"I'm pretty excited with that idea, actually, Adam. We can start tomorrow."
Adam shifted his weight. He looked beyond Sarif to the darkened sky outside. Rain dribbled down the windows. Kubwa studied Adam from his resting place. He whined in concern.
"I don't know, boss. She's pissed at me again."
"Adam, why in the hell do you keep doing that? Stop it. You are in control of your emotions, aren't you?"
"Boss, this isn't a good time for me to KNOW how to control my emotions."
"What in the hell is that supposed to mean? That' makes no sense. Just so you know."
"I'm talking about the dog."
"Oh." Sarif chuckled. "All right, my mistake."
"I'm serious, Boss. This is more sophisticated than you or I know it is."
"Would sleeping it off help?"
"I hope so."
"Then go. She may be fine in the morning."
"She said she'd see me tonight."
Sarif fondled a pen in his glass jar on his desk. "Even better. Tell me about it. If you're alive in the morning."
"Very funny, boss."
"No, I'm serious. Kubwa doesn't seem too pleased about your displeasure."
"Oh, you too?"
"What?"
"Is he that easy to read?"
"I can't explain it."
"Just…don't then. I'll see you tomorrow." Adam turned away.
Kubwa stood, barking at Adam.
"Don't start with me, pooch." Adam shoved the office doors open.
Kubwa circled He cantered after the man. His hindquarters disappeared beyond the door way. Sarif rubbed his nose. There was no telling the mysterious of the dog, all though, he was pretty damn curious, himself.
"Adam, I need to talk with you about something."
"Dammit, Pritchard, I'm not in the mood!" Adam's augmented hands practically crushed the bars to keep one's balance with in the elevator as he stared at the doors.
Kubwa made no noise whatsoever.
"Did I hit a nerve?"
"You're voice hits my nerves only a lot, Pritchard."
"You're in asshole-mode. I get it. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Don't count on it, Pritchard!" The elevator doors opened and Adam whisked out. "If I so much as see you on my radar, I'll shoot your ass through a wall."
"That's violence in the workplace."
"I'm head of security, dipshit, I AM violence in the workplace."
"Sorry to have bothered you."
He was at home, finally. Adam sat on his couch, sideways, watching the news, yet again. A riot near another one of Sarif's Factories was taking place. Good riddance. He was at his wits end at this time. Why in the hell was it so damn hot in here? Adam swiveled his lower body onto the floor. He got up, and paced past Kubwa, that just watched him from where he lay. He adjusted the thermostat and went to get something to snack on. He discovered his uneaten cheeseburger. He just ate it cold, out of the fridge. He was so hot. He couldn't figure out why. Clammy, even. What the hell did he catch? He wiped his forehead with a forearm which absorbed the moisture as it was designed to.
"Dammit, Megan, it's been two hours. She's probably not coming." He finished his hamburger and stood at the counter feeling very spacey. "God, I'm tired. Why am I so tired?" A hand ran down his face and he sniffed.
Kubwa watched the man enter his room. He padded after him and watched him collapse on his bed, tossing and turning. After a few attempts to make sure he was okay and he was kicked away, the dog sat on his rump and watched the man become still until he entered REM sleep. His breathing slowed and he was at peace.
"Three, two, one. You! Jensen! Jensen!"
Adam jumped awake, pulling a pistol out from under his bed sheets, on the crazy beast that was roaring at him now. He scooted to the opposite side of his bed, near the wall, and away from the windows.
"You son of a bitch!"
"Yeah, I am the son of a bitch. It's not rocket science, dipshit!" Kubwa hopped on his bed and Adam made it clear not to come any closer. The bed groaned from the sheer weight of the animal and it concaved with his giant feet. "Oh, and I know I'm fuzzy. It's not a fucking news flash! You need an attitude check! Your girlfriend seemed to keep you in line better than I could and it smells like old smoke in here. Do you smoke sometimes?"
"Why are you talking to me?"
"Hah! What? Really? I've been talking to you this whole time. Deaf as one of my giant turds, no doubt, but not stupid. It just…took a while to reach you. The vest idea made it through. You're not as easy as Cori was. You're a man, that's probably why. Full of pride and that jazz. Calm down, hanzer, rest. You need it. Your girlfriend is on her way."
"Oh, my God. Not you too. This is…not happening. This is not happening." Adam lowered his gun across his knee and rubbed his nose. "This is a dream."
"Okay, Adam, is the giant dog talking to you now? Are your eyes open? Does he sound like a wise-ass?"
"Don't psycho analyze me!" Adam spat. He rolled over, turning on the lights to his room. He got out of his bed, pointing his gun at Kubwa again who circled with him on his bed. "Get off the bed, now."
"You do know bullets don't work on me, right? I mean, you shot three times at Bowser and you never did hit him."
"What?"
"Ugh, yeah. I'm getting off now." Kubwa hopped down and displayed himself before Adam.
"You knew."
"Yes, I did. I know you did too, so…why are you still trying to resist? Just, give in? It's not that hard."
"Since when was it up to some goddamn animal to fucking tell me to listen to it speak?"
"I see you're not taking this too well. I have offended you. I apologize. I just though-"
"The hell you have."
The doorbell rang. Kubwa started for the front room, but balked when Adam approached him.
"You stay-here! Got it?"
"Really?"
"Don't test me. I'm not in the fucking mood." Adam stuck his gun in his pants and headed to the front door.
Kubwa sat and scratched his ear with a left foot. "Yeah, I got that all ready. This has a very negative physical affect on you for some reason. Dammit, Cori was not this bad to bond with, nor did she get sick as a dog. Why in the hell did she tell me to get stuck with him?"
"Adam? What's wrong? You look ill. Are you okay? I knew you weren't all right."
"Megan now isn't a good time."
"Adam, you don't look well. I'm coming in."
Adam tried to grab the woman, but instead she grabbed him and helped him to his couch. He lowered himself onto it and sighed. Yes, this felt nice. Damn, he was so tired.
"Adam, it's freezing in here! What is it?"
"Megan, I don't know. I just didn't feel well before I went to sleep."
"Well, let's warm it up a bit." Megan adjusted the thermostat and returned to Adam. She sat on the edge of the couch, stroking back his hair, now. "Adam, you're burning up. Did you eat that hamburger I got you?"
"Yes, but, I was feeling like shit before I even ate it, so it's not the damn burger."
"Where's Kubwa?"
"He's…fine. He's in my room, where I told him to stay. I just need to sleep."
Adam and Canon Characters© Square Enix
Original Characters© FatWithFuzz