Bad Dog| Andley |

Ashley's POV

I laid there, flat against the floor. I didn't know how long I laid there, or how long Andy laid on me, but there were suddenly two loud buzzes, and blue lasers hitting our vests. The lights in the room lifted, revealing us both to the opponents. They paid no mind, as they were too busy celebrating their victory as they exited.

"Uh- We should... We should get out of here..." I said awkwardly, breaking the tension. Andy's face flamed and sat up, nodding.

"Yeah. Good plan." He laughed in embarrassment and climbed off of him. "Sorry about that. Just- Yeah. Sorry." He began to leave the room, undoing the velcro on the vest and pulling it off, handing that, along with the gun. I did the same and followed him, taking him back out to the car. "What do you want to go do next?"

Andy shuffled uncomfortably in his seat, fingers anxiously playing with the hem of his shirt. "Lunch, I guess? You can pick the place..."

I nodded and buckled up, starting the car and pulling out of the parking lot. The drive was silent, and I could tell Andy was still a bit awkward regarding what had happened back at the laser tag place. I chose to leave it alone, deciding to focus on driving to a place to eat.

"This okay?" I looked at him after parking outside of a restaurant.

Andy looked up from his hands. "Fuddruckers?" He frowned a bit.

I frowned as well. "So... it's not okay, I take it?"

"No- No, it's fine- It's totally fine, I just- I used to come here a lot with my dad when I was younger." Andy explained awkwardly. "It's fine. Let's go." He got out of the car.

I raised an eyebrow and turned off the car, pulling the keys from the ignition and getting out. After locking the car, I went in with him, waiting to be escorted to a table. Andy stood off to the side, eyes set on the claw-machine that sat in the corner of the mini arcade.

"What?" I frowned, following his gaze.

"Why did I have to grow up?" Andy said quietly, still watching as a boy, looking no older than 5, fed a quarter to the machine. The lights around the edges lit up in all the colors of the rainbow, the music starting up as well as the sound of mechanic claw moving. The boy's face lit up, his hands moving the joystick that controlled the claw up and down, and side to side carefully, eyes set on the large blue dinosaur toy in the middle of the pile.

"I got it!" the boy declared as he watched the claw descend and open above the dinosaur. But just as it always did, the toy slipped from the terribly weak grip and went back to where it was in the pile of toys. The boy's face saddened, green eyes glazing over with tears as he turned to look at his mother. "Again!"

His mother shook her head and picked him up. "No, that was the third try, honey."

"But I want it!" He whined sadly.

"Oh, sh, I know you do. But mommy is gonna buy you an even bigger dinosaur on the way home, okay?"

"Can it be blue?"

"The bluest dinosaur I can find." She nodded, carrying him back to the table where the rest of their family sat.

I turned back to Andy. "I'm confused."

Andy shook his head. "My dad and I always messed around with that thing. Used to buy me ice cream if I could get something from it..."

I opened my mouth, about to respond when the hostess cleared her throat.

"Sir? Your table is ready." She looked between them. I nodded and looked at Andy briefly before following her to the table by the window. I sat down, as did Andy.

"Look, Andy-"

"No. I don't want to talk about it." Andy put a hand up to stop me. "I don't want to talk about my dad, or what happened at laser tag. Let's just... Talk about something else."

I blinked, nodding slowly. "Okay... So how does being human again feel?"

Andy shrugged, looking over the menu. "Good.. Being a wolf was kind of nice, though. Didn't really have much to worry about."

I nodded. "Still want that tattoo?"

Andy looked up. "Tattoo?" He furrowed his brow.

I nodded again. "The wolf and moon thing? You seemed kinda interested by it a few days ago, remember?"

Andy's eyes widened. "Oh my god! I totally forgot about that! Yeah- Of course I want it, still."
"Great. I'll get you an appointment for Saturday." I smiled a little bit.

Andy smiled back faintly, blushing furiously as I slid my hand over his.

"And- by the way." I hummed, my thumb gliding over his knuckles. "Don't worry about the laser tag thing. I liked it. You're kind of comfy." I teased.

Notes