The Apartment Above Luke's, Thursday Evening

[spin_kick_snap]

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]

Comments

[rebelseekspizza]

"Just kinda tape it to the seat?" Dante said. "Living dangerously."

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"Oh my gooooooood," Kathy groaned, letting her head flop forward onto his chest dramatically. "How do you have a girlfriend who owns a sex shop and still not know about suction-based dildos?"

She even had a whole fantasy and--right. That one hadn't actually ever made it out of her mouth because it was still a little too...much...even when they were in that place they reached sometimes.

[rebelseekspizza]

"You obviously don't let me test enough of the merchandise," Dante said practically.

Or smirkily. One of those two.

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Definitely smirkily. Kathy didn't even need to see his face.

Although now they were switching positions in that fantasy and - hnngh. Okay, yeah, that was hot. Hot enough to have her shifting slightly in his lap.

"Be less hot," she told him in an attempt to think about not that. "So I have more reason to play with toys with you, rather than just jumping on you first thing."

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante laughed softly. "Not sure I can do that, Kat," he said, lowering his voice just to be a shit.

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Kathy shivered and she batted his arm. "Stop that," she said. "That's dirty pool and I'm a mere mortal."

Not helping her stop shifting around, jesus, Dante, she was trying to not pounce on you here, with a welter of dirty words and obscene fantasies.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante's hand settled on her hip. He kissed the top of her head. "Maybe next time I visit you should just get me a surprise box."

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And the problem was, she knew exactly what could go in it and--

She groaned, closing her eyes and letting her head fall against him. "If your parents didn't use Mephistopheles as your middle name, they were tragically misinformed," she told him.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Middle name? Fuck, I only have a last name on a technicality," Dante said, laughing softly as he hugged her close.

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Kathy snapped her finger and pointed at him. "Dante Mephistophe Li!" she cried. "I am brilliant, you're welcome, praise now."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Are you trying to make a honest man out of me, Kat?" Dante teased. "'Cause about that..."

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"I know, I know," Kathy sighed. "Never going to happen. Don't worry, I've consigned my hopes of a pretty white gown to the same closet where I stashed my rainbows."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Sorry," Dante said, though he wasn't sure why.

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Kathy shrugged. "Nothing for you to be sorry for. Your feelings on that kind of thing are pretty much on the tin. I knew what I'd be giving up going in."

[rebelseekspizza]

"I know," Dante said, running his hand along her hair. "Just don't like letting you down, I guess."

He'd just feel weird on so many levels. With anyone, really.

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"Relationships are compromises," Kathy pointed out. "Just think of all the things you're giving up by dating me."

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante shrugged one shoulder. "Nothing that's not worth it."

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Kathy mirrored him, shrugging the other. "Well, there we go."

She wanted to get up, to move around, but she made herself stay still. Tried to keep herself relaxed.

"Besides, it was only a joke. And, to be clear, a joke I stand by. It was hilarious and witty, I'm proud of it."

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante laughed softly. "Okay, okay, fine," he said, kissing her on the nose. "A great fucking joke."

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"One day, you're gonna realize that I'm hilarious," Kathy informed him. "And then you'll be sorry you didn't appreciate me earlier."

[rebelseekspizza]

"I appreciate you plenty," Dante promised her. "I remember appreciating you all night just a few days ago..."

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"Pffft, just for my body, but what about my mind, huh?" Kathy asked, collecting their plates to bring them into the kitchen. "When was the last time you appreciated my brain? I see. Good enough to fuck, not to marry. My mother warned me about boys like you."

She ducked her head back into the living room. "That was another joke, just to be clear."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Oh trust me, I get it now," Dante called after her.

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Dishes in the sink, Kathy came back out, giving Dante a suspicious look. The only time he let her win was when he was planning something else. "Get it how?"

[rebelseekspizza]

"Everything," Dante sing-songed.