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"W-what will it be?" the pale ice-cream seller stammered as he regarded the teenage wolf and his scaly mentor on the other side of the counter.
"Glad you asked." Wolf replied, studying the multitude of different flavours. "I'll have one scoop of traditional vanilla and one of espresso coffee."
"And for you, s-sir?"
"Do you have any push-pops?"
"Y-yes. H-here!"
"Great!
The seller's hands trembled but he somehow managed to push the two scopes of ice-cream into the waffle cone.
Wolf licked his lips as he paid the baffled man (having added a generous tip) picked up the cone and left.
"I should've known you'd go for a push-pop - AGAIN!" Wolf said between the licks as they crossed the street and entered a park. "You know those things are meant for kids, right?"
"Whatever! They last longer."
"Hard to believe I'm the younger here."
"Age isn't relevant. That's why I keep telling you you've got the skills to lead, and I ain't the only one thinking so."
They made their way discreetly along the fences and found a nice shadowy spot under a tree. It was high noon and very warm outdoors.
"Did that Piranha dude say so?" Wolf asked in a dubious voice and sat down on the lawn. "I recall you saying his judgement stinks."
"It doesn't, because he ain't got any! It was Shark."
"Really?"
Snake's forked tongue flickered in amusement.
"Face it Wolf, you're on the road towards greatness. How tall are you now, eh?"
"6 feet 1 inch."
"A big Bad Guy if ever there was one!" the reptile laughed, giving the teen wolf a friendly push.
He didn't say it out loud but his young protégé far exceeded Snake's wildest expectations. Wolf had turned out to be nothing less than an A class canid, bestowed with a razor-sharp mind and reflexes and strength to match. He already did most of their heist planning by himself, to great effect, and the talent for driving a mean getaway vehicle...just outstanding! There was only one thing amiss. Something which annoyed the heck out of Snake.
"Kids are kinda funny, aren't they?" Wolf nodded towards the playground where a large number of children were playing, climbing, chasing each other and making a din in general.
"A bloody nuisance, you mean! Not that I wouldn't mind finding out what one tastes like..."
"Sick!" Wolf shook his head. "They seem to be having more fun than we do."
"Yeah, until someone spots us. It'll be a laugh!"
"I don't think all those kids are afraid of us."
"Not this again! For fang's sake we're the BAD GUYS here! When will you get that through your stubborn head?!"
"She seems to disagree." Wolf said, pointing at a tiny dark-haired girl who had left the playground and was now approaching them.
"Well what do ya know..." Snake's pupils seemed to dilate behind the glasses. "Opportunity!"
"No way!" Wolf hissed as the girl stopped a short distance away.
"Hi, my name's Miranda!" Her voice sounded eager and curious. "Are you a real wolf?"
"Hello, sweetie. Sure, I'm the real deal!"
"What's your name?"
"It's just 'Wolf'."
"Why are you sitting in the dark with sun-glasses on?"
"It's nicer in the shadows when you're us."
"Speak for yourself!" Snake interjected. "I'm a cold-blooded reptile and enjoy basking in the sun."
"And I wear these 'cus people think my eyes are scary."
"Why?"
Wolf pushed the shades further down his snout and bowed slightly.
"Yellow is my favourite colour." the girl named Miranda attested. "And your eyes look like sunflowers."
"Um, thanks."
"I like mango ice-cream. Do you?"
"It's nice, yeah."
"What's in yours?"
"This?" Wolf had almost forgotten the ice-cream and hurried to lick the cone to avoid spillage all over his paw. "Vanilla and espresso coffee." He hesitated. "Want to taste?"
The girl shook her head.
"Mommy says no ice-cream until after lunch."
"Sounds about right." Wolf laughed. "I'm setting a bad example here!"
"Can I touch your paw?"
"Huh?" Wolf felt surprised and a little flattered as he stretched out his free arm. "Well, sure. Why not."
Her small hands, almost microscopic compared to his, investigated the four fur-covered digits closely and the protruding black claws appeared to be of particular interest.
"Why are your nails so sharp?"
"To get a better grip when I'm climbing."
Snake sighed and rolled his eyes.
"You are a brave kid, coming near a wolf like me."
"My mommy says you can't judge a book...before you read it."
"I think she means not to judge a book by its cover."
"That's what I said! Can I touch your ears?"
"Well, okay." Wolf flickered them. "Just be gentle."
"They're not warm, they're cold."
"As they should be. Stops me from overheating."
"Can I touch your nose?"
"Your mom raised you to be pretty polite, huh Miranda? Go ahead."
Wolf sensed Snake's mounting displeasure with the situation while the girl's fingers stroked over his whiskers and muzzle.
"It's soft AND warm but your nose isn't!"
"Heh, a cool and wet nose are signs of a healthy canine, don't you know?"
"Why are your teeth so big?"
"Um, how else could I bite into a juicy piece of steak?"
"Mommy brushes mine and I'm gonna be a dentist!"
"Oh yeah?" Wolf smiled. He was having a ball.
Miranda nodded seriously.
"I'll fix people's teeth. Wolves and snakes too!"
"No need, girlie! Us snakes grow new ones once the old are worn out."
"Can I look at yours?"
"Like a dentist would, eh?" Wolf chuckled and opened his maws wide. "Aaaaah!"
The girl laughed in delight and peered into the open mouth.
"MIRANDA!"
Everyone, children and adults alike, stopped at the sound of the piercing scream. A woman had raised from the bench where she'd been sitting, her face contorted with horror.
"G-get away from those monsters RIGHT NOW!"
The tiny girl looked at Wolf again and took a step backwards.
"Hey Miranda, don't run! I'd never hurt... Please?"
But she was already running as fast as the little legs could carry her. The mother seized Miranda by the wrist and dashed for the nearest park exit along with everybody else. Wolf and Snake soon found themselves all alone.
"We better get out of here." Snake said curtly. "Before the cops show."
"I didn't mean..." Wolf began when the sound of an approaching siren cut him off.
"Let's scram!"
The two climbed over the fence and scampered, leaving the unfinished ice-creams behind in the grass.
"See, why you can't pretend NOT being a Bad Guy?!" Snake was fuming. Abandoning the push-pop had hit him hard. "I thought you'd got it by now!"
They were back in the shabby basement apartment which served as a home, of sorts. It kept the worst summer heat away but that was also the only good thing about the place.
Wolf shrugged and sank into an ancient, patched armchair.
"Like you said, it was a laugh." he replied with a joyless smile. "Must be convenient being human, huh? To always be able to point your finger and say, THAT'S THE BAD GUY!"
Snake offered no immediate opposition. While the many long years of life had hardened his scales there were still times when he felt it too, like an iron-claw constricting his breathing organs and pricking the soul. As if your very existence was a fundamental, unfortunate mistake.
"That's why we are gonna rob 'em blind! What you say we hit a toy store tomorrow?"
"Nah!" Wolf shook his head. "I don't want to scare any more kids. It's not their fault their parents suck! Miranda wouldn't be the newest member of the lupophobia club if her mom hadn't freaked everybody out." He paused and stared up at the cracked ceiling, gloom descending upon him. "Guess there'll be no future wolf-friendly dentist in town..."
"Don't let it get you down!" Snake patted the teenager's shoulder with his tail. "THEY are the losers and you are the sharpest knife in the drawer I ever saw! We'll build our own future together. The world's our oyster and yadda-yadda!"
"Heh, whatever you say." Wolf seemed to be breaking free from the morose mood. "Hey, let's go and pay Shark a surprise visit! I want to know if what you said earlier is true."
"I warn ya! Piranha's been crashing there a lot the last couple of weeks..."
"That's okay. Crazy dude's got sunflower eyes like yours truly, so he can't be all bad."
"I ain't commentin' that!" Snake laughed, putting the hat and sunglasses back on. "Let's get moving, kid!"
~
The End