Chapter Text
“What the hell is this,” A roughed-up woman muttered as she looked into a cage where a muzzled, straight jacket dressed, dog-sized Red bitty was backed into the far corner. “I realize what you run here isn't exactly legal, but you can't just muzzle a bitty, asshole.”
“P-please, it wasn't me! I just manage shipment a-and run transportation!” The man whose mullet she was gripping loudly cried out in pain from being tugged up to look at the bitty. “He probably attacked someone, please, please don't kill me!” He sobbed pitifully as the woman grinned at the Red who was closely watching the show.
“Oh, I'm not going to kill you, I'm just the one who manages transportation,” she mocked, “A trip to Mama’s should take care of that lip.” She walked towards a nearby van and started dragging the man by his ‘party in the back’. Throwing a massive tantrum, he screamed like a banshee and tried to pry his hair free from his captor’s grip to no avail.
“Pangolin! Answer your damn com!” Another voice could barely be heard over the screaming, “Have you found the smugglers?”
“Oh shit,” Pangolin breathed out, “Yeah, got the fuckers. How can you not hear this bitch screaming? There were about six others, but they've been handled. Wren, there's a few bitties still here, managed to stop the last shipment from going out.”
“Good. I'll be there in a few, take the howler to the van and lock ‘er up,” Wren responded.
Pangolin slid open one of the van’s side doors and threw the man inside, jumping on him and quickly trying him up.
“Hopefully Mama isn't merciful towards you, cause she'll just cut your suffering short,” she said as she prepared to gag him.
“D-don't let her kill me!” The man whimpered with wide eyes as he feebly tried to shake himself free.
“Oh honey, if she doesn't kill you, I will personally let those Boss bitties in there beat you to death,” Pangolin said as she stuffed the rope in his mouth and tied it painfully behind his head. She hopped out and locked the doors, walking back to the storage building where the bitties were.
“Pang! They're all so cute! Look at these Blues! And the poor Papys! They're all in raggedy clothes…” Wren gushed over the caged bitties and waved their hand to Pangolin in a ‘come here’ motion.
“You can't have one, babe,” Pangolin said as she pulled Wren in by their shoulders and kissed their forehead. “Vulture doesn't want us to get attached while on the job, you know that.”
“B-but Pang! Look at this Red!” Wren jumped towards the cages and gently brushed their finger against the bars of the muzzled one’s door. “Oh, sorry,” they said sheepishly as they saw him glare at her and lean away.
“Don't you remember what happened to Atheris’s Blue?” Pangolin said and turned Wren back towards her so they were facing each other.
“They dusted ‘em…” Wren muttered sadly and wrapped their arms around Pangolin’s waist, nuzzling into her neck.
“That's right, and I know you don't want that happening to anyone you befriend, so let's not have your heart be broken. Alright?” Pangolin said and she pulled back and looked Wren in the eyes.
Wren pouted and furrowed their brows, “If Vulture says it's ok, then I can take care of one, right?”
“Wren,” Pangolin said in a cautious tone.
“Fine!” Wren sighed and gave in. “It's not like I could sneak this guy past you or anything, he's so big and perfect…”
“Your eyes are sparkling again, honey.”