Scaring Major

“Not even for a friend? Fine, I’ll look for someone else to help carry the couch into my new apartment then. It won’t be that hard.” It actually will be because Shenzi didn’t want to let people she wasn’t exactly close to in her new place but Randall didn’t have to know that. “Ha, I’ve heard you make that move before. Won’t work on me.”

“You know I wouldn’t risk my back like that for a friend.” Randall replied with a scoff. He rolled his eyes at her answer, slightly stung even if he really didn’t want to care this much. “But I will do it for you. As long as we can order food and eat it in your new couch after. I’m pretty sure Harryhausen’s has delivery service.” 

“I actually wasn’t but you getting nervous and defensive just made me sure. Then there is the fact that you admitted to having love for your cat which proves that you’re getting soft.” When the question was directed towards her, Shenzi gave him a light shrug. “I already had someone who filled that spot. Don’t think I deserve to find another.” Truth be told, she was actually open to the idea of experiencing that kind of love a second time. The problem is her fear still got in the way of her thinking that she should. “If that’s the case, now would be a good time to file a restraining order.” Her own bottle of beer in her hand now, she finished what was left of it in one go because the conversation was getting too heavy for her liking. “Now, I do and if I knew that a stalker was what it takes for you to be around me more, I would have hired someone to be that a long time ago.”, she joked.

“Soft?” Randall asked, spitting the word out as if it was laced with poison. “I’m not getting soft. I’m just admitting I can care about certain people and my pet.” He assured her. He was a little taken aback by her response, his voice scrambling to come up with a response while he also wondered about the implications of what she was saying. “What are you talking about, of course you deserve to have someone if you want to.” He replied, his voice coming softer and warmer now that they were talking about her. Randall looked out the window and then his eyes settled back on her, he took a moment to focus on the topic. “Right, I did think of that, but then again, I don’t really like the cops... And this way I get to crash at your house.” He replied with a wink and a chuckle, trying to bring a lighter note into the conversation. His smiled widened at her joke and he took another swing of his beer. “Oh, no need, Wallace. If you need me, and my props around, all you need to do is shoot me a message.” He assured her. 

“You can’t expect me to let you leave it at that. I know you, Boggs, so I can tell that you feel like you already met the right person. Who is it?” Probably not the best idea to question him when he was already being awkward about things but Shenzi was never the type to drop a topic when she was curious about it. “You cannot blame a person for their feelings developing into something more than they intended it to. You’d be surprised by how many times their feelings can make them blind to other things. Just let whoever this guy is down gently.” Her eyebrow raised at him. “Well, that’s what you get for ghosting him.”  Taking the container of fries from him, she was quick to eat a handful of them. That proved that she was more hungry than she admitted to be. “Thanks.”

Randall scoffed, hoping that was enough to hide his nervous intake of breath. “Why are you so sure, huh? Maybe I’m just talking about my cat.” He replied haphazardly. “Why? Have you found someone that could fill that spot?” He shook his head, taking a long swing of his beer, actually glad for the change. “Dude, I did. Several times. But stalking my apartment at night is not an act of love, it’s some weird obsession. Like, come on.” Randall shrugged. “What was I supposed to do, I tried to let him down easy and he refused to face the facts. I didn’t know he was going to be some lame-ass super soy trying to catch a sight of me through the window at 2 am or whatever.” Randall smiles, for a moment he just let his eyes linger on her and felt a warm feeling flood him as she ate. “You know you can count on me to feed you, Wallace.”

“Maybe it’s not my fucking problem. Shithead should’ve made sure he knew how to do his one job.” Hopper stretched his arms above his head and pulled up until he could hear a satisfying sound. “Well…” He glanced over at Randall, turned to face one side of the alley, then looked at the opposite end. Hopper shook his head. “Place looks pretty damn empty to me.” He listened to Randall and clicked his lips at the idea, taking off his old companion so he could throw the garment over the unconscious man’s head. “Let’s see what we’ve got here.” Hopper, too familiar with the relentless bureaucracy of replacing IDs– and deciding giving the guy an actual physical headache was good enough for now; only took the few bills inside the man’s wallet before tossing it back down. “Don’t think so. Store closed down before I moved here. How busy are you right now?” The volume of Iain’s laugh probably wasn’t the best for the scenario they were in. “Oh no. Does that mean I won’t win good samaritan this year? I should be ashamed of myself.”

“Two jobs. Painting the wall and putting out the sign.” He corrected, the teasing edge to his voice almost lost as he kept distractedly examining the perimeter. He let out a low whistle. “Maybe for now, but it’s near a Main Street and someone is bound to walk in on us if we don’t leave.” He said, taking out a new cigarette and carefully using his zippo to light it. He stood idly by as he saw him take the bills and the moved to pick up the discarded leather jacket. “You can’t leave it here, jackass. It could lead back to you, especially if it’s so unique.” He scoffed, moving to the edge of the alley. “What the fuck is that. It the police find out you’ll have to spend a day in jail or pay a lot more than the fee of one leather jacket. Come on.” He said walking out onto the street and looking back at him. “We could catch the last ferry out to the city and drink there. Maybe find some place where you can get a new jacket custom made.” Once they were a couple of blocks down he turned to his friend. “Come on, wipe the blood off on this for now and we’ll throw it in that trash can over there.”

“’Tis me! In all my morning glory.” Richie chuckled and cocked his head to the side, his eyes instantly brightening up once he recognized the pissed off dude. “Why the long face? Is it because you’re not used to seeing me clothed or cause we had to meet all this way far away from a bed?” He winked at Randall and opened the door. “After you, kind sir.”

“I don’t know if glory would be the word I used, but fine.” Randall replied, his eyes focusing on the other’s slightly crazed look. He quickly glanced around, he had no shame in any of his sexual encounters, but he also didn’t like discussing them so openly. Especially at a place where he was used to running into company execs. “Fucking hell...” He mumbled, walking in and only stopping to look back at him once he’d taken a couple of steps away form the crown by the entrance. “Is this how you usually greet people?” He asked, not caring he probably was not allowed to smoke in the place and quickly pulling a cigar out of his briefcase. They always helped him feel less... average. And he needed it now. 

“Right, I forgot that Randall Boggs does not care much about anything except maybe terrifying people. It’s not working for me but at the rate that you are going, it may work for others.” The sudden change in his mood made Clarissa laugh. “I think that I just discovered your soft spot and that you are lucky to have a pet like her.” She shook her head. “I just visited the shelter because I needed a pick me up and from the minute I held her, I could not let her go.”

“It usually does.” Randall agreed with a shrug. “I mostly just do it so they will not bother me with their incompetence, not because I really cared how scared they get.” He replied, and he was being mostly honest. He did kind of care to see how much they scared sometimes. He smiled. “You did, but please don’t share it with anyone.” He nodded. “Makes sense, I never would’ve guessed taking care of some other being would be this uplifting.” 

“And men say that it us girls who make things complicated. You guys can be just as invested in a person, you know. Sometimes even more. You should be flattered that someone likes you that much.” That may even come as a surprise to some people because of first impression of him; Shenzi would have been the same way if she did not get to know him more. “I did so if you make a mess, you clean up. I’m too tired to do it.” She was even tired to study but she can’t stop now, not even when she had company that she should focus on. “Give it to me.”

“I’m not denying that... I’m sure I could be very invested, in... “ Randall let the sentence hang in there for a moment and stared at her, then took a quick breath before proceeding. “In the right person.” He stopped and then breathed in once more. “But if there’s just two people who clearly consent in not looking from something serious, it is kind of annoying that one suddenly tries to force-change it into something more serious.” He took a long drink. “I mean I pulled away when I noticed it so it would be a clean break and he’s basically stalking me now.” He grumbled, his eyes automatically going to the window, half expecting to see someone to punch there. All he saw was his reflection. “Sounds fair.” He finally smiled and opened the container of fried. “Here you go.”

“That’s the exact reason why you have to make sure that you and whoever you’re hooking with are on the same page.” Shenzi rolled her eyes at him as he just walked inside but let’s be real, she was more than fine with his company. “Fine, you can stay. Just don’t create a mess. I just cleaned up.” She went back to her study table and looked for the page she was reading earlier. “You look like you need the beer more than I do.”

“Well he very clearly said we were, I literally told him it was a one night stand.” Randall huffed. “I don’t get why some people take that as a prompt to try and convince me to make anything more.” He shrugged. “Of course I’m not gonna create a mess, in fact I might even help you finish cle... Oh, you’re done?” It was a usual offer on his part and now he didn’t know what else to bring to the table, at least he’d brought food. “What about the fries, though. Don’t lie to me, Wallace. I know you can smell them from there.” He said with a wink.

“Why on earth would you want to look like someone whose primary expression is a frown?”, Clarissa asked. She has seen what that looked like because of her father and it was not a very good look to have. “She sounds like my type of pet. It’s really all you can do for her if she is your source of joy which I have a feeling is true.”

“I wouldn’t say I want it. I just don’t care if I do.” Randall replied, his voice a monotone as he got bored with the topic. The talk about pets perked him up more. “Oh, yes, I mean she’s good company, even if she’s a full on diva.” He admitted just a little grudgingly. “What about your dog? Had you been planing on getting one or did it just kind of happen?” 

“I would do that less if I were you. Otherwise, I would have frown lines.”, Clarissa commented on the look on her companion’s face. “I can only imagine how excited you were. For your sake, I hope that cat is making you feel genuine joy.”

“Maybe that’s what I’m aiming for.” He replied, not missing a bit. He remembered from a young age staring at the deep frown lines in his father’s and grandfather’s foreheads. Not one expression line around the mouths, though. “She’s... making me feel like I’m not the owner of my own apartment anymore, but I like her.” He replied with a shrug. 

“You could be laughing a lot but still be unhappy. I witnessed it. But for some reason, right now, you actually look happy.” Shenzi rolled her eyes at his grimace. “Do not question one of the best snacks man has ever made.” She, too, laughed at that point. “And then you are going to give that teddy bear to your pick of the night?” Before he could change his mind, she walked towards the corndog stand.

“Maybe is the positive glow you bring into the room.” Randall grumbled, hoping she would stop commenting on it since he hadn’t really lied with this reply. At least not on his behalf, he couldn’t speak for the rest of the room. He raised his hand with a sheepish grin. “Okay, okay.” The man quirked an eyebrow, considering. “Maybe. Or I can let you give it to yours, if I’m feeling generous.” He replied as he followed her and ordered two corndogs.