Reena let out a wheezing sound that seemed suspiciously like a laugh.
Oh yeah, Reena was going to be a lot of fun. He laughed too as she leaned on him and snorted her happiness. He could see Chuck across the yard, nodding and pointing at them both, to the volunteer's obvious surprise. Eventually, the woman shrugged, gave Chuck the forms, which she quickly filled out, then approached with the leashes in hand.
“Reena, Noble, welcome to the Charles family. Let’s go home!”
That's Not my Name
Malachi sat in the passenger seat of Chuck’s car, happily blinking his eyes and hanging his head out the window.Man, now I get why dogs do this. It’s freaking awesome.Groaning in pleasure, he sighed and glanced down at Reena, wrapped around his hind legs. She was too short to enjoy this; the window only rolled down a small amount. He guessed Chuck was nervous about the dingy dog falling out. Watching her chase her curly little tail earlier, he figured the officer wasn’t entirely wrong. He turned to study Chuck, thinking it was an odd name for a woman. He figured it must be a nickname, a play on her last name, Charles. As if feeling the weight of his gaze, she glanced over.
“Hey, Noble, you doing okay? Need something?”
Sighing with irritation, he rolled his eyes and turned his back to her. He was going to have to figure out a way to tell her his name wasn’t Noble. There was no way he would answer to that name. Bookstores were cool, and he was a voracious reader. He especially liked dark romances and epic fantasy when no one was looking. But his name was Malachi, and it represented his family heritage.
“What’s the matter, Noble?”
He growled, low and menacing in his chest.
“Noble? Is that it? Noble isn’t your name?”
He turned towards her with alacrity, perking up his ears with an excited woof.Yes! C’mon Chuck. You’re smart, you can figure this out.He placed a paw on her arm to let her know she was on the right track.
“Okay, okay, so it’s not Noble. Got it. But what on earth could it be? It could take years to guess. Umm… let me think about it, okay?” She hummed to herself for a bit.
He huffed, impatient, wanting to communicate now.
“I’m working on it, keep your pants on.” She snorted, then chuckled. “Pants, you don’t wear pants.” She laughed harder now, her glow bouncing with her shoulders.
Ha ha, Chuck, laugh it up. If I were in my man form and not wearing pants, you’d be on your knees begging me…He paused as he pictured that. His tongue lolled out at the thought of an angel on her knees in front of him.
“Hey!” Fingers snapped in front of him. “Earth to doggo!” She laughed again. “Where’d you go just then?” She shook her head. “Where’d he go? I’m talking to a frickin’ dog,” she murmured to herself.
WOOF! The stern bark echoed in the car before he growled, then shook his head.
She smiled softly. “Okay, sorry, um, do you know the alphabet?”
He barked once, softer this time, excited about this approach.
“Wait, is that a yes or a no? Okay, one bark for yes, two barks for no. Let’s test. Are you Reena?”
He barked twice and followed it with a wheezing laugh.
“Okay, and are you a handsome boy? A big, silky, black, handsome boy who loves bacon?”
He gave one loud, excited bark at the mention of bacon.
She laughed and tossed him a treat, slipping one to Reena as well. “Okay, good, back to the alphabet; do you know your ABCs?” She glanced at him as they came to a stop at a red light.
Barking once, he stared at her harder, hoping that if he concentrated enough, she would hear his thoughts.C’mon, Chuck, let’s do this. I do not want to be called Noble or good doggie. I’m Malachi, Lieutenant of Darkness and Legions of the Sixth Ward. Demon extraordinaire and seducer of women. I am death and destruction, smoke and shadows, chaos and insanity.
Reena snorted in amusement at his words, her strange wheezing laugh indicating he was overdoing it a bit.
Rolling his eyes, he turned back to Chuck.Okay, well, Malachi is good to start with.He paused, glancing at his canine companion again.Hey, Reena, is that your real name? Or do you have another name too?
She grunted and ducked her head.
Okay, Reena, got it. It’s a good name, ya little psycho. Ready to spread that chaos and fuckery as we discussed?
Her tail thumped on the seat, and her eyes rolled around, accompanied by small pig-like snorting noises.
