It's a dog's life

[labcoatgirl]

Betty isn't sure what happened. She can't remember what happened prior to this.

Everything feels wrong. Like her body is in the wrong position. But when she goes to stand up, she's still too short. There's too many smells in her nose, Betty giving her head a shake. When she does that, she can feel her soft ears moving on her head.

It's not till she does a complete circle that she realizes the situation.

She's a dog.

How could this happen?? she wants to say out loud. Instead, it comes out as a whine and a yip, something that surprises her. It's wet and damp where she is, Betty trying to walk on all fours to the end of the alley. It's pouring rain out there, her coat is already matted and soaked. She sits under an awning, trying to wait till it stops. Racking her poor dog brain to figure out a way out of this.

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[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

She sits nearby, trying to ignore the fresh smell of dirt. Who knew it could smell so good? It made her paws itch so she laid down to try and keep herself in check. Setting her slim nose on her front paws with a sigh.

I wish I knew what happened to cause this. They could try to get back to Culver and try to get someone's attention. But that could be a tricky thing to do.

[mas-stretchy.livejournal.com]

Huh? Bruce has managed a pretty deep hole by now and pokes his head out at Betty, barely able to hear her. His nose and paws are covered in dirt as he peeks out at her.

Who knows, with everything that's happened. We could have, dropped into a parallel reality, or turned into dogs, or swapped bodies... He shakes his head, not really liking the idea of a dog running around in his skin and sticks his head back in the hole to test how deep it is, his tail wagging behind him.

[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

She pants, amused at him covered in dirt, half inside the hole. You digging to China?

Betty moves up behind him quick to give him a playful shove into the hole. And then bounds away, tail and tongue flapping in the breeze.

[mas-stretchy.livejournal.com]

Whoah! Bruce's back legs kick out before he manages to extract himself from the hole and shakes his head, sending drool and dirt every which way. He gives a playful, yet reserved woof as she runs away, and he's quick to dump the burger into the hole. He makes a half-effort to refill it, but then gives up, taking a couple lanky bounds after Betty.

What was that for? But he can't hide that dopey Dane smile on his face as he pants.

[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

I don't know! It was fun. She barks gleefully, glad that she can finally run again. She weaves in and out of the bushes, daring him to catch her. Can't catch meeee!

[mas-stretchy.livejournal.com]

His ears push forward as he watches her zoom around and he barks at her.

Hey! No fair! He lopes after her, doing less weaving and more bulldozing through the bushes after her.

[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

She yips as he catches up easily, taking off at a full run across the grassy expanse of the park. When she can't run anymore, she flops down, panting happily under a tree and turning on her side to pretend to be caught. Ahhh, you got me! Laughing all the while.

[mas-stretchy.livejournal.com]

Bruce romps after her, and when she stops under the tree he barks, bonking her on the head with his massive paw. He's not nearly as winded as she is, but still flops down, and then turns belly up, rolling in the grass with his massive legs flailing about.

[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

This was fun, not worrying about experiments or the Hulk...or her father showing up. And Bruce seemed happy too, genuinely happy.

She play growls at him for the bonk on the head and goes to pull on his ear with her teeth before licking his face. You're all legs, you know that?

[mas-stretchy.livejournal.com]

He lays still, perfectly content to let her tug on his ears.

I noticed. It's like walking on stilts. And you're fluffy. He groans happily, and then slobbers her puffy fur just to prove a point.

[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

She gives her head a shake. Eww. But it's not that gross really. Even his slobber smells like him, which is a nice smell for her. This must be so hard in the summertime. Being covered in fur? They'd be too hot.

Finally, after some more playing, she's all played out and just lays there under the tree with him. Breathless. That...was more fun...than I thought.

[mas-stretchy.livejournal.com]

Even Bruce is panting by the time they call it quits, stretched out on his side with his head near hers. He noses her head and then drops it back to the grass as he closes his eyes. All that tension in him, it's dissolved and he just feels free and content. He has Betty, no one is going to recognize him, and he can truly relax.

Yeah...

[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

She shifts to rest her head on his flank, content and tired. Her fur is all dried out and she's not cold anymore. She whines as a yawn surprises her. How safe is it for dogs to sleep outside?

[mas-stretchy.livejournal.com]

Not very. He groans, picking up his head briefly to look back at her. We need to find somewhere with a roof at least. Preferably somewhere hidden. We don't want animal control to find us. I'd...probably have a bad reaction to that.

[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

She woofs out a sigh, keeping her chin on his tummy. No, probably not. And she didn't want to spend the night at the pound either.

Maybe we can find a box? She tries to think of a good makeshift solution. Even if we made it back to my place, we couldn't open the door.

[mas-stretchy.livejournal.com]

A box is a little flimsy, and too open. Someone would call animal control. He groans, the sound rumbling in frustration under her head. But there's still plenty of places to sleep. We could always hide on your porch. With the brick there, no one would see us.

And if they turned back during the night? They wouldn't have to find their way there.

[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

She whines as she yawns widely again. Do we really have to move? But she knew he was right. Even if they slept out here under the tree, someone was bound to notice eventually.

Wish we could find someone to let us into the house. Right now she was missing having clothes. And blankets to sleep on.

[mas-stretchy.livejournal.com]

Well it's that or... His ears perk, and his tongue lolls out as he gets an idea. Or, you know, there's always Stan. He licks his chops, tilting his head to the side. Food, and a possible warm, dry place to sleep. Stan wasn't usually one for strays, but from time-to-time, he was known to let in one or two into a back room that could be locked, but was dry and warmer than outside at least.

[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

She lifts her head right up at that.

Pizza.

Betty's already licking her chops at the thought of it, looking happy with the idea. That's brilliant. This is why you're the smart one. She leans over to lick his face.

[mas-stretchy.livejournal.com]

He whines in half-protest at being slobbered, but he's trying not to 'laugh' at the same time. He ducks his head a little, letting her lick his head.

Well, 'smart' is debatable some days. Hungry, not so much. He gives a quiet, amused woof at her affections and closes an eye. So...less bath, more pizza?

[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

She laughs too, jumping to her feet and barking excitedly. Yes! Yes yes yes, pizza. Okay, maybe she's a little too excited about this.

[mas-stretchy.livejournal.com]

Alright, alright. He pants happily as he rolls back to his belly so he can stand. He stretches a little as he does, giving a pleased groan. Come on, Spike. Let's hit up Stan.

For once, he might actually not feel too guilty about pulling the kind man's heartstrings. They were definitely in a bind, and a pair of opposable thumbs willing to feed them and give them somewhere warm to stay was better than being hungry and out in the cold.

[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

She starts sniffing the ground, trying to remember in her now doggie brain what direction Stan's pizzeria was in. Whenever Bruce starts off, she keeps by his side. He'll be home...hopefully he's ready for company.

[mas-stretchy.livejournal.com]

Bruce starts off for Stan's, but he doesn't make it particularly far before he notices his nose going to the ground. He's not losing track of his goal, but damn the leaves smell great, along with everything else. He shakes his head with a grunt, trying to keep on task but it's hard when that painfully inquisitive side of him is coupled with the overdrive of a dog's sense of smell.

Eventually he stops himself again, and whimpers, putting his paws on his nose. It doesn't really help though, because they smell so much like the hole he was digging earlier.

Damn. More frustrated grunting as he paws gently at his nose. This thing needs an off switch.

[labcoatgirl.livejournal.com]

What's wrong? she whines, sitting next to him and pawing his side. Aren't we going for pizza?

They were at the edge of the park. Even with the color blindness, Betty recognized where they were. Come on, follow me. She trots off down the sidewalk, certain of her direction. Surely she was a bigger distraction than the smell of leaves and dirt, right?