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Your partner takes pride in how observant he is with the neighbors and their needs, as well as how well he catches thieves in the Bodega.
You know firsthand that Howdy is kind, caring, and knows exactly what you need when you need it. He has shown you this various times, even before your relationship began.
However, you also know from experience and observing that Howdy can catch thieves in the act, but only if there is no distractions.
You have seen, on multiple separate occasions, that Barnaby can keep Howdy occupied very well while Wally shoves paintbrushes, small tubes of paint, thumbtacks, and any other trinkets and tools he may need that day into the pockets on the inside of his sweater.
The first time you saw this happen was in the first month of your relationship with Howdy.
You caught Wally, and before you said anything, he offered your silence in exchange for some extra jokes from Barnaby. They were good ones too, so you took the offer.
“Don’t do it again, okay Wally? I’m not going to let you do this next time.” You whispered, gaining a nod from Wally, who had recently learned what a nod meant.
Watching Wally and Barnaby walk out of the Bodega, you thought to yourself, “He’s got everything under control. A few brushes and paints going missing won’t be a problem.”
You were very wrong. Wally took the last of the painting supplies, and Howdy was behind on shipments for the next week.
He was not mad when he found out, surprisingly.
“Eh, that’s a fair trade! Tell ‘im to pay next time though, okay Lovebug?”
One day, you decide to see if he can catch you .
🐛❤️
You wander over to Home alongside Barnaby, waiting patiently for Wally to be ready to go to Howdy’s.
“‘Ey kid, why’d you wanna join in on our little perusal today? Don’t mind havin’ ya, it’s just got my attention.”
You glance at Howdy’s shop, already getting an idea of what to snag.
“I want to see if I can get away with stealing a (container of favorite snack) like Wally gets away with stealing paintbrushes.”
“Ahhhh, dippin’ your toe in the sea o’ stealin’, I see?”
“Oh, that’s not true! He’s just always saying that he’s the most observant in the neighborhood, and I want to see if he’s really as quick as he says he is.”
Barnaby laughs, that same booming laugh you hear every day in the Bodega. He knows you’re not a thief, and he knows Howdy couldn’t catch a thief if his life depended on it.
“Heh, alright kid, whatever you say.”
🐛❤️
The plan is working fantastically; Wally is sitting on a stool, Barnaby got Howdy started on a story about Howdy’s family, and Howdy is turned around and talking away.
You slide off into the isle where your favorite snack is, pulling on the collar of your oversized sweater and dropping the snack in, a soft rustle coming from your sweater making you freeze. Your body tenses for a moment, checking for any sign that you just got caught.
Howdy just keeps talking, and it seems like he heard nothing.
Perfect.
You make your way back to Wally and Barnaby, listening to Howdy bring up the current bickering between his Aunt Toodaloo and his Mama Hiya. Apparently, here is what happened.
“My Aunt used my Mama’s heels to go out on a date, and the heels broke on ‘er way back to give them back, but she also took Mama’s earrings without ‘er knowing, which made the heel situation worse ‘cause she borrowed those with permission from ‘er, so then Mama told ‘er that she thinks she snapped ‘em on purpose, and then next thing ya know, my Aunt’s got a broken nail and my Mama’s gotta go to the barber!”
Barnaby dramatically gasps, his ears perking up in surprise.
“ No , you’re pullin’ my leg!”
Wally does not speak, he simply stares at the apple, little bites being taken out of it as he does so.
Barnaby glances over at you and picks you up with zero struggle, placing you on a stool as he grabs Wally by the back of his coat, similar to a cat by its scruff.
“Howds, I don’ think they got the full tale. Me ‘n Walls have places to be, but I think they’re free!”
Barnaby walks out of the door, still holding a limp Wally like a cat.
“I actually do have somewhere to—“
“ Not so fast, Bug.”
“Oh he knows.” You think to yourself, nervously meeting the caterpuppet’s disapproving eyes.
All four of his arms are crossed, until he takes his bottom two arms and props himself up on his bottom hands. He lifts his bottom left (your right) and points directly at the snack in your shirt.
“Whatcha got there?”
You are not getting out of this one easy…
So, with nothing but whatever luck you have and the snack in your shirt, you decide to turn around and bolt for the door.
You do not make it onto the ground, but your snack does!
Howdy holds you by your underarms, pulling you closer to him before he tosses you upwards with a spin and catching you by your waist with his top arms, having you facing him.
“Care to explain?”
That is the beginning of a long bickering match, nothing serious and no voices are raised, but little jabs and serious statements are made, and you continuously scramble around the explanation that you are supposed to give.
Howdy has his bottom hands on his hips, looking at you with a tired, loving, and mildly annoyed expression.
Suddenly, he lifts his hands from his hips, and you feel a poke to both of your sides before various more make their way along your body. A laugh escapes your lips, loud from surprise as you squirm from Howdy’s attack of tickles.
“HOWDEHEHE STAHAHAP-!!!”
“Hmmmmm….”
He lifts his hands for a few seconds, giving you some much needed oxygen as he holds out the “Hmm”.
“No.”
He returns to you, your laughter and pleas for mercy ringing through the Bodega.
You decide that if he’s going to play dirty, you are going to play dirty too.
You gather all of your strength and reach out, poking his sides and surprising him so much he lets you go, a surprised snort escaping the caterpillar and making you cackle as you sit on the counter.
“Oh, so now we’re playin’ that game, huh?”
Howdy smirks, something in his eyes telling you that you do not stand a chance. He scoops you into his arms and holds you firmly, not harshly, he would never, but enough that
You
Cannot
Move
Out
Of
His
Grasp.
“Oh no.”
You find yourself stuck in a tickle match with Howdy, no chance of escape as no other neighbor typically comes in after Barnaby and Wally.
“STAHAHAHAP I WOHOHON’T DO IHIT AGAHAIN—!!!”
Your pleas stay ignored, only making Howdy begin tickling you faster.
“OKAHAHAY OHKAHAHAY, I’M SORHEHEHE HAHAAVEE MERCEHEEHE—!!”
Just like that, the tickling stops, and you are placed back onto the counter, your breathing heavy and your chest and cheeks hurting from your laughter.
“Alright, on one condition.”
You are far too tired to reply, simply sitting there out of breath, glancing up at him with a look that shows pure defeat.
“You gotta pay.”
You have no jokes. You have no ideas. You have nothing to trade.
Apparently your demeanor shows this, because Howdy playfully shoves your shoulder and points to his lips.
Oh.
You roll your eyes with a soft laugh, reaching up and grabbing his tie before you pull him in and peck his lips.
Howdy has zero time to respond before you pull back, raising your eyebrow and smiling.
“Is that enough?”
Howdy blinks before he looks at you with a “Really?” Expression, placing his bottom wrists on his hips, leaning forward and placing his hands on your waist again.
He doesn’t move, simply waiting to see if it’s okay.
You roll your eyes again and wrap your arms around his shoulders, gently pressing your lips to his as you feel his lips curve, a small, satisfied smile. He pulls back after a moment, his eyes hooded over slightly as he looks at you as if you are the world.
“Heh, alright, you’re off the hook this time.”