Wakeup Call

== Revised text ==
Date/Timing: 5 January 2019
Setting: Pietr's suite, The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
.
Chuck wakes up under a torrent of slobbery Max kisses.
"Ugh—" Chuck nudges drooly jowls away. "—tha's enough, Han'some."
Max plunks down, pants enthusiastically.
Chuck drags a hand down his face, blinks blearily around the dim room. He sits up, rubs his eyes. Looks at Max, asks, "How'd you get in here?"
Max whuffs.
"C'mon, let's find Pietr." Shoves to his feet, crosses the suite—Max trotting at his heels—peers into the bedroom. 
A neatly made bed, /more pictures of smiling blonds, a tablet ....
Chuck glances over his shoulder, then shrugs and nabs the computer. He walks back to the kitchenette table, perches on a chair, and types in an access code and contact number.
- Connecting -
/tap tap tap
Max whuffles.
- Connecting ... -
/tap tap tap
Max whines.
"C'mon up, boy." Chuck lifts Max onto his lap.
- Connected! -
Max lies down.
"Mako!"
""Good mor—""
"I found 'im!"
""Found whom?""
"My copilot! For /Striker!"
Mako looks away from the camera.
"Say somethin', Mako. Don't leave me hangin' here."
""That's ... wonderful for you, Chuck.""
"Yea! I'm over the fuckin' /moon! Took long enough!"
Across the living area, the door opens.
Chuck peeks over the screen.
Pietr, grinning, with a tray of breakfast in each hand, kicks the door shut.
"Hold on, Mako. He just got back."
""Chuck—""
Chuck beckons Pietr over.
Pietr sets the trays on the table, steps behind Chuck, ruffles his hair—
Chuck squawks, batters at his hand.
—kisses his crown.
Mako giggles.
Chuck huffs. "Mako, this's Pietr, my copilot."
""Hello, Ranger,"" greets Mako, bowing slightly.
Pietr grins, bows, and then both his hands flutter. >::Hi, Chuck's friend! Happy to meet you! I'm Pietr.::<
Mako furrows her brow.
"Oh, right." Chuck rubs his neck. "Pietr's deaf. He's signing to you, but I have no idea what he's saying."
""How can you be copilots if you can't understand each other?""
Max woofs, headbutts Pietr's leg.
Pietr looks down, lights up, and crouches to rub Max's chin.
Chuck puffs up a little. "He understands me just fine and, in the Drift, it didn't matter." He leans into the screen. "It's /amazing in there. You know how in your head there's a little voice talking at you?"
Mako nods cautiously.
"He doesn't have one of those. It's all pictures and /feelings and these weird—" Vague gesture. "—colour-y things."
""Fascinating."" Her eyes flick to something above Chuck's head and she hides her mouth behind a hand.
"Wha?" Chuck tilts his head back.
Pietr grins down at him, quickly hides his hands behind his back.
Chuck scowls at him.
Mako laughs.
"He was giving me rabbit ears, ay?"
She nods.
Chuck pouts, "He can be an asshole som—"
A gentle smack to the back of his head.
Chuck whirls.
Mako snorks.
Pietr smirks, signs. >::Watch your language, kiddo.::<
"Yer fuckin' k—"
Pietr pokes his nose.
"Oh for fuck's—"
A frown and another poke.
Laughter from the tablet speaker, but no sign of Mako on the screen. Then the camera shakes, there's a /bang, and the call disconnects.
Chuck glowers at Pietr. "Didya /have to do that?"
Pietr bats his eyelashes, nods.
Chuck rolls his eyes.
Pietr claims the other kitchen chair, pushes one of the trays of food in front of Chuck.
"Thanks," he says, then mumbles, "assho—"
Poke.
"How'd you even?!"
Pietr smirks, picks up his fork, and tucks in.
Shiny New Rangers arc: He's My Copilot | Small Talk | Fmly stuff | On Notice | Hazard Pay | Strong and Holding | Friendly Wager | Fine | A Little Bird | Ghosting | Like Me | Hypothetical | New Job | Wakeup Call | Ours | Drills | Rearrangements 
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