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[notintehkitchen]

Mr. Hawk, will you please come back to the house? I found a solution to our problem.

I've sealed my gas mask on permanently so I don't have to talk to you again or be strange. I'll just be a normal Pyro again, you don't even have to think of me as a girl if you don't want to. Just think of me as a boy--or even better, an it. I'm fine with that, really. Just come back, please?

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[hasstandards]

[He kept his eyes affixed on the distance in front of them, his expression hardening.]

Ya know good and well I like dogs.

[He pushed a sigh through him, feeling he'd cut back too sharply. It was still a sore topic for him, though he had to admit that if he'd not admitted those things to her unintentionally, he might not be where he was with her at that moment. Whether or not that was a good development in the long run was yet to be seen. He started again, his tone softer.]

Right. I can look, I suppose. Even if I was in workin' order, I've not had a dog in some time. I don't think I'd be too good at takin' care of them anymore.

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[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

[Seeing him so down on himself made her poke him against the tip of his nose with a single finger.]

That's no way to think. How about if we both get one together? It can be our child. We'll have to think of a name for it and it has to be really cute.

[Smiling up at him, she tried to make light of the situation. Sniper couldn't be so glum all the time!]

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[hasstandards]

[He inched away from her finger as she prodded his nose, surprised by the action as he'd been distracted with other thoughts.]

A dog's not a child, Pyro. It's a pet.

[He certainly didn't want to think about children of any sort at that point, as he was still trying to acclimate himself to the thought of having any sort of a relationship with her, no matter how taboo in light of his standards of professionalism; even more, he didn't want to mention that the offer was tempting.]

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[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

[Snickering at his response to her sudden poke, she shook her head.]

You take care of it just as you would a child, don't you? If that's the case, it's a child. I don't think the word pet should even exist in the context to describe what they are to humans.

Do you not want to have a child with me?

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[hasstandards]

[He was caught off guard by her question, taking it at face value rather than thinking about the statement that came right before it.]

Er. Don't you think it's a bit early to be, um.

[His mind put it together two seconds too late as they turned down another road, the pet store in sight.]

Right. A dog. You were talking about a dog.

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[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

[Pyro wasn't stupid. His slip would cause him teasing she would pursue to it's fullest.

With a mad fit of giggles, she released his arm and attempted to politely stifle her laughter with her hands. However, she soon found herself laughing so hard that tears began to fall from the corner of her eyes.]

Ahahahahahaha! Alan thought I meant a human child, didn't he!? We aren't even lovers! Why would you think something like that? Too funny!

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[hasstandards]

[Sniper's face ran the gambit from alarmed to ashamed, finally settling somewhere on frustrated embarrassment. He scowled, starting down the sidewalk again.]

Nevermind.

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[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

Why? I think it's cute you thought that.

In fact...

[Stopping in her tracks and placing her arms behind her, she grins.]

Alan is very cute sometimes, surprisingly.

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[hasstandards]

I'm not. Don't call me that.

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[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

Fine, I won't say it... in English.

Kawaii.

[Running around him in circles, she stuck out her tongue teasingly.]

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[hasstandards]

I said I'm not. Now knock it off.

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[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

Your opinion of yourself is invalid because it's not true. Sniper is kawaii.

You're just as cute as Jell-O.

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[hasstandards]

I don't want to be compared to your blob. I'm—

Ya know what? This was a bad idea.

[He turned around to head back to the base, hesitating at the sound of barking. Pyro was right- there were puppies in the window, visible in the light of the store.]

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[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

[When he turned his back to her something inside of her broke. For someone who could kiss her and act physically attracted to her Sniper was easily wavered by his own negative emotions.

Pyro did the only thing she could think of. Grabbing his uninjured shoulder, she gave a low hiss and didn't blink an eye as she formed a solid glare at his face.

The sound of her voice lowered again to something many would not be able to recognize as the one of the sweet girl covered in scars who loved cute things.]

You don't get it. Regardless of what difficulties you may throw at me, I will not let you ruin your own mood because of it or mine for that matter. Quit your negativity before you can no longer save yourself or else I will be forced to do things I'd prefer not to do.

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[hasstandards]

[Even the barking of puppies in the nearby store wasn't enough to keep his temper down as she grabbed him, rooting him to that spot. He cast her an impassive look.]

And just what would you be forced to do, I wonder?

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[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

[Good question. One she wasn't entirely sure how to answer. Looking a little taken aback, she pushed away and crossed her arms.]

...

No sex.

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[hasstandards]

[He turned away again, trying to make it look like a move born of stubbornness; it was to actually mask how furiously his face burned.]

We weren't gonna do that, anyway!

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[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

[Saying the word sex made her blush regardless of the teasing or not. Being intimate with the opposite gender was an odd idea to think about.]

That's not what it sounded like earlier. You said you wanted to. Now you're not interested?

[There was a pause of silence.]

Good. I guess puppies are better then sex anyways.

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[hasstandards]

I didn't say that!

[His response came out before he'd even thought about what he was saying, and it showed on his face.]

Right. Let's just- [He took a breath to recompose himself.] Look at the dogs. Let's do that.

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[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

That's a good idea.

[That way you won't be as cranky. No one can resist puppies. She thought.

Running down the street, when she came to the window she almost immediately pressed both hands and her face against the glass to ogle all the different puppies either sleeping or playing. A certain one caught her eye and proceeded to make her squee in delight. A shiba inu puppy hopped about on two feet playfully unaware of the woman adoring him.]

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[hasstandards]

[Grateful she didn't follow up on the fact he hadn't denied his interest in intimacy with her, he waited a moment before heaving a sigh, finally heading down the path after her.

He reached the window where she stood, eyeing the pups behind the glass. He stole a sideways look to her, following her eyes to the pointy-eared puppy hopping around.]

Like that one, do you?

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[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

It's so cute. Can we get it? Please?! I'll be it's mother and love it forever and ever, promise!

[As an adult, it didn't seem like Pyro should have to ask to get a puppy. Since Sniper lived with her though, she thought he should have some opinion on what creature she might bring into home.]

It's so fluffy!

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[hasstandards]

[He kept his eyes on her, kicking himself for considering it. She didn't need another pet in the house, and he didn't have the stamina to train it, anyway. On the other hand, a dog was preferable to the pet she currently had... and he did like dogs an awful lot. His concerns silenced themselves as he watched her, noting how happy it made her.

That nagging feeling hit him as he realized he was doing it again- concerning himself over appeasing her, gaining her approval in some way. Already, he was letting himself get to wound up with her. It was ridiculous.

In spite of that, he gave her a nod after a moment of hesitation. This wasn't just for her, he told himself.]

I don't think it's a bad idea. He could keep the house safe, should that masked bloke who put me in the hospital come back.

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[notintehkitchen.livejournal.com]

I wonder if Spy will mind... not that it matters to me. It's our dog!

[Pulling away from the window, Pyro ran inside and immediately went to pick up the puppy in both hands. Looking down at it, she tilted her head curiously.]

Are you a girl or a boy?

[She soon found out when she saw at the right angle.]

Oh, another boy. Jell-O will like you! He's a boy too. You're going to need a name though. I wonder what would be best? Bacon? Ham? Cheeseburger? Hmmm...

[All the names were foods, it was clear were Pyro's mind was.]

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[hasstandards]

[Following her inside, RED overheard her talking to the dog.]

I'm not sure you oughtta name the pup after food, pumpkin.