Small Talk

== Revised text ==
Date/Timing: 3 January 2019
Setting: Shed Vegetable garden; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
.
Chuck wanders through the Shed's vegetable garden, Max padding at his heels, past the tomatoes and peppers, to Vos by the greenhouse, leaning against a wall and basking in the late afternoon glow with his eyes closed against the sun.
Chuck clears his throat.
No response.
Chuck grits his teeth—
Deaf. 
Right.
He shifts so his shadow falls across Vos.
Vos cracks an eye. He smiles and pats the ground in front of himself.
Chuck sits.
Max wiggles into Vos' lap.
Vos scratches Max's ears—
Chuck glowers at his dog.
—pulls a mobile from his pocket, types, shows Chuck the screen.
- Knew u'd find me -
Chuck shrugs. "The Marshal wants us to talk."
Vos nods. 
- Same orders -
"So why'd you hide?" Chuck grumbles.
- U = impatient - 
- Why look when u would? - 
- Saves me work - 
Vos smirks.
"You're an asshole."
Vos shrugs it off. 
- What should I call u? -
"'Chuck'. You?"
- Pietr -
"Umm ... how d'you say that?"
- Like peter -
"Oh. Right."
They pause awkwardly.
- Hometown? -
"Uh ... Medowie, I guess. Lived there until right before—" Chuck swallows. "Moved around a bit since." Deep breath. "How 'bout you?"
- Koffiefontein south africa -
Chuck quirks an eyebrow. "South Africa? What, there a ferry or something?"
- ??? -
"A couple of the Rangers out of Tokyo are from there."
Pietr shrugs. 
- Sumthing n teh water? -
Chuck snorts. "Watch as that's the reason."
Pietr makes a breathy sound.
Chuck queries. 
- Laugh -
Chuck nods. 
Pietr basks. 
"So, what're /you doing here?"
- Job -
"How'd you get in, anyway?"
- PPDC = desperate? - 
- Crap grades but fight pretty well -
"Yeah, you're kinda a monster. Did you really make Logan Jones cry?"
Pietr furrows his brows. He traces a line across his forehead and pulls an exaggerated scowl.
Chuck snickers. "That's Scarface, alright." 
Pietr mimes 'into' and taps his elbow. 
- Bloody nose watery eyes -
Chuck snorts. "Too bad. He's an asshole."
Pietr studies Chuck for moment. 
- Yr 1 angry kid -
Chuck huffs. "I'm /not a kid. How old are /you?"
- 22 - 
Points to Chuck.
"Fifteen."
Pietr blinks.
"That a problem?"
Pietr gestures 'relax'. 
- Surprised - 
- U hit hard for a kid -
Chuck brightens, then scowls.
Pietr sighs. 
- U ≠ full size, strength -
- Still growing? -
"Yeah. My old man says he didn't stop 'til he was eighteen." He sighs.
Pietr raises confused eyebrows.
"My dad."
- Ranger, red? - 
He touches his hair.
"Yea."
- Thought so -
Chuck bristles. "Why?"
Pietr roll his eyes. 
- Obvious -
- U fight like the younger 1 -
"If yer so smart, why'd you nearly let me take you head off?"
- Knew u wouldn't -
"I smashed a guy's nose!"
Max snuffles and wriggles off Pietr to lick Chuck's hand.
- I trust u -
Chuck gapes. "You … you're /crazy."
Pietr grins. 
- Yr copilot -
- Dinner? -
Category:Ficlet
Category:Chuck H
Category:Chuck H (ficlet)
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Max
Category:Max (ficlet)
Category:Nguyen (mention)
Category:Logan (mention)
Category:Herc (mention)
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Ficlets with images