bang goes my heart

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff stuck his tongue. "I don't know who that could be."

[solarOrigins]

"Of course you wouldn't" Robert teased.

```````````````````````````

Robert was just taking the steaks off the grill when Slick walked into the back yard, nearly dragging Karkat by the arm with Kankri trailing behind him. Robert only shook his head with a sigh. "Perfect timing as always."

Jane came back out close behind, offering Kankri a glass of water.

Jeff's phone rang.

John sat up a little straighter, looking at the small boy Slick had by the arm in worry. "Uh-oh"

[midnightVigilante]

Jo had fallen asleep in Dick's lap. The oldest Strider had his sister as he spoke to Josh.

Jeff watched Slick and his boys as they approached. "Who is that?"

Kankri nodded at Jane as he took the water. "Thanks."

Dave also looked over to the three new arrivals. "Huh?"

[solarOrigins]

"My boss, and his children." Robert replied.

"Egbert, I'm literally at my wits end with him. We've been at the new place for a day and he's done locked himself in the fucking closet more times than I can count."

Karkat tried to yank his arm away, but Slick yanked back and almost unbalanced Karkat.

Jeff's phone continued to ring.

"Slick's gotta be really mad at Karkat if he's pulling him like that. I wonder what he did now" John stated.

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff pulled his phone out without looking at the caller id. "Yeah?"

[solarOrigins]

"Jeff? Love of my life, light of my eye, are you terribly busy?" Cal asked in concern.

Robert and Slick talked quietly, the small Karkat trying to pull away every few minutes only to be thwarted by Slick.

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff sighed into his phone. "Yes, dear. Dinner is going to be ready soon. What's wrong?"

[solarOrigins]

"Dirk just got home, maybe five minutes ago, and, well, you have to see it. I can't really explain what's going on, its something you need to see and decide on, he's your brother, and not my responsibility to discipline. I'm not really sure if this even qualifies for it" Cal replied

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff sighed again. "What? You can't just tell me? This is the first non work related thing I've left the house for in three months, not including grocery shopping and fighting with the school. What did he do?"

[solarOrigins]

"Can you come home for like, five minutes, that's all I need you for, I promise"

[midnightVigilante]

"Fine, I'm coming." He hung up then turned to Robert. "I gotta leave for a bit. Dirk got home. Did something and Cal won't tell me what."

[solarOrigins]

"Alright" Robert replied, moving to pick up the small teen.

[midnightVigilante]

Dave watched as Jeff left. "When will it be time to eat? I didn't get to eat breakfast before picking up my class schedule. And Jeff didn't make lunch."

[solarOrigins]

"should be done" John stated. "Dad just took the last of it off the grill"

``````````````````````

Dirk hummed as he held the very large puppy up on his shoulder as he puttered around the house, setting up all the new things for the puppy that seemed to think it was just a very large baby. Food and water dishes in the kitchen, food bins in the pantry, treats above the sink, a bed in the livingroom corner, another in Dirk's room. He was talking to the puppy the whole time, telling it about the house.

Cal vaguely followed, staying in doorways as he watched in amusement.

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff huffed when he finally walked into the house. "Dirk. What have you done now?" He started to look around for his younger brother. "Dirk?"

[solarOrigins]

"In his room Jeff" Cal called

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff slowly made his way to Dirk's room. "Okay. What did he do? Who did he kill?"

[solarOrigins]

Cal only gestured at Dirk and the dog.

"Hey Bro" Dirk greeted, bouncing the dog gently.

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff frowned as he crossed his arms. "Explain. Now."

[solarOrigins]

"I saved up, I have plenty of money set aside, I'm doing good in school and you said I could get a dog if I did all those things" Dirk replied. "So I got Achilles."

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff bit his cheek before sighing. "Yeah...I did say that. Is he house trained? Will he chew on anything?"

[solarOrigins]

"He's already been house trained, and pad trained for emergencies. He wasn't trained for anything else, but the breeder said he didn't show any interest in chewing anything that wasn't established as a toy." Dirk stated. He moved to set Achilles on the floor and the dog immediately whined and stood on his hind paws, trying to get Dirk to pick him back up.

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff leaned over, scooping the puppy into his arms. "What kind of dog is he?"

[solarOrigins]

"Purebred St. Bernard." Dirk replied happily as Achilles let his head flop onto Jeff's shoulder. "He is literally a huge baby."

[midnightVigilante]

Jeff let out a small laugh as he put the dog's head. "I can tell." He sighed as he continued to pet the dog. "He can stay. But if he misbehaves too much or ruins anything he has to go. And I'm sure Dave is going to want a pet now too."

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