Hello, fellow fanfic readers 'n' writers! Today is a very big day! That's right: I haven't died! I wanted to save this series for a super-chapter but I couldn't produce any other ideas for this chapter.
Also, I was recently thinking about, and discussing with The Expert himself, this story and I realised that it probably would have been much smarter to put these acts into different, separate fanfics, so that I don't have a huge, always unfinished story to deal with (but I didn't, because I'm stupid). I'll probably break 'Adventures' and 'Misadventures' into those smaller stories and continue from there. Anywho, enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: Everything from the plot to the comments is mine. Nothing else.
"Alright, what did you do this time?" The Expert had his version of an amused expression plastered on his face. [Which, obviously, is not one.]
"Nothing?" The Criminal asked with a grin. He was being visited by his lookalike while behind bars (surprisingly not at the paws of The Expert). "It's true. They just came and dumped me in the gaol for no reason." [That doesn't really sound right. Maybe something big's gonna happen.]
As though coordinated in a movie, an officer entered the scene and acknowledged the two albino Bernese mountain dogs.
"Could you excuse us, ...?" he began, only to find that he didn't know the "free" pup's name. [Convenient lack of name.]
"Don't have a name. But sure, I'll go." The Expert stepped out, leaving the man and the other pup.
"Yes, officer? Is there an issue that you should like to discuss?"
"There is, and surprisingly it's not caused by you." [Wow. What a shock, actually.] The Criminal snickered. "However, it still pertains to you in a way." This earned a look of confusion and intrigue from the prisoner.
The gaoler sighed. "I assume you're wondering why we've incarcerated you for no clear reason?" The Criminal nodded. "Well, it's like this: we lied to you and we need to clear that up.." [That was 'The-Expert-level' blunt.]
"Wait. What do you mean, you lied to me?"
The Expert was returning to the Lookout after the meeting with The Criminal, and hadn't made it more than three pawsteps when the sound of loud paws on hard concrete floors caught his attention. He turned, just in time to be run over by a shockingly tearful The Criminal. [If what happened in there caused him to be like that, well...] "What's wrong?" he asked as they both stood up again.
As he dashed into the forest, The Criminal yelled, "They lied to me! Worse, they lied to US!" [This is going to be fun.]
The next day, The Expert woke up before everyone as usual, but he stayed where he was, an even more stoic expression dotting his face's features, were that possible. [It is. Chapter 2 of 'Misadventures'. Remember that?] He was still contemplating on what The Criminal had shouted out yesterday, somewhat - surprisingly - confused. [... Well, then.] The fact that "they" had lied to The Criminal, that was considerably simpler. Law enforcement officers often told untruths to felons either to intimidate them or convince them to do something. [Maybe.] It was still odd that The Criminal had reacted as he did, though.
But, more importantly, how had they lied to him? [I don't know, you tell me.]
It wasn't long before everyone found him there, and took even less time for them to start bombing him with all manner of interrogations. All of which he left alone.
As the six pups realised that they'd not be getting a response, they looked at each other in bewilderment. "I've never seen him this emotionless since, well, since ever," Marshall said. [Again. Ch. 2 of 'Mis'.]
"And considering his normal demeanour, that's hard to beat," Chase commented, as they resumed staring at the stoic. [No, Chase. Lampshading is my thing. Leave it alone.]
Presently, The Criminal showed up on the scene. Despite not crying, he was still obviously crestfallen, not showing his usual upbeat self. In fact, he looked like he could be mistaken for The Expert with the way his face sported a blank look. [Must ... have ... the ... strength ... to ... stay ... quiet ...]
"Hey, Cwiminal!" Zuma called out to him, to be stopped. [Ah, I just can't. 'Spell His Name With A The'. ... Sorry.]
"THE Criminal. Name with a 'The'." The pups detected a serious twinge in his speech, unlike his normal joking self. [I would have said something, but right now I'm in the Museum of Sound and Silence, so I need to shut my mouth.]
"What's - " Rocky was cut off.
"Nothing is wrong," was the curt response, not unlike his famous lookalike. He added to himself, "If you don't count being lied to." [Wait. So do we count this as an instance of speech prediction?]
"Well, could you be of assistance?" Chase queried. Did I just ask a criminal for help? [Yes. Get used to it.]
"Fine. What's up?"
"The Expert." The police German Shepherd indicated with his paw where the mentioned pup was.
The Criminal took one look and said, "He has a right." [Of course he does. We all do. ... Oh, he means - ah, right. Never mind, carry on.]
"What do you mean?"
"He has a right to be like that."
"Why, though?" Marshall asked.
"You'd be like this too, if the authorities lied to you." That surely caught the attention of the group. [Not really. That's kinda only you.]
"The authorities lied to him?" Skye almost shouted. [He just said that. Jeez. What is it with you guys and repeating what people say?]
"Did I not speak loud enough?"
"I can see why that would hit a few nerves, but not enough to get him like this," Chase reasoned. [Reasonable reasoning.] "And what of you? Why are you so sullen?"
"Same thing."
"They lied to both of you?!" they all shouted. [Would you be surprised if the police lied to two people? I would have thought no.]
"Yep."
"About what?" Rubble inquired, which The Criminal deemed too far by walking away. The pups gave chase and repeated the question. [Why is this question deemed too far? What about ... never mind. This is pretty appropriate. Forget that. Also, ha ha, 'gave chase'.]
"It's personal."
"We're your friends, though; you can tell us," Marshall stated pleadingly. [Strike one.]
"It's - it's complicated."
"I'm sure Rocky can help us decode it," Chase joked, but immediately put on a serious face. "But come on! Just tell us! What's going on? What's the problem?" [In case you missed it, strike two. Wanna try for three?]
"They lied to me! To us!" One could feel the tension rise. [Guess so.]
"About?!"
"You wouldn't understand!"
"Oh, no?" Skye yelled. "Then tell us so we can at least try!"
"They lied to me about my BROTHER!" [Oh... okay. Remember all the times I blasted him for being like that after being lied to? Ignore those. This is serious.]
And just like that, silence.
Ooh, how exciting! Finally, we clear up something that has been sat there looking like a foggy pane of glass. Not sure about the relevance, there... Anyway, hope you liked this chapter and now onto the next.
Bye! Have a nice day! See you in the next chapter! Don't forget to review! Send a PM! Maybe some ideas, alright?