Chapter Text
On September 29th, when they were enjoying their one hour of mandated outdoor recreation time, Shaw’s curiosity finally got the better of him.
“Okay, lay it on me,” he said.
Douglas tore his gaze away from the furious basketball game that was raging in the courtyard and raised a thick, scarred eyebrow. “Lay what on ya?” he said around the cigarette between his lips.
“Am I crazy, or-”
“Yes,” said Renato, taking the cigarette from Douglas with a nod of thanks.
“I wasn’t finished.”
“The answer’s yes. Objectively.”
“You do kinda… talk to yourself a lot,” said Miguel, passing the cigarette along to Shaw without taking a drag. “N-Not that we’re judging or anything.”
“Speak for yourself,” said Renato. “You ain’t the one who has to listen to him argue with nothing all night.”
Douglas smiled as Shaw passed the cigarette back to him, untouched. “What kinda arguments? Lover’s quarrels?”
Miguel’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, juicy!”
“Shut up and let me finish!” Shaw snapped. “Tell it to me straight. Is one of you keeping a dog in your cell?”
The three prisoners’ smiles faded, and they stared at Shaw, cigarette forgotten.
“A d-dog?” said Miguel.
“Yeah, a dog. I can’t be the only one who keeps seeing dog hair all over the hallways, or hearing barking when it’s lights out. So spill the beans. Who’s the bastard with the dog?”
The three prisoners looked at each other, then looked back to Shaw again.
“What’s with that reaction?” said Shaw indignantly.
“Shaw,” said Douglas, pronouncing each word slowly. “Are ya tellin’ us that you’ve been in South Hill Prison for over a month, and ya still haven’t met Danny?”
“What?”
“Oh my god,” Miguel breathed. “H-He really hasn’t met Danny. I can’t believe it.”
“Who’s Danny?”
“Well,” said Renato, his lips twisting into a sardonic grin. “You can’t be considered a true member of South Hill Prison ‘til you’ve met Danny. Ain’t that right, boys?”
“Quit screwing with me. Who the hell is-”
“OI, DEVITO!” Douglas hollered.
The basketball game ground to a momentary halt as all the prisoners looked up, startled by Douglas’ booming voice. Then, from the center of the courtyard, a man with sandy-brown hair in a half-ponytail and enough piercings to ban him from every airport in the country flounced over to Shaw and company’s spot in the shade. His silver lip ring glinted as he smiled wide.
“You rang, Duggie?” he said, his Spanish accent as thick and distinctive as ever.
“Shaw here’s got something he wants to ask you,” said Douglas, slapping Shaw on the back for emphasis.
“Really now?” said Devito. He clasped his hands together and beamed. “Oh, Shaw baby, who’d’ve thought you were such a romantic? You been takin’ notes from Renny’s love novels or what?”
“In your fucking dreams,” growled Shaw.
“Cold as ever,” Devito sighed fondly. “Well, dontcha worry, Shaw baby, I love ya all the same. Go on, what’s your question?”
Shaw fought down the urge to punch him. “Does the name Danny mean anything to you?”
The instant the words left his mouth, all of Devito’s flaunty, flirtatious swagger evaporated like warm milk, and his eyes went as wide as a five-year-old kid’s.
“You ain’t met Danny yet?!” he exclaimed.
“No, and if you don’t tell me who he is already, I’m gonna-”
Devito spun on his heel, put two fingers in his mouth, and let out an ear-piercing whistle.
A second later, there was a flurry of movement from across the courtyard. A streak of orange zoomed towards them like a bullet. It rocketed into Devito’s legs with such force that Shaw half-expected his ankles to shatter. But all Devito did was laugh as he scooped the fluffy orange ball into his arms.
“Whoa, easy there,” Devito giggled as he hugged the dog – if you could call it that. It was less of a dog and more of a pumpkin with legs. “Somebody’s excited, huh?”
“Wurf!” said the dog, licking Devito’s face from chin to eyebrow.
“Guess what, buddy? I gotta new friend who wants to meet ya!”
“We ain’t friends,” said Shaw, glaring.
“So ya finally admit it, Shaw baby? We’re a little somethin’ more than friends, ain’t we?”
“Also wrong,” said Shaw, glaring even more.
“Ooh, scary! But don’t worry, Danny, he’s all bark and no bite.” Devito hoisted the dog towards him. “Shaw baby, this is Danny. He’s an orange sable Pomeranian. Danny, this is Shaw. Go on, say hi!”
“Wurf!” said Danny, wagging his tail and gazing up at Shaw with big brown eyes.
Shaw said nothing.
“Aw, don’t be shy. He don’t bite.” Devito thrust him even closer. “C’mon, pet him.”
Making sure to glower at Devito the whole time, Shaw stretched out his hand and gave Danny a single, short pat. His fur was so thick he had to press down for a while before he made contact with actual dog. The moment he touched him, Danny let out a joyful wurf and, quick as a wink, licked the entirety of Shaw’s palm.
Shaw yanked back his hand like he’d touched a hot stove. “Hey, no tongue!”
“That’s what she said,” whispered Miguel, and Douglas choked on his cigarette.
“Don’t be so jumpy, Shaw baby. What, you allergic or somethin’?”
“More of a cat person,” said Shaw through gritted teeth.
“That’s what they all say,” Devito replied coolly. “But there ain’t no man alive who’s immune to this lil’ stud muffin. Ain’t that right, Danny boy?”
“Wurf!” said Danny with a happy wriggle.
“It’s true,” said Douglas. “Ever since Devito joined the P3-”
“P3?”
“Pet Partnership Program,” said Renato. “It’s all the rage at North Hill, apparently, so they’re finally doing a trial run here. And for reasons God only knows, they picked Devito as the first candidate.”
“’Course they picked me!” said Devito with a flip of his hair. “I’m a delight. Ask anyone.”
“I’m sure the four guys you stabbed would agree,” said Shaw dryly.
“First of all, it was six, and second of all, they’re obviously biased.” He bounced Danny in his arms, gently. “But you’re nothin’ but objective, right, Danny boy? Who’s da best owna in da whowe wide wowld?”
“Wurf!” said Danny, snuggling into Devito’s chest.
“See?” Devito beamed. “So honest. You should take notes, Shaw baby.”
Shaw shoved his hands in his pockets and stalked off.
“Going so soon?” Douglas called after him.
“G-Guys, c’mon, leave him alone,” stammered Miguel.
“Oh, he’s just sulking,” said Renato. “You know he’ll come crawling back by supper.”
“Don’t wait up,” Shaw spat over his shoulder.
“I hate it when ya leave, Shaw baby,” Devito shouted, “but I love watching ya go!”
And with the uproarious laughter of Renato and company ringing in his ears – along with Danny’s stupid yaps – Shaw spent the rest of the hour staring at the basketball game and ignoring Devito blowing kisses in his direction.
***
That night, half an hour before lights out, a sudden burst of song from the cell next door almost made Shaw drop his toothbrush down the toilet. A loud, obnoxious voice, singing what sounded like a Spanish pop song at the same decibel level as a jet engine.
“HEY!” Shaw shouted, pounding the wall. “Keep it down!”
“He ain’t gonna listen to you,” said a voice from behind him. A second later, Ren materialized up through the floor, leaving a glowing patch of ectoplasm in his wake. “Trust me, once Devito goes full Mariah Carey, there’s no stopping him.”
Shaw turned to glare at his brother, running his hands through his hair. “So what am I supposed to do? Go over there and kick his ass?”
“Looks that way.”
“Why don’t YOU go? Make yourself useful for once.”
“And do what, exactly?”
“I don’t know, knock some shit over. Throw some pillows or something. Y’know, ghost shit.”
Ren gave him a look of utter disgust. “Ghost shit? Really?”
“Look, I don’t fucking know! Just get his attention somehow!”
“I don’t want his attention. Knowing Devito, he’ll just start coming on to me.”
“Please. Not even Devito’s that desperate.”
“Oh, fuck you.”
Shaw stalked over to the door. “You coming or what?”
“If it means I get to see Danny, sure.”
“Oh, spare me. Not you too.”
“C’mon, he’s cute. You gotta admit he’s cute at least.”
“He is not cute.”
“Is too.”
“If he’s so cute, how come you ain’t said nothing about him when I got here?”
“’Cause I didn’t know he was still around. Must’ve been at the vet or something the week you arrived.” Ren crossed his arms and smiled at nowhere in particular. “Boy, brings back memories.”
“Keep ‘em to yourself.” With that, Shaw stomped down the hall towards Devito and Renato’s cell.
The door was open, as usual, and Devito’s singing warbled into the hall, echoing in the lofty rafters. He was no Mariah, that was for sure, but his voice was surprisingly tuneful. It had a warm, rich timbre to it that one wouldn’t have expected from his sultrier speaking voice. It was pleasant – or it would’ve been, if it were coming from anyone other than Devito.
Speaking of the devil, Shaw peered into the room to see Devito sitting on the floor, his back to the wall, with Danny in his lap. Judging by the brush in his hand and the clumps of thick orange fur littering the ground, they appeared to be in the middle of a musical grooming session for the ages. He didn’t see Renato; he was most likely losing at poker to Douglas and Miguel in the next cell over.
Danny’s ears perked up the second he saw Shaw in the doorway. “Wurf!” he said, wagging his tail and excitedly pawing at Devito’s lap.
Devito looked up, and his lips curled into their usual saucy grin. “My, my. Comin’ to visit at this time of night, Shaw baby? People are gonna talk, y’know.”
Shaw decided that statement didn’t even warrant a response. “Will you pipe down already? This ain’t a karaoke bar. Some of us are trying to sleep.”
Devito blinked. “Oh. Was I singin’ out loud?”
“Yes!”
“Aw, sorry, Shaw baby. Sometimes the music just takes the wheel, y’know?” Devito’s smile twisted into a darker smirk. “But if we’re talkin’ noise complaints, if I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard ya arguing with yourself at the ass crack of midnight, I could open my own damn bank. So, let he who is without sin throw the first stone, hm?”
“He’s got you there,” Shaw heard Ren say, snickering.
“Shut up.”
“Didn’t say anything, Shaw baby.”
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Shaw grumbled, not caring how crazy he sounded. “Now can it with the American Idol auditions and-”
“Wurf!”
Danny’s excited bark cut him off. The dog jumped out of Devito’s lap and skittered towards the doorway, staring at a spot directly above Shaw’s right shoulder. Shaw glanced over to see Ren floating next to him in the doorway, his mint-green eyes wide.
“Hey, Danny boy!” Devito called. “What’s goin' on, buddy?”
Danny didn’t answer. He just continued to stare up at Ren with big brown eyes, silent.
Slowly, tentatively, Ren reached towards the dog with his silverly white hand.
And with an enthusiastic wurf, Danny charged forward, leapt into the air, and sailed right through Ren’s body. He landed in the hallway with a weighty thud.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Devito leapt to his feet. “What’s with the gymnastics, buddy?”
“Wurf?” said Danny, clearly nonplussed. He shook himself, sending a shower of fluff all over Shaw’s pants, then once again jumped, pawing at the place where Ren’s translucent legs faded into nothing. “Wurf!” he barked. “Wurf, wurf!”
“Can…” Ren’s voice had a tremor to it. “Can he see me?”
Shaw didn’t have an answer. Fortunately, Devito saved him from having to come up with one. “Oi, Danny!” he called, patting his thighs. “C’mere, boy! We ain’t done grooming yet!”
“Wurf!” said Danny, still jumping up and down like a pogo stick.
“You wanna treat?” Devito dug around in his pocket. He pulled out a small blue box. “You wanna treat, buddy?”
At the word treat, Danny zoomed back to Devito’s side at a speed which could shatter the sound barrier. Devito shook out a single dog treat, and Danny jumped up to grab it, his tail going a million miles an hour.
“Whoa, whoa. Settle down, buddy. Sit.”
Danny sat.
“Atta boy.” Devito shook out a second treat, and Danny snatched them both out of his hand at light speed. Then Devito sat back down on the floor, and with a rumbly wurf – a noise of pure contentment – Danny crawled onto his lap and curled up into a fluffy, almost-spherical ball.
“Jesus,” Devito chuckled. “How’ve you got so much energy this late at night?”
“Takes after his owner,” Shaw muttered.
“Hm? Speak up, Shaw baby.”
“Nothing.”
As Devito shrugged and resumed brushing, Shaw felt a cold breeze as Ren wafted past him. He drifted towards Danny, slowly, carefully. As he drew near, Danny opened one eye, surveying him closely.
Ren closed his eyes and reached out, brow furrowed. Then he placed his hand on Danny’s head and stroked, once.
Danny’s tail swished, happily, and with a pleased wurf, he nuzzled Ren’s palm. Ren’s eyes flew open, and his lips parted. One might have called the expression on his face breathless, were he still capable of breathing.
Something in the pit of Shaw’s stomach turned.
“How long’s it take to brush him, anyway?” he said without thinking.
Devito tilted his head to the side, thinking. “’Bout an hour? Maybe two, if he’s been runnin’ around a whole lot.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. But it ain’t such a bad way to pass the time. Beats readin’ Renny’s stupid love novels, anyway.”
“Huh.” Shaw found his gaze drifting back to Ren. He quickly tried to think of something else to say. “Ain’t it expensive, though? Buying supplies?”
“Nah. P3 covers it. Wouldn’t believe all the stuff they give ya. Food, treats, dog toys, grooming shit… Y'know, nail clippers, shampoo, that kinda thing.”
“Nail clippers, huh?”
Devito waved his hand dismissively. “Dontcha worry, Shaw baby. Ain’t nothing they give ya that’s sharp enough to shank someone with. Believe me, I’ve tried.”
Shaw raised an eyebrow.
“I’m kidding! Relax!” Devito rolled his eyes. “’Sides, I ain’t interested in that kinda thing no more. Ain’t got in a fight in over a year now.”
“Oh?”
Devito paused. He set the brush down on the floor and ruffled Danny’s fur with both hands. Danny closed his eyes, completely at peace, and his tail thumped the floor as it wagged.
“’Cause if I start causin’ trouble, they might take him away,” Devito said quietly. “And even if they don’t, if they throw my ass in solitary, there ain’t nobody else to take care of him, see?”
Shaw wasn’t expecting the conversation to go this direction. “What about Renato?”
“Oh, Renny hates him,” said Devito matter-of-factly. “Can barely be in the same room as him. It’s a real shame.” He sighed and scratched Danny behind the ears. “You shit on somebody’s pillow one time and you’re enemies for life, huh?”
“Wurf!” said Danny proudly.
“…Right,” said Shaw. “Then what about-”
“Mig’s scared of dogs, and Duggie’s allergic. And I ain’t trust the guys in the other cell blocks enough.” Devito smirked playfully. “And apparently, you’re a cat person. So that leaves me.”
“What’s wrong with being a cat person?”
“Nothing.” Devito winked. “If anything, it just makes ya cuter, Shaw baby.”
Shaw decided it was time to leave. “For fuck’s sake, quit it with the 'Shaw baby'. And no more singing.”
“You sure? I take requests.”
“How’s this for a request, then? Shut the fuck up.”
Devito made a show of cringing. “Oof, Shaw baby. You been taking comeback lessons from Mig or what?”
“Maybe if you let me get some goddamn sleep, I’d have some better material.”
“Sure, honey.”
“Don’t you ‘sure honey’ me.”
Devito stuck out his tongue. In response, Shaw flipped him off and stomped out, making sure to ignore Danny’s goodbye wurf and Ren’s sniggering.
It wasn’t until he’d reached his room and crawled onto his rock-hard bed that the significance of it hit him. Ren’s laughter. And the way his mint-green eyes had lit up while he was petting Danny.
When was the last time he’d seen Ren make a face like that?
Before he could remember, he fell asleep.