Chapter Text
“I'm looking for the...” Swan looked down briefly at the digital assistant she carried with her. “Hellhound?” She smirked.
The blue Anubian looked up, removing a pair of aviator glasses he had been wearing indoors. They were a goodwill gift from one of the Space Sheriffs he'd just met on assignment. He quite liked them, though they were a bit large. Perhaps he'd grow into them. “And you think that's me?”
The Cygnian shrugged a bit and adjusted her brown hair. “Well, you are the only Anubian I'm aware of around here... unless the nickname is ironic. I don't think it is.”
Doggie removed his sunglasses. “It's Watchdog.”
Swan tilted her head. “Pardon?”
“It's Watchdog of Hell. The characters are written the same. Weird, I know. It's not a nickname I particularly like, but that variation at least it focuses on the... more policeman-like part. It's somewhat appropriate. I suppose. More fitting of a Dekaranger. Hellhound makes me sound like wild dog.” He made a few, indistinct canine noises while puffing his chest under the somewhat snug uniform. He probably needed a new one. Too small with all that muscle underneath.
“...Ah. Let's dispense with the nicknames, then. My name is Swan Shiratori. I hoped to meet the man I'll be working with. You're shorter than I expected.” She smirked a bit, eying him up and down. He was allegedly off-duty, but still in full uniform and still with his license on-hand. She'd be replacing that soon though, if she had her way.
Doggie nodded, straightening his back slightly. “Doggie Kruger... and I'm not quite done growing, to be honest. Anubians get quite large, I assure you.”
“Ooh. Fearsome.” Her name didn't ring any bells in the Anubian's furry ears. Not completely surprising. He was probably the more famous of the two among the Dekarangers. “It's not quite right for a dog to be smaller than a swan, now is it?”
His ear twitched. “We're the same height. I'm taller if you count the ears.”
“Shorter, if you count mine.” She took a seat. “You're keeping up, at least. Most people either nod politely when I talk or try to pull seniority.”
“To be honest, I'm not sure in what capacity we're to work together. So I don't know if I am your senior or not. If I am though, you're not displaying proper decorum.” Doggie's ears flattened a bit. “I would politely request you clarify-”
Swan waved him off a little. “I'm in the technology department. You're going to be helping me develop new devices and equipment to better the cause of Interstellar Justice and such.” She smiled, warmly. “You're going to test my toys.”
“I see.” He nodded, curt. “... If it will help, I gladly submit to this.”
“Submitting to me already?” Her smile grew in size. She was already having fun.
Doggie didn't reply. He seemed a bit oblivious. “What shall we be testing?”
Swan sighed, a bit of the mirth gone. Absolutely zero reaction. “Armor, guns, maybe a few ah...” She grinned, thinking of the blueprints sitting on her desk. She should give that one a big Anubian head. That' would be cool. “It'll take a while. I look forward to working with you, Doggie.”
Doggie coughed a little. That got the reaction she expected from her earlier remark. The informality was not something he seemed accustomed to. “Ah... Swan-san, then?”
“Swan-san is just fine.” She smiled again. Doggie smiled a little too. Maybe. It's hard to tell with Anubians. She'd like to think he did.