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After a particularly boring Saturday, Jasper sleeps in longer than he usually does. Most mornings find him waking up at the crack of dawn, shuffling to the bathroom and then to his living room. This Sunday is different, because when his eyes flutter open the sun is already climbing up the sky. He blinks tiredly, moving the crutches next to his bed.
It's been almost a decade since the accident that messed up his leg, but phantom pain still comes and goes. The forearm crutches he uses work well, and keep him upright on the days when he otherwise can't. Today is one of those days.
He yawns, still managing to maneuver to the bathroom and wash up without the crutches, sleep still in his eyes as he leans his paw on the wall. He licks toothpaste off of his lip as the doorbell rings.
He checks his phone with an inquiring glance. In bright white letters it says the time, 8 o'clock sharp. The only person who visits him at 8 am is Chuck (and occasionally a mailman who hasn't been chased away.)
"You got a key, use it!" He calls out, teasing incline in his voice. He grabs his brush and finishes straightening his fur a little more.
The door clicks and swings open. The footsteps quickly lead to the bathroom door, but don't open the bathroom door. "Hey, Jasper."
"Hey Chuck." Jasper opens the bathroom door himself, smiling in amusement. "I'm a bit slow today, but we're still goin' on that walk, trust me."
"No rush." Chuck smiles back, taking a couple steps back to sit on his bed. "I don't think that ice cream truck you like opens for another half hour, anyways."
Jasper hums. "Can you throw me a shirt and jeans? I don't wanna go out in pajamas."
Chuck laughs, opening his closet. "Do you ever coordinate your outfits?"
"'S just clothes." He shrugs. He catches the pile of clothes with a grateful look. "Thank you."
"Mhm." Chuck answers. He opens an app on his phone and mindlessly scrolls, keeping his head down as Jasper changes. "You wanna get breakfast?"
"Hm?"
"Usually you're up and ready way before this, so I figured you slept in. You haven't had breakfast yet, have you?" Chuck slips his phone back into his pocket. "I'm pretty sure there's a cafe right by the park."
When Jasper deems his appearance somewhat acceptable, he walks out of the bathroom, leaning on the wall. "Well, we gotta go on the walk first." He replies, in what Chuck has learned is Jasper-ian for hell yes!
"You want your ice cream before, or after breakfast?" Chuck grabs the forearm crutches resting on the wall and gives them to Jasper.
"Before. Can't change tradition." He answers confidently. When his grip on the crutches is secured, they make their way out of the house. Chuck laughs, but doesn't say no.
"It shall be so." He puts on his best confident yet exaggerated voice, only cracking a little. "Let's go."
They stroll leisurely down the neighborhood's sidewalk, waving at neighbors that pass by and occasionally say hello. The walk has Jasper smiling despite it not helping with his leg pain.
Chuck almost takes a wrong turn, but stops himself just before Jasper notices. At least that's what he tells himself while Jasper snickers at something totally unrelated to him.
"Almost there, boss, it ain't a long walk." Jasper mocks. Chuck sighs and shakes his head, trying to hide his fond smile.
"C'mon." Chuck makes a gesture for Jasper to follow him, finally walking onto the cement path sprawled out in front of them, looping around the large patches of grass. A few loops ahead of them is the ice cream truck setting up shop. Kids watch from the sidelines, pulling on their parents' hands.
"We're gonna beat those dumb kids there." Jasper grumbles, picking up his pace slightly. Chuck follows behind this time, making sure to keep an eye out for any obstacles.
"What flavor?" He asks, like he does every morning.
"Strawberry." And every morning, Jasper gives him the same answer. "I'm startin' to think you ask me that every morning for fun, and not 'cause you wanna know my ice cream flavor of the day."
"Pssh, no." Chuck laughs. He digs his wallet out of his pocket. "I'll pay this time."
"You always wanna pay." Jasper rolls his eyes. "I think I owe you like a thousand bucks in ice cream by now."
"You can buy breakfast. Fair?" They approach closer and closer to the ice cream truck.
Jasper blows hot air out of his nose. "Mph. Fine."
When they're finally in front of it, Chuck looks at the owner with a friendly smile, the same look he always sends them. They return it gratefully.
"You boys want your regulars?" They ask.
Chuck fakes thinking for a moment. "Hmm… yeah, that sounds great." He pulls out a ten dollar bill, insisting that they keep the change as a tip. He tips them so often that Jasper's fairly sure they have a jar full of only his.
"Thank ya ma'am." Jasper smiles, letting Chuck grab both ice cream cones, one strawberry, one mint chocolate chip.
"I'll see you two again tomorrow!"
Jasper uses one of his crutches to wave goodbye, and they walk away to a nearby bench. Chuck sits down first, watching Jasper sit down and discard his crutches beside him with a smirk. "What flavor is yours again? The mint chocolate chip?"
Jasper grumbles, grabbing the strawberry one and going to town. Chuck watches in amusement and fondness as he gets strawberry ice cream all over his fur. Chuck licks his slower, more leisurely.
"You got more." Jasper shakes his head. The contrast between their scoops is comedic already, with Jasper having a pitiful half scoop left and Chuck's staying mostly intact.
"You just eat fast." Chuck retorts, leaning his head onto Jasper's shoulder. Jasper barks in contentness. "You also bark when your happy."
"Do not." Jasper glares.
"Your tail is wagging behind you."
Jasper is silenced by the last comment. "...Shut up."
"Love you too." Chuck grins. Jasper just scoots a little closer.