Arion's mouth twitched.
Nero pointed toward the malamute. "He knows how to use the handle."
Dean looked down slowly at Boreas.
Boreas looked back with enormous brown eyes full of innocence and absolutely no innocence whatsoever.
Dean felt betrayed on a spiritual level.
"You trained him to commit treason."
"He trained himself," Arion corrected.
"That is worse."
Nero leaned back deeper into the chair, entirely too comfortable. "Actually, I think he likes me because I feed him illegally."
Arion sighed. "Nero."
"What? He enjoys smoked meat."
"He also enjoys eating entire socks. That does not make it wise."
Boreas sneezed directly onto Dean's shoulder in support of criminal behavior.
Dean closed his eyes.
"I fought infected beasts for this country."
"You did," Arion agreed solemnly.
"I neutralized corrupted pheromones."
"Yes."
"I prevented zombie flies from reaching civilians."
"You were very impressive."
