," he said. "You need me until you get a big, hairy dog to fill the gap."

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"You could have filled a gap," Kathy informed him, tossing her hair of her shoulder. "But, nope, that's off the table now, too."

She was the lyingest liar who ever lied.