whitetwoguns | But I ain't no madman.

Sure don't rain like this back home.

[Los Angeles, not Milwaukee. Since their clothes are dirty and they are dirty, it somehow makes sense in a round about way to take a walk in it to clean up some. There's a guy who's fixing up a little something at the apartment. And since he finds himself with more time with Mr. Orange, it's not an opportunity to miss.

They can take a walk around their new neighborhood.]

Looks like Seattle shit to me. [A nod nod in agreement. Nevermind that the kid's never actually been to Seattle.] Feels kinda good though, easy shower.

[Walking along with just Larry Dimick is also a nice casual luxury even when it's through a shanty town.]

All of it changes up the scenery. I can't complain about that.

[Now everything is a darker brown. And damp. There's a chance that they could get greenery though. Why the hell not? Deserts have flowers, and an oasis doesn't pop out of nowhere.]

Y'sure it's okay to sit this one out today?

[Larry loves being able to walk in the rain with Freddy. He would hate though that it was something that he had to pull together.]

Captain America, Iron Man, and War Machine are out there somewhere, I think we're good. [Freddy shakes his wet matted haired head. These shades will hold all that hair back maybe.] Anyway I'm on call. If anyone really needs the back up they'll send a message.

[And just for that he gives the old man a bump to the side. Damn has Freddy really made it that obvious he's a pseudo-paramilitary type? He knows Eames has been thinking it.]

[With a play list like that, chances are he'll be free the whole day. His lips are sealed.]

Gotta say working like that [on the field, pounding pavement, er, sand as a cop would] is demanding.

[And even though it is more of Freddy's responsibility, his duty, the old man comes along too. It's not about the ride. It's about protecting and serving....this man and with this man.]

I know you like workin' with them.

[Keeping the peace and enforcing the will of sweet lady justice in subversive ways. It's skewed. Where they got their guns. Their partnership.

He might like but this right here is love. Bump right on back your way, Newendyke.]

Yeah a lot of things are.

[Says Mr. Modesty, giving a shrug like doing demanding things is no thing at all. It is about protecting and serving and preserving a semblance of order so everyone can live to see a new day. But working with them? Them specifically? Sure it's true, however Freddy here needs to clarify. Oof.]

I like workin'.

[Being a cop. He was a cop before he ever got to shake hands with Johnny Storm or show Thor his toucan. Speaking of that bird, he's probably roosting back at the apartment to keep dry (and keep a sharp eye on whoever's working in there, good bird).]

[And they're getting lean from it. At least one man is. Not just copping.]

I know. Not the everyday City stuff.

[What would they even call this? Larry slicks back his hair and finds it works with the wet rainwater. How about that?

That guy at the apartment better not fuck with them. Sam will get him before they do. And if they do, well, all best are off.]

It's not bad. I'm starting to see why you like it.

[Purely based on tasks.]

Oh yeah? What are you up to when I'm not with you?

[It's not a trick question, Lawrence Dimick, honest. Freddy reaches up to help comb that darker hair back. In the rain like this it looks glossy brown, shaves a handful of years off White's age. The every slowly toning of his already large body helps too.]

Do you really want to know?

[It's not a coy question. Just an honest, incriminating one. There is now blood on his paws.

At the touch of his hand the weight of it pressing back his hair just so is motivation to keep on going.]

Getting a few more things for the room.

[Room. Apartment. Same thing.]

If it's going to stay like this, we should be comfortable, you know?

Yeah I do.

[Challenge accepted, the kid thinks to himself, as if the old man's avoidance is some indication Larry thinks Freddy can't handle what he's up to. Fff.]

No shit? [Green eyes are blinking curiously.] Like what?

[He can handle. Freddy can handle quite a lot. One tough motherfucker that he is. Can he handle knowing that the old man still can do underhanded things like finding and utilizing a black market system? Betting and in some cases liberating artifacts? Not all of them were achieved this way, no sir.]

We have two beers that are going to be waiting.

[For starters.]

And we also have some lanterns. Normal ones, not green or anything.

Fresh beers?

[Freddy asks, brow quirked now. Color him intrigued, Mr. White. Look at these wet hands waving.] What kind of lanterns?

[If not green ones. Hopefully not yellow ones either.]

Fresh. Probably not cold though.

[Shrug. What can you do? The rain won't help much. It's on the warm side.]

Gas. All they need is a light.

[And they have lighters so boom there will be light at night or in the early morning hours before the sun is up.]

I was hoping to get flashlights. Still gotta keep an eye out for those, they're harder to find and people are less willing to let them go.

Whatdya mean not cold? It's fuckin' cold enough right now, the weather'll chill it.

[Freddy argues and smiles, looking on the bright side. His man got him fresh beer, how about that. And heaters. But wait, flashlights?]

What are you trying to do, outfit an expedition?

[He's joking, honestly, though his mind is also now tumbling what it cost Larry Dimick to get these things.]

We'll that'd be a pleasant surprise if it did.

[Cuz he doesn't deem this to be cold weather. Annoying rain, really getting him to the skin but ain't bad. Might make everything fit tighter on the both of em. Not bad at all.]

No, not yet. Wouldn't do any harm being ready.

[The place could open up and reveal a road out. Stranger shit has happened. It's a thought that keeps coming back.

Larry walks with his hands in his pockets.]

Nobody's really got any clothes. Everything else is a blanket or sheet.

[Must be all that Milwaukee blood coursing through his veins. Another nudge to that slightly tauter side.]

Yeah? Sounds like you've been holding out on me. [What have you got up your sleeve, Mr. White. Now the kid really wants to know.]

[That and a big bigger except...might be his imagination but there is a bit more of a chill in the air.]

Holding out? Nah. I was waiting to see what was around. People got a price.

[He does too. Except he's still got that pinky ring. That is something that stays.]

Not so many things, in case we gotta pack up.

[Skip the City at last except there is a we there. We used to be a word they would ghost around. It stood there, cold and quiet and was something that the old man wanted to believe in. Now it's real.]

[See this flappy hand kind of move and gesture around.] Yeah? And?

[You're dragging him along, Lawrence Dimick, you know you are.]

So you wanna see what we got, is that what you're saying?

[Shucks he's not trying to string you along, Freddy. Here, he'll grab both flappy damp hands.]

All of it's at our place.

[And if destiny is kind, he's got two smokes preserved. Maybe. Hopefully.]

Uh huh. I do. [Flappy hands stop flapping by virtue of being held in those paws.] All of it?

[What are you waiting for, Larry Dimick? Take this kid along on your very own magic carpet ride. To tell the truth though, Freddy's expecting something small, small enough to hide while he's around. Sneaky Dimmy.]

[They flap so much they can't be contained. Alright, he'll let them go.]

C'mon. You'll make your own assessment.

[Nudge in the right direction. He privately admires how wet clothes fit on that wiry frame. While he is pleased with the response there's a degree of disappointment. Maybe even shame. They're excited about things they would normally have. Or at least Dimick is happy to have them, he hopes that Freddy will too.]

[Maybe it's the weather or their dire situation but he can't help smiling at Larry. He's ready to mosey on back to their quarters. On the way Freddy squishes a slug.]

Aw shit, man.

[Look at this sticky mess. Give him a moment to rub his boot on a wet surface before they're off again.]

[Smile on back, it's contagious like a yawn.]

Damn. Watch it will you?

[Woah. Wait. What?]

I didn't know they got slugs in the desert.

[And as he is making his way around that mess he steps on half of one the rest of it squishes out from under his foot.]

Are you fucking kidding? Yuck.

[Blugh. It even makes a weird squelching sound. Blugh. But enough of that. Now it's Freddy's turn to take hold of a paw and pull Larry along back to their place. He doesn't give a crap who sees him--them--like this, leading the old man like an overzealous partner.]

Come on.

[He'd follow anywhere. Through rain, through slugs, through bullets. There's something about them together in the rain.]

Not so fast or else we're gonna slip.

[On slugs he means. For real they don't have that far to go. The walled slum of a City isn't too fucking big and for that matter, they didn't go too far in the rain.]

I thought you said you wanted to walk and spend sometime with me.

[As though they are changing plans completely.]

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