Shownotes
After teaming up with Atomic Apollo to stop a bank robbery, Benji (Flashpoint) is shocked when the hero follows him back to his day job.
Today’s story is the first of two parts of “Justice is Brewing” by Vincenzo Pasquarella, who is the author of the book “Phantom Janitor” and several short stories. You can find a list of their published works on their website.
Read by Solomon Harries, Cuddly Badger Dad.
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If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/justice-is-brewing-by-vincenzo-pasquarella-part-1-of-2
Transcripts
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:of
Speaker:two
Speaker:parts
Speaker:of “Justice
Speaker:is
Speaker:Brewing”
Speaker:by Vincenzo
Speaker:Pasquarella,
Speaker:who is
Speaker:the
Speaker:author
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:book “Phantom
Speaker:Janitor”
Speaker:and
Speaker:several
Speaker:short
Speaker:stories.
Speaker:You can
Speaker:find
Speaker:a
Speaker:list of
Speaker:their
Speaker:published
Speaker:works
Speaker:on
Speaker:their
Speaker:website.
Read
by
Speaker:Solomon
Speaker:Harries,
Speaker:Cuddly
Speaker:Badger
Speaker:Dad.
Please
enjoy
“Justice is
Brewing”
Speaker:by Vincenzo Pasquarella, Part 1 of 2
“Everyone stay
on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground,”
Speaker:the
Speaker:Arctic
Speaker:fox
Speaker:shouted
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:surveyed
Speaker:the
Speaker:area. “We
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:hurt
Speaker:you.
Speaker:We’re
Speaker:just
Speaker:here
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:money.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:his
Speaker:goggles
Speaker:and
Speaker:signaled
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:crew,
Speaker:known
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles,
Speaker:to
Speaker:start
Speaker:taking
Speaker:the
Speaker:bags
Speaker:of
Speaker:cash
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:bank.
Ivan
Walker
Speaker:could
Speaker:sense
Speaker:the
Speaker:fear
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:studied
Speaker:the
Speaker:crowd.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:unwarranted,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:liked
Speaker:having
Speaker:the
Speaker:edge
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:public.
Speaker:Even
Speaker:if
Speaker:he
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:hurt
Speaker:them,
Speaker:he
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:tell
Speaker:them
Speaker:that.
Speaker:It
Speaker:took
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:tension
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:job.
Speaker:In
Speaker:reality,
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:a
Speaker:normal
Speaker:fox
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:love
Speaker:of
Speaker:crime
Speaker:and
Speaker:money.
Speaker:And
Speaker:ice.
He
turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:glance
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:prisoner,
Speaker:encased
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:block
Speaker:of
Speaker:ice,
Speaker:and
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:cold
Speaker:translucent
Speaker:surface.
His
muzzle
Speaker:quirked
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:smile. “You
Speaker:all
Speaker:cozy
Speaker:in
Speaker:there,
Speaker:big
Speaker:guy?”
Speaker:He
Speaker:gently
Speaker:rapped
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ice
Speaker:with
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:gauntlets. “Welcome
Speaker:to
Speaker:West
Speaker:Griffinville.”
Atomic
Apollo’s
Speaker:face
Speaker:stared
Speaker:back,
Speaker:contorted
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:look
Speaker:of
Speaker:shock;
Speaker:his
Speaker:tight
Speaker:white
Speaker:super-suit
Speaker:with
Speaker:blue
Speaker:lining
Speaker:looking
Speaker:ridiculous.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:all
Speaker:too
Speaker:perfect.
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:fished
Speaker:his
Speaker:cellphone
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:coat
Speaker:and
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:quick
Speaker:selfie
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:captured
Speaker:hero,
Speaker:holding
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:thumbs-up
Speaker:sign.
“Damn,
I
Speaker:look good. Got to
Speaker:save
Speaker:that
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:gram—”
Speaker:he
Speaker:muttered
Speaker:to
Speaker:himself.
As
he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:picture,
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:a
Speaker:member
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:press —
Speaker:a
Speaker:raccoon —
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:background
Speaker:reaching
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:cellphone.
“Excuse
me.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:cleared
Speaker:his
Speaker:throat
Speaker:and
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:the
Speaker:raccoon
Speaker:clutching
Speaker:the
Speaker:phone
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws.
Speaker:He
Speaker:tilted
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:and
Speaker:raised
Speaker:an
Speaker:eyebrow.
The
raccoon
Speaker:froze
Speaker:as
Speaker:Ivan’s
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:locked
Speaker:onto
Speaker:him.
Speaker:The
Speaker:phone
Speaker:slid
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:grasp.
“I
wasn’t
Speaker:doing
Speaker:anything!
Speaker:I
Speaker:swear!”
Ivan
slowly
Speaker:paced
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:where
Speaker:the
Speaker:news
Speaker:crew
Speaker:were
Speaker:gathered.
The
raccoon
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:crawl
Speaker:back
Speaker:among
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:crew
Speaker:members,
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:digging
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:snowy
Speaker:ground.
Ivan
smiled
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:made
Speaker:his
Speaker:way
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:steps. “Were
Speaker:you
Speaker:about
Speaker:to
Speaker:call
Speaker:the
Speaker:cops?
Speaker:Hmm?”
Speaker:He
Speaker:tilted
Speaker:his
Speaker:head.
The
raccoon
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws. “No!
Speaker:No
Speaker:sir!
Speaker:I
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:dream—”
Ivan
raised
Speaker:his
Speaker:gauntlet,
Speaker:its
Speaker:motor
Speaker:whirring
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:beam
Speaker:of
Speaker:ice
Speaker:shot
Speaker:out
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:raccoon’s
Speaker:legs. “Nuh-uh-uh.”
The
raccoon
Speaker:let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:loud
Speaker:yelp
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:were
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:stuck
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground.
Ivan’s
gaze
Speaker:took
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:small
Speaker:crew.
Speaker:His
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:settled
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:vixen
Speaker:clutching
Speaker:a
Speaker:foam-covered
Speaker:microphone.
“I
know
Speaker:you!”
Speaker:His
Speaker:tail
Speaker:swished
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:stood
Speaker:over
Speaker:her. “You’re
Speaker:from
Speaker:Channel 7,
Speaker:right?”
The
scarlet
Speaker:fox
Speaker:nodded
Speaker:slowly.
“Yes…
Would
Speaker:you
Speaker:care
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:a
Speaker:statement?”
Speaker:She
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:the
Speaker:microphone
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:raccoon
Speaker:grunted
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:reach
Speaker:his
Speaker:phone.
The
Arctic
Speaker:fox
Speaker:tsked,
Speaker:holding up
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw.
Speaker:The
Speaker:fox
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:raccoon
Speaker:froze
Speaker:in
Speaker:their
Speaker:tracks.
“You
folks
Speaker:know
Speaker:our deal.
Speaker:My
Speaker:crew
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:like
Speaker:cameras.”
The
reporter swallowed, then exhaled. “Um… Maybe just
Speaker:a
Speaker:verbal
Speaker:statement
Speaker:then?”
“Ah,
yes.”
Speaker:His
Speaker:smile
Speaker:grew,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:straightened
Speaker:his
Speaker:jacket. “I
Speaker:caught
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo.”
Speaker:His
Speaker:voice
Speaker:echoed
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:roared
Speaker:in
Speaker:triumph.
The
reporter
Speaker:jumped,
Speaker:shaking
Speaker:a
Speaker:little.
He
let
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice
Speaker:return
Speaker:to
Speaker:its
Speaker:calm
Speaker:tone. “How
Speaker:was
Speaker:that?
Speaker:Was
Speaker:that
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:statement?”
The
vixen
Speaker:trembled
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:shadow.
“Awww…”
He
Speaker:knelt
Speaker:before
Speaker:her. “Don’t
Speaker:worry.
Speaker:I am
Speaker:not
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:hurt
Speaker:this
Speaker:one
Speaker:like
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:the
Speaker:last.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:just
Speaker:going to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:him
Speaker:there
Speaker:till
Speaker:my
Speaker:crew
Speaker:is
Speaker:ready
Speaker:to
Speaker:go.”
“Aren’t
you
Speaker:worried?”
Speaker:The
Speaker:reporter
Speaker:spat
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
Ivan
raised
Speaker:an
Speaker:eyebrow,
Speaker:a
Speaker:soft
Speaker:frown
Speaker:forming
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle.
“About
what?”
He
knew
Speaker:what
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:about
Speaker:to
Speaker:say.
Speaker:Who
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:about
Speaker:to
Speaker:mention.
“F-Flashpoint,”
she
Speaker:stammered.
“Oh!
Flashpoint!”
Speaker:His
Speaker:smile
Speaker:came
Speaker:back. “No,
Speaker:no.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:worried.”
He
looked
Speaker:around. “I’m
Speaker:honestly
Speaker:surprised
Speaker:he
Speaker:hasn’t
Speaker:shown
Speaker:up
Speaker:yet.”
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:frowned
Speaker:once
Speaker:more
Speaker:and
Speaker:pointed
Speaker:his
Speaker:gauntlet
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:vixen.
“Perhaps,”
he
Speaker:raised
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice. “The
Speaker:young
Speaker:hero
Speaker:could
Speaker:use
Speaker:some
Speaker:encouragement!”
The
fox
Speaker:squeezed
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:shut
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:gauntlet
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:whirr.
Ivan
gritted his
Speaker:teeth,
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:locked
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:shaking
Speaker:form
Speaker:before
Speaker:him.
“Hey!”
A
Speaker:voice
Speaker:shouted
Speaker:from
Speaker:above.
The
corners
Speaker:of
Speaker:Ivan’s
Speaker:mouth
Speaker:quirked
Speaker:up
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:burst
Speaker:of
Speaker:hot
Speaker:air
Speaker:blew
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:back.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:followed
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:soft
Speaker:thump
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him.
Speaker:He
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:his
Speaker:goggles
Speaker:down
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:and
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:face
Speaker:Flashpoint.
“Ah!
Flashpoint!
Speaker:We
Speaker:were
Speaker:just
Speaker:talking
Speaker:about
Speaker:you!”
Speaker:He
Speaker:put
Speaker:his
Speaker:gauntlet-clad
Speaker:paws
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:hips. “You
Speaker:know
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:rude
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:a
Speaker:man
Speaker:waiting.”
He
watched
Speaker:the
Speaker:feline’s
Speaker:brow
Speaker:furrow
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:crossed
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms.
Speaker:Steam
Speaker:rose
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:body,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:him
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:reduced
Speaker:to
Speaker:bubbling
Speaker:puddles.
“Ivan,”
Flashpoint
Speaker:growled.
Speaker:The
Speaker:feline
Speaker:was
Speaker:wearing
Speaker:a
Speaker:red,
Speaker:rather
Speaker:uncomfortable
Speaker:looking
Speaker:spandex
Speaker:suit,
Speaker:with
Speaker:an
Speaker:orange
Speaker:and
Speaker:yellow
Speaker:flame-licked
Speaker:mask
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes.
Seriously,
what
Speaker:was
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:these
Speaker:hero-types
Speaker:and
Speaker:spandex?
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:could
Speaker:easily
Speaker:make
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:brown
Speaker:cheetah
Speaker:spots
Speaker:that
Speaker:every
Speaker:other
Speaker:citizen
Speaker:always
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:miss.
Speaker:The
Speaker:young
Speaker:hero
Speaker:glared
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
“Ugh!”
Ivan
Speaker:groaned,
Speaker:flailing
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms
Speaker:dramatically. “I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:I
Speaker:told
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:call
Speaker:me
Speaker:Icefister!”
“I’m
not
Speaker:calling
Speaker:you
Speaker:that.”
“You’re
no
Speaker:fun.”
“What
are
Speaker:you
Speaker:doing,
Speaker:Ivan?”
Speaker:Flashpoint
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:cowering
Speaker:news
Speaker:crew
Speaker:and
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:ice
Speaker:block.
Ivan’s
eyes
Speaker:flicked
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:behind
Speaker:Flashpoint.
Speaker:All
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:cronies
Speaker:had
Speaker:stopped
Speaker:in
Speaker:place,
Speaker:holding
Speaker:the
Speaker:spoils
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:heist.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:watching,
Speaker:waiting
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:orders.
“We’re
making
Speaker:a
Speaker:withdrawal.”
Flashpoint
cracked
Speaker:his
Speaker:neck,
Speaker:and
Speaker:rolled his
Speaker:shoulders. “Usually
Speaker:you
Speaker:need
Speaker:the
Speaker:account
Speaker:owner’s
Speaker:permission
Speaker:before
Speaker:taking
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:withdrawal
Speaker:this
Speaker:big.”
“Oh,
please.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:sure
Speaker:the
Speaker:citizens
Speaker:of
Speaker:West
Speaker:Griffinville
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:mind
Speaker:offering
Speaker:me their money.”
The
feline
Speaker:flicked
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:body
Speaker:became
Speaker:engulfed
Speaker:in
Speaker:flames.
“I
think
Speaker:you
Speaker:and
Speaker:your
Speaker:buddies
Speaker:should
Speaker:put
Speaker:the
Speaker:money
Speaker:back
Speaker:before
Speaker:someone
Speaker:gets
Speaker:hurt.”
Ivan
grinned.
“Ooooh!
You
Speaker:all hear
Speaker:that?
Speaker:That
Speaker:sounds
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:threat.”
His
eyes
Speaker:shot
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicle
Speaker:closest
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:getaway
Speaker:van.
“42!”
He
Speaker:raised
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice.
The
Icicle
Speaker:snapped
Speaker:to
Speaker:attention.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:member
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:gang
Speaker:whose
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:was
Speaker:covered
Speaker:to
Speaker:protect
Speaker:their
Speaker:identity,
Speaker:though
Speaker:the
Speaker:two
Speaker:large
Speaker:horns
Speaker:on
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:head
Speaker:were
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit
Speaker:conspicuous.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:that
Speaker:could
Speaker:be
Speaker:done
Speaker:about
Speaker:that,
Speaker:though.
“We’ve
got
Speaker:enough
Speaker:for
Speaker:now.”
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:turned
Speaker:his
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:Flashpoint. “Get
Speaker:the
Speaker:goods
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:hideout.”
42’s
paw
Speaker:shot
Speaker:to
Speaker:their
Speaker:forehead
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:made
Speaker:haste
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:the
Speaker:getaway
Speaker:car
Speaker:locked
Speaker:up
Speaker:as
Speaker:sirens
Speaker:screamed
Speaker:from
Speaker:somewhere
Speaker:close
Speaker:by.
As
the
Speaker:getaway
Speaker:van
Speaker:sped
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:bank,
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:the
Speaker:bags
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:holding
Speaker:and
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:moved
Speaker:to
Speaker:surround
Speaker:Flashpoint,
Speaker:in
Speaker:an
Speaker:attempt
Speaker:to
Speaker:distract
Speaker:him.
Ivan
watched
Speaker:the
Speaker:hero
Speaker:closely,
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:swept
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:in
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:him.
Speaker:The
Speaker:most
Speaker:important
Speaker:thing
Speaker:about
Speaker:this
Speaker:fight
Speaker:was
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:sure
Speaker:that
Speaker:Flashpoint
Speaker:was
Speaker:kept
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:Apollo.
Flashpoint’s
paws
Speaker:balled
Speaker:up
Speaker:into
Speaker:fists
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:waited
Speaker:for
Speaker:someone
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:a
Speaker:move.
As
police
Speaker:cars
Speaker:screeched
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:stop
Speaker:in
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:bank,
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:took
Speaker:the
Speaker:chance
Speaker:to
Speaker:fire
Speaker:off
Speaker:shards
Speaker:of
Speaker:ice
Speaker:at
Speaker:Flashpoint.
Flashpoint
caught
Speaker:one
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:melted
Speaker:instantly
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw.
Fwoom!
Ivan
instinctively
Speaker:ducked
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:hero
Speaker:shot
Speaker:a
Speaker:blast
Speaker:of
Speaker:fire
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:direction.
The air
was
Speaker:soon
Speaker:filled
Speaker:with
Speaker:shards
Speaker:of
Speaker:ice
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:unleashed
Speaker:a
Speaker:barrage
Speaker:of
Speaker:ice
Speaker:upon
Speaker:the
Speaker:young
Speaker:hero.
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:watched,
Speaker:a
Speaker:grin
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:face.
Grrr...
Flashpoint
grunted
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:batted
Speaker:away
Speaker:shard
Speaker:after
Speaker:shard.
Speaker:But
Speaker:then...
The
sharp
Speaker:hisses
Speaker:of
Speaker:pain.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:starting
Speaker:to
Speaker:miss
Speaker:some.
Speaker:Steam
Speaker:rose
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:body
Speaker:with
Speaker:each
Speaker:contact.
Ivan
watched
Speaker:proudly
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:hero
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:falter.
Speaker:Ivan’s
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:was
Speaker:met
Speaker:with
Speaker:Flashpoint’s steely
Speaker:glare
Speaker:that
Speaker:almost
Speaker:made
Speaker:the
Speaker:fox
Speaker:proud.
He
lifted
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw,
Speaker:clenching
Speaker:it
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:fist.
The
Icicles’
Speaker:onslaught
Speaker:ceased.
As
the
Speaker:steam
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:clear,
Speaker:Flashpoint
Speaker:still
Speaker:stood.
Speaker:His
Speaker:body
Speaker:rose
Speaker:and
Speaker:fell
Speaker:with
Speaker:each
Speaker:breath.
Speaker:While
Speaker:he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:determined,
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:could
Speaker:tell
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:getting
Speaker:tired.
“You’re
strong,
Speaker:kid.
Speaker:But
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:no
Speaker:way
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:take
Speaker:on
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:for
Speaker:much
Speaker:longer.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:step
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:feline. “You
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:choice
Speaker:here.
Speaker:Stand
Speaker:down,
Speaker:and
Speaker:we
Speaker:go
Speaker:on
Speaker:our
Speaker:merry
Speaker:way.
Speaker:Or
Speaker:we
Speaker:snuff
Speaker:out
Speaker:your
Speaker:flame
Speaker:here
Speaker:and now.”
Ivan’s gauntlets whirred with
energy.
**************************************
Flashpoint
tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:catch
Speaker:his
Speaker:breath
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:continued
Speaker:to
Speaker:stare
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:down.
Speaker:He
Speaker:could
Speaker:feel
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:moving
Speaker:closer.
Speaker:He
Speaker:knew
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:bad
Speaker:spot,
Speaker:and
Speaker:that
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:would
Speaker:not
Speaker:take
Speaker:it
Speaker:easy
Speaker:on
Speaker:him.
“Well?”
Ivan
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:closer.
He
couldn’t
Speaker:give
Speaker:up.
Speaker:He
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:let
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:and the
Speaker:other
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:go.
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:block
Speaker:of
Speaker:ice.
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:was
Speaker:in
Speaker:there,
Speaker:still
Speaker:wide-eyed
Speaker:and
Speaker:frozen.
Speaker:Here
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:save
Speaker:him,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:do
Speaker:that…
The
young
Speaker:hero
Speaker:looked
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:Ivan,
Speaker:then
Speaker:hobbled
Speaker:back
Speaker:a
Speaker:step.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:all
Speaker:moving
Speaker:closer
Speaker:to
Speaker:him.
Speaker:Why
Speaker:not
Speaker:just
Speaker:shoot
Speaker:him
Speaker:now?
Speaker:The
Speaker:hesitation
Speaker:should
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:indicate
Speaker:his
Speaker:choice
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:to
Speaker:stand
Speaker:firm.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:almost
Speaker:as
Speaker:if…
Flashpoint
bared
Speaker:his
Speaker:teeth
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:pieced
Speaker:everything
Speaker:together.
Speaker:He
Speaker:held
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:fireball
Speaker:formed.
Speaker:He
Speaker:grunted,
Speaker:glaring
Speaker:daggers
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:pitched
Speaker:the
Speaker:fireball
Speaker:towards Ivan…
Speaker:only
Speaker:for
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:right
Speaker:past
Speaker:his
Speaker:head.
Ivan
barely
Speaker:flinched,
Speaker:only
Speaker:letting
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:sigh. “You
Speaker:hero-types
Speaker:are
Speaker:so
Speaker:predictable.”
Speaker:His
Speaker:gauntlets whined,
Speaker:sprouting
Speaker:small
Speaker:shards
Speaker:of
Speaker:ice
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:threw
Speaker:a
Speaker:punch
Speaker:at
Speaker:him. “You
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:land
Speaker:a
Speaker:shot
Speaker:when
Speaker:it
Speaker:mattered.”
Flashpoint’s paw
snapped
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:catch
Speaker:the
Speaker:blow,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:pained
Speaker:grunt.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:he
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:to
Speaker:meet
Speaker:Ivan’s
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:and
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:chuckle.
Ivan’s
eyebrow
Speaker:lifted. “Hm?”
One
of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:kicked
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:legs
Speaker:and
Speaker:Flashpoint
Speaker:collapsed
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:knees.
Flashpoint
gasped
Speaker:in
Speaker:pain,
Speaker:but
Speaker:his laughter drowned it
Speaker:out.
“Yo… Is this some kinda
kinky
Speaker:shit?
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:sign
Speaker:up
Speaker:for
Speaker:this,”
Speaker:a
Speaker:disgusted
Speaker:voice
Speaker:said
Speaker:from
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him.
Ivan
knelt,
Speaker:grabbing
Speaker:Flashpoint
Speaker:by
Speaker:his
Speaker:chin
Speaker:and
Speaker:making
Speaker:him
Speaker:look
Speaker:at
Speaker:him. “What’s
Speaker:so
Speaker:funny?”
Flashpoint
groaned
Speaker:softly,
Speaker:before
Speaker:opening
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:and
Speaker:sticking
Speaker:his
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:out. Crack.
Ivan’s
eyes
Speaker:widened,
Speaker:realization
Speaker:kicking
Speaker:in.
“Oh.”
He
Speaker:narrowed
Speaker:them
Speaker:again,
Speaker:letting
Speaker:go of
Speaker:Flashpoint’s
Speaker:face.
Speaker:The
Speaker:feline
Speaker:could
Speaker:have
Speaker:sworn
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:seen
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:smirk
Speaker:touch
Speaker:the
Speaker:fox’s
Speaker:muzzle. “You
Speaker:sly
Speaker:motherfu—”
The
block
Speaker:of
Speaker:ice
Speaker:behind
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:exploded,
Speaker:blowing
Speaker:shards
Speaker:everywhere.
All
of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:jumped,
Speaker:their
Speaker:formation
Speaker:breaking
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:all
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:as
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:brushed
Speaker:his
Speaker:super-suit
Speaker:off.
“What
a
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:break
Speaker:the
Speaker:ice.”
Ivan
turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:face
Speaker:the
Speaker:newly-freed
Speaker:hero,
Speaker:and
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:power
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:gauntlets
Speaker:again,
Speaker:but
Speaker:a
Speaker:quick
Speaker:punch
Speaker:knocked
Speaker:him
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:floor.
Flashpoint
looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:as
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:fallen
Speaker:leader
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:and
Speaker:stood
Speaker:before
Speaker:him,
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:taking
Speaker:everything
Speaker:in.
“Are
you
Speaker:okay?”
Speaker:The canine
Speaker:stretched
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw
Speaker:down
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:costumed
Speaker:feline.
He
looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:it,
Speaker:then
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:hero
Speaker:again.
Speaker:He
Speaker:had
Speaker:no
Speaker:idea
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:do.
Speaker:Flashpoint’s
Speaker:brain
Speaker:whirred
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:register
Speaker:the
Speaker:sight
Speaker:before
Speaker:him.
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:was
Speaker:offering
Speaker:to
Speaker:help
Speaker:him
Speaker:up.
The
canine
Speaker:kept
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw
Speaker:extended,
Speaker:tilting
Speaker:his
Speaker:head.
“Flashpoint?”
One
of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:recovered
Speaker:enough
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:shock
Speaker:and
Speaker:rushed
Speaker:the
Speaker:heroes,
Speaker:ice
Speaker:covering
Speaker:the
Speaker:knuckles of
Speaker:his
Speaker:gauntlet.
Apollo caught
it
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:free
Speaker:paw
Speaker:without
Speaker:looking
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:Flashpoint.
Oh
damn.
Speaker:The
Speaker:feline
Speaker:reached
Speaker:up
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:hero’s
Speaker:paw.
Speaker:He
Speaker:knew
Speaker:his
Speaker:name.
Speaker:His
Speaker:moniker.
Speaker:Whatever
Speaker:it
Speaker:was…
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:knew
Speaker:of
Speaker:him.
The
hero
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:him
Speaker:up,
Speaker:giving
Speaker:him
Speaker:a
Speaker:playful
Speaker:grin.
“Care
to
Speaker:help
Speaker:me
Speaker:clean
Speaker:up
Speaker:this
Speaker:mess?”
“Of
course!”
Speaker:He
Speaker:managed
Speaker:to
Speaker:choke
Speaker:out.
“Good.”
The
two
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:face
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:in sync.
Ivan
stood
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:feet,
Speaker:brushing
Speaker:himself
Speaker:off
Speaker:and
Speaker:grunting.
Speaker:He
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulders,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:neck
Speaker:cracked.
Apollo
stood
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:Flashpoint,
Speaker:raising
Speaker:his
Speaker:fists.
Flashpoint
did
Speaker:his
Speaker:best
Speaker:to
Speaker:mirror
Speaker:him.
By
now,
Speaker:the
Speaker:police
Speaker:were
Speaker:hiding
Speaker:behind
Speaker:their
Speaker:car
Speaker:doors,
Speaker:their
Speaker:guns
Speaker:trained
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles.
Speaker:None
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:had
Speaker:bothered
Speaker:to
Speaker:try
Speaker:and
Speaker:break
Speaker:them
Speaker:up.
Speaker:Typical.
Ivan
also
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:note
Speaker:of
Speaker:this
Speaker:and he
Speaker:gestured
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:crew.
“Scatter!”
His
eyes
Speaker:were
Speaker:trained
Speaker:on
Speaker:Flashpoint.
“You
win
Speaker:this
Speaker:time.
Speaker:But
Speaker:this
Speaker:is
Speaker:far
Speaker:from
Speaker:over.”
Speaker:However,
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:leave,
Speaker:he
Speaker:ran
Speaker:into
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo’s
Speaker:chest.
“Yeah.
It
Speaker:is.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:took
Speaker:the
Speaker:gauntlet
Speaker:off
Speaker:of
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:Ivan’s
Speaker:arms,
Speaker:crushing
Speaker:it
Speaker:in
Speaker:one
Speaker:paw. Flashpoint
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:but
Speaker:stare
Speaker:in
Speaker:awe
Speaker:at
Speaker:Apollo.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:fast.
Speaker:Really
Speaker:fast.
Speaker:He
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:seen
Speaker:him
Speaker:move.
At
the
Speaker:show
Speaker:of
Speaker:strength,
Speaker:the
Speaker:Icicles
Speaker:fled
Speaker:in
Speaker:different
Speaker:directions.
Speaker:Two
Speaker:officers
Speaker:approached
Speaker:them
Speaker:to
Speaker:detain
Speaker:Ivan.
Flashpoint
held
Speaker:a paw
Speaker:out
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:cuffs,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:officer
Speaker:handed
Speaker:them
Speaker:over
Speaker:without
Speaker:question.
“I
always
Speaker:love
Speaker:this
Speaker:part.”
He
cuffed
Speaker:Ivan’s
Speaker:paws
Speaker:behind
Speaker:his
Speaker:back.
Ivan
chuckled.
“Like
these
Speaker:will
Speaker:hold
Speaker:me.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:smirked
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:at
Speaker:them.
Flashpoint
clicked
Speaker:them
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit
Speaker:too
Speaker:tight,
Speaker:causing
Speaker:Ivan
Speaker:to
Speaker:grunt.
“Oops.”
Ivan
growled
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:cops
Speaker:hauled
Speaker:him
Speaker:back
Speaker:towards
Speaker:their
Speaker:cruiser.
“That
didn’t
Speaker:look
Speaker:like
Speaker:an
Speaker:accident.”
Speaker:Apollo’s
Speaker:voice
Speaker:called
Speaker:from
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him,
Speaker:laced
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:giggle.
Flashpoint
turned
Speaker:around,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:canine. “Y-Yeah.
Speaker:We
Speaker:do
Speaker:this
Speaker:song
Speaker:and
Speaker:dance
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot,
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:Ivan.”
“Yeah…”
Apollo
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:sky,
Speaker:then
Speaker:awkwardly
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:feline. “It’s
Speaker:nice
Speaker:to
Speaker:finally
Speaker:meet
Speaker:you,
Speaker:Flashpoint.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:stuck
Speaker:out
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw.
Flashpoint
looked
Speaker:from
Speaker:Apollo’s
Speaker:face,
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:outstretched
Speaker:paw,
Speaker:then
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:face
Speaker:again.
“Nice
to
Speaker:meet
Speaker:me?”
Speaker:He
Speaker:took
Speaker:the
Speaker:paw
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:gave
Speaker:each
Speaker:other
Speaker:a
Speaker:firm
Speaker:handshake.
“Yeah.
I
Speaker:mean,
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:a
Speaker:rescue
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:the
Speaker:ideal
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:meet
Speaker:your
Speaker:inspiration
Speaker:but…
Speaker:thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:that.
Speaker:The
Speaker:rescue,
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:flashed
Speaker:Flashpoint
Speaker:a
Speaker:grin. “I am
Speaker:just
Speaker:glad
Speaker:I
Speaker:got
Speaker:to
Speaker:run
Speaker:into
Speaker:you.”
Flashpoint’s
jaw
Speaker:hung
Speaker:open
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:listened
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:hero
Speaker:talk.
Speaker:He
Speaker:felt
Speaker:the
Speaker:hero’s
Speaker:grasp
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw
Speaker:get
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:tighter
Speaker:with
Speaker:excitement. “Ye-Yeah.
Speaker:You’re
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:far
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:Guild’s
Speaker:reach.”
“Yeah.”
Apollo
Speaker:was
Speaker:oblivious
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:paw
Speaker:he
Speaker:continued
Speaker:to
Speaker:clutch. “I
Speaker:love
Speaker:the
Speaker:Guild
Speaker:and
Speaker:all,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:looking
Speaker:for
Speaker:something
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:more
Speaker:quiet.
Speaker:And
Speaker:like,
Speaker:ice-wielding
Speaker:bank
Speaker:robbers
Speaker:beat
Speaker:brain-sucking
Speaker:aliens
Speaker:any
Speaker:day
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:week.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:Flashpoint. “Plus,
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:heroes
Speaker:here
Speaker:in
Speaker:West
Speaker:Griffinville,
Speaker:right?
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:sure
Speaker:taking
Speaker:care
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:city
Speaker:between
Speaker:you
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:Silver
Speaker:Knight
Speaker:must
Speaker:be
Speaker:hard.”
The
Silver Knight.
Speaker:He’d
Speaker:never
Speaker:actually
Speaker:met
Speaker:them.
Speaker:He
Speaker:always
Speaker:kept
Speaker:tabs
Speaker:on
Speaker:them,
Speaker:just
Speaker:in
Speaker:case
Speaker:he
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:step
Speaker:in,
Speaker:but
Speaker:they
Speaker:always
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:things
Speaker:under
Speaker:control.
Speaker:As
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:thinking,
Speaker:he
Speaker:felt
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:release
Speaker:his
Speaker:hold
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw.
“Sorry!”
The
Speaker:hero’s
Speaker:apology
Speaker:snapped
Speaker:him
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:thoughts.
Speaker:He
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:canine
Speaker:shaking
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:and
Speaker:bouncing
Speaker:awkwardly
Speaker:from
Speaker:side
Speaker:to
Speaker:side. “I
Speaker:am
Speaker:geeking
Speaker:out
Speaker:so
Speaker:hard
Speaker:right
Speaker:now.”
His
jaw
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:again. “Seriously?
Speaker:You’re
Speaker:a
Speaker:fan
Speaker:of
Speaker:me?”
“Of
course!”
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:nodded. “I’ve
Speaker:followed
Speaker:your
Speaker:career
Speaker:since
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:became
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo.
Speaker:You
Speaker:were
Speaker:the
Speaker:sidekick
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:original
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo!
Speaker:You
Speaker:were
Speaker:an
Speaker:icon!”
“And
I have
Speaker:been
Speaker:following
Speaker:you
Speaker:since
Speaker:you
Speaker:started!”
Speaker:Flashpoint
Speaker:cringed
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:mention
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:former
Speaker:mentor.
“Y-Yeah.”
Apollo
Speaker:winced. “Sorry
Speaker:for
Speaker:bringing
Speaker:him
Speaker:up…”
“No!
It’s
Speaker:okay.
Speaker:The
Speaker:torch
Speaker:was
Speaker:passed
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:person.”
“Oh!”
Apollo’s
Speaker:tail
Speaker:wagged. “Thanks!
Speaker:That
Speaker:really
Speaker:means
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot!”
Speaker:He
Speaker:chuckled
Speaker:nervously. “We
Speaker:should
Speaker:get
Speaker:together
Speaker:some time
Speaker:and
Speaker:talk
Speaker:more.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:we
Speaker:could
Speaker:go
Speaker:on
Speaker:patrol
Speaker:and
Speaker:grab
Speaker:a
Speaker:coffee?”
Speaker:He
Speaker:met
Speaker:Flashpoint’s
Speaker:awe-struck
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:with
Speaker:an
Speaker:anxious
Speaker:one. “You
Speaker:know…
Speaker:to
Speaker:catch
Speaker:me
Speaker:up
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:baddies
Speaker:here.”
“Uhhh…”
Flashpoint
Speaker:stared
Speaker:into
Speaker:Apollo’s
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:His
Speaker:big
Speaker:chocolatey
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:so
Speaker:excited.
Speaker:Such
Speaker:admiration.
Speaker:He
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:deserve
Speaker:that.
Apollo
gritted
Speaker:his
Speaker:teeth. “I
Speaker:know
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:weird,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:like
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:to
Speaker:know
Speaker:you…
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:hero
Speaker:and
Speaker:all.
Speaker:Guild
Speaker:be
Speaker:damned.”
Was
Apollo
Speaker:asking
Speaker:him
Speaker:out?
“S-Sure.
Coffee
Speaker:sounds
Speaker:nice.”
Speaker:Coffee…
Speaker:Flashpoint’s
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:widened
Speaker:behind
Speaker:his
Speaker:mask. “Coffee!”
Speaker:Oh
Speaker:no…
Oh
shit!
He
had
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:get
Speaker:almond
Speaker:milk!
“I
am
Speaker:so
Speaker:sorry!
Speaker:I
Speaker:actually
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:run.”
“O-Oh!”
Apollo’s smile
Speaker:faltered
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:folded
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws. “Maybe
Speaker:we
Speaker:can
Speaker:talk
Speaker:about
Speaker:it
Speaker:the
Speaker:next
Speaker:time
Speaker:I
Speaker:see
Speaker:you?”
Next
time…
Speaker:There
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:next
Speaker:time.
Speaker:Flashpoint
Speaker:squeezed
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:shut
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:second.
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:spend
Speaker:time
Speaker:with
Speaker:him
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:like
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:date.
Speaker:He
Speaker:could
Speaker:hang
Speaker:out
Speaker:with
Speaker:Apollo.
Speaker:He
Speaker:swallowed
Speaker:nervously
Speaker:and
Speaker:gave him
Speaker:a
Speaker:grin.
“I’d
really
Speaker:like
Speaker:that,
Speaker:Apollo.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:started
Speaker:backing
Speaker:away,
Speaker:unwilling
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:away. “I’ll
Speaker:see
Speaker:you
Speaker:around.”
Those
eyes.
Speaker:Those
Speaker:brown
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:with
Speaker:tiny
Speaker:specks
Speaker:of
Speaker:gold
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:irises.
Speaker:Even
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:forced
Speaker:himself
Speaker:to
Speaker:turn
Speaker:away,
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:still
Speaker:see
Speaker:them.
**************************************
Benjamin
Patrick
Speaker:panted
Speaker:heavily
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:ran
Speaker:back
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:front
Speaker:door
Speaker:of
Speaker:The
Speaker:Daily
Speaker:Grind,
Speaker:carrying
Speaker:a
Speaker:case
Speaker:of
Speaker:four
Speaker:cartons
Speaker:of
Speaker:unsweetened
Speaker:almond
Speaker:milk.
Speaker:The fight had been
Speaker:tiring
Speaker:for
Speaker:sure,
Speaker:but
Speaker:not
Speaker:as tiring
Speaker:as
Speaker:having
Speaker:to
Speaker:run
Speaker:back
Speaker:across
Speaker:town
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:store
Speaker:in
Speaker:spandex
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:fucking
Speaker:winter
Speaker:cold.
Speaker:Luckily,
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:back
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:normal
Speaker:clothes,
Speaker:a
Speaker:white
Speaker:collared
Speaker:shirt
Speaker:and
Speaker:blue
Speaker:jeans
Speaker:with
Speaker:cute
Speaker:purple
Speaker:leg warmers
Speaker:that
Speaker:were
Speaker:snug
Speaker:around
Speaker:his
Speaker:ankles.
The
Daily
Speaker:Grind
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:customers
Speaker:milling
Speaker:around
Speaker:so
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:weave
Speaker:through
Speaker:regulars
Speaker:with
Speaker:apologies
Speaker:and
Speaker:smiles
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:made
Speaker:his
Speaker:way
Speaker:back
Speaker:behind
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter.
Speaker:He
Speaker:put
Speaker:the
Speaker:milks
Speaker:down
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:table
Speaker:so
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:put
Speaker:his
Speaker:dark blue
Speaker:work
Speaker:apron
Speaker:back
Speaker:on,
Speaker:smoothing
Speaker:it
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit.
Speaker:Everything
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:fine,
Speaker:and
Speaker:nobody
Speaker:suspected
Speaker:a
Speaker:thi—
“Benji!”
The cheetah
jumped
Speaker:and
Speaker:whirled
Speaker:around
Speaker:to
Speaker:glare
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:owner
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:voice.
Speaker:The
Speaker:tall
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:stood
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him,
Speaker:glaring
Speaker:right
Speaker:back
Speaker:down.
Speaker:She
Speaker:had
Speaker:glossy
Speaker:purple
Speaker:scales
Speaker:and
Speaker:was
Speaker:wearing
Speaker:a
Speaker:very
Speaker:similar
Speaker:work
Speaker:uniform
Speaker:to
Speaker:his.
Speaker:She
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:under
Speaker:a
Speaker:foot
Speaker:taller
Speaker:than
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:was,
Speaker:which
Speaker:made
Speaker:her
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:more
Speaker:intimidating.
She
tilted
Speaker:her
Speaker:head
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:looked
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:him,
Speaker:the
Speaker:six
Speaker:piercings
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:right
Speaker:ear
Speaker:clinking
Speaker:against
Speaker:each
Speaker:other. “How
Speaker:long
Speaker:does
Speaker:it
Speaker:take
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:fucking
Speaker:almond
Speaker:milk?”
Benji
grumbled,
Speaker:ignoring
Speaker:the
Speaker:question.
Speaker:The
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:continued
Speaker:to
Speaker:berate
Speaker:him
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:moved
Speaker:around
Speaker:her.
“Maybe
someone
Speaker:should
Speaker:work
Speaker:on
Speaker:being
Speaker:less
Speaker:clumsy,
Speaker:hmm?”
He
put
Speaker:the
Speaker:almond
Speaker:milks
Speaker:down
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter,
Speaker:still
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:ignore
Speaker:her.
Another
tall
Speaker:purple
Speaker:dragon,
Speaker:almost
Speaker:identical
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:aside
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:large
Speaker:stripe
Speaker:of
Speaker:orange
Speaker:scales
Speaker:that
Speaker:went
Speaker:from
Speaker:their
Speaker:forehead,
Speaker:down
Speaker:their
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:tail,
Speaker:handed
Speaker:two
Speaker:coffees
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:Golden
Speaker:Retrievers.
“All
right,
Speaker:cuties.
Speaker:You
Speaker:have
Speaker:an
Speaker:amazing
Speaker:day, ‘kay?”
Speaker:They
Speaker:turned
Speaker:and
Speaker:wiggled
Speaker:their
Speaker:brows
Speaker:at
Speaker:Benji.
“C’mon,
Kaysha.
Speaker:You
Speaker:saw
Speaker:what
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:on!
Speaker:I bet
Speaker:someone
Speaker:stopped
Speaker:to
Speaker:ogle
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:and
Speaker:Flashpoint.”
Benji
rolled
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:These
Speaker:were
Speaker:the
Speaker:MacAllister
Speaker:twins,
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:and
Speaker:Kaysha.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:Benji’s
Speaker:best
Speaker:friends,
Speaker:coworkers,
Speaker:and
Speaker:second-generation
Speaker:owners
Speaker:of
Speaker:The
Speaker:Daily
Speaker:Grind.
Kaysha
rolled
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:grabbing
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:almond
Speaker:milks.
“I
am
Speaker:all
Speaker:for
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:being
Speaker:thirsty,
Speaker:but
Speaker:not
Speaker:while
Speaker:I am
Speaker:waiting
Speaker:for
Speaker:him
Speaker:to
Speaker:restock
Speaker:the
Speaker:almond
Speaker:milk
Speaker:after
Speaker:he
Speaker:dumped
Speaker:it
Speaker:all
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:floor.
“It
was
Speaker:a
Speaker:fucking
Speaker:accident, ‘Kay!”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:growled
Speaker:at
Speaker:her.
Speaker:But
Speaker:it
Speaker:wasn’t,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course.
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:a
Speaker:very
Speaker:fast
Speaker:thinker,
Speaker:so
Speaker:whenever
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:sitch,
Speaker:the
Speaker:almond
Speaker:milk
Speaker:was
Speaker:usually
Speaker:the
Speaker:excuse.
Speaker:It
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:a
Speaker:very
Speaker:good
Speaker:cover,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:knew
Speaker:that
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:only
Speaker:a
Speaker:matter
Speaker:of
Speaker:time
Speaker:before
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:pieced
Speaker:things
Speaker:together.
Maika
showed
Speaker:off
Speaker:their
Speaker:fangs
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:teasing
Speaker:grin.
“Benji,
buddy.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:okay
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:hopeless
Speaker:klutz.”
Speaker:They
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:down
Speaker:to
Speaker:Benji’s eye-level
Speaker:and
Speaker:their
Speaker:scales
Speaker:turned
Speaker:a
Speaker:shade
Speaker:darker, “But
Speaker:one
Speaker:day
Speaker:the
Speaker:almonds
Speaker:shall
Speaker:have
Speaker:their
Speaker:revenge! Now, be
Speaker:honest.
Speaker:What
Speaker:do
Speaker:they
Speaker:look
Speaker:like
Speaker:up
Speaker:close?
Speaker:Is
Speaker:their
Speaker:spandex
Speaker:really
Speaker:tight?”
Benji
groaned.
“Come
on.
Speaker:Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:think
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:death
Speaker:wish?”
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit
Speaker:extreme,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:sure
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:over-cautious
Speaker:bit
Speaker:would
Speaker:take
Speaker:their
Speaker:minds
Speaker:off
Speaker:of
Speaker:Flashpoint.
“Well…
I
Speaker:mean.”
Speaker:Kaysha
Speaker:raised
Speaker:an
Speaker:eyebrow. “Ice
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:kill
Speaker:you
Speaker:immediately.
Speaker:Plus,
Speaker:if
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:a
Speaker:safe
Speaker:distance,
Speaker:then
Speaker:you’re fine.”
Maika frowned. “Come on! The
grocery
Speaker:store
Speaker:is
Speaker:like…”
Speaker:They
Speaker:wiggled
Speaker:their
Speaker:fingers
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:glanced at
Speaker:the
Speaker:ceiling,
Speaker:doing
Speaker:some
Speaker:counting
Speaker:in
Speaker:their
Speaker:head. “Three
Speaker:blocks
Speaker:from
Speaker:there
Speaker:and
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:telling
Speaker:me
Speaker:you
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:try
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:a
Speaker:selfie
Speaker:with
Speaker:either
Speaker:of
Speaker:them?
Speaker:Did
Speaker:you
Speaker:even
Speaker:see
Speaker:the
Speaker:fight?”
Kaysha
leaned
Speaker:on
Speaker:the counter
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:Benji. “I
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:hard
Speaker:time
Speaker:believing
Speaker:that
Speaker:there
Speaker:were
Speaker:a
Speaker:couple
Speaker:of
Speaker:hot
Speaker:heroes,
Speaker:and
Speaker:you
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:stop
Speaker:to
Speaker:watch
Speaker:the
Speaker:show!
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:seen
Speaker:your
Speaker:browser
Speaker:history.
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:the
Speaker:shit
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:into.”
Benji
had
Speaker:to
Speaker:let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:giggle
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:took
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:post
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter.
“Hah!
I
Speaker:get
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Hot
Speaker:because
Speaker:Flashpoint
Speaker:uses
Speaker:fire
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:power.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:gave
Speaker:an
Speaker:awkward
Speaker:laugh. “But
Speaker:no,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:more
Speaker:busy
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:recover
Speaker:some
Speaker:almond
Speaker:milk
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:get
Speaker:mauled
Speaker:by
Speaker:a
Speaker:vengeful
Speaker:and
Speaker:petty
Speaker:dragon.”
Maika and Kaysha
stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:him,
Speaker:then
Speaker:looked
Speaker:to
Speaker:one
Speaker:another.
He
kept
Speaker:laughing
Speaker:nervously,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:between
Speaker:them.
“You’re
so
Speaker:fuckin’
Speaker:weird,
Speaker:Benj.” Kaysha
Speaker:muttered.
Speaker:However,
Speaker:both
Speaker:dragons
Speaker:moved
Speaker:to
Speaker:leave
Speaker:him
Speaker:be.
Crisis
Speaker:averted,
Speaker:right?
Speaker:How
Speaker:the
Speaker:hell
Speaker:did
Speaker:he
Speaker:keep
Speaker:getting
Speaker:away
Speaker:with
Speaker:this?
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:hard
Speaker:being
Speaker:a
Speaker:barista
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:hero,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:only
Speaker:mediocre
Speaker:at
Speaker:both.
Psh…
Hero.
Speaker:He
Speaker:almost
Speaker:cringed,
Speaker:calling
Speaker:himself
Speaker:that.
Speaker:He
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:feel
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:hero.
Speaker:His
Speaker:performance
Speaker:out
Speaker:there
Speaker:today
Speaker:was
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:short
Speaker:of
Speaker:an
Speaker:embarrassment.
Speaker:There were
Speaker:so
Speaker:many
Speaker:other
Speaker:reasons
Speaker:too.
Speaker:His
Speaker:powers
Speaker:were
Speaker:so
Speaker:strong,
Speaker:and
Speaker:what
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:thing
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:used
Speaker:them
Speaker:for
Speaker:before
Speaker:the
Speaker:fight?
Speaker:Microwaveable
Speaker:popcorn.
Speaker:He
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:rely
Speaker:on his
Speaker:shitty
Speaker:appliances.
He
started
Speaker:to
Speaker:pick
Speaker:up
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:steam
Speaker:coming
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw
Speaker:and
Speaker:shook
Speaker:it
Speaker:out
Speaker:before
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:MacAllisters
Speaker:or
Speaker:a
Speaker:customer
Speaker:noticed.
Speaker:Neither
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragons
Speaker:had
Speaker:said
Speaker:anything
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:minutes.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:his
Speaker:misdirection
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:work,
Speaker:or
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:mad
Speaker:at
Speaker:him?
Speaker:He
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:something
Speaker:to
Speaker:quell
Speaker:the
Speaker:tension.
“Okay…
Maybe,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:speak.
Instantly,
both
Speaker:dragons
Speaker:were
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:field
Speaker:of vision,
Speaker:brows
Speaker:raised.
“Maybe
I
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:peek.”
Maika
grinned.
“Knew
it!
Speaker:Perv.”
It
wasn’t
Speaker:exactly
Speaker:a
Speaker:lie.
Speaker:Sure,
Speaker:during
Speaker:the
Speaker:fight
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:conversation
Speaker:after,
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:so
Speaker:starstruck.
Speaker:But
Speaker:he
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:blind.
Speaker:The canine
Speaker:hero
Speaker:had
Speaker:such
Speaker:an
Speaker:impressive
Speaker:body,
Speaker:and
Speaker:those
Speaker:muscles…
Kaysha
threw
Speaker:an
Speaker:arm
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulder.
“Dude,
you
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:lie
Speaker:about
Speaker:takin
Speaker:a
Speaker:peek
Speaker:at
Speaker:a
Speaker:hot
Speaker:hero.
Speaker:We’re
Speaker:right
Speaker:there
Speaker:with
Speaker:you.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:clapped
Speaker:him
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:chest.
His
eyes
Speaker:darted
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:interior
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:shop,
Speaker:hoping
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:distraction.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:a quaint
Speaker:little
Speaker:coffee
Speaker:shop
Speaker:just
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:middle
Speaker:of
Speaker:town.
Speaker:The
Speaker:location
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:shop
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:more
Speaker:perfect,
Speaker:because
Speaker:customers
Speaker:would
Speaker:always
Speaker:stop
Speaker:by
Speaker:on
Speaker:their
Speaker:commutes.
Speaker:And
Speaker:business
Speaker:usually
Speaker:only
Speaker:grew
Speaker:during
Speaker:the
Speaker:holidays.
The
holidays.
Speaker:The
Speaker:store
Speaker:was
Speaker:decked
Speaker:out
Speaker:for
Speaker:them.
Speaker:Christmas
Speaker:lights
Speaker:all
Speaker:over,
Speaker:a
Speaker:tree
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:corner,
Speaker:Christmas
Speaker:music
Speaker:playing
Speaker:softly
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:store’s speakers.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:tacky
Speaker:and
Speaker:cliché,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:loved
Speaker:it
Speaker:anyway.
Speaker:He
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:and sighed
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:took
Speaker:everything
Speaker:in.
Speaker:The
Speaker:smell
Speaker:of
Speaker:espresso
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:air,
Speaker:the
Speaker:sounds
Speaker:of
Speaker:customers’
Speaker:chatter,
Speaker:the
Speaker:chocolatey
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:of
Speaker:a cute
Speaker:husky
Speaker:that had
Speaker:just
Speaker:come
Speaker:in
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:cold…
The
door
Speaker:chimed,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:made
Speaker:sure
Speaker:his
Speaker:smile
Speaker:was
Speaker:wide. “Hey
Speaker:there!
Speaker:Welcome
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Daily
Speaker:Gri—”
Speaker:His
Speaker:voice
Speaker:got
Speaker:caught
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:throat.
Wait…
What
Speaker:the
Speaker:fuck?
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:no
Speaker:way...
His
eyes
Speaker:stayed
Speaker:locked
Speaker:on
Speaker:those
Speaker:handsome
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky
Speaker:shyly
Speaker:approached
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter.
Speaker:As
Speaker:he
Speaker:got
Speaker:closer,
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:the
Speaker:shimmer
Speaker:of
Speaker:gold
Speaker:flecks.
Speaker:His
Speaker:broke
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:nervous
Speaker:smile.
“H-Hey
there.”
Benji’s
eyes
Speaker:drifted
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky’s
Speaker:form.
Speaker:He
Speaker:had
Speaker:gray
Speaker:and
Speaker:white
Speaker:fur
Speaker:with
Speaker:orange
Speaker:tufts
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:head.
Speaker:His
Speaker:clothes
Speaker:were
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit
Speaker:baggy,
Speaker:a
Speaker:gray
Speaker:Icarus
Speaker:Institute
Speaker:sweatshirt
Speaker:and
Speaker:matching
Speaker:sweatpants,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:could
Speaker:just
Speaker:make
Speaker:out
Speaker:some
Speaker:muscle
Speaker:bulges
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:legs.
Speaker:His
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:shot
Speaker:up
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:decide
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:for
Speaker:more.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:no
Speaker:doubt
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:mind
Speaker:that
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:had
Speaker:followed
Speaker:him
Speaker:back
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:bank.
“Um…
Hello!”
Speaker:He
Speaker:flailed
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms
Speaker:awkwardly. “Um…
Speaker:The
Speaker:Daily
Speaker:Grind!”
Speaker:He
Speaker:cringed
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:failure
Speaker:to
Speaker:communicate
Speaker:and
Speaker:gritted
Speaker:his teeth. “Um… Coffee?”
The husky scratched the back
of
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:shy
Speaker:grin.
“Um…
Yes!
Speaker:Coffee! D-Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:has…
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean
Speaker:have…”
Speaker:He
Speaker:bit
Speaker:his
Speaker:lip
Speaker:and
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:deep
Speaker:breath. “Seasonal
Speaker:drinks.
Speaker:I
Speaker:want
Speaker:something
Speaker:seasonal.”
“Ah!”
Benji
Speaker:cleared
Speaker:his
Speaker:throat
Speaker:again. “Well,
Speaker:S-Sugar
Speaker:Cookie
Speaker:is
Speaker:pretty
Speaker:good.”
“Oh!
That
Speaker:sounds
Speaker:nice.
Speaker:Can
Speaker:I
Speaker:get
Speaker:that
Speaker:iced
Speaker:with
Speaker:cream?”
Speaker:His
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:widened
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:stammered. “W-whipped
Speaker:cream!”
“Yeah!
Yeah,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:gritted
Speaker:his
Speaker:teeth.
Speaker:His
Speaker:ears
Speaker:flattened
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:heard
Speaker:Kaysha
Speaker:and
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:whispering
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him.
What
was
Speaker:going
Speaker:on
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:both
Speaker:of
Speaker:them?
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:heroes!
Speaker:Surely
Speaker:they
Speaker:could
Speaker:have
Speaker:better
Speaker:communication
Speaker:than
Speaker:this!
Speaker:But
Speaker:no,
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:standing
Speaker:across
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:favorite
Speaker:hero
Speaker:and
Speaker:losing
Speaker:his
Speaker:mind.
Speaker:And
Speaker:why
Speaker:did
Speaker:he
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:so
Speaker:goddamn
Speaker:adorable?
His
eyes
Speaker:darted
Speaker:down
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:cash
Speaker:register
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:rang
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky’s
Speaker:total.
“Okay.
That’s going to come to $3.57.” He looked up
Speaker:to
Speaker:meet
Speaker:Apollo’s
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:again. “Can
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:name
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:order?”
The
husky’s
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:widened
Speaker:and,
Speaker:after
Speaker:some
Speaker:hesitation,
Speaker:finally
Speaker:spoke.
“I’m
Leon.”
Oh
my
Speaker:god!
Benji’s
eyes
Speaker:widened. “Oh!”
“And
yours?”
Speaker:The
Speaker:husky
Speaker:tilted
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
Benji
stood
Speaker:staring
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:register
Speaker:the
Speaker:question.
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:just
Speaker:gave
Speaker:him
Speaker:his
Speaker:name,
Speaker:like
Speaker:his
Speaker:real
Speaker:name.
Speaker:Right?
Speaker:Should
Speaker:he
Speaker:do
Speaker:the
Speaker:same?
Speaker:What
Speaker:was
Speaker:his
Speaker:name
Speaker:again?
“My
name?”
Speaker:He
Speaker:swallowed. “Um…”
He
heard
Speaker:a
Speaker:hiss
Speaker:from
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him
Speaker:and
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:the
Speaker:twins
Speaker:watching.
Speaker:Well,
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:was
Speaker:watching.
Speaker:Kaysha
Speaker:had
Speaker:her
Speaker:face
Speaker:buried
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:hands.
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:was
Speaker:pointing
Speaker:frantically
Speaker:to
Speaker:their
Speaker:name
Speaker:tag.
“Maika…”
Benji
Speaker:looked
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:Leon,
Speaker:then
Speaker:froze.
Speaker:Wait.
Speaker:That
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:right.
“Seriously?
Your
Speaker:own
Speaker:name
Speaker:tag!”
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:hissed
Speaker:again.
Benji
looked
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:name
Speaker:tag
Speaker:and
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:laugh.
“Oh!
Benji.
Speaker:My
Speaker:name
Speaker:is
Speaker:Benji.”
Leon
didn’t
Speaker:seem
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:fairing
Speaker:any
Speaker:better.
“Forgot
your
Speaker:own
Speaker:name
Speaker:there?”
Speaker:He
Speaker:chuckled.
“Yes,
apparently!”
Speaker:This
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:nightmare.
“Nice.
Benji.”
Speaker:The husky
Speaker:smiled. “Nice
Speaker:to
Speaker:meet
Speaker:you.”
“Likewise.”
The
husky
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:five dollar
Speaker:bill
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:wallet. “Here.
Speaker:Keep
Speaker:the
Speaker:change.”
Benji
nodded
Speaker:and
Speaker:cashed
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:order. “Um…
Speaker:Thanks,
Speaker:Leon.”
Benji
turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:make
Speaker:the
Speaker:coffee,
Speaker:but
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:did,
Speaker:a
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:arms
Speaker:yanked
Speaker:him
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:back.
“That
is
Speaker:one
Speaker:cute
Speaker:boy!”
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:whispered.
“You
said
Speaker:it,”
Speaker:Kaysha
Speaker:added
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:started
Speaker:making
Speaker:Leon’s
Speaker:drink.
“You
don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:the
Speaker:half
Speaker:of it.”
Speaker:Benji sneaked a peek over at
Speaker:Leon.
“You both
were
Speaker:so
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:tied!”
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:squealed. “So
Speaker:fuckin’
Speaker:adorable!”
Kaysha
gave
Speaker:him
Speaker:a
Speaker:smirk. “You
Speaker:were
Speaker:really
Speaker:eating
Speaker:him
Speaker:up
Speaker:with
Speaker:that
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:of
Speaker:yours.”
“I-I
was
Speaker:not!”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:furiously.
Speaker:What were
Speaker:they
Speaker:talking
Speaker:about?
Speaker:He
Speaker:did
Speaker:no
Speaker:such
Speaker:thing.
Speaker:Sure,
Speaker:he
Speaker:did
Speaker:notice
Speaker:the
Speaker:muscle
Speaker:lines,
Speaker:and
Speaker:damn…
Speaker:those
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:were
Speaker:beautiful…
Speaker:He
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:at
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:again.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:standing
Speaker:there
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:shop
Speaker:and
Speaker:twiddling
Speaker:his
Speaker:thumbs.
Kaysha
nodded
Speaker:and
Speaker:scooped
Speaker:some
Speaker:ice
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:cup. “Uh-huh?
Speaker:What
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:call
Speaker:that
Speaker:then?”
Benji
jumped
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:twins. “Nothing!”
Kaysha
grinned. “Oh,
Speaker:so
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:wanting
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:freaky?”
“Inappropriate!”
Benji
Speaker:hissed. “I
Speaker:just
Speaker:met
Speaker:the
Speaker:guy!”
Maika
rolled
Speaker:their
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:at
Speaker:their
Speaker:sister. “Maybe
Speaker:a
Speaker:better
Speaker:question
Speaker:is…
Speaker:Are
Speaker:you
Speaker:interested
Speaker:in
Speaker:him?”
Benji’s
eyes
Speaker:flicked
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:again,
Speaker:catching
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky
Speaker:stealing
Speaker:a
Speaker:glance
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
Speaker:Was
Speaker:that what this was? A
Speaker:crush?
“Y-Yeah,
actually.
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:so.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:gasped. “Oh
Speaker:my
Speaker:god,
Speaker:I
Speaker:should
Speaker:give
Speaker:him
Speaker:my
Speaker:number!”
Speaker:It
Speaker:made
Speaker:perfect
Speaker:sense.
Speaker:Heroes
Speaker:should
Speaker:stay
Speaker:in
Speaker:contact
Speaker:with
Speaker:each
Speaker:other…
Speaker:And…
Speaker:you
Speaker:know,
Speaker:possibly
Speaker:go
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:date
Speaker:or
Speaker:two.
Speaker:It
Speaker:could
Speaker:happen.
Maika
grinned
Speaker:and
Speaker:patted
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:head.
“Here.”
They
Speaker:handed
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:a
Speaker:flier
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:Christmas
Speaker:party
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:hosting. “It’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:cheesy
Speaker:idea,
Speaker:but
Speaker:you
Speaker:could
Speaker:totally
Speaker:spend
Speaker:more
Speaker:time
Speaker:together
Speaker:at
Speaker:our
Speaker:party.”
Benji
nodded
Speaker:and
Speaker:took
Speaker:the
Speaker:flier.
Speaker:He
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:deep
Speaker:breath,
Speaker:then
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:Kaysha. “Kaysh—”
“Got
it right
Speaker:here.”
Speaker:Kaysha
Speaker:winked
Speaker:at
Speaker:him
Speaker:and
Speaker:held
Speaker:up
Speaker:Leon’s
Speaker:drink.
Benji
took
Speaker:the
Speaker:drink
Speaker:and
Speaker:headed
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:where
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:waited.
“Hey Leon.”
“Benji!”
The
Speaker:husky
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws.
“Here’s
your
Speaker:Sugar
Speaker:Cookie.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:handed
Speaker:the
Speaker:drink
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter.
“Oh!
Thanks.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:smiled. “So,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was—”
“I
actually—”
Both
of
Speaker:them
Speaker:froze.
“I
am
Speaker:so
Speaker:sorry!”
Benji
bit
Speaker:his
Speaker:lip.
“No,
I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:mean
Speaker:to
Speaker:interrupt
Speaker:you!
Speaker:What
Speaker:were
Speaker:you
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:say?”
“Well,”
he
Speaker:held
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:flier
Speaker:and
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:a pen
Speaker:out
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:apron. “I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:invite
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:Christmas
Speaker:party
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:throwing
Speaker:here
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:shop.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:wrote
Speaker:his
Speaker:phone
Speaker:number
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:piece
Speaker:of
Speaker:paper,
Speaker:and
Speaker:slid
Speaker:it
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:Leon.
Leon
looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:number,
Speaker:then
Speaker:back
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:Benji.
Speaker:Both
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:were
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:worried.
Speaker:This
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:of
Speaker:compromising
Speaker:information
Speaker:to
Speaker:give
Speaker:out
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:first
Speaker:meeting,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:thinking
Speaker:straight.
“O-Oh!”
Leon
Speaker:picked
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:paper,
Speaker:folded
Speaker:it
Speaker:up,
Speaker:and
Speaker:slipped
Speaker:it
Speaker:into
Speaker:his
Speaker:pocket. “Thanks!
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:new
Speaker:to
Speaker:town,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:really
Speaker:use
Speaker:something
Speaker:like
Speaker:this
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:me
Speaker:involved
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:neighborhood.”
“Yeah!”
Benji
Speaker:smiled.
“You
know
Speaker:this
Speaker:city
Speaker:pretty
Speaker:well, right?”
Benji
nodded,
Speaker:wondering
Speaker:where
Speaker:this
Speaker:was
Speaker:going.
“I
could
Speaker:use
Speaker:a
Speaker:helping
Speaker:hand.
Speaker:Would
Speaker:you
Speaker:mind
Speaker:showing
Speaker:me
Speaker:around
Speaker:sometime?”
Benji
opened
Speaker:his
Speaker:mouth
Speaker:to
Speaker:answer,
Speaker:but
Speaker:was
Speaker:interrupted
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:twins.
“Well
would
Speaker:you
Speaker:look
Speaker:at
Speaker:that,
Speaker:Benj? It’s
Speaker:time
Speaker:for
Speaker:your
Speaker:break!”
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:cackled.
“Yes!
Break
Speaker:time!”
Speaker:Kaysha
Speaker:echoed
Speaker:her
Speaker:sibling’s
Speaker:statement.
Benji
gave Leon an awkward smile.
“Sure! I’d
love
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:that.
Speaker:Right
Speaker:now,
Speaker:I
Speaker:guess!”
Leon’s tail
started
Speaker:to
Speaker:wag
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him.
“Oh,
um…
Speaker:good!”
“Yes
yes!”
Speaker:Kaysha
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:by
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulders
Speaker:and
Speaker:rushed
Speaker:him
Speaker:out
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:counter. “Okay.
Speaker:Have,
Speaker:like,
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:fun
Speaker:on
Speaker:your
Speaker:break!
Speaker:And
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:hurry
Speaker:back!”
“Okay,
okay!”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:swatted
Speaker:at
Speaker:her
Speaker:and
Speaker:grumbled.
Speaker:He
Speaker:sighed,
Speaker:approaching
Speaker:Leon…
Speaker:Apollo…
Speaker:He
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:call
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky.
Leon
was
Speaker:giggling
Speaker:to
Speaker:himself
Speaker:as
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:approached.
“Sorry,”
he
Speaker:whispered.
Benji
ushered
Speaker:him
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:door.
“Don’t
worry
Speaker:about
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Let’s
Speaker:go
Speaker:outside.”
**************************************
Benji
and
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:walked
Speaker:side
Speaker:by
Speaker:side
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:chilly
Speaker:wind
Speaker:blew
Speaker:softly
Speaker:against
Speaker:their
Speaker:faces.
It
was
Speaker:awkward,
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:for
Speaker:sure.
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:had
Speaker:no
Speaker:idea
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:follow
Speaker:up
Speaker:their
Speaker:first
Speaker:meeting.
Speaker:Kaysha
Speaker:and
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:thought
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:so
Speaker:smooth,
Speaker:like
Speaker:master
Speaker:matchmakers.
Speaker:Meanwhile,
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:was
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:figure
Speaker:out
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:hero
Speaker:beside
Speaker:him.
He
looked
Speaker:over
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky.
“I
am
Speaker:so
Speaker:sorry
Speaker:about
Speaker:them.”
Leon
looked
Speaker:up,
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:smile
Speaker:fixed
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle.
“It’s
cool.
Speaker:They
Speaker:seem
Speaker:nice.
Speaker:Both
Speaker:of
Speaker:them.”
“They’re
trouble;
Speaker:that’s what they are.”
They shared a laugh.
Benji sighed, “You
shouldn’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:followed
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:work.”
“I
know.”
Speaker:Leon’s
Speaker:smile
Speaker:vanished
Speaker:and
Speaker:he hung his
Speaker:head. “You’re
Speaker:not
Speaker:mad
Speaker:at
Speaker:me,
Speaker:are
Speaker:you?”
Benji
shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “Oh!
Speaker:Fuck
Speaker:no.”
“That’s
some
Speaker:pretty
Speaker:strong
Speaker:language
Speaker:for
Speaker:someone
Speaker:who’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:mad.”
Speaker:Leon’s
Speaker:smile
Speaker:returned.
Benji
chuckled, “I
Speaker:understand
Speaker:why
Speaker:you
Speaker:followed
Speaker:me
Speaker:though.”
“I
promise
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:not
Speaker:an
Speaker:obsessive
Speaker:fanboy.”
Speaker:Leon’s paws
Speaker:smoothed
Speaker:out
Speaker:his
Speaker:jacket.
“No,
I
Speaker:know
Speaker:that!
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:thinking.
Speaker:You
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:together,
Speaker:but
Speaker:then
Speaker:I
Speaker:gave
Speaker:you
Speaker:no
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:contact
Speaker:me.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:sidewalk.
“Oh.
Yeah.
Speaker:That’s
Speaker:why
Speaker:I
Speaker:followed
Speaker:you.”
Benji
looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:Leon. “No,
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:that.”
Leon
blinked. “Oh.”
They
stopped
Speaker:walking
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:each
Speaker:other.
Benji
pursed
Speaker:his
Speaker:lips
Speaker:and
Speaker:stifled
Speaker:a
Speaker:chuckle.
Leon’s
muzzle
Speaker:twitched
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:smile
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:grew
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:face.
They
both
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:laugh.
Speaker:Anyone
Speaker:who
Speaker:was
Speaker:passing
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:sidewalk
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:thought
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:crazy.
Speaker:And
Speaker:they
Speaker:probably
Speaker:were.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:absurd.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:so
Speaker:bad
Speaker:at
Speaker:communicating,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:laughable.
Leon
flashed
Speaker:his
Speaker:teeth
Speaker:at
Speaker:Benji,
Speaker:gasping
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:laughter. “What’s
Speaker:wrong
Speaker:with
Speaker:us?”
Benji
shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “I
Speaker:have
Speaker:no
Speaker:clue.
Speaker:This
Speaker:shouldn’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:so
Speaker:hard
Speaker:right?”
Leon
nodded. “Should
Speaker:we
Speaker:start
Speaker:over?”
“Yeah.”
Benji
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:face
Speaker:Leon. “Hey.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:Benji.”
Leon
put
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle,
Speaker:still
Speaker:not
Speaker:completely
Speaker:over
Speaker:their
Speaker:fit
Speaker:of
Speaker:giggles. “L-Leon.”
“Nice
to
Speaker:meet
Speaker:you.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:sighed
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:watched
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:laugh.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:something
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky,
Speaker:a
Speaker:magnetism. “So…
Speaker:aside
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:more
Speaker:obvious
Speaker:things,
Speaker:is
Speaker:there
Speaker:anything
Speaker:else
Speaker:you’d
Speaker:like
Speaker:for
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:know
Speaker:about
Speaker:you?”
Leon
lowered
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws. “Gosh.
Speaker:Well,
Speaker:I am
Speaker:not
Speaker:sure
Speaker:how
Speaker:much
Speaker:I
Speaker:should
Speaker:share.
Speaker:You
Speaker:know?
Speaker:Our
Speaker:line
Speaker:of
Speaker:work
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit
Speaker:dangerous.”
“Whatever
you
Speaker:feel
Speaker:comfortable
Speaker:telling
Speaker:me.
Speaker:If
Speaker:you’d
Speaker:like,
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:go
Speaker:first.”
Leon
nodded. “Could
Speaker:you?
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:follow
Speaker:your
Speaker:lead.”
“Well,
you
Speaker:know
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:a
Speaker:barista
Speaker:at
Speaker:a
Speaker:cute
Speaker:little
Speaker:coffee
Speaker:shop.”
“Obviously.”
Leon
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:coffee
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws as
Speaker:if
Speaker:he
Speaker:just
Speaker:remembered
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:it. “Speaking
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:coffee…”
Speaker:He
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:sip
Speaker:of
Speaker:it
Speaker:and
Speaker:closed
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:sighing.
Benji
grinned. “Good
Speaker:coffee?”
“Yeah.”
Leon’s
Speaker:curly
Speaker:tail
Speaker:bounced
Speaker:as it
Speaker:wagged
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:fur
Speaker:on
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:blew
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:cold
Speaker:wind.
Speaker:Kaysha
Speaker:and
Speaker:Maika
Speaker:were
Speaker:right.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:cute
Speaker:guy.
Benji
nodded.
“So…
more
Speaker:about
Speaker:me.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:kicked at
Speaker:the
Speaker:snow
Speaker:while
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:think
Speaker:of
Speaker:something
Speaker:interesting
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:about
Speaker:himself. “I
Speaker:originally
Speaker:went
Speaker:to
Speaker:school
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:bartender.
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:do
Speaker:too
Speaker:great
Speaker:in
Speaker:classes.”
“You
mean
Speaker:with
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:double
Speaker:life
Speaker:and
Speaker:all?”
“Yeah.”
“I
actually
Speaker:finished
Speaker:up
Speaker:my
Speaker:bachelor
Speaker:in
Speaker:game
Speaker:development.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:smiled. “I’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:working
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:concept
Speaker:for
Speaker:an
Speaker:open
Speaker:world
Speaker:fantasy
Speaker:RPG.”
“No
way!”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:gasped. “That’s sick!”
Leon
scratched
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “It’s
Speaker:nowhere
Speaker:near
Speaker:done
Speaker:yet.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I am
Speaker:excited
Speaker:about
Speaker:it.”
“Honestly,
that’s
Speaker:really
Speaker:good.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.
Now
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:up
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:better
Speaker:fact!”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:chuckled.
“I
don’t
Speaker:know.
Speaker:Knowing
Speaker:how to
Speaker:bartend
Speaker:must
Speaker:be
Speaker:pretty
Speaker:cool.
Speaker:You
Speaker:any
Speaker:good
Speaker:at
Speaker:making any
Speaker:non-coffee
Speaker:drinks?”
Benji
nodded,
Speaker:bashfully
Speaker:looking
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground. “I’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:known
Speaker:to
Speaker:mix
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:cocktail.”
“Maybe
you
Speaker:could
Speaker:make
Speaker:me
Speaker:one
Speaker:sometime.
Speaker:Show
Speaker:me
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:cocktail.”
Benji’s
gaze
Speaker:snapped
Speaker:to
Speaker:Leon.
“What?”
Was
Speaker:that…
Speaker:did
Speaker:Leon just…
Leon
jumped
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:eye contact
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:away. “What?
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:say
Speaker:anything.”
“Yes
you
Speaker:did.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:tilted
Speaker:his
Speaker:head,
Speaker:deciding
Speaker:to
Speaker:probe
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky
Speaker:a
Speaker:little. “It
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:better
Speaker:in
Speaker:your
Speaker:head,
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:it?”
“Maybe.”
Leon
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:meet
Speaker:his
Speaker:gaze. “Sorry!
Speaker:I
Speaker:meant it
Speaker:more
Speaker:in
Speaker:alcoholic
Speaker:drink
Speaker:mixtures,
Speaker:not
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:lewd
Speaker:way.”
“I
wouldn’t
Speaker:mind
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:meant
Speaker:it
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:lewd
Speaker:way.”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:let
Speaker:himself
Speaker:smirk
Speaker:a
Speaker:little.
It
was Leon’s turn to snap his gaze to Benji.
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:didn’t look away
Speaker:though. “What?”
Benji
chuckled. “Y-You
Speaker:heard
Speaker:me.”
Leon
shifted
Speaker:from
Speaker:one
Speaker:foot
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:curl
Speaker:started
Speaker:wagging
Speaker:harder
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him. “Wait,
Speaker:really?”
“Yeah.”
Benji
Speaker:anxiously
Speaker:wiggled
Speaker:his
Speaker:fingers,
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms
Speaker:hung
Speaker:by
Speaker:his
Speaker:side.
“Me
too!”
“I
gathered
Speaker:that
Speaker:much!”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:smiled. “What
Speaker:are
Speaker:the
Speaker:odds
Speaker:right?”
“Very
slim.
Speaker:I
Speaker:never
Speaker:really
Speaker:learned
Speaker:much
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:heroes
Speaker:back
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:Guild.
Speaker:And
Speaker:they
Speaker:never
Speaker:really
Speaker:asked.
Speaker:It
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:very
Speaker:personal.”
“Some
things
Speaker:never
Speaker:change…”
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:frowned
Speaker:a
Speaker:little.
Leon
nodded. “So,
Speaker:you
Speaker:like
Speaker:guys?”
“Yeah.
You?”
“Yeah…”
“Cool.”
“Very
cool.”
They
stood
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:sidewalk,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:at
Speaker:each
Speaker:other.
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:or
Speaker:say
Speaker:next.
Speaker:His
Speaker:body
Speaker:was
Speaker:tense
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:awkward
Speaker:atmosphere — or
Speaker:was
Speaker:it
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:chill
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:air?
The
silence
Speaker:was
Speaker:broken
Speaker:by
Speaker:a
Speaker:faint
Speaker:scream
Speaker:for
Speaker:help.
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:could
Speaker:barely
Speaker:hear
Speaker:it,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:jerked
Speaker:around
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:if
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:find
Speaker:the
Speaker:source.
Leon’s
ears
Speaker:perked
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:around.
“Someone’s
in
Speaker:trouble.”
He
raised
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw
Speaker:and
Speaker:pointed
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:street
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:entrance
Speaker:to
Speaker:Siegel
Speaker:Park.
Benji
took
Speaker:Leon’s
Speaker:paw. “Let’s
Speaker:go
Speaker:check
Speaker:it
Speaker:out
Speaker:then.”
He
glanced
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:street
Speaker:before
Speaker:leading
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky
Speaker:across
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:park’s
Speaker:entrance.
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:beyond
Speaker:the
Speaker:gate,
Speaker:scanning
Speaker:the
Speaker:area
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:heard
Speaker:the
Speaker:call
Speaker:for
Speaker:help
Speaker:again.
Speaker:Off to
Speaker:the
Speaker:left,
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:gazebo
Speaker:occupied
Speaker:by
Speaker:a
Speaker:couple
Speaker:of
Speaker:adults
Speaker:chatting
Speaker:quietly.
Speaker:Meanwhile,
Speaker:off
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:right,
Speaker:in
Speaker:clear
Speaker:view
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:gazebo,
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:playground
Speaker:fitted
Speaker:with
Speaker:an
Speaker:old
Speaker:swing-set
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:blocked
Speaker:off
Speaker:with
Speaker:caution
Speaker:tape.
Speaker:Where
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:problem?
“Benji.” Leon
squeezed
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw
Speaker:and
Speaker:pointed
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:cluster
Speaker:of
Speaker:trees
Speaker:near
Speaker:the
Speaker:edge
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:playground.
Benji
turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:look,
Speaker:but
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:see
Speaker:anything
Speaker:at
Speaker:first.
Speaker:However,
Speaker:as
Speaker:another
Speaker:loud
Speaker:cry
Speaker:rang
Speaker:out,
Speaker:somehow
Speaker:ignored
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:adults
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:gazebo,
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:child
Speaker:standing
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:bottom
Speaker:of
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:trees.
They
turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:at
Speaker:one
Speaker:another.
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:bit
Speaker:his
Speaker:lip,
Speaker:then
Speaker:looked
Speaker:over
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:adults. “They
Speaker:probably
Speaker:aren’t
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:anything.” Leon
Speaker:sighed. “Nope.”
He
entered
Speaker:the
Speaker:park,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:once
Speaker:again
Speaker:caught
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw.
“Wait.
I
Speaker:have
Speaker:an
Speaker:idea.”
**************************************
Flashpoint
and
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:walked
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:park,
Speaker:side
Speaker:by
Speaker:side
Speaker:in
Speaker:their
Speaker:super-suits,
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:approached
Speaker:the
Speaker:crying
Speaker:child.
Benji
could
Speaker:feel
Speaker:the
Speaker:gazes
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:children
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:park,
Speaker:as
Speaker:well
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:adults
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:gazebo.
Speaker:So
Speaker:now
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:paying
Speaker:attention,
Speaker:eh?
“Excuse
me.”
Speaker:Apollo’s
Speaker:voice
Speaker:brought
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:task
Speaker:at
Speaker:hand.
The
sobbing
Speaker:child
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:at
Speaker:them
Speaker:and
Speaker:gasped. “Whoa!”
Now
that
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:closer,
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:saw
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:child
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:American
Speaker:Bobtail
Speaker:cat.
Speaker:She
Speaker:was
Speaker:wearing
Speaker:a
Speaker:costumey
Speaker:pink
Speaker:dress
Speaker:that
Speaker:had
Speaker:mulch
Speaker:stuck
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:frills.
Apollo
knelt
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:feet
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:her
Speaker:and
Speaker:smiled.
“Hey
there.
Speaker:Did
Speaker:you
Speaker:call
Speaker:for
Speaker:help?”
She
sniffled
Speaker:and
Speaker:wiped
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:nodding
Speaker:fast.
“What’s
wrong?”
Speaker:Apollo
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:tilting
Speaker:his
Speaker:head.
The
feline
Speaker:pointed
Speaker:up
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:tree
Speaker:and
Speaker:started
Speaker:blubbering.
Benji
couldn’t
Speaker:tell
Speaker:what
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:saying,
Speaker:so
Speaker:he
Speaker:did
Speaker:the
Speaker:logical
Speaker:thing
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:tree’s
Speaker:branches.
Speaker:The
Speaker:branches
Speaker:weren’t
Speaker:too
Speaker:far
Speaker:up
Speaker:for
Speaker:someone
Speaker:like
Speaker:him,
Speaker:so
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:easy
Speaker:for
Speaker:him
Speaker:to
Speaker:spot
Speaker:the
Speaker:plush
Speaker:rabbit
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:big
Speaker:blue
Speaker:bow
Speaker:tie
Speaker:nestled
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:branches.
Benji
reached
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:untangled
Speaker:it, brushing
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:twigs
Speaker:and
Speaker:leaves.
“Is
this
Speaker:yours?”
Speaker:He
Speaker:turned
Speaker:the
Speaker:rabbit
Speaker:around
Speaker:to
Speaker:face
Speaker:the
Speaker:cat.
She
nodded
Speaker:and
Speaker:reached
Speaker:toward
Speaker:Benji. “BinBin!”
Benji
chuckled and handed
Speaker:the
Speaker:bunny
Speaker:to
Speaker:her. “Is
Speaker:that
Speaker:his
Speaker:name?”
She
nodded
Speaker:and
Speaker:hugged
Speaker:the
Speaker:bunny.
“How
did
Speaker:he
Speaker:get
Speaker:up
Speaker:there?”
The
cat
Speaker:looked
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:playground
Speaker:area. “Dey
Speaker:frowed
Speaker:him.”
“That
wasn’t
Speaker:very
Speaker:nice,
Speaker:was
Speaker:it?"
She
shook
Speaker:her
Speaker:head,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:them
Speaker:again.
“Ummm…”
Apollo
Speaker:chuckled
Speaker:nervously
Speaker:and
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:looked
Speaker:over
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
Speaker:His
Speaker:smile
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:sweet…
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:teeth
Speaker:were
Speaker:so
Speaker:white.
Speaker:Damn.
Speaker:And
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:good
Speaker:dental
Speaker:hygiene?
Speaker:Fuck
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:attractive.
Speaker:Was
Speaker:he
Speaker:really
Speaker:falling
Speaker:for
Speaker:this
Speaker:guy?
Speaker:After
Speaker:less
Speaker:than
Speaker:an
Speaker:hour
Speaker:of
Speaker:really
Speaker:knowing
Speaker:him?
Then he
saw
Speaker:those
Speaker:brown
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:looking
Speaker:back
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
Speaker:His
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:was moving.
Benji’s
ears
Speaker:perked
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:cleared
Speaker:his
Speaker:throat. “Oh,
Speaker:sorry.
Speaker:What
Speaker:was
Speaker:that,
Speaker:Apollo?”
Apollo
nudged
Speaker:him. “I
Speaker:said
Speaker:we
Speaker:should
Speaker:probably
Speaker:get
Speaker:going.”
Benji
chuckled
Speaker:and
Speaker:nodded. “Oh,
Speaker:yeah.
Speaker:Sorry.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:Bobtail. “You
Speaker:keep
Speaker:a
Speaker:hold
Speaker:on
Speaker:BinBin
Speaker:now,
Speaker:okay?
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:sure
Speaker:whoever
Speaker:threw
Speaker:him
Speaker:up
Speaker:there
Speaker:won’t
Speaker:give
Speaker:you
Speaker:any
Speaker:trouble
Speaker:now.”
She
nodded
Speaker:eagerly
Speaker:and
Speaker:gave
Speaker:him
Speaker:a
Speaker:toothy
Speaker:grin. “Fank
Speaker:you!”
**************************************
The
two
Speaker:heroes
Speaker:ducked
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:alley
Speaker:together.
Speaker:They’d
Speaker:been
Speaker:holding
Speaker:in
Speaker:giggles
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:heroically
Speaker:stomped
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:park,
Speaker:but
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:one
Speaker:another
Speaker:again,
Speaker:the
Speaker:laughter
Speaker:poured
Speaker:out.
“That
was
Speaker:so
Speaker:adorable!”
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:squealed,
Speaker:his
Speaker:curl
Speaker:bouncing
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:wagged
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him.
Speaker:He
Speaker:smirked
Speaker:at
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:cheetah
Speaker:removed
Speaker:his
Speaker:mask. “That
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:daring
Speaker:rescue,
Speaker:Flashpoint.”
Benji
grinned
Speaker:and
Speaker:bowed. “Saving
Speaker:the
Speaker:city
Speaker:one
Speaker:stuffed
Speaker:rabbit
Speaker:at
Speaker:a
Speaker:time.”
He
sighed
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:felt
Speaker:his
Speaker:cellphone
Speaker:buzz.
Speaker:He
Speaker:grunted
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:stuck
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw into
Speaker:his
Speaker:tight
Speaker:to
Speaker:grab
Speaker:it.
Speaker:He
Speaker:flicked
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw
Speaker:pads
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:screen
Speaker:and
Speaker:sucked
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:breath. “Ah,
Speaker:shit…”
A
text
Speaker:from
Speaker:Kaysha, “Where
Speaker:the
Speaker:hell
Speaker:are
Speaker:you?
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:supposed
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:thirty
Speaker:minute
Speaker:break,
Speaker:not
Speaker:an
Speaker:hour
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:half!
Speaker:Get
Speaker:your
Speaker:fuzzy
Speaker:ask
Speaker:back
Speaker:here!”
Benji
swallowed
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:phone
Speaker:chirped
Speaker:again.
“Sorry,
that’s
Speaker:supposed
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:ass. LOL!”
Leon
smiled
Speaker:at
Speaker:him,
Speaker:rolling
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulders
Speaker:back
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:face
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:Benji. “What’s
Speaker:wrong?”
“Kaysha
just
Speaker:texted…
Speaker:We’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:at
Speaker:this
Speaker:for
Speaker:over
Speaker:an
Speaker:hour.
Speaker:I
Speaker:should
Speaker:probably
Speaker:get
Speaker:ba—aaaaaah!”
Speaker:His
Speaker:voice
Speaker:trailed
Speaker:off
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:the
Speaker:top
Speaker:half
Speaker:of
Speaker:Leon’s suit
Speaker:flop
Speaker:against
Speaker:his
Speaker:bouncing
Speaker:tail,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:cheetah
Speaker:got
Speaker:an
Speaker:eyeful
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky’s
Speaker:toned
Speaker:back.
“What
was
Speaker:that?”
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:looked
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:at
Speaker:him,
Speaker:and Benji
Speaker:immediately
Speaker:looked
Speaker:away.
“Um…”
He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:dirty
Speaker:brick
Speaker:wall
Speaker:before
Speaker:him. “I-I
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:shop.”
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:was
Speaker:changing!
Speaker:Wait…
Speaker:Why
Speaker:was
Speaker:that
Speaker:weird?
Speaker:They
Speaker:had
Speaker:just
Speaker:done
Speaker:this
Speaker:before.
Speaker:It
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:idea
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:been
Speaker:paying
Speaker:attention
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:time.
Speaker:But
Speaker:now…
Benji
bit
Speaker:his
Speaker:lip
Speaker:and
Speaker:started
Speaker:stripping
Speaker:off
Speaker:his
Speaker:uniform.
Speaker:What
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:on?
Speaker:What
Speaker:was
Speaker:this
Speaker:feeling?
Speaker:He’d
Speaker:only
Speaker:just
Speaker:met
Speaker:Leon,
Speaker:but
Speaker:somehow
Speaker:his
Speaker:adoration
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:hero
Speaker:was
Speaker:seeping
Speaker:into
Speaker:how
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky
Speaker:undressing
Speaker:just
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulder.
Speaker:He
Speaker:pushed
Speaker:his
Speaker:suit
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:tail
Speaker:and
Speaker:down
Speaker:his
Speaker:legs
Speaker:so
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:step
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:it.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:boxers
Speaker:now,
Speaker:them and his cute
Speaker:leg warmers.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:hassle
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:them
Speaker:off
Speaker:sometimes.
The cold air
nipped
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:fur,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:barely
Speaker:felt
Speaker:it.
Speaker:His
Speaker:body
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:naturally
Speaker:hot.
He
walked
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:dumpster
Speaker:and
Speaker:picked
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:plastic
Speaker:bag he’d hidden his
Speaker:uniform
Speaker:in.
As
he
Speaker:untied
Speaker:it,
Speaker:he
Speaker:heard
Speaker:soft
Speaker:footsteps
Speaker:approaching
Speaker:from
Speaker:behind.
Speaker:He
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:over
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky,
Speaker:who
Speaker:now
Speaker:stood
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:feet
Speaker:away.
Speaker:Their
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:met.
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:down
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:that
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:was
Speaker:also
Speaker:only
Speaker:wearing
Speaker:his
Speaker:boxers.
“Leon?”
He
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to face
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky.
“I’m
sorry
Speaker:if
Speaker:this
Speaker:is
Speaker:weird.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:really
Speaker:great
Speaker:with
Speaker:timing
Speaker:and
Speaker:everything.
Speaker:And
Speaker:like,
Speaker:we’ve
Speaker:known
Speaker:each
Speaker:other
Speaker:for
Speaker:less
Speaker:than
Speaker:a
Speaker:day.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:shake
Speaker:this
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:that
Speaker:I am
Speaker:having.”
Benji
bit
Speaker:his
Speaker:lip
Speaker:and
Speaker:opened
Speaker:his
Speaker:mouth
Speaker:to
Speaker:speak. “Wha—“
Leon
took
Speaker:a
Speaker:step
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:slicked
Speaker:his
Speaker:ears
Speaker:back
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws. “I
Speaker:am so sorry! I am
Speaker:fucking
Speaker:this
Speaker:all
Speaker:up.”
Benji
frowned
Speaker:and
Speaker:reached
Speaker:for
Speaker:Leon’s
Speaker:paw. “Leon,
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:not
Speaker:fucking
Speaker:anything
Speaker:up.
Speaker:Just
Speaker:talk
Speaker:to
Speaker:me.”
Forgetting
his
Speaker:awkwardness,
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:close
Speaker:to
Speaker:him.
The husky’s
paws
Speaker:gently
Speaker:touched
Speaker:his
Speaker:chest
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop
Speaker:him
Speaker:from
Speaker:barreling
Speaker:over
Speaker:Benji.
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:gasp,
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:staring
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:him. “I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:talk
Speaker:right
Speaker:now,”
Speaker:He
Speaker:whispered,
Speaker:closing
Speaker:the
Speaker:distance
Speaker:between
Speaker:them.
Benji
felt
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:wrap
Speaker:around
Speaker:Leon’s
Speaker:waist.
Speaker:Their
Speaker:muzzles
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:against
Speaker:one
Speaker:another.
Speaker:He
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:register
Speaker:what
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:on
Speaker:until
Speaker:he
Speaker:saw
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:close
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:kissing.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:kissing
Speaker:Atomic
Speaker:Apollo.
Speaker:He
Speaker:could
Speaker:hear
Speaker:sirens.
Speaker:Were
Speaker:those
Speaker:real
Speaker:or
Speaker:were
Speaker:they
Speaker:just
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:head?
Speaker:Was he
Speaker:even
Speaker:doing
Speaker:it
Speaker:right?
Smoke
started
Speaker:to
Speaker:rise
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:body
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:felt
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:pull back.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:frozen
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:spot
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:watched
Speaker:the
Speaker:canine
Speaker:smile
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
“I-I
hope
Speaker:you
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:your
Speaker:day.
Speaker:Um…”
Speaker:He
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:started
Speaker:backing
Speaker:away
Speaker:to
Speaker:pick
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:suit. “Text
Speaker:me?”
“Y-Yeah.”
Benji
Speaker:mumbled,
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:not
Speaker:leaving
Speaker:Leon’s.
Speaker:He
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:move
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:husky
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:yet
Speaker:awkwardly
Speaker:squirmed
Speaker:back
Speaker:into his
Speaker:civilian
Speaker:clothes.
Speaker:He
Speaker:could
Speaker:feel
Speaker:his
Speaker:heart
Speaker:hammering
Speaker:inside
Speaker:his
Speaker:chest.
Speaker:He
Speaker:could
Speaker:still
Speaker:taste
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:lips,
Speaker:even
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:watched
Speaker:him
Speaker:leave
Speaker:the
Speaker:alley.
Speaker:All
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:blood
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:body
Speaker:was
Speaker:rushing,
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:feel
Speaker:his
Speaker:flesh
Speaker:tingling
Speaker:as…
His
eyes
Speaker:widened
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:instinctively
Speaker:moved
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:to
Speaker:cover
Speaker:his
Speaker:crotch.
Speaker:What
Speaker:had
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:done
Speaker:to
Speaker:him?
His
phone
Speaker:chirped
Speaker:again,
Speaker:prompting
Speaker:him
Speaker:to
Speaker:change
Speaker:back
Speaker:into
Speaker:his
Speaker:work
Speaker:clothes.
Speaker:But
Speaker:he
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:work
Speaker:now,
Speaker:even
Speaker:though
Speaker:he
Speaker:definitely
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to.
Speaker:He
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:spend
Speaker:more
Speaker:time
Speaker:with
Speaker:Leon.
This
was
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:of
Speaker:two
Speaker:parts
Speaker:of “Justice is Brewing” by Vincenzo Pasquarella, read for you
Speaker:by
Speaker:Solomon
Speaker:Harries,
Speaker:cuddly
Speaker:badger
Speaker:dad.
Speaker:Tune
Speaker:in
Speaker:next
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:where
Speaker:Benji
Speaker:and
Speaker:Leon
Speaker:go
Speaker:from
Speaker:here.
As
always,
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:web
Speaker:at
Speaker:thevoice.dog,
Speaker:or find
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:podcasts.
Speaker:Happy
Speaker:Holidays,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.