Revised: 31-01-2024
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🕔03:02 pm
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Dibble stood in the cool afternoon shade underneath the valance of Shultz's Delicatessen, observing the hustle and bustle of New Yorkers eager to return home from work, every now and then stopping for a friendly greeting and a bite to eat on the way.
The noise, the flurry, even the ordered chaos...a city is no city without that spirit, and there was no city like New York. Dibble couldn't think of any other place in the world he would call home.
But he was also a cop, and cops were trained to notice peculiar things at home others might miss. It was easy to miss a face amongst the hundreds of fast-moving citizens, but Dibble was an expert at picking out certain individuals.
A large group of chatty students walked by, and when the last of them had moved out of the cop's vision, he saw Benny the Ball standing on the other side of the road.
He looked so small, standing still on the other sidewalk amidst a constantly-moving forest of long human legs. His face was anxious, and practically begging for Dibble to take pity on him and call him over.
"Get over here, Benny. You're in everybody's way."
Something akin to hope came through in the chubby cat's eyes, and he quickly came over.
"Ya wanted to talk to me?"
Benny found it the opportune time to study his feet, but Dibble saw the nervous little nod. He put a reassuring hand on the cat's shoulder. "Come on. Schultzie's got a fresh batch of cocoa beans today, and it's gettin' chilly. My treat."
With that, he stirred his nervous companion into the quaint coffee shop.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Tell me what happened, Benny. Here."
The blue cat looked forlornly at the hot mug pushed into his paws. He didn't feel like putting anything in his mouth right then. The hesitant silence felt like a lifetime. Dibble was about to ask again - a tad impatiently, when Benny started in a quiet voice: "Don't tell T.C. I talked to ya, okay?"
"Of course, Benny. If that's what ya want." Now he was really interested. And concerned.
The next moment, words tumbled out of Benny's mouth so fast Dibble's mind was scrambling across the floor to get the whole picture. Benny sounded like he was dying to tell someone, anyone, what his leader's been going through.
"Ever since Spook..left with those - those killers, T.C.'s been tryin' everything to get 'im back," Benny began in a desperate monologue. "He tried ta guilt Spook inta leavin' 'em and comin' back to us. When that didn' work, he tried ta trick Spook inta leavin' them. It didn' work. So he tried ta trick G.P.'s gang members inta abandonin' Spook without hurtin' 'im. When that didn' work..he tried ta reason with Spook. When it didn' work, he threatened 'im. When it still didn' work...he started ta plead with 'im. When nothing at all worked, he got sick..!"
"Hold up a second! What's this about killers? What's Spook gotta do with killers?!"
"He ain't gonna lay it until the guy who killed his folks is dead," whispered Benny. "G.P., who's as bad as bad guys come, wants that same guy's boss dead, so Spook thought he could work it in his favor; work for G.P. for a bit, get rid of the guy, and get out. You don't just leave G.P. like ya have a choice.
"I've known Top Cat all my life, sir. He doesn't take things like that lightly. He's always taken care of us- now he's worried himself sick and he won' let us help 'im. He's scared. He knows he can't handle those criminals alone, but he'll never ask for police help either!" Benny's small blue eyes were brimming with tears.
"Benny…you guys never told me.."
But Benny wasn't finished. "Top Cat knows that gang leader. He knows how mean he is. He's capable of anything. T.C.'s afraid Spook might come to his senses when G.P. asks 'im somethin' horrible to do. If Spook says no.."
"Benny, why didn't ya say something sooner? Why didn't you guys tell me?"
"Top Cat said he'll never trust a cop with somethin' like this-"
"Why won't he?" said Dibble in sudden anger – an unexpected, hot feeling of betrayal in his gut. Why did that cat never seem to appreciate the cop's watching out for them? He has let them off the hook more times than he knew was acceptable to his superiors. Should they know just how much, he'd be camping out on the pavement opposite the employment agency. He was practically the cats' babysitter and occasional bread provider, always making sure Top Cat's (even Dibble had to admit - original) schemes never went too far for his own good.
"I dunno. He says cops don' understand street law if it bit 'em in the-"
"I get the message."
"He said..he said if the police get involved, they might hurt Spook!" Benny pushed the full mug onto the table, knowing his appetite wouldn't be back for a while.
Dibble opened his mouth, ready to defend his comrades, but then closed it before a single word could escape. A feeling of dread and something akin to shame – a feeling of inadequacy – formed in the pit of his stomach. Just how bad was this 'G.P.' character? How come he knew nothing about him?
If Top Cat thinks the police – thinks that Dibble himself – would shoot his friend if they got involved...God.
He must be a real psychopath.
"Is this why Top Cat wouldn't tell me why we don't see Spook anymore?"
The cat nodded sadly. "He's gonna get sick again if we don't do somethin', Officer Dibble!"
Dibble never understood how on Earth a cute, innocent little guy like Benny and a conniving smart aleck like Top Cat were best friends. They were practically a living example of the Opposites Attract theory. Sometimes Dibble wondered if it was Benny's childlike persona that Top Cat found endearing. T.C. was not the most responsible individual, and he seemed to believe laws and regulations only existed to decorate plain paper and keep the ink factories from shutting down.
But he had a protective streak, and no one knew it better than Dibble.
Though he had to admit - sometimes the little wise guy got so infuriating, Dibble would give all his money and throw in his badge to see the look on his face when he threw him in the slammer for a few days.
Just a few days. Maybe it would teach him some respect for always treating Dibble like a halfwit; a nosy little kid he had to slow down for and placate otherwise he'd get lost. It was Top Cat's way of teasing, and it was infuriating.
"Will you help us, sir?" Benny's desperate plea broke through Dibble's inner rant.
"Benny, of course I want to help you guys, but I'll leave it to ya to make T.C. see reason. If he doesn't want the police to know anything about it and you don't want me to let him know that I know, how am I supposed ta help?"
Benny's eyes crossed a bit as he tried to process that statement, then simply shrugged: "You'll think'a something, sir. Just so you know, T.C.'s a right soft touch if you know how to approach 'im," he smiled, crossed his eyes a bit and opened them as far as they'll go. A tear ran down his right cheek, and viola - a flawless, abandoned-kitten face.
Dibble groaned loudly and looked up at the ceiling. "I didn't know you could still do that.."
Now he knew why Top Cat usually gave Benny what he wanted.
"Alright then, Benny," the officer sighed heavily. This was gonna be a long afternoon. "I'll go talk to him. Today. Maybe we can reach an agreement. If ya wanna make yasself scarce at the time.."
"Ya mean it, sir?" Benny's face glowed with hope. "Gosh, sir, you - you're the greatest cop in all of New York, sir! Just like T.C. says, you're the Voice of the Down-D-Down..T-Tro..it doesn't matter! You're the best! I'll wash your car forever, sir! I don't care if T.C. tells me to stop wasting my life, I'll do it just for ya-!"
"Alright already!" But Benny had jumped off his chair and latched onto Dibble's side in a grateful hug.
"Benny? Are ya sure you're alright?"
"The best I've been in a while, sir..the best I've f-felt in-in-" Benny burst into tears, and Dibble felt cold despite himself at the prospect of seeing Top Cat later.
This can't be good.
oOoOoOoOoOo
(Original A/N from 2012: Cupcake-Ninja-Platypus, Jazz does appear in the 2011 movieXD. A cameo appearance – did you see the 2 cats Spook was playing pool with;D?)