Unfamiliar Faces || Dustin & David
The ābear probably hadnāt intended to be condescending when David gave his name, but it certainly sounded that way to the ārat. Swallowing his scowl, the ārat forced a thin smile over his lips. He had no solid reason for the mounting dislike he was feeling, but Dustinās relaxed, imperious and blunt manner was rubbing him all sorts of wrong ways. Forcing himself to slow his breathing, the ārat rubbed his clammy palms against his thighs again.Ā
His eyes snapped back to Dustinās face as the man made it clear that he very well knew what a wererabbit smelled like and that David wasnāt one. So whatever Dustin was, he had an acute enough sense of smell to know the difference, but he hadnāt met a wererat before. That bit of information was actually reassuring. David had only known of wererats through nighthook. Meeting one out in the āwildā, so to say, would be odd. Dustinās following warning against lying made the āratās eyebrows raise as he stared at Dustin. Who was this guy? Shifting from foot to foot, the ārat edged a little closer.Ā
"Iām a r-rat." David gave after a long moment. His voice was quiet, just loud enough to reach Dustin but not the opening of the alleyway. Divulging information, especially to someone he had just met, went against everything that kept his inner rat comfortable but thus far, Dustin hadnāt left him hanging. He just hoped that once the introductions had been made, David could duck back inside and avoid the ābear for the rest of their shift. "What are, uh, w-what are you?"
Now that everything was out in the open from David, Dustin felt like he could finally relax and act a bit more like his usual friendly self. David would be no threat to Dustin in a fight shifted or not and he had been willing to share what he was. He took a moment or two the dwell on the fact that the man before him was indeed a rat. It was strange considering Dustin had never heard of a wererat before, but then again Pickens was so fucked up it didn't surprise him.Ā
"I'm a bear, a Beta of the local sleuth at that." he responded just as quietly, his eyes going over David's head to look out towards the street behind him. No one still seemed to be aware that the two were even in the alley.Dustin's posture relaxed some, David confirming Dustin's suspicions allowed the tension set in Dustin's shoulders to ease until her was standing in an open posture and let his hand drape at his side. He threw his finished cigarette down on the ground and snuffed it out with the toe of his boot.Ā
"Now that that is all out in the open you're good with me. Thanks for being honest. It's a good trait to have with people. I know I may have came off a bit rough around the edges there, but you gotta understand I have duties to protect mine. The thought of you being something I ain't heard of brought that instinct out," he said with a smile tugging at his lips. Dustin was usually a playful guy, that much had shown in his relationship with Layla. "You ever need any help around the Rookery just give me a holler and I'll help ya out anytime."Ā
