Gabriel:Freshly groomed from his brief stay at the Holts' home (Where he is affectionately named Loki for his playful demeanor), Gabriel walked cheerfully along the sidewalk, mouth full of flowers and his tail wagging. It was dark, true, but Kali always expected him at night. It was easier for him to travel around without risking being bothered by people looking to collar and leash him or at the very least little children wanting to play. Not that he minded, little kids were great. Kids, puppies, the whole lot of them. All they wanted was something to cuddle, to share affection. No work, no ulterior motives, none of that.
Now, Kali always seemed to have ulterior motives for him. But there was always something bringing him back to her. Was it that she was a challenge? Amused him? Nah, it was probably just because he had it bad for her. She was a very attractive b***h after all, and there was just something in the way she acting and carried herself.
He stopped at one of the larger houses in the neighborhood, a nice big white thing. He'd never been inside, Kali was smarter than that. You didn't let some strange dog into your master's house, could scare your master. Shaking himself just a bit to order his fur in the sort of wild yet orderly way he liked it before heading around to the back of the house, hoping to find his dark lotus.
Kali:
To say the female was spoiled was to put it lightly. She wanted the best in life, and she would tell you she deserved it. Unlike Gabriel, she was not really fond of children. She wasn't really fond of anyone, not really.. Even her master did as she pleased. So long as Kali was obedient in the ring, and clean when she was in her presence, her master didn't pay her much mind. Some dogs, would be offended at the lack of affection from a human. However she reveled in it. She hated being touched, or patted. The show ring was as far as it went.
The female stretched out her body, her accessories billowing in the wind as she righted herself. An eye glance to the clock, made her sigh. She knew he would be around soon..and she knew despite everything, she would go to him. Why in the hell she did, she really had no idea. She didn't love him.. or did she? She didn't know.. She really didn't know what love was. But there was a fire in the pair that seemed to just.. Burn each other alive when they were in each others presence.
Her human was sleeping on the couch, cradling the remote in her hand as if it would be taken from her. Kali rolled her eyes, and slunk out the back doggy door.
Gabriel:
Gabe was earlier, and that was his intent. He had snuck up to the dog door and made a small trail of flowers leading from it to where he had sat down to wait, out of sight of the house's windows. All of the other flowers were small, simple things in blue and purple, but the one he had was a purple-colored lotus.
Anticipation had him almost wiggling with the tension inside, his ears perked but the rest of his posture looking relaxed, cool and confidant. He was definitely a chill dog, at least in his outward appearance.
Kali:
She'd admit, she had learned some news that had made her a bit edgy towards the idea of Gabriel showing up today. When she had found out, she had been mortified. She had been teasing the idea of hurting him when she saw him.. Though she wasn't really an aggressive dog. The problem was, she was fast. If she wanted to bite you, she did it before you knew she was debating on it. Her master had been thrilled.. Her master was a moron. She was sure now.
She still fit easily out of the doggy door, though she wondered how long that would last. She stepped outside, and her paws landed on the flower petals that were strown about. She looked up to see a trail leading straight to the male.
She narrowed her eyes, and he looked so proud of himself. She knew he didn't know.. but the way he treated her sometimes was like he was apologizing for something. Though what she could never be sure.
"Gabriel." She said, her tone calm. She stepped closer, each step closing the distance between she, and the lotus carrying pup.
Gabriel:
He smiled at her behind the flower. He walked to her and gently slipped it behind her ear. Oh, Gabe knew that she would shed it before she went back inside. No reason her master should know her prize showgirl was being romanced.
"Hey Kali," he replied, his smirk somehow soft and caring when he looked at her. There was an affection in his eyes whenever he looked at. Oh, he was a dog-about-town half the time, but there was something special about Kali. Other bitches were just names in the back of his mind, a playful romp. But Kali loved him, he was certain of it, and that demanded a fair bit of respect.
"Have I told you how beautiful you look in the moonlight?"
Kali:
He slipped the flower behind her ear, and she smiled despite herself. She looked at him, her eyes glimmering in the moonlight. She had a dangerous air about her, and she knew that was partially what Gabriel loved about her. He could never predict her mood.. She was irritable tonight though, and her words weren't as soft as his own.
"Haven't I told you that wouldn't work before?" She asked, looking at him and staring into his eyes. She wondered how to tell him.. If she should tell him. Okay, yeah she knew she needed to tell him but that didn't mean she particularly wanted to. He would be so cocky.. He had knocked her up and she knew that he would feel proud of himself..The b*****d.
Gabriel:
"Can't stop me from trying, you should know that by now." Gabe could see the irritation in her bearing, and couldn't help but wonder what he'd done this time. Tracked mud through her perfect world? Surely not, he did his best to be careful about the little things, at least when he didn't want to see her get all fiery. Nah, tonight he wanted a calmer Kali, just a normal night with a pretty lady. Wasn't too much to ask for, right?
"Sorry I haven't been by in a while. Had some things to deal with back home, couple of idiots needed a lesson or two, usual stuff. Did you miss me?" He bet she had, even if she wouldn't tell him. He had missed her after all, and he never missed anyone. At least, not like her. Sometimes he missed his brothers, but there was no power on this earth that would send him home. It would be too much. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, deep down he was a good, even sensitive male and frankly his family was dangerous to his health.
But then, if Kali was an example, Gabe tended to seek out things that were hazardous to his well-being.
Kali:
"If you think you had things to deal with before, Gabriel.." She started, her tone still the eerie calm it always held. Even fired up and pissed off she was usually calm. It was the quiet ones you had to look out for, right? She sat, her body a flowing grace of lovely as she moved. She wasn't a champion dog for nothing.. She had a lot of moves behind that pretty face.
"Then boy do I have news for you." She finished. Her teeth gritted, and her tone could have even sounded angry for a moment. Before her features looked calm once more.
Gabriel:
Gabriel tilted his head to one side, his smirk fading a little in confusion.
"You planing to cause me trouble, Kali?" he asked before she continued. It wasn't like her. Sure, she was stuck-up and pushed him around a bit, but she knew he was just as powerful as she was, if not more.
He thought, when she said she had news for him, that she was teasing. This was just a new game she was playing with him, that's what it was. Gabe could admit, it wasn't very funny, but for her sake he would go along with it. And yet... she sounded angry. Really angry. He could usually tell when she was upset, even when she hid it behind her own cool mask, but this... This was peeking through. Either she was a better trickster than he was, or... Or something was wrong. Very wrong.
"Aren't secrets supposed to be my thing? You're not the type to leave a guy hanging like this."
Kali:
"Oh I won't leave you hanging. That would simply be unkind." She said, and her words were said in a tone that said the opposite. She would love to be unkind to him right now. Especially as another short wave of .. bleh.. filled through her. She just was not feeling herself..
"I suppose if you need, I can fill you in. Because you have a lot of explaining to do. I certainly hope you don't plan on going anywhere." She said, and arched her eyebrow.
Gabriel:
He smiled.
"When have you known me not to come back?" He always did, no harm in admitting to it. It might take longer than the time before, he might even be gone for weeks or even months, but in the end he always came back to her. She was definitely angry with him and he was getting tired of it. Touching her now would be inviting whatever punishment she would like to inflict on him, but he wanted his calm Kali, not this intense flame ready to burn him up.
Gabe reached a paw out to touch her cheek, trying to get her to calm down and just tell him whatever it was she needed to tell him. Get it over with so he could stop worrying she was going to try and tear his throat out at any second.
"Kali, please?"
Kali:
When he touched her, she felt her body jolt. SHe didn't mean to yank away from his touch, but her fear of what was going on was eating her away. Even though she was trying not to look afraid of the future and what was to come. What would happen ot her body? What would happen to these puppies? What would happen? It was all just a huge question and she didn't like not having answers.
"Well if you must know, you are going to be a father." She didn't know what else to say after, and she looked out to the side and didnt meet his eyes. She was a proud confident dog. Her not being able to be confident was rare.
Gabriel:
Gabriel frowned when she jerked away from him. Well, it was better than lashing out but... When she spoke, he just blinked at her for a second.
And then he laughed.
He bent his head, for a moment, still shaking as he chuckled. But it occurred to him that she wasn't laughing. He looked up, her face was turned away, avoiding his gaze. She had never done that before.
"You... You're serious?" The former pet could barely get the words out, his eyes flicking from her face to her belly and back again. No way... Sure, they had, and there was a possibility, but... He hadn't thought, hadn't considered... He needed time to think about this, to let it really sink in but he didn't have it, Kali wouldn't give it to him. If he turned tail and ran now, she would take it as if he was abandoning her. And there was no telling what she might do if he did that.
He didn't wait for her to give him an answer, just moved close and carefully set his chin on top of her head, ready to move away if she so much as growled at him.
Kali:
Her eyes were turned away, and then he laughed and she grew angry. Her eyes narrowed, and turned to liquid fire as she felt the growl rising in her throat. But when he stopped laughing she calmed herself.
"Of course I am serious. I am appalled to think you might actually see me as someone to joke that way. That joke wasn't even funny." She frowned, and just felt more uneasy. She hated feeling out of control, and this she was certainly not in control of.
He moved closer, and put his chin on her head and she stood still. Her body stiffened but only for a minute before she eased into the touch.
Gabriel:
Gabriel relaxed a bit when she did. This was what he wanted, her tucked up against him and calm. He could sometimes almost imagine staying here, if he got to curl up with her each night. But he couldn't. His brothers were problems, his lifestyle was a problem, all of the dogs he'd crossed in his past were problems upon problems. Who knew, even if he tried to stay, her master might just send him to someone else.
"I was surprised, you're right it wasn't funny." No, it was terrifying. Him, a father? Yeah right, what kind of father could he be? A stray mutt from a broken family, who couldn't trust and didn't do well in one place for too long. Some role-model. He chuckled to rid himself of his unease.
"You're not really one to joke, period."
Kali:
"I take it as this is the time you want to tuck tail and run." She said, though her tone was cold. If he left, she would never forgive him. Not really.. She pulled away, and sighed, but her eyes looked directly into his again.
She gave him time, the silence like a thick cloud over them. She wasnt sure what she wanted..Whether she wanted him to stay, or whether she wanted him gone. But she knew she could never get rid of him.
Gabriel:
"If I left now, you'd probably think I wouldn't come back. So, no, I'm not leaving," Gabe replied as she pulled away from him, his expression the most serious she had probably ever seen on his face. He tried to give her a smile but it was difficult. With all of his conflicting thoughts, how could he keep his cool? A part of him did want to run, he couldn't stay, it wouldn't be safe or right if he did, but he couldn't leave her either.
"I won't leave, Kali..."
Kali:
"Good. Because you are probably right.. If you left I would never forgive you. But you have the right to leave. I have to at least mention it." She said, and she looked away, standing to nose all the petals of the flowers into a pile. She had to hide them before her master saw them.. She knew she was pregnant, but she was thinking it had been that Saluki of her co-worker. The one Kali hadn't given a moment of time.. Though it seemed otherwise by her condition.
Gabriel:
Gabriel watched in silence as she collected the petals, a little lonely with her not near him anymore. Things had suddenly changed between them. They couldn't just be in the up-in-the-air relationship that they used to have. At least, it didn't feel like it any more. No... there were only two options, either her left and never came back or... He didn't know. He just knew that he couldn't leave her, something wouldn't let him.
"What does your master think?" he suddenly asked, equal parts curious and concerned. Either her master was angry with her, or... there would be another reason why Kali would be pregnant and he felt a wave of jealousy wash over him.
Kali:
Kali was never one to lie. In fact she was brutally honest in the best of times. So when he asked her the question she shrugged it off. She didn't see it as bad. She hadn't had relations with the vain pooch.
"She actually is thrilled. And I imagine she will be until she sees what they look like." She responded. They werent going to be the graceful beauties their mom was. They were bound to carry some of the burly traits of their father.
"She believes I mated with her co-workers dog. And a** of a dog he was. He was nothing, and was not worth me. So I basically belittled him the entire night."
She sighed.
"I suppose thats another bridge to cross."
Gabriel:
The wave of jealousy crashed harder over him until she explained. The thought that Kali, his Kali had spurned another male, one who had been chosen by her master and was of the same breed, and chosen him instead. In fact his whole bearing seem to puff up with pride and soften at the same time. She was a proud b***h, he knew that with great certainty, and to admit that she preferred a stray mutt over a male that would give her prize show puppies... It was the greatest compliment he'd gotten from her in a long time. Even if she probably hadn't meant to give it.
He all but strutted up to her and her little pile of petals and nuzzled her cheek and neck.
"Still love me, then?" he asked, a bit of a teasing smile on his face as he pulled back to look at her.
Kali:
She normally would have made him writhe in the jealousy she knew he would carry. But she hadn't wanted to tell him the dog had been handsome. He had been handsome, and that had been it. It was a shame, but then again, she had been unwilling from the start. Something stopped her, even if she wouldnt admit that it was the thought of Gabriel that held her back each time.
She allowed him to nuzzle her, leaning in to it a bit before looking at him as he pulled away.
"In your dreams." She said, but a smile hit her features.
Gabriel:
Gabriel just smirked at her and moved close, tucking her into his chest and resting his head on hers again. It was strange, how he seemed to relish these moments. The last time he had been gone for a very long time, he had indeed dreamed about her at night. That had been what seemed like a lifetime ago and now he didn't have to dream, she was here with him. For as long as he could stay.
Sometimes he wished he didn't have to leave.
The trickster's face actually fell as he let out a real sigh.
"What will she do, when the puppies are born? I don't want anything to happen to you, or our kids. I mean it." For once, there was nothing but seriousness in his voice. No teasing, no snark, just quiet worry. And maybe even a little bit of fear.
Kali:
Kali was caught offguard by the concern in his face. He was rarely serious. It was one of the things that pissed her off most about the guy. She shrugged, looking at the earth as if it was up in the air. Who knew what would happen when she saw the brown, and golden balls of fur. Monty had been jet black. A vision of loveliness her master had called him..
"I won't let her harm them.. I don't think anything would happen to me. I'm her money maker. She wouldn't dare lose that."
She said though her voice wasn't as sure.
Gabriel:
"You deserve more than that, you're not just some human's tool," he shot back, a little bitter. Gabriel had grown up with dogs who let themselves become tools. Sure, it was noble to help those in need, humans who couldn't see or hear or walk, but show dogs were nothing more than pretty possessions to most of the masters he had seen. Kali's was no different.
But he was one to talk. Of all his brothers, his owner's wife had taken a shine to him. He might have been a show dog if she had had the chance to enter him. He hadn't given her one.
On top of that, what better life was out there for her? Surely not one that he could give her. She was strong and spirited enough to run away with him, but she never would. She liked being pampered by the human.
Gabriel moved so that he could lick the side of her muzzle.
"Whatever happens, you have me..."
Kali:
"I am no tool." She said, her growly tone coming again. She sighed, releasing the anger and just looked up at him. She nodded, and nuzzled back into his neck.
"I know. For that, I am thankful...today." She said, and smiled a little before nudging him.
"Now.. You had best be going." She said, though hse hated sending him away.. Hated it with every fiber of her being.
Gabriel:
He didn't want to go, he wanted to stay there with her until the sun came up. But that couldn't happen. If her master found him, all hell could break loose. But he didn't move away just yet, instead moving his head so that his nose pressed against her neck, rubbing the fur there so that her scent was all over his muzzle, locked in his senses. Only when he had memorized it for the millionth time did Gabriel move away.
He took the flower from behind her ear and pushed the pile of petals under one of the bushes in the yard, setting the flower on top of it. The human would never find them, but Kali would know exactly where the presents were.
"Will you miss me?" he asked when he walked back over to her, his smile oddly tender.
Kali:
She smiled when he hid the petals away. She would never forget where they were, though she might mourn when they turned brown. She stood, stretching out her lithe form. She was sleepy, but even she didnt want this night to end. She liked being around him, even if admitting it wasn't common.
When he asked her the question, she cocked her head, and looked serious for a moment. She was silent until she reached out to lick his muzzle.
"Yes.. I think I will..
Gabriel:
Gabe smiled and shook his head.
"No you won't," he replied and nuzzled her in response to her lick. When his muzzle was near her ear, he whispered, "Because you'll see me in your dreams."
It was a stupid promise to make, but he was feeling stupid and sentimental. He leaned back, the teasing smirk on his face again.
"I'll dream of you too, Kali." That was the sincere comment, what he really meant. Well, no, that wasn't what he really wanted to say to her, but only a little part of him knew what that was. The rest of him didn't acknowledge that part's existence. He pressed his paw to her cheek once before turning and walking towards the way he had come. But he did stop to look back over his shoulder, his ears flicked back just a little bit.
Kali:
She sighed, watching him leave, and already missing his nuzzle. So she turned quickly, hustling inside rather quickly. His voice like fire in her ears. She would certainly dream tonight. She was sure of it. And she was sure he would be there.
Her master it seemed had gone upstairs for the evening, and the Saluki slowly padded up the stairs to her bedside. She lay down, a smile on her face. She wasn't -quite- as nervous anymore.
