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Tango turns away from Mumbo to swing back onto his horse and there Jimmy is, heading up the hill towards him. Maybe one day the sight of Jimmy won’t send Tango’s heart skipping, like it still remembers the rhythm they held together, but today isn’t that day. He’s grinning up at Tango, eyes alight with some sort of mischief, his tail wagging slowly behind him.
“Hey Jimmy,” Tango says, excited but careful. He really doesn’t need Jimmy to ruin his chances at his task—he’s so close to being finished.
“Hi Tango!” Jimmy says cheerfully. His tail starts wagging as he gets closer. Well, at least Tango knows they’re both excited to see each other.
“Listen,” Jimmy steps closer, sidling up the side of Tango’s horse to blink up at him. Did his eyes get bigger when he got dogified? Jimmy has always had big brown eyes, like he was made for batting his eyelashes at people, but now they feel bigger and rounder and browner. Tango resists the urge to pull away, already resigning himself to giving Jimmy whatever he asks for.
Jimmy’s head is well above the shoulders of Tango’s horse. He rests a hand on Tango’s thigh, leaning casually against his horse. “I’ve just been over to Skizz,” he continues, as Tango struggles to focus on his words and not on the warmth of his hand. “And I’ve heard about your heart foundation and the raffle you guys run. Real wholesome, I’m all for it, I love it.” He pauses, trailing a finger down and then back up Tango’s leg.
Tango knows where this is going, but it’s hard to be annoyed with Jimmy’s head practically in his lap. His new ears look so soft. Tango gently brushes against one, cutting off whatever Jimmy was going to say next.
Jimmy’s new ears are really soft, like a puppy’s, and Tango strokes it for a minute, smiling at the blissed-out expression on Jimmy’s face. Eventually, he prompts, “But…?”
“But nothing!” Jimmy exclaims. “Just, maybe, next time—” He pulls a few diamonds out of his inventory, his sly expression at odds with the way his head stays pressed into Tango’s hand. He slides one into one of the side pockets on Tango’s pants and when he fumbles with the flap, Tango presses his lips together and tries not to laugh.
“Next time there’s a few more “Jimmy”s in the dropper.” Tango finishes.
“Yeah,” Jimmy says with a smile. “Maybe a “oh, Jimmy won, isn’t that so lucky!””
Well, Tango isn’t above bribery.
“I’ll see what I can convince the others to do.” Tango leans down to put his face closer to Jimmy’s, his hand sliding to the back of Jimmy’s neck. He drops his voice a little and says, “Of course, things might go smoother if you have a little something more to give.” He can’t quite reach Jimmy’s mouth from here, but his intention is plenty clear.
“I don’t have any more diamonds.” Jimmy lies, eyes wide. He lifts up onto his toes and gently presses his mouth against Tango’s. Tango uses his hand to angle Jimmy’s head a little bit and Jimmy goes easily, mouth sliding open to—
“Umm,” says Mumbo, from a few feet behind Tango. “Wow, I really thought Grian was exaggerating about you two.”