Prompt from Nikolai777: A one shot about Bolt and Dodger where it's an alternate scenario where Bolt is in New York but instead of meeting Mittens, Dodger is the one that he meets.
To the Guest reviewer who wanted a descendants AU, I don't watch it, so I will have to decline.
…..
"DAMN MUTT!"
Dodger cackled as he dragged the long string of hot dogs away, zipping into a nearby alleyway and crawling under the fence.
"Falls for it every time…." Dodger muttered, shaking his head in exasperation, "… when will he ever learn."
He winced as his tummy grumbled. It had been a slow week, and Fagin and the others were struggling pull in the money needed for proper food.
They wouldn't mind if he had a few bites to eat, right?
No.
Carefully, he pushed the hot dogs away, taking deep breath to contain the rumbling in his stomach.
They were his friends and family, he couldn't do that to them.
"Hey! Hey you!"
Dodger barely reacted to the unfamiliar voice, watching as a white dog bounded up to him, a very serious expression on his face.
"I overheard news that you were once quite… close with a cat." The word cat was sneered…. Yes, many dogs didn't like their feline opposites, but to have that much hatred for them? "I'll ignore you consorting with the enemy, if you lead to one of them. I have to rescue Penny."
Penny… the kid Oliver went to live with, that Penny?
In his mind, Dodger shook his head…. No, Oliver would have tried to find him by now, frantic with worry.
Must be a different Penny… were all little girls called Penny?
Humans were so unimaginative.
"Can't help you with any cats…" Dodger eventually answered, pushing himself to his feet and making his way over to the other dog, "… and the only Penny I know is about ten and lives in a fancy house."
The other dog wasn't impressed, scowling at Dodger as he started to circle him.
"You look stressed…" Dodger stated, smirking as the other dog glared at him, "…. Chill out, relax, and trust me when I say that the only cat around here will eat a nice dog like you for breakfast."
"But- "
"- you need to find Penny, I know, I know." Dodger smirked, "Well first things first, you need to hook into the rhythm."
"… What?"
Shouldering past the other dog, Dodger hopped on top of a bucket, tapping his feet along to the unheard beat. "Yeah, this city's got a beat, haven't you heard it before? As soon as you hook into the rhythm, you can do anything."
The other dog perked up at this. "Anything?"
"Absitively posolutely!"
There was a brief pause, before the other dog held out a paw. "Bolt."
"Pardon?"
"My name… Bolt. I'm a little surprised you didn't recognise me really. I've kept this city safe for years."
"You're a big deal then?"
"Yes!" Bolt definitely perked up at this, "Yes, exactly!"
"Hate to break it to ya kid, but you're in New York. Everyone here's a big deal." And then a sudden thought occurred to Dodger, "Tell you what… you help me score a bit of food for me and my friends, help keep us alive and everything, and we'll help you find your Penny. Deal?"
Bolt thought to himself for a few moments, before slowly nodding and holding out his paw. "Deal."
…
Honestly… this was one of Dodgers' better ideas.
Bolt didn't look like the usual street dogs you'd find hanging around behind restaurants, near the bins, so the grumpy cooks were more than willing to toss him a few scraps, so much in fact, that Dodger had to… borrow a basket so that he could take it all the way back to their hideout.
"Nicely done there, kid." He beamed at Bolt, "You ever think about retiring from the 'saving the world' business? You could make a mean living out here."
"I just want to save Penny and get back home."
"Alrightie then…" Subtly handing the bag full of food over to Bolt, he gestured for the other dog to follow him, "… Me and the others know these streets like the back of our paws. No Penny is safe from us."
"Promise?"
The tone actually sounded a little bit… upset, prompting Dodger to turn around and give Bolt (who was looking even more pathetic than Oliver), his best reassuring smile.
"Yeah… I promise kid."