#beefsdad

for a brief and precious moment, he's unguarded. she sees how his shoulders slump when nobody's watching, when he's finally off the clock and gets to rest. robert places beef on the ground and immediately, the pup gives a few sniffs. it's not long before he's at her (invisible) foot and standing up on his back paws to stare up at her, all dumb and cute.

she scratches at his cheek, still holding her breath while robert hasn't yet noticed her.

"y'know, if you're standing there like, 'fuck, i can't believe i kissed that crazy bitch'…" she's smiling softly at beef. she knows robert probably has far more pressing things on his mind than the mistake of giving her hope. shroud's dead, robert can go back to being mechaman, chase is apparently having the time of his life… hell, he's even got furniture now. life's really looking up for him.

"i'd get it." how polite of her to give him an out. it's not at all a testament to her interest that despite being taken to the hospital, she made it to his apartment before he could. her arm is in a sling now, at least. she hated being away from him.

"...what the FUCK?" rage and confusion flash in her eyes as she watches robert fall to the ground. she wouldn't have even died about it! getting shot is practically part of her job description, she hasn't even met her quota of workplace injuries for the year, and here he is acting all noble. truly, what the fuck.

but first, someone's gotta pay. a deep inhale and then courtney's gone, rushing to sweep a leg under the baddie and get him on the ground. she'd relish his confused yelping more if she weren't pissed (and, though she wouldn't admit it, afraid). one of his bones crunches under her boot, but it's apparently not too vital because he's able to get another shot off. it doesn't hit anything but a brick wall, but still, she shouts at him for it.

"HEY. watch it, dumbfuck!" she stomps on his hand next, slipping into the deep shadow of the alley as she bends over him. "cut it out with the shooting, it's not helping anything." the gun's pried from his grip as he struggles. he manages to sit half way up in the process, but a kick into his ribs shuts him down quick enough.

"stay." another, closer to the gut this time. "down. or it's your turn to get shot."

even though the guy spits some slurs out alongside some blood, he seems to get the memo. and just in time, because her guard is dropping as she rushes to robert's side— invisibly, so he can't see the look of worry on her face. by the time she shows herself, she's knelt down by him, frowning at the wound at his shoulder.

"you, uh..." there's relief in her eyes. "you've got red on you, robbie." she reaches out to put extra pressure on his bullet hole, covering his hand with hers. there's a flicker of a grimace on his behalf.

"hey, this is kind of a whole moment for us, huh? you got shot for me, i didn't know you were down that bad." courtney's amusing herself now, even smirking, but avoiding his gaze and staring at his blood. he fucking scared her. dumbass.