The Park, Early Wednesday Morning

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

One of the drawbacks of not yet having found a home for the dog meant walking it every day, but at least the mornings tended to be generally quiet. Maybe even... nice.

Not that Cable was going to say that.

Tether quietly bounding along his leash and Cable's traditional giant longcoat moving along with the wind, they made their round through the park.

[ park is open, thread with nate locked to one ]

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[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly was up early for a particular reason but found herself going to the Perk for coffee and stopping by the QuikStop to stock up on cat food while she was out.

The puppy drew her attention first though the brilliant aura of his person certainly wasn't something not to pay attention too. She changed the angle of her path subtly. She may not have needed to actually be closer to get a closer look, but it made a good excuse.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

It wasn't Tether's reaction that brought Aly's presence to Cable's attention, but it was only when the dog paused, suddenly, entire body still and staring, that he took a glance at the woman. Then back down at the dog, a faint eyebrow raised.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly's lips quirked at the puppy's reaction, but her manners were too well ingrained to try to keep his attention without his master's okay.

"New friend?" she asked lightly, glancing at Cable.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"A well-intentioned gift," Cable deadpanned. He held the vague idea she'd know what he was talking about, but added, "Wade needs to learn to think ahead."

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"Only the best furry animals for his friends," Aly said with a bit of a smile.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"That's one way of looking at it." He gave Tether some breathing room on the leash, allowing the dog to wander up to Aly and stare up with big eyes.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"May I?" she asked, looking from the puppy to Cable.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"I think he's already made his decision." He followed the dog's movements casually.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"Hey there Tether," Aly said, leaning down to offer her hand to the dog then pet him if he wanted. "Never pegged you for a dog person."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Tether sniffed carefully, then his tail started wagging, and he turned slightly, moving against Aly's hand.

"I'm not," Cable commented, and kept it at that.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Giving Tether his petting dues, Aly gave him a wry look. "And yet, here you are walking a dog when it's barely dawn."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Cable replied, crossing his arms. A little. He still had to keep control of the leash. "I'm not going to let him waste away."

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

She couldn't help the amusement in her eyes as she gazed at Cable. "I wouldn't ever accuse you of that," Aly said seriously.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"I wasn't insinuating you were," Cable said mildly, watching Tether as he made himself at home amongst all the petting.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"As long we're clear on that," Aly told him, a very amused grin breaking through.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Crystal," Cable replied, with the world's most solid straight face. Or maybe he really did mean that seriously.

Probably not.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

She'd suspected Cable had a sense of humour. It was just hidden back there behind all that muscle.

"Think it'll jinx it if I congratulate you on a week without insanity?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Probably," Cable deadpanned, tugging slightly on Tether's leash before the dog would go and flop down into the dirt.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"I'll just be quietly pleased for it," she said, noticing Cable's movement and encouraging Tether to stay up as well. At least partially because she wouldn't be there to make sure everything went okay.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"That'll help," he replied, off-handedly, moving his arms again for a better grip on the leash. "Life tends to have its own ideas."

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"So I've found," Aly said. She studied Cable frankly for a moment as she stood up away from Tether.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Cable returned her gaze impassively, features betraying nothing. "I won't let anything happen again."

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"I believe you'll do your best," she said quietly.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"You might want to consider the same," he replied, no fluctuation in his tone.

Cable wasn't talking about the same things.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly couldn't quite keep the flash of hurt out of the back of her eyes but her gaze didn't waver. "I always do."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Most of us do," Cable said, after another beat had passed. "That doesn't always make us right..."

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"None of us have the luxury of always being in the right," Aly replied.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Depends on your perspective," Cable replied, with a certainty that at some level, he didn't quite feel. "And your expectations."

That one, he did.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"What are your expectations, Cable?" she asked. tilting her head at the certainty.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

A moment that, for all its briefness, probably only felt like one to him. Cable smirked slightly. "Now that would be telling," he said.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly couldn't help smirking back. "That an invitation to find out?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"No," Cable replied, definitively, as Tether moved a little closer to his feet, then added, deadpanning, "I'm sure you'll have fun."

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"I'm positive I will," she agreed, lips quirking. "Not just yet though. I need to go back home for a bit."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Problems?" he asked-- maybe with a hint of concerned curiosity, now. Maybe.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"Nothing that can't be handled," Aly said with a shrug. "I just need to be there for it."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"I can understand that," Cable returned, impassively. He reached down to scratch Tether behind the ears.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly gave him a small smile, amused at the affection for Tether and trusting him to pass on the information if it was needed. "I'm not surprised you do."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

He glanced back up at Aly before stretching back up in full. "You wouldn't be," Cable said, matter-of-factly. "Make it right."

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly didn't think he was just referring to her situation at home. Because she wasn't so bad at picking up unspoken implications sometimes.

Her lips still quirked as her eyes flashed hurt again before she mastered it. "Sometimes it's not under your control."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"So they keep telling me." It wasn't as if he listened. It was a few moments before Cable noted, "But that never got anyone anywhere."

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly threw her hair over her shoulder and squared her shoulders, smirking at him. "Sure it did. Some people enjoy running in circles, all sound and fury signifying nothing."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"I don't."

Cable pulled on Tether's leash gently again, motioning slightly at the dog.

The concept didn't quite catch just yet, but eventually, he got to his feet.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"Didn't accuse you of it," Aly teased, not showing anything other than amusement now. She held her hand out to Tether. "Good meeting you, pup. Don't do anything I wouldn't do, Cable."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"I doubt it," Cable simply commented, turning away from her to stroll further into the park.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly doubted it too. Possibly because he was old. But probably not.

She watched them move away from her for a moment, studying Cable's power again before she turned to head back to her apartment.