Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, its characters or storyline. These ditties are mine, as are Duke and McCallister. Enjoy!

..:-X-:..

064 – Pick Up

Leon wasn't sure whether to be amused or irritated.

"Every guy in this place wishes he had the guts to talk to you." The man leaned toward Tifa, who was at the bar getting a refill.

Tifa made a dismissing noise, waving down the bartender.

"Do you want to catch a movie later?" He pressed.

"No." Tifa glanced at him and snorted derisively, tapping the counter to signal the guy pouring drinks to come over. Leon smirked over his beer. This guy was about to get it. He decided to shamelessly watch the show.

"I just got my first breakthrough. My research team is on the verge of tracking down the leader of the Fractured Circle." The guy boasted.

Oh, wrong direction, Leon mused.

"That's nice." Tifa said, trying to make him go away.

"It's really dangerous out there. Long hours…lonely, really." He carried on.

"Margar—Make it a whiskey." Tifa told the barkeep, looking thoroughly annoyed.

"I like a girl who can hold her liquor."

"Make it two." Tifa said, still not looking at the horndog.

He grinned as the bartender nodded. "Maybe we could talk over drinks?"

"No, they're both for me." Tifa took the glasses from the bartender, draining one like a shot. "Now, if you'll excuse me—"

"Aw, c'mon, babe—" He reached over and gripped her arm.

In a flash, Tifa twisted his arm around behind his back and pinned his face to the countertop.

"No means no." She hissed. "And if you touch me again, I'll knock your teeth out."

She shoved him off the counter and paid for her drinks, taking the remaining whiskey and stepping over the guy on the floor, walking away from the bar.

Leon couldn't hide an amused smirk as she sank into her chair across from him.

"So…" He started.

"I don't want to hear it." She started working on the other whiskey.

..:-X-:..

065 – Faith

The soft echo of footsteps brought Leon back to himself. He blinked, realizing he had zoned out, staring at the massive wooden altar. The church in Radiant Garden was too small to be considered a cathedral, but it was close enough that most people referred to it as one.

It also was more popular as a quiet place to bounce thoughts than as a house of worship. Besides himself, the 'cathedral' was empty, the stone walls and concrete floors refracting even the smallest sounds. He sat in one of the front pews, enjoying the silence.

The echoing footsteps stopped at the back of the church and Leon opened his eyes, staring up at the vaulted ceiling, colored only by the reflection of light off stained glass.

"What?" His voice reverberated off the stone walls.

The footsteps started up again, sidling up beside the pew where he was and then Tifa was sinking down onto the seat beside him.

"Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, huh?" She said quietly, propping her boots up on the pew in front of them.

He snorted. "Hardly." He folded his arms, still blinking up at the ceiling.

"Yeah, me too." She slumped in the seat, staring up at the ceiling with him.

Silence resumed in the big empty chamber and he soon forgot she was there; they both zoned out into their own thoughts.

..:-X-:..

066 – Just No

"Oh no, what did she do to you?" Leon was moaning.

Tifa looked up from her desk, eyebrows lifted as she looked toward Leon's closed office.

"Dammit…Hold still…Just—stop it." He sounded aggravated.

Curiosity peaked, Tifa stood and crossed the hall, opening his office door and poking her head in.

"What's going—" She couldn't finish as her jaw dropped.

Duke was busily sniffing the file cabinet against the wall of the office while Leon helplessly tried to get her to stand still. All of the questions of: Why is the dog at the office, where is the dog watcher, and how did you get her past security were all foregone in lieu of…

"What is she WEARING?" Tifa said, closing the door after herself lest anyone else see this embarrassment.

Duke was wearing a pink studded collar and what looked like a big purple doggie sweater with the word 'Diva' written in silver sequins on the back. She looked like she'd been bathed, brushed, and given a dog version of a mani/pedi. And she smelled like scented shampoo…lilacs maybe?

"Dogs do NOT wear clothes." Leon snarled, finally pinning Duke in place and working the horrid purple thing off of her.

The dog made a low noise in her throat and took the opportunity to lick his face silly.

Before Tifa could say anything else, the door opened and the teenage girl that Leon had allegedly hired to watch Duke during the day walked in, looking red faced.

"Sir, please, I was just taking care of her!" She said placatingly.

Leon kept his back to them, untying the pink collar from Duke's neck, grumbling to himself.

"What did you d-do?" Tifa said, clearing her throat to stop the giggles that were threatening to overpower her.

"I took her for a walk." The girl chattered, "Then to a doggie day spa and had her washed and brushed and her nails trimmed—"

Duke's tail was wagging wildly at all the attention while Leon pulled the rest of the sweater off.

"—the pink collar was free, but the wind picked up and she looked cold—" The girl argued.

"And dogs don't have natural insulation like FUR or anything…" Leon grumbled.

"It's a cute sweater!" The girl said. "And frankly, she looks like she could use more atten—"

Leon, still on his knees, turned around and glared across the room at her. Tifa touched the girl's shoulder.

"Oh, you should go." She warned, holding open the door.

"I was just trying to—"

"Dogs do not wear clothes." Leon was seething, his glare's effect ruined by Duke happily frolicking around him.

"Okay bye!" Tifa shuttled the girl out.

"Wait, do I still get paid—"

Tifa closed the door on the girl and looked back at Leon, who rubbed Duke's shoulders and looked at the dog.

"I am so sorry." He said flatly. "Never again. I promise."

Duke's tongue just lolled out of her mouth as she enjoyed the back rub.

"Aw." Tifa grinned. "I think she forgives you."

Leon gathered up the sweater and the collar and tossed them in the trash. "Is that lilacs?" He shook his head in disgust. "Never again."

Duke barked and promptly made herself comfortable on the floor of his office.