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I swallow around the lump that appears in my throat. The gun against my back presses harder into it. "Where is she, ringtail? Where's the vixen that you were with earlier?" His voice is as insistent as the piece against my spine.

I have to answer this carefully. Please don't get us both killed, Kota.

"I haven't seen her. She and I split up and I haven't seen her since. I haven't heard anything either, so I don't know where she would be." I swallow again and resist the urge to coil or flick my tail. No sudden moves. I'm doing what I can, Zach. Trust me, please?

"Where were you going to meet her, then?" The voice somehow gets more insistent. Who'd have thought. The owner of the voice grabs my shoulder and I wince against the feeling of his claws. He isn't playing around.

I have to tell him the truth. I'm sorry, Zach. "My place, over closer to the middle of the slums. Patterson street. I was going to head back there after my drinks."

Don't apologize, Kota! At least your voice isn't cracking. Pretty sure mine would be.

Gravel-throat growls in my ear again and shoves me forward against the nearest wall. I manage to brace myself a bit, but I still feel skin and fur get peeled away as I trip and my cheek drags over the rough brick. Zachary winces for me. "Get up. You're going to take me to whatever back alley dump you call home. Understand? Then we're gonna have a little chat about what you and your partner have been doing."

I push myself up with one paw and wipe the new scrape with the back of the other, flinching again when it comes away with specks of red. Shit, I hate bleeding. It always ruins my mood.

Pretty sure it'd be ruined if you were shot, too.

Most likely. Let's not find out, hmm? "Sure, sure. You're the boss here," I say to Gravel-throat. "Give me a moment to get my bearings." A lie, of course. I know exactly where we are and where I would need to go in order to get home the fastest, or the most roundabout and scenic route. It's a chance to stall so I can regather myself and see what kind of person I'm dealing with.

And once more, I freeze.

Well, I was right about him having a gun. A big six shooter, probably a forty five caliber, that nearly shines with how cleanly its polished. But the gun isn't what gets me staring slack jawed. It's more the one holding the gun. Exactly the last person I wanted to see, and the last one I expected to be so damn forceful.

Vincent Carter, District Attorney.

I work my jaw up and down without the ability to form words, because despite half expecting it, confronting the reality of last week's bedmate pointing a gun at me is admittedly one of the more difficult things I've done in a while.

That makes two of us, buddy. Want me to take over?

I... I think I'm good. I'll let you stretch your tail later, though. After this all gets sorted out.

I gape at the trench coat wearing hyena for a full minute more before pushing myself up onto paws and knees. "Carter? Is that you?" The question just comes out before I can make myself sound less stupid. Of course it's him. Who else has gray green eyes with flecks of gold in them? Nobody that I know, that's for sure.

I can see the moment where he starts to snarl out a reply before he stops himself. The gun lowers, centimeter by heart wrenching centimeter. His expression changes, just as slowly, from one of anger to one of gut twisting horror. "P-Parker?" I nod, just like everything else right now, slowly. "No no no no this can't be happening. Why are you following me with the Fangs assassin? Nothing's ever pointed towards you being one of them."

I push myself back up to my feet, never taking my eyes off of him. "Maybe because I'm not. I know her, though. Fiery dame she is."

His eyes harden and the look of horror starts to fade. "Why have you been following me with an assassin, Parker? A gang one, more specifically?" His voice gets sharper on the second question.

"Maybe because I found your card in a mobster's contact book?" I narrow my eyes at him this time, an expression that makes most people back up a step. I'm happy to see it does that even to intimidating hyena DAs. "Care to explain that one, Carter?"

His terrified expression comes back and his eyes widen even further. "H-how did you find out about Alan? He never told me anything about talking to anyone at all!"

I finally push myself up onto my feet and take a step towards him. "We didn't exactly stop and chew the fat. I was on the clock." I spit, then continue my glare. "And I'd rather not keep this up here with you holdin' your piece out fer the world to see. I don't know jus' how familiar you are with this neighborhood, but if it's anything like mine then we're not likely to be welcome in the position we're in."

His eyes finally come back to normal and he seems more in control of himself once more. He lifts his paw to his muzzle and clears his throat, then holsters his revolver inside his coat. "I suppose your right again, Parker. Let's continue it at your place, then. If you would lead the way?" He steps away from the mouth of the alley and gestures past him.

He certainly can recover. I eye him for a moment more, skeptically. I guess we have to. Already said we would.

Well, you didn't say that technically. But I don't want to put your quick-draw skills up against his. Zachary has put away his little memory album and is focusing fully on watching my senses. How I know that, I don't think I'll ever figure out.

"Stay quiet and don't lag behind. Try to shuffle a little more. You're so far out of place it's not even funny. People know me, and if they see me being followed by someone who doesn't belong, you'll be in more trouble than even you can deal with." I brush past him, regaining my previous lurch and appearance of nonchalance. It's second nature, so it doesn't matter that both myself and Zachary are freaking out.

This is not good. Someone's gonna see him. Someone's gonna follow us. Dom's gonna shoot him. Oh goddess, what are we going to do? Zachary paces back and forth, coiling and flicking his tail around.

Calm down, Zach. If we aren't followed on our way back, I can keep Dom from doing anything rash. As long as he can blend in on the way there, we should be able to keep this from getting bloody. We both shudder with the images that flash through our minds.

I stifle the urge to watch over my shoulder to see if my hyena tagalong is any kind of adept at blending in, solely for the sake of blending in myself. Taking a glance backwards at the wrong time would give the impression to others that I think I'm being followed, and even on this side of town that would be bad news. And not just for Carter.

Fortunately, we make it back to our neighborhood without any real issues. I'm not stopped and I didn't hear Carter's footsteps falter more than once, which is to be expected. I push open my door into my chilly "apartment" and follow my normal routine. A quick leap onto the couch, a new beer, and a new smoke.

"Well, Carter, I have to say I'm impressed. Never thought a stuffy DA could slum it well enough to fool the people around here." Claws get set to a pair of beer caps and I motion the hyena towards the bare wooden chair in the corner after handing him one. "Welcome to my back-alley dump of a home, Carter. I hope it isn't too gauche for your tastes."

I'm happy to see him wince at the comment. "I deserve that. I don't want to be harsh with you, but this city is in a really bad spot. The Fangs are in position to take things over and it's my job to make sure that doesn't happen. I may have overreacted when I caught wind of Dead Eye Valterres following me."

I light up my smoke and take a drag, then a drink. "Yeah, well ya shoulda known that you weren't in any danger since you weren't dead already. She ain't called Dead Eye for nothin', I can tell ya that."

I stop watching him now, because I can hear everything he does in this close a space. "That's true, I suppose. Still, I tend to trust my instincts about this and I was understandably skittish. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to hear what your part in all of this is." His weight shifts and the chair squeaks. Probably resting a paw on his sidearm.

I wave off his wariness and snort. "It's nothing so grand. I don't like the Fangs' boss, but he pays well for talent like mine, so I'll do the odd job for them here and there. I refuse to work for the mob, so that leaves me with gang work and construction jobs to keep my head above water. I do what I gotta." I tip another swallow of beer back. "Miss Valterres is a close friend o' mine, so I'm gonna ask that while in my home, you respect her. I ain't technically on either o' yer sides, and seein' as how I like ya I'll be civil 'bout it too. Favor to a friend."

Thank you, Kota.

Don't go thankin' me yet, Zach. I'm gonna have to tell 'im about what I do, next. Ain't gonna be pretty. We share a grimace that doesn't make it outside my head.

"Alright, well then what is it you do? Obviously you supply local knowledge and information, if your comfortability around here is any indicator. And you're a decent shadow, though I had more issues with catching Dead Eye than you." His weight shifts again, most likely to relax. I'm nothing if not a good host. And cooperative too. I have no love or loyalty for the Fangs.

I shrug. "I've got sticky fingers. Only time I really get a call that's not from Dead Eye is if they need something lifted. As I said, Miss Valterres is a friend of mine and I'll do favors for her too, but I have no other affiliation with the Fangs. Pretty sure they aren't so fond of me either. I got it on a reliable source that they've got it in for me too."

"No doubt due to us picking up one of their middle-men last week. No wonder you're not on any of my lists. But how did you find out about my deal with Alan?" I can sense the interest that's surely on the hyena's face at this point. It's so damn clear in his voice that I still don't have to take my eyes off of the beer in my paw to know it.

"Easy. I got a job to lift his contact book and it was like taking candy from a baby mole. Finished my job, but kept your name out of it. Wasn't quite sure what to make of it." I pull on my smoke when my words run out and I tense when I hear the chair creak one more time. That's the sound of weight being lifted from it.

I finally turn my head when Carter's footsteps approach me, only to see him settle onto his knees next to my couch. "So you have contacts within the Fangs? And you're not actually part of their group?"

I watch his eyes, as earnest as they were that first night. Slowly, I nod. "Yeah, that's right."

"Do you know where they are?"

Zachary's head whips up and his eyes go wide. He wants you to be what Alan was to the Giovettas. A plant, or an informant. He means to take them both down. His tail twitches, just once. This is dangerous, Kota. I don't like it.

It's the best bet we have, now that he knows about us. Once he found out we have connections with the Fangs, it was either going to be jail time, complete cut-off, or helping him out, I wager. "I may, but before I agree to anything I want a few conditions of my own met." I cross my arms over my chest and let my gaze harden against his own. His small ears go down but he doesn't lose his pleading expression. Zachary twitches.

"Anything I can, I will do. You don't understand how much this city needs The Fangs gone. If you can do this for me, Parker, I'll make sure nothing happens to you." He rests one paw on my leg, as if that would further affect my decision. He wouldn't be wrong, normally, but this is a little different situation than normal. This one involves Dom too.

"It's about Valterres. She wants an out and I want to give one to her. She's done with the gang life and wants to get out of the city and somewhere quieter." It's a big request, one that I wouldn't make if I didn't feel comfortable with the negotiating position I've been put in.

His eyes narrow. "I'll save judgement of that until after I meet the lass. It would put my career and my reputation in jeopardy otherwise."

We have to live with that for now. I wonder just how long we have until he can actually make that judgement. Dominique should be here any time now. "Okay, fair's fair. I also want an out of my own. I only did what I did to keep my head above water. Ain't many options for a man in my position, I think you could agree."

He doesn't even hesitate this time. "Done." No questions asked. Make a note of that, Zach. I have a feeling our little lovebird here is either hiding something, or is a bit biased.

Zach just watches me from the spot he never moves from, and once again I can almost see him in the real world, standing behind the couch and watching the hyena with me. I think you may be right, Kota. Something isn't right about him right now.

I give him a mental pat on the back and the other ringtail slides an arm around my back. It's a nice feeling of companionship. "Lastly, I want to move that date up a day, if you're still up for it after tonight." I offer a wan smile. The room was far too serious for my tastes. Plus... Zach can feel it too. Having Carter this close, on his knees next to us, is more than a little enticing.

It catches him off guard, which I can take a bit of pleasure in. He pauses, and I can see the time it takes him to switch gears completely, and then sets those strong paws against my shoulders. "I suppose I can make time for a dirty thief, tonight," he says, but there's no menace behind the words anymore. "Scoot up a bit, will you?"

He settles onto the couch behind me and we pass the time through quiet small talk, restrained to it throughout another pair of beers and a smoke. Yes, I broke the tension in the room, but this has definitely changed the relationship that the hyena and I share. I mean, there's only so much affection that can stand through being held at gunpoint and then asked to be a plant in the gang that already wants to kill you. Well, kinda. My point is that while I enjoyed leaning against the very sturdy chest of my "guest" and Zachary definitely seemed okay with it as well, neither of us were able to really relax.

Most likely fearing the arrival of my partner. Which we did for good reason.

The door nearly flies off the hinges a few moments later and Dominique glides in with her gun drawn. I have half a second to realize that our position is exactly what she shouldn't be walking in on, so I roll over the back of my couch and pull my piece out to level at the intruder. Instinct, almost, but it leaves poor Carter groaning on the cushions due to all of my weight pushing off of his gut.

I see that the intruder is in fact Dominique, as I suspected, and we holster our weapons at the same time. "Dom," I say.

"Kota," she says back. Her tail sways out from beneath her slicker.

Carter pops his head over the top of my sofa and Dominique's weapon immediately is whipped out and centered on his forehead. "Why is he here?" A valid question, though she should know me well enough to know I didn't necessarily invite him over of my own accord.

How do you think she'll take it, Kota? Zachary looks about as worried as I feel. Which is to say, like my apartment might turn into a firefight within the next few moments if this isn't handled delicately. Well, delicate of a sort. My kind of sort, to be precise.

Oh, she'll flip. This oughta be memorable.

I sidle up next to the vixen and lay a paw on her weapon arm, slowly lowering it. "Carter here caught up with me on the other side of town. Kinda met him before knowing he was the new DA, so I wanted to talk him out of putting us both behind bars. Also had a gun on me, so I think that matters." I wink at the startled hyena, hoping that Dominique can hear the semi-lighthearted nature of my voice. She should; she doesn't seem to be in full "business" mode just right now.

"Tryin'a cut a deal with 'im, then? What kinna leverage you think his kind 'ave got on the Fangs?" She doesn't immediately holster her gun, but she still does after a heartbeat more, which I take as a good sign. She's not going to blow his head off right away.

Carter takes the initiative though, which I take as another good sign. "I assume you're miss Valterres then. I regret that we couldn't have met under different circumstances."

She snorts, and damn if she still can't do it so well. "Wouldn'ta ever met me at all, lawman. Yer kind never does if they go huntin' around the Fangs."

He clears his throat and I step a bit closer to Dominique, just in case he says the wrong thing. "So I've heard. I suppose I owe Parker here a bit more thanks than I originally thought, then. Miss Valterres, I assume since you haven't shot me just yet, that you would be willing to hear me out? I promised Parker I would at least try." I should have a little faith in him, I suppose.

Well of course, Kota. He didn't become a DA because he was bad at negotiating. Zachary being smug. Maybe I don't like him as much as I thought

Hush, or I'm not letting you out for hyena time after Dom leaves.

Ouch, what a threat.

Asshole.

He just grins at me and I mentally roll my eyes. Maybe it's all in good fun.

"Well, mister lawman, whatcha got for a dame like me? I got enough blood on mah paws to keep me behind bars 'til the day I die. Any way a lass can charm her way into your good graces?" Her smirk tells me what kind of man she thinks Carter is. Fortunately for her, she's wrong.

And I guess it's fortunate for me as well.

"Oh trust me, Dead Eye, I know exactly what I could get out of a judge for your sentence, and I can tell you that you'd spend hardly a day in prison. But I would like to make a fair assessment in this situation as much as possible, as I know how it feels to have little other choice in life. Are you serious about needing an out? Are you trying to leave the Fangs? Leave killing and the gang life behind? Leave Caras behind?" The gravelly quality of his voice from in the alley creeps back as he speaks.

Dominique's eyes narrow and again I reach over to rest my fingers around her wrist. Just a precaution. I rather like keeping my couch with no holes in it. "Iffin I have the chance, I'd rather like to grab my ma and little sister and skedaddle. You fixin' to give me a shot at it?" Hopeful. That's not an emotion I've heard or smelled outta Dominique before. Usually it's just determined or pissed. Sometimes affectionate. Or aroused. I smirk to myself.

"If I can swing it, getting you out of my city is fine with me. I don't rightly care too much myself how I do it, but if you get to keep your head then I get to make Parker happy. I'm indebted to him already, so I would like to try and repay that as best I can. The Carter Family pays their debts." His eyes flash. He's hot when he's serious.

I shake my head. Zachary smirks this time. He's hot even when he's not. A little lust addled, maybe?

Shut up. It's been a while.

Trust me, I know what you mean.

"Iffin you think you can do this, you let... Parker know what I need to do. Ah'm tired of killin' folk. Gets to a body after a while." Her smile is one that I enjoy, though it's a bit half hearted this time. I imagine because, while desperate for a way out, she doesn't like to trust anyone but me. That probably says something about our relationship, but she's pulled a gun on me more times than I can count. That probably says something just as loud.

"So, am I hearing that we have a deal? I scratch your back you scratch mine?" Carter has a nasty gleam in his eyes that I can appreciate. He's got fire, like Dominique had said after the first day that I met him.

She takes another drawn out moment before nodding. "As much o' one as I can ask for. Jus' remember, lawman. You cross me, you'll be dead before you get home that night."

"Same goes for you, Miss Valterres. I'll have word for you within the next couple of months. I need to make some phone calls, maybe call in a favor or two. I look forward to getting you out of my town."

"An' I look forward to leavin' it." Dominique twists her arm out of my grasp, turns back to the door, and glides out.

Well, I feel that went about as well as I could hope for. Nobody got shot, we have the barest semblance of a deal that works out well for all parties involved (except the rest of the Fangs, of course) and I still have time to kill with a pretty hyena. I suppose I can call this a win.

Alright buddy, your turn. I can't believe I'm doing this. I close my eyes, let myself get pulled backwards completely into my own mind, and lean into a brief embrace with my double. I hope you appreciate it.

I can tell he does with the way that he squeezes me. And because of his words. My thanks is beyond measure, Kota. You're a life saver.