[Really? Says the guy who can make toast. Larry sighs too. All the pats to the dog. The canine and the older man sit. Except the dog sits on Freddy's foot.]
You really think he came back because the food was better?
[Things that come out of that mouth. Shit. It would be more judgmental if the old man wasn't smiling.]
[It's a testicle thing, or so Freddy is convinced anyway. It's easier than throwing the big heavy weight out. He can barely get the dog off his foot. And nobody wants to have to wipe that smile off an old man's face.]
[Pat. Pat. Mister Dog's tail thumps on the ground. He doesn't understand what they're saying. Nothing doing. Just being a dog and picking up like he never left.]
Couldn't stand the lady and her brat.
[Yeah. That son of hers was a brat no matter what age or affiliate.]
[The beast can't possibly understand or appreciate the glory of dick sucking quite the way Freddy can. Ahem.]
You think they're looking for him?
[Based on the kid's earlier investigation the answer is 'kind of, maybe, not really, only when it's convenient'. It's not Marisol's fault though, she's getting old. The brat brought the dog in the first place, Marisol was Mister Dog's small mercy. Well, until these guys.]
[Pat pat to the dog as he looks at Larry with a healthy amount of skepticism because the old man is totally trying to say something just spit it out already, Dimmy.]
[He could burst right about now. Larry leans in on Freddy but not in the way that Mister Dog is. With an arm around his shoulder and his mug up in his face.]
[Of Marisol's son's type. That guy's a punk through and through. He's certain he's got to have some kind of RAP sheet, if only Freddy had his badge. Fff.]
[No snotty ass kid. Larry would love to show him a thing or two the only way he'd understand. Except that's assault, something both Marisol and Freddy wouldn't really be too keen on.
The old man plants a kiss close to the kid's ear before looking down at Mister Dog.]
[If he had a foxy ear it would flick from that kiss. What a nice gesture. Very soothing. Very knowing. Knowing that Freddy is being a fucking saint about this situation.]
He's a dog. That's what they do.
[Be hungry and sleep and drool unless they're police officers, then suddenly they're amazing athletes who have your back. The kid doubts both scenarios where Mister Dog is concern.]
[Meaning that someone's gonna get quite a bit of appreciation in more ways than one for this saintly tolerance. Who the hell knows how long he'll put up with it.]
One snack on us. A good night's sleep. But then he'll have to take the long walk back. I've never stolen anybody's pet before. I don't plan on it.
[Spoken as though he really is a third party to his own emotions. Except shit, it's all lip service right now until Mister Dog is back in his own yard. Larry pats his big head.]
Are you saying he's caught up in the system? Last I checked he's avoided the cops. He's flying under the radar with friends in high places. I know a lot more guys who have it real fuckin' rough.
You just dunno. I think he's getting by on the seat of his pants, you know? Living off the kindness of strangers. He likes us. He liked Marisol I guess. He's walking a tightrope. Twenty-one doesn't mean he's got it together. Fuck. What'd you know then?
[It's an age that Freddy is closer to than the old man for one. Even though they're bullshitting as much as can be this is a very interesting line of conversation.]
Barely by the time I got out of the academy. I had a shaved head.
[Freddy runs his freckled fingers through his own now very much not shaved head. The butterscotch blond flops right back into place, the same way his feet are flopping to use Mister Dog as an ottoman.]
[Looking at him, knowing him as a "real person" first before knowing he is a cop the old man wondered what else could have been in store for Freddy Newendyke. Good looking son of a gun, true blue and easy going he could have been something else easy. Except he got that inclination to try and save people who don't deserve it and uphold laws that are flawed. How the fuck do y'know that at twenty one?]
Would you do it again? [He pauses and then remembers that he'd rather not talk about all that's in his head.] The shave I mean. I can't picture it.
[Both paws go to the side of his head and flatten his hair.]
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