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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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.

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"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."

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"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."

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"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."

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"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."

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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."

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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."

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"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."

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"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?"

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"Everything," Dante sing-songed.

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"Sounds fake," Kathy declared, folding her arms.

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"You would say that," Dante said, patting around his pockets for something - anything - he could use.

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"Because I am a speaker of truths and a knower of things," Kathy said sagely. "...What are you doing?"

STILL WITH THE SUSPICION HERE.

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"Nothing," Dante said, dropping his hands into his lap. "What's next?"

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"I dunno," Kathy said, coming back over to sit on the couch. "Puppies, I think? Or I could tell you about the fancy strawberry ice cream in the freezer I got for dessert."

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That was an easy way to get him to perk up. "No, I like the ice cream idea," he said.

He put all silliness on the backburner for that.

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This was her shocked and surprised face. "Shoo," she said, motioning his to the kitchen. "I know where I rank compared to strawberry anything."