A/N: Before I begin, I want to start off this story with thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has been with me through thick and thin, and has reminded me of where this talent comes from, not to mention giving me a great friend who's been there through rough times. Your Name alone deserves to be praised! Amen! Also, a big thanks to Vulaan Kulaas, who's always been patient with me whenever my mind is filled with Hanna-Barbera brain rot (don't worry, we'll go back to fangirling over Attero Dominatus and Dimmed Stars soon XD).

So, this swashbuckling pair has been filling my mind for the last two months ever since I started writing that BFA short. But hey, that's cool. More stories featuring these two are great! And if I'm the only one who has to write them, then so be it. It was that way with Ric and Droop, and it might have to be the same with Toosh and Dum. Which is totally fine with me :)

This short collection will have a few themes inspired by the famous "100 Ways to Say 'I Love You'" prompts that were circulating on Tumblr. Since Toosh and Dum have a close, brotherly bond like Ricochet and Droop-a-Long do, this will be platonic.

Oh, and just for context, the first and fourth is going to be the only dark ones in this series (the first one is particularly heavy, hence why there's a T rating). Everything else is going to be more lighthearted, brotherly fluff.

And while I love writing about Dum-Dum, I really wanted to challenge myself and write more snippets from Touché's point of view. I do like him a lot as well :)

Anyways, enjoy!

Warnings: Short 1 features child death/abuse (including SA), short 2 has some suggestive undertones (courtesy of Cat), short 4 contains violence, and short 5 contains mentions of SA (for context, this short takes place a good few years after chapter 4 of BFA).

Disclaimer: If this story and the recent BFA chapter, as well as my plans for For Love and Glory Remastered, are anything to go by, it's probably a good thing that Warner Bros hasn't given me the rights to Touché Turtle and Dum Dum!

Protective Friend, Undying Loyalty

They seem like the odd couple. The fearless swashbuckling knight and his sleepy, dopey sidekick. Yet, despite their vastly different personalities and attitudes, their bond is iron tight and their loyalty is indisputable. A small collection for Touché Turtle and Dum-Dum, because I felt like it.

Short 1: Take Five

Inspired by: "Take a deep breath."

Touché wasn't one for sentiments, especially when it came to his job as a hero. Sure, he would pat himself on the shell for a job well done (OK, well, make that two or three), but as for getting emotional over cases, such as attacks on the village, or heaven forbid, murder? No. He was the toughest hero in the land, and he needed to be detached. It was the only way he could get the job done.

That was, until today.

He and Dum-Dum had been returning from a fishing trip when they got the call: a murder had taken place in a nearby village, an upscale one near the capital. The details were eerily similar to the Black Knight case, so Touché was already on edge when he headed into the village to ask questions.

However, he found that this knight—if he could even call himself that—was worse. Not only was he causing reckless destruction and mayhem, but this knight was also making off with young women, either by luring them away or taking them by force. Few of them had returned alive, and those who did were too overcome with horror to tell the tale.

Age was nothing to this knight, and last week, this knight had recently kidnapped and attacked a young child. The child narrowly escaped, but the horrific abuse she had suffered had rendered her mute.

Touché had never felt more furious. Anyone who attacked the innocent was already a lowlife in his eyes, but anyone who did such unspeakable acts to a child was irredeemable. Though Jean-Claude was evil until the day he died, he hadn't done something like this. If this monster was feeding him images of his heinous deeds through word of mouth, he shuddered to imagine what that poor girl was going through.

The first week was hell. The victims' bloodied, battered bodies appeared in his dreams, keeping him awake for hours. He couldn't focus on anything else, not even training. Dum-Dum tried to lift his spirits, but what could he do? What could he say? Every night when he closed his eyes, he could see the pain and hurt in her eyes, the sufferings in her unshed tears.

He would have to be a monster to say he hadn't felt a thing. And he couldn't call himself a hero if he didn't do everything in his power to catch this monster and make him pay for his crimes.

He spent the second week in a frenzy, tracking him through France, even making his way through Italy, for the knight's last known whereabouts. Augustin and Edith had done their best to help, but all tips had been dead ends.

After a week of nothing, Dum-Dum suggested that he take at least a few hours to rest because he would kill himself at the rate he was going. Touché decided to take his friend's advice if only so he could be put at ease. Dum-Dum seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to Touché's moods, surprisingly. And Touché didn't want him to worry, so he told him there was nothing to be concerned with.

He was just starting to finally relax when the phone rang.

And what he heard made his heart plummet to his stomach like a rock.

He was praying that his worse suspicions weren't realized as he made his way to the crime scene. His mind was repeating "Don't let it be true" over and over as he turned left, then right, past the fountain towards the village bakery. His mind was repeating, "Don't get too involved" as he made his way through the restless crowd.

And for a split second, he felt that he could get through this without having a breakdown. He could get through this with his usual method of mentally supporting himself. He could be the brave, righteous hero they knew him as, and when he was far enough away, then, and only then, would he let the tears fall.

That was when he saw her mother, in hysterics, the constables struggling to hold her and the other enraged citizens back.

That was when he saw the blackened wall, the flickering tongues of fire dancing along the brick road, and the scattered debris.

That was when he saw the young girl-what was left of her...lying against the wall, burned beyond recognition, her stuffed rabbit being the only identifier.

The citizens were explaining to him that they had heard screams early that morning, and had come to investigate when they stumbled upon the horrible scene. By the time they had put out the fire, it was too late. Touché was barely paying attention, staring down at the little girl's body, every detail burning into his mind with laser-like clarity. His body felt like it'd been dipped in a tub of ice water, and his mouth felt cotton-dry, while an unholy amount of bile was bubbling in his throat.

"H-How awful…" Dum-Dum's horror-stricken voice was barely audible amidst the screaming in the background.

Touché was no stranger to death. He had watched his beloved mentor die in front of him. He had held his first sidekick in his arms while he took his last breath. He had seen mutilated bodies and other things that could make an experienced officer's stomach churn. But he hadn't crumbled. He had stood against the sinking sands of depression, rage, and grief, and resolved to bring the people responsible to justice.

Right now, those same sands were threatening to swallow him whole, for he was drowning in a storm of horror, rage, and guilt. Horror at the severity of the crime. Rage at the monster who'd done this to an innocent girl. Guilt as he realized that he had been too late. Darn it all, he had been too late—

He turned around and rushed over to the other side of the street, pushing past Dum-Dum, the local constable, the villagers. He felt lightheaded and nauseous, and he was shaking uncontrollably. He fought the emotions that raged within, fought the grisly images that filtered through his mind.

It was one of the few times that he cursed his eidetic memory.

He made it a few steps more before falling to his knees and retching, emptying out the contents of his stomach onto the stone road. He was barely aware of a few shocked gasps and disgusted groans surrounding him. But he didn't care in the slightest. Acid burned at his nose and his throat, and the tears he'd been holding back were finally starting to fall from his face. When he'd finally stopped retching, he pulled a handkerchief from his shell and wiped his mouth as best as he could with his trembling limbs. He groaned, the fire in his stomach taking a moment to subside.

"T-Touché…?"

Touché turned around to see the sheepdog standing there, his paw outstretched to him. He looked close to tears himself, but there was mistaking the concern in his eyes. With a small sigh, he accepted it, allowing Dum-Dum to pull him to his feet and away from the mess he'd made.

"Y-You need a minute, Touché?" Dum-Dum asked.

In any normal circumstance, he would have said yes. But he couldn't get the words out, let alone even speak. He bowed his head low and started to sob in earnest. Wordlessly, Dum-Dum pulled him into a hug, allowing him to grieve for the young life that had been taken.

They remained that way for a minute, paying no attention to the onlookers who watched them curiously. Dum-Dum let go of Touché and patted him on the shoulder. "Y-You take five, Toosh. I'll handle the questions from here."

"D-Dum, I-"

"No, I insist," he said. "Y-You need a minute to calm down. I-I think we all do at this point."

Touché wanted to protest, but he remained silent. In his heart of hearts, he knew that trying to ask questions in this state would be disastrous.He nodded wordlessly, the images in his brain bringing tears to his eyes.

Dum-Dum didn't move for a moment, instead focusing on how distraught and upset the turtle looked. It was a sight that he never saw before, not even during the Black Knight incident, and it was a sight he never wanted to see again. A few tears of his own escaped from his eyes, and in his heart, he made a silent vow. They were going to get this monster and make him pay tenfold for what he'd done to this girl, her parents, and everyone in this village.

"Don't worry, Toosh. I-If anybody can catch this monster, you will. An' we'll make him pay for doin' this," he said.

Touché sniffled, and offered a small smile. "T-Thanks, Dum. I appreciate it."

"Anytime, Toosh."

Short 2: One More, Please?

Inspired by: "One more chapter."

Guest Characters: Catalina Gutierrez (my OC), Teensy Turtle

"'...with that vow in her heart, the heroic feline gave chase, refusing to let the evildoer escape her grasp'." With that, Dum-Dum closed the book, thankfully remembering to put the marker at the last place he stopped at. "Alright, guys, it's time for bed. We've gotta get some shut eye."

"Oh, please, Uncle Dum! You got to the good part!" Teensy whined.

"Uh, sorry, Teensy, but you know how Uncle Touché is. Early ta bed, and early to rise, an' all that."

"Oh, p'shaw!" Teensy pouted, his cheeks puffing out cartoonishly. "One more certainly wouldn't hurt!"

Dum-Dum sighed. He adored Touché's nephew, but nights like this made him remember why he was hesitant on being a dad. "Aw, come on, Teen-"

A low chuckle came from his right. "It's alright, Dum-Dum. One more chapter surely wouldn't hurt."

Dum-Dum looked over at Touché, surprise on his face. "Toosh, ya sure? I-I wouldn't wanna get ya in trouble with your sis again!"

"If I'm being honest, the story's getting pretty good. Not to mention the way you do all the voices really helps set the atmosphere."

"See? Even Uncle Touché agrees!" Teensy tugged on his arm. "One more pleeeaaase, Uncle Dum? With a big old steak on top?"

He had to mention steak. "Uh...ya promise ta go to sleep after this?"

"Uh-huh!"

"And ya pinky promise to not tell your ma about this?"

"Little Hero's honor, Uncle Dum!"

"There, now that takes care of that." Touché settled back in the chair, hands folded behind his head. "You can pick up where you left off, Dum."

Dum-Dum couldn't help but smile. Though Touché had complained about the extra mess that came with Teensy's frequent visits, there was no denying that he loved spoiling his nephew. Plus, hearing that his friend enjoyed the way he read the story was a bonus, too.

"Well, alright. I-I can't say no ta that."

Another chuckle.

"W-What's so funny, Toosh?"

"Knowing you, you were looking forward to reading the next chapter in Cat's adventure."

Heat flamed onto Dum-Dum's face, and Touché couldn't help but snicker. "K-Knock it off, Touché!"

It was dawn when Cat made her way back to the house. She groaned inwardly when she realized that once again, she'd left her keys. Thankfully, these two had an army of spare keys under the mat, in no part due to Dum-Dum's own carelessness. She smirked to herself when she remembered Edith's words: "Birds of a feather flock together."

Well, Dum-Dum did make for an interesting bedfellow. In more ways than one. Her tail swished impatiently as she took one of the keys and unlocked the door. He should be awake by now, so perhaps she could talk him into some alone time away from the house.

She cracked open the door, carefully sneaking inside. Aside from the first rays of sunlight peeking through the blinds, it was dark in the rest of the house. Not even the light over the stove was on. And no tantalizing aromas of coffee, bacon, or even the sheepdog's humming filled the air. How odd.

Closing the door, she carefully made her way inside, her hand on the hilt of her sword. She couldn't take a chance that something innocent was going on. "Dum-Dum?"

A loud snort answered her, which almost made her jump. Oh, he's just sleeping, she thought, relaxing at last. He must've had a late night.

Now that the threat of danger had passed, she made her way through the hallway, only for a peculiar sight in the living room to catch her attention. She paused, and couldn't help but giggle at the sight.

Dum-Dum was sprawled out on the right side of the couch, his hat knocked askew, his scarf was draped on the back of the chair, and drool steadily dripping into a puddle on the floor. A book dangled lazily in his right hand, which was covered in barbecue dust. Teensy, who hadn't bothered to retract into his shell, was curled up next to him, using his forearm as a pillow. Touché was in a similar state, sleeping on the other side, a game controller curled up next to him. The floor was covered with bags of snacks and a tangle of controllers and game covers, with the crumb-coated remote buried in the bowl. The static from the TV cast a bluish-white glow on their faces.

Cat shook her head, a smile on her face, before getting the remote and turning off the TV. They'd clean this up later, she knew, but they looked so peaceful, she didn't have the heart to wake them. She leaned down and kissed the sheepdog on his cheek, and had to stifle a laugh when his mouth twitched to form a smile.

"Get some rest, boys. You're gonna need it."

Short 3: Extra Effort

Inspired by: "I made your favorite."

The moment Dum-Dum stepped inside the castle, his nose was hit with the tantalizing aroma of tomatoes, cheese, beef, basil and oregano.

Italian? He scratched his chin in thought. Well, I know Cat's still out on her mission, an' Edith's back at her parents' house...

That only left one other person, and at first Dum-Dum couldn't believe it. Touché Turtle preferred French cuisine most of the time, making exceptions for both American and Mexican dishes. And for that matter, it didn't smell like it'd been cooked in a tar pit, as it did whenever the terrapin somehow found his way into the kitchen.

He walked through the castle cautiously, pausing when he got to the entrance. Here goes nothing. "Toosh?"

The kitchen looked like a disaster zone, and that was no small exaggeration. Flour dusted the stone floors, a pasta maker hung precariously near the edge of the table, splatters of tomato sauce and misshaped pasta noodles covered the wall, and the stove was spotted with hamburger grease (thank goodness it was turned off). The trash can was piled high with bags of flour, a few canisters of seasoning, and a few bags of shredded cheese.

And sitting in the center of this disaster zone was the world's most beautiful lasagna, topped with sprigs of rosemary and basil, just begging to be eaten. The sight was perfect, but the smell was nothing short of amazing. Dum-Dum was locked in place, drool dribbling down his chin, struggling to keep himself from pouncing on it then and there.

The spell was broken when a familiar voice made his presence known. "Dum, you're drooling."

"Oh, uh..." He hurriedly wiped it away, embarrassment on his face. "G-Gosh, uh, sorry." He turned to face the turtle, who was donned in an blue and white apron with a cute goldfish on it, which was currently ruined with smears of tomato sauce, grease and flour. "Uh...whatcha doin' in the kitchen, Toosh?"

"Well, since you were handling Keeper business today, I figured I'd make dinner tonight."

"But, uh, w-what's the occasion, Toosh?"

Touché stared at him as though he'd sprouted an extra head. "Are you serious, Dum-Dum? Take a look at the calendar!"

Dum-Dum did, noticing that one of the days was marked with a big yellow and red present sticker, and a scrawny sketch of himself. There was a note scrawled next to it: "Dum-Dum's birthday - surprise dinner".

It then clicked. "G-Gosh, no wonder!"

"Oh my goodness. Don't tell me you forgot your own birthday!"

"O-Of course not, Toosh! Edith called an' wished me a happy birthday, an' so did my ma, a-an' Cat told me before she left...but I haven't had anythin' big for my birthday since I left home!" Dum-Dum replied. He looked at the ruined kitchen, and then at Touché. "Y-You did all this for me?"

"But of course, Dum. You went to all the trouble to make bouillabaisse for my birthday last year. And as my oldest friend, I would be remiss if I didn't do the same for you." He offered a small, genuine smile. "Happy birthday, Dum-Dum."

"Aw, shucks..." Tears burned at Dum-Dum's eyes. "Thanks, Toosh. T-This means a lot ta me."

"I'm happy to hear that, Dum." He handed the sheepdog a plate and a spatula with a small, grateful smile. "Bon appètit."

Short 4: In the Nick of Time

Inspired by: "Sorry I'm late."

Guest Characters: Dirk Dugan, Catalina Gutierrez

Black and orange electricity raced across the feline's fur, so powerful he thought he saw flashes of her bones. She struggled not to scream, but her indomitable will was breaking, and she sank to her knees, her strength giving out.

Dum-Dum charged, Oathkeeper blazing with white hot light. "CAT!"

Dirk lifted her off the ground with one hand, and with the other, he broke apart the ground in front of him, sending the sheepdog hurtling into the sky. He tumbled like a leaf in a gale, disoriented at first, but the thought of Cat in his grandfather's grip strengthened his resolve.

I-I've gotta do it like Toosh showed me! It's the only way I'mma get to her!

Regaining his momentum, Dum-Dum took to using the rocks as platforms to leap off of to continue his charge, heading back to the town square.

Dirk watched this with a raised eyebrow. Well, this was new. His useless grandson had picked up a new trick after all, but even a master swordsman would run out of moves at some point. Another flick of his hand sent a few boulders crashing into the freefalling Keeper, sending him streaking into the earth like a comet. The boulders impacting the earth didn't drown out his scream of pain.

Cat watched the sight with wide eyes. "D-Dum..." she croaked out.

"Not bad, Dum-Dum, but it'll take more than fancy footwork to defeat me!" Dirk taunted. "Not to mention save your lady while you're at it."

Cat hissed under her breath. He'd caught them both off-guard, using the Timeless District to his advantage. Unless the people walking by were magic users like Dirk, or wielded relics like Dum-Dum did, duels like this would go unnoticed by mortal eyes. And because of it, communication was nigh impossible, either normal or telepathic.

A rumble of rubble answered Dirk's taunt. A few seconds later, the pile of boulders, and part of the street, exploded in a wave of gold and white light. Dirk raised an eyebrow, impressed.

Dum-Dum crawled out of the hole he'd created, looking worse for wear, with blood smearing his coat and dust coating him. The look of fury in his eyes, however, could have killed a demon.

"Hmm. Most impressive," he mused. "But you're outnumbered as well as overconfident, Dum. Nobody can see nor hear your cries for help, nor come to your rescue."

Dum-Dum paused, and for a fearful second, Cat thought he was going to give in to his grandfather's words. Neither were prepared to see a smug smirk come upon the sheepdog's face.

"Oh yeah? Try tellin' him that."

Dirk's eyes widened in shock. "Wha-"

That was all he got out before the hilt of Touché Turtle's sword slammed into the back of his head with a resounding crack, sending stars into his vision, and causing him to lose his grip on Catalina. Through his hazy vision, he felt a rush of air, and saw the terrapin expertly deliver the injured musketeer to Dum-Dum, who wasted no time checking on her.

Dirk fell to the ground, his jaw hitting the stone earth. "I-Impossible...!"

His narrowed eyes trained on the injured sheepdog, Touché spoke to his friends with his back turned. "Sorry I'm late, you two. I was held up by one of Dirk's henchmen."

"I-It's alright, Toosh," Dum-Dum offered. Relief flooded his bones the moment he saw the terrapin's shadow loom over Dirk. With Touché in their team, they had a fighting chance. "Grandpa forgot that you've got a magic sword, too."

"Clearly," Cat huffed. She rubbed the base of her throat, where there were dark marks from the older sheepdog's grip on it. "That was a close call, Touché. Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet," he said. "We've still got to apprehend this fiend!"

"You're welcome to try...but you won't succeed!" Dirk ground out. With a maniacal grin, he pulled out a short dagger from his behind his back and unsheathed it. The dim light disappeared as it was sucked into the black blade.

Touché stared at him, eyes widened. "What in the world is that?!"

Dum-Dum's face went bone white. "N-No way...how did you get your hands on THAT?!"

"I have my sources." Dirk's dark brown eyes seemed to glow a hellish orange as he issued the command to his newest charge.

"Awaken, Dàinsleif!"

Fire and lightning erupted in the alley as Dirk's newest addition assembled before them, sending Dum, Cat and Touché into the walls of the surrounding buildings with the force. A two-edged blade, black as night, appeared from the maelstrom within. Nordic runes appeared along the center of the blade, coated in blood red light. Despite the heat, everyone felt their body temperature go down several degrees upon seeing this terrible weapon in the elder Dugan's hands.

"Now then," Dirk started, brandishing his new weapon at the scattered party, "shall we try this again?"

Dum-Dum stared at the sword, his heart hammering, his arm shaking. He'd read about this sword. A sword forged in the hottest fires, made from the hardest steel, its will and power seeking the spilled blood of the innocent. The runes inscribed in its fuller, which hadn't faded in over a thousand years, read the following: "Woe betide the innocent who see this blade unsheathed, for their blood is the source of its might."

He swallowed heavily. His mind was filled with the horrible stories and images of what this sword of capable of. He knew what his grandfather was capable of. In his hands, Dainsleif would be an instrument of destruction. These images were fueling his fear, his desire to flee.

At that moment, that was when he thought of his friends.

He saw Edith, lovely, mischievous and motherly Edith, meeting the same fate as her father did all those years ago, run through and disposed of quickly.

Then there was Catalina, fierce, sharp, and beautiful Catalina, helpless, struggling in his grandfather's grasp, her scream violently cut off when he crushed her windpipe as easily as crushing a twig.

And then there was Touché, confident, fearless and eccentric Touché. His best friend, his hero, his brother, being forced onto his back and being stabbed, his underbelly providing no cover for the might of this terrible sword.

If he ran, his friends would end up as casualties. More bodies on his grandfather's insanely high body count.

More loved ones that Dum-Dum couldn't save.

He pulled himself up, using Oathkeeper as a brace. Touché and Cat were already getting to their feet, with expressions similar to his own: steely, angry and determined. Between the three was a silent vow: they weren't going to let him get out of this alley, dead or alive.

"Toosh," he said quietly, tightening his grip on Oathkeeper, "let's take this bastard down."

A small chuckle. "I couldn't put that better myself, Dum-Dum."

"I'd like to see you try," Dirk replied, smirking. He then lowered himself in a mock bow. "Well, I trust that you'll make good on your threat, Keeper." He spat out the last word with venom-laced politeness.

"That was no threat." Dum-Dum gave his grandfather a grim smile. "That was a promise."

That was the last thing he said before they all charged, and gold light and black and orange fire lit up the alleyways and the sky.

Short 5: Fixer Upper

Inspired by: "Come here. Let me fix it."

"Oh gosh, ohgoshohgoshohgoshooohgosh!" Dum-Dum was running about in a panic, sweat beading his brow. "S-She'll be here any minute! A-An' nothin's turnin' out right!"

Touché Turtle sat in his recliner, sipping on tea while Dum-Dum continued on his anxiety filled rant.

"I look like a cross between Dracula a-an' an English sheepdog! W-Well, I'm already a sheepdog, b-but still, I-I look ugly! My tie's all messed up, my breath smells like beef jerky, a-an' my legs feel like jello! I-I'M A WRECK!"

Touché sighed. Any more of this and he would surely back out of it--not to mention disturb the neighbors. "Dum-Dum."

"W-What?!"

"It's not the end of the world."

"W-Whaddya mean, 'It's not the end of the world'?! Have ya looked at me?!"

"Yes," Touché said coolly, setting down his teacup, "but the things you're worrying about are minor." He got up from his chair and made his way over to the sheepdog. "C'mere. I'll fix you up, old friend."

Dum-Dum sighed, but did so, allowing Touché to guide him to the chair. As the turtle pushed the ottoman over to the chair so he could get to work, he said, "I-I don't get it, Toosh. H-How come you're not worried?"

"Well for starters, this is your date, Dum-Dum. I didn't ask Catalina out," Touché replied. "And secondly, other than a few things, you're fine." He fixed up Dum-Dum's hair, and then working on his tie--completely undoing it and then starting it over from the beginning. His mouth turned up when he got a whiff of Dum-Dum's breath. "Boy, you weren't kidding about the beef jerky smell."

"I-I eat when I'm nervous."

"Grab a few of my mints off the table. It's no mouthwash, but it should mask it for a while."

Dum-Dum groaned, but did so, although the strong scent of wintergreen made him want to gag. "I-I'm surprised ya know how ta do all this, Toosh."

"Oh, I've had my fair share of helping brothers get ready for their first dates."

"H-How many brothers do ya have?"

"Twenty-five."

"T-T-TWENTY-FIVE?!"

"Turtles, apparently, don't know the meaning of the word 'enough'," Touché grumbled. "My family definitely didn't get the memo."

"Heheh, neither did mine, Touché."

Touché chuckled. "Glad to know I'm not alone as the youngest child."

"Eh, I was the second to last, but, eh...i-it counts." Dum-Dum sighed. "Agh, I-I'm so nervous, Touché. I-I can't help but wonder if this is a big mistake. W-What if I'm imaginin' things an' she just likes me as a friend? W-What if I screw up an' she never talks to me again? W-What if-"

Touché, who was adjusting Dum-Dum's boutonnière, paused and looked up at him with a frown. "What if...?"

"W-What if..." Dum-Dum shuddered. "What if...w-what if it ends up like...l-like that whole Angel thing?"

Touché tensed, his brows furrowing. He remembered all too well what Angel had done to Dum-Dum, how her actions had caused the sheepdog to keep his heart under lock and key for almost two whole years. He put his hands on Dum-Dum's shoulders, forcing him to look him in the eyes. The sheepdog was already close to tears, as always whenever he thought about that horrible incident.

"Dum-Dum..."

"I...I thought I'd gotten past that, a-an' it comes up every now an' again!" Dum-Dum said, his composure breaking. "W-What do I do, Touché? I-I don't think she's like that, o-otherwise I wouldn't ask 'er out, b-but..."

"You mind if I give you some advice, old friend?"

"I-I could use all the advice I need right now, Toosh."

"Well, for one thing, I'm almost certain that Catalina likes you back, otherwise, she wouldn't have agreed to go on a date," he started. "Secondly, a first date is almost always nerve wracking, especially when you've never dated before...or if you're like me, who hasn't dated anybody in far too long."

"A-Ain't you plannin' on takin' Edith out at some point-"

"T-This is about you, not me, Dum-Dum!" Touché replied, though there was a tinge of red there that always appeared whenever he talked about Edith. He cleared his throat to regain his composure. "A-Anyway...from personal experience, I know that being yourself is the key to a great date. You build it on a false image, and you'll spend the rest of your relationship trying to maintain it, Dum. It won't take long for it to fall apart."

"H-Huh, I never thought o' that," Dum-Dum said, scratching his head.

"Also, Dum, you do remember our safe word if something goes wrong, right?"

"Uh, yeah. S-Somethin' bout orderin' a pastrami sandwich with extra pickles an' mustard." He made a face. "Yuck."

"That's right. The minute something goes wrong, you call me and use that password. I'll be there in a flash, and I'll get you out of there. And if things escalate, I won't hesitate to take her down." Touché's eyes narrowed. "She may be a member of the Feline Paladins, but I've been doing this hero thing a lot longer than she has. And even though she's a woman, anyone who does anything like that to you is immediately scum. And I'll treat her as such if she does."

The pep talk had lifted the sheepdog's spirits, if slightly. "Gosh, uh...thanks, Toosh. A-Although, you're kinda scarin' me with that vengeful hero bit..."

"Well, I'm not doing it for show."

"I-It figures."

Just as Touché was finishing the last touches on Dum-Dum's tuxedo, the doorbell rang. Dum-Dum stood up hurriedly, nearly knocking Touché down. "I-It's her!"

"I know, Dum! Don't go ruining my work, now." Touché stepped back to admire his work, nodding in approval. "Now you're ready, old friend. You'll knock her out."

"Uh, not if she knocks me out first, Toosh."

Touché sighed. Typical Dum-Dum. "Now, remember what I told you, Dum-Dum. Just be yourself, and it'll go alright." He led the sheepdog to the door when the ringing became more insistent. "And if it goes south, don't hesitate to ask for help."

"G-Got it, Toosh."

He opened the door and Catalina was there, dressed in a light pink dress that went down to her knees, and wearing rose earrings. Touché didn't miss Dum-Dum gulp upon seeing her.

"G-Gosh, Cat...you look cute..."

She chuckled, though a tinge of pink had shot to her face. "Well, glad to know someone thought so," she replied. She noticed Touché there and added, "I didn't know you were bringing a chaperone to this date."

Dum-Dum snickered, only to freeze upon seeing the terrapin's glare.

T-That's my cue ta go, he thought as he cleared his throat and made his way out the door. His heart was still hammering, but for some reason, he didn't feel as nervous anymore. He offered his elbow to Cat. "Shall we?"

She grinned at his attempt to appear smooth, and accepted, putting an arm through it. "Let's."

Touché waved them off, a small smile on his face. Dum-Dum's earlier concerns had set him on edge, but he knew he needed to let the sheepdog stand on his own two feet again. As his partner and friend, he knew he owed Dum-Dum that much.

And as his brother, he knew that if push came to shove, he'd jump into the ring for the sheepdog without hesitation.

He started to close the door, though not before turning to watch the cat and dog pair heading across the bridge and talking all the while. Go get 'em, tiger.

The End

I actually thought that this story was going to be longer, but sometimes, keeping things short and sweet is the best way to go. And honestly, I'm proud of a lot of these shorts, though some of them were more action/adventure than simple brotherly fluff.

In my personal opinion, Touché and Dum-Dum shine best when they interact with characters outside of each other, but their bond is no less stronger when they're apart vs. when they're together. It provides a nice contrast to, say, Quick Draw and Baba and Ricochet and Droop-a-Long, as both pairs are known for their incredible teamwork and "opposites attract" dynamics.

Short 1 was originally going to be part of BFA, but oddly enough, I thought it was too dark...and then I went and wrote the arguably darker "Trials by Fire", haha. I decided to turn it into its own short story collection, and to kick it off with a bang. And what a bang it is! Don't worry, Touché and Dum-Dum catch the monster who killed that little girl, but man, was that a tough one to swallow. I felt bad for Toosh here. :(

Short 2 was supposed to be shorter than it came out, but I couldn't resist adding Cat in the mix. I have to figure out the timeline for Dum and Cat's relationship, but this takes place long after Cat has been accepted into the "family" so to speak (ie. Touché accepted Cat, and Dum-Dum did too, obviously). Plus, I wanted to write more of Teensy, Touché's nephew. He's about the only character who can give Tag-a-Long Coyote (Droop's nephew) a run for the money with how cute he is.

Short 3 was inspired by a Blazin' Trails short--"Birthday Surprise" if any of my longtime readers remember--and I figured it'd be adorable for Touché to do something for Dum-Dum. FLaG explains that Touché is banned from every and all kitchens because he's a terrible cook, but he actually managed to make a decent lasagna for his oldest friend.

Short 4 was fun, and brought back the main Big Bad of the Remastered series: Dum-Dum's grandfather, Dirk Dugan. I pulled some inspiration from Symphogear for Dainsleif while adding my own twist, in that I based the sword off of actual mythology. And yeah, I kinda wrote this so I could showcase Touché being badass as usual. Is that wrong? XD Also, I realize I threw Cat into the "damsel in distress" role. It's partly because she doesn't have a magic sword like Toosh and Dum, but I'm thinking of changing that in the future. Next time I write Cat, though, I'll definitely showcase her strength as a warrior!

Short 5 was supposed to be lighthearted, but of course my inner dark writer popped out, lol. After Dum-Dum was SA'd by Angel (read BFA chapter 4 for reference), he became afraid of opening his heart to people, which made falling in love with Catalina a tortuous experience for him. In addition to having his own insecurities, he was scared that she'd assault him the first chance she got, like Angel did. All of this he tells his oldest friend in confidence, so Touché went the extra mile to not only support his friend during this, but also to develop a safe word for him if he ever finds himself in that situation, hence the "pastrami sandwich" bit. And of course, Dum and Cat's date went well, but if I were to continue it, this story would've gone on forever!

Not sure what my next short story will be, but hopefully it'll be an ACTUAL fluffy story!

Reviews are much appreciated!

God bless,

Iheartgod175