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>"God, these burgers are good..."

>The greasy, wax-paper-wrapped goodness of Daney's Delicious burgers never fails to satisfy you.

>The fries and the root beer are good too, but the atmosphere is what does it. The summer sun beating just outside the picnic table's umbrella, the smell of more burgers being made in the air, and the companionship of a good friend on the worn wooden bench.

>"You say that every time," Talia chuckles, digging into one of her own.

>"I know. That make it any less true?"

>She takes another bite, and shakes her head.

>You feel more relaxed already. The weight of the trial and yesterday's weird events at the bar and at your home are lifted, if only temporarily.

>Getting Talia to have lunch here with you was the right move.

>It didn't exactly take convincing; Daney's was a spot you both liked, out of the way in a little place called Stevville. Technically it's a shorter drive for her, no matter if she's working the range or FF Supply, but you don't mind.

>Getting out of New Apple for a bit is worth taking a longer lunch, has been even on the weeks where you're not under trial.

>"So, they're still letting you work, huh?" Talia asks, leaning back a little.

>"Yeah... hold on, they didn't fire you or anything, did they? From either place?"

>"FF pissed me off," she says, her next bite a little hard. "Told me yesterday when I came into work that I'm on floor duty until further notice."

>You hum through a mouthful of burger; that can't be good. Talia has been working the gun counter there for the better part of a year now, getting better pay and an easier time. She isn't exactly the most people-friendly person, so you imagine wandering around the store and trying to be 'helpful' won't go well.

>"Told them I'd be taking the rest of the week off," she says, "range people were plenty happy to have an extra RSO on hand."

>"You think it has something to do with the trial?"

>"It shouldn't but I'm sure it does. Honestly I'm more surprised that the library hasn't sent you off for a week without pay."

>A sinking feeling begins to set in-- one of your coworkers did say to expect an email near the end of the day.

>Talia seems to notice, pausing mid fry-fling.

>"What's up? You said you came from work."

>"Yeah, well-- one of the people in the back told me to expect an email at the end of the day."

>Talia hum-growls, looking away.

>"She really fucked us up."

>You laugh.

>"Why wouldn't she? She's been after us both since we started 'dating.'"

>You've got the tact not to literally make air quotes, but they're clear in your tone. Talia snorts, working on her fries.

>"You remember the first time she got snippy with us?"

>"Of course. You were having me help with range takedown, and she thought I was posing as a staff member or something. You remember her face when you came by and told her I was yours?"

>A smile comes to the she-wolf's face.

>"Oh yeah. Didn't know she could look so pissed until then."

>Her gaze changes, the smile on her face teasing now.

>"I also remember you making that little noise when I licked you."

>"Fuck off."

>"It was pretty cute," she says, leaning in a little, "that little, gaspy 'oh!'"

>"I was trying to sell that we were together," you say, refusing to look at her, though you know your cheeks are beginning to change color.

>"Uh huh. That's why you shuddered in my arms."

>You look up at her and flick a fry at her smug face. She catches it in her jaws, snapping it up.

>"You surprised me," you manage, saving the next fry for yourself, "We'd never kissed or did anything like that before."

>"Did what I had to do-- selling that we were together, and all." Talia says, taking a drink, "Had to show her that you're mine."

>"Doesn't seem suspicious at all when you're so touchy about it the rest of the time..." you mutter.

>She flicks a fry at you, and you don't have the giant mouth to catch it with.

>"Don't want you getting any ideas," she says.

>"Like that'd happen," you chuckle-- though you feel a slight twinge of emotion.

>Disappointment? Sadness? You're not sure.

>She says nothing, taking a few bites before piping up again.

>"So, why'd you ask me here? Seemed like you had a reason."

>"I-- I just needed to see you," you say.

>She looks up at you then, an eyebrow raised and ears pricked. You quickly try to rephrase things.

>"What I mean is I needed a friend... Last two days have been weird, and you're the best one I have."

>Her expression softens a little, and she goes back to eating.

>"That's fair. I was gonna vent to you over the phone, but this is a little nicer."

>"Yeah. Thanks, Talia."

>"Of course, Anon."

>The two of you finish your food in silence, both letting out sighs of satisfaction as you lean lean back as far as the bench will allow.

>"What happened yesterday?" she asks after a bit, eyes closed. "I know we checked in about the trial, but... sounds like there was something else."

>You consider, for a moment, telling her about how you woke up with some naked fox claiming to be a god, who gave you a magical love-bullet-- but you quickly decide a more subtle approach would likely be better.

>"It just felt... weird."

>You look around, making sure that Patricia isn't somewhere eavesdropping before leaning in and lowering your voice.

>"I woke up late, had to call in to work and apologize, all that jazz. Then I go out to a bar, this one that's near my place, and guess who's there?"

>"Officer Bitch?"

>"Thank god, no. Well, maybe not, then I'd only have to deal with one person. The yeens, Talia, the yeens."

>She snorts, an eye opening.

>"All fucking ten of 'em. And get this-- they're not just hanging out at the bar, day drinking like I was trying to-- they all worked there. They run the place."

>Now the she-wolf sits up, giving you her full attention.

>"Fuck off."

>"No, they do. An--"

>"How are you here and not chained up in their dungeon, then?"

>"That's the thing-- remember how I said it's been weird? I walk in, they surround me like they did at the range, when one of them comes running from the back shouting my name... which none of them know. Didn't tell them Sunday, didn't tell them that day."

>She looks like she believes you.

>"The one that magically knows my name goes to the 'leader' ones, and they force all the rest to fall in line and basically speed date me over the course of like, two hours."

>"You really are fucking with me now," the she-wolf says, going back to her fries.

>"Then how else would I get this?"

>You pull out the card, being sure to wipe your hands first. Talia's brow furrows as she looks at it.

>"Their boss gave it to me, Talia. She's the biggest yeen I've ever seen. And that's not all-- she-- she not only tells me they're doing illegal shit, but offers to help me."

>"How?" Talia says, voice low, eyes narrow.

>"With the trial, I think. I don't know how, she wouldn't say, but it-- it's insane!"

>The she-wolf continues to look at the card for a bit, then looks up at you.

>"What are you going to do?"

>"Stay the hell away from there," you snort, "What else?"

>"Good boy," she says, giving you a pat on the head.

>You flip her the bird, and she smiles, before turning away. Her expression grows a little distant, a little less happy.

>"Nothing like that's happened to me... I'm just stuck thinking about how crazy it is that it's all going to end."

>"...What do you--?"

>"However this shakes out, Anon, I don't know if we're going to be 'together' anymore."

>She looks back on you with that default look of slight exasperation that she gives everyone-- but you've learned to see through the cracks.

>She's feeling something in there.

>"We lose, we're both getting put on the assignment list, probably with a no-pairing order. We win-- if we can win-- and I don't know if courtship is still a guarantee."

>She sighs, still looking off at the open fields across the street.

>The thought hadn't occurred to you that winning might not fix everything. Might mean that you two were in the clear for now, but wouldn't mean everything could just go on as it has.

>"Why do you say that?"

>"I talked with those lawyer-friends of mine I was telling you about," she says, turning back to you. "They're not experts on... union law, I think they called it? But, point is, they said if we can beat the charges, it's still going to put a target on our backs."

>You notice her claws digging into the wood table slightly.

>"Our yearly State check-ins will be more and more scrutinous. They'll start doing surprise ones. All because we've been sitting in what... is admittedly a loophole, and burned them with it."

>The she-wolf goes quiet, her lip on the edge of curling. You exhale slowly through your nose, closing your eyes.

>"...we had a good two years, didn't we?"

>She looks back at you as if she can't believe your calm tone.

>"Real or not, Talia, it was nice to be your boyfriend. Do those things together."

>The memories flow through you as you mention them:

>"Go to the woods every now and then and play survivalist; Have farm-fresh dinner at your parents' place; Have those parties at yours;"

>"Have someone on the range I know I don't have to watch," she chimes in.

>"And have someone to go out to lunch with when shit gets crazy," you finish.

>You study her again, briefly; she's still seven and a half feet of wolfess, filling out the worn camo she's got on nicely. She's still your not-girlfriend of nearly two years.

>She's still Talia.

>But she's looking at you in a way you haven't seen before. And you realize you're looking at her in a way you haven't ever either.

>"We can always still be friends," you say-- but the words ring hollow, some part of you hating yourself for saying it.

>"Of course," she says, lying as well.

>"Wouldn't want you getting any ideas," you say, and she laughs just a little.

>"I mean, who knows," you find yourself saying, feeling light inside, "Maybe it wasn't all fake."

>She stops.

>You stop.

>"The courtship, I mean."

>You slap a hand over your mouth-- you didn't say those words.

>Not like you don't believe that you did or that you didn't want to, but--

>...Well, yeah, you wanted to. You've wanted to say it for a while now.

>But you sure as fuck weren't going to.

>"I-I'm sorry, that just--"

>"Yeah."

>Talia's staring at you, eyes softer than you've ever seen from her.

>Even that time she had you watch 'Titanic,' the original human one, and insisted she wasn't close to tearing up at all.

>You feel something on your hand, and realize it's her paw, gripping tight.

>"Maybe that lick wasn't for show."

>Now she's the one to cover her mouth, and you're the one to stare.

>Her ears slowly slide down to her skull as she looks away, but you can see her tail is still standing tall. As the she-wolf begins asking the same questions you just did, one image comes to mind: those glowing orange eyes of that damned fennec fox.

>"Well, uh, time to get back to work," you say, trying to get out from the bench without looking too hasty.

>"Y-yeah, sure."

>The she-wolf does much the same, looking anywhere but at you.

>"So... see you later, I guess?"

>"Yeah, yeah," she sighs.

>You wait for a second before starting off, only to get wrapped up in a pair of strong arms.

>Talia's crouching slightly, arms around your shoulders as she holds you from behind, her muzzle dipped over your head just a little.

>She lets you go just as quick, before you can reciprocate, and walks off. There's no way you could catch up to those long strides, just short of a run.

>Not that you intend to-- you make for your truck with a similar barely-restrained gait, letting out a breath you didn't know you were holding as the Hilux fires up.

>You just breathe as you pull out onto the old two-lane, feeling your heart slowing. You didn't realize it was beating so fast.

>"Fuck," you growl when you reach the stop sign.

>You feel for Talia. You always have a little bit.

>But how much of that-- how much of what just happened-- was real, and how much was magic?

>And, more importantly, does it even matter?