In the Dog House. Chapter One.
In The Dog House
Chapter One
By Roofles
*It's great to be back. I missed writing and posting things. While I know many wanted me to continue Snow Dawgs, I'm afraid it would be rather tricky for me too. However, I didn't want to just up and abandon the story. This story is a continuous of that one, just six month in the future. The reason for this is simple really. Starting a new story will allow me to explore more of the characters rather than just Douglas. This'll allow me not only to continue the story, but, also in hopes of making this one of my longest lasting stories. Hope you all look forward too it.
-Roofles
Auto, was glad to be back to The Kennels. He was a hard-working dog and wasn't used to the leisure time off like they had gotten over the winter. His father and his father's father loved to keep their hands busy. While his mother was always occupied with his six other brothers, Auto tended to help his dad out at the apartment complex that they owned.
And over time, after it all happened, Auto inherited it while his siblings simply... drifted off to do their own things. Auto never heard back from any of them. Only Tom who came knocking last year, asking for money of course. He didn't like to think about them much. Or his father...
The Kennels weren't a ritzy place. It was only due to their hard work and countless hours spent keeping the place in working order that they managed to call it a home. Home, that's what most strays called this place. The Kennels were founded several, several years ago during one of the darker times of our country. It was created to be a safe place, a haven for canine-sapiens. Back then they weren't seen as equal to humans. Let alone had the right to own property.
A dangerous minority that needed to be controlled and cattle like animals. Chained, bound, leashed... Told what they could and couldn't do. To sit. Stay. Obey or else. Some still even had the scars from those times.
Auto had changed things. Where his family had kept it mostly reserved for friends and family or those they knew such as coworkers. Auto wanted to help more than just them and offered a hand, or a paw in his case, to any who needed a place to stay. So long as they worked hard and kept the peace here, he never had a problem.
Still, on days like this, he wished he didn't have such a generous heart.
Auto was in his office this afternoon. A fan was blowing directly into his muzzled face; trying his best not to drool or pant as the heat of the day seeped in from every crack and crevasse. Licking his chops, the blue heeler looked over the resume within his paws. Checking over the oversized font, the misspelled words, and large open blank spaces where "Experience" was clearly marked.
Sometimes even he could be too lenient.
"So, uh, mister Willis was it?" Auto asked looking up at the teen in front of him. Auto had been desperate to get a replacement for the summer. It was far more challenging than it used to be. Things had changed drastically from his time. And the man sitting in front of him was proof enough for that.
"Wiles." The coyote said, tossing his long purple dyed hair out of his eyes so he could continue texting on his phone. Auto tried not to let it show that the constant popping and open-maw chewing bubblegum the coyote was currently smacking on was getting to him. Auto's ear twitch, tail flicked as the coyote popped another bubble before slurping it back into his muzzle. "Anything else I got to, like, fill out?" The younger man asked looking up at Auto with a clearly disinterested sigh.
"Well..." Auto said politely. The heat was beginning to get to him. The blue heeler wasn't wearing a shirt, his rich blue hew fur had splotches of white and brown mixed throughout. It provided enough warmth for him as it was. He didn't need to add to it.
Auto adjusted the blue jean overalls he had on, letting a strap hang loose as he placed both hands on the paper in front of him. "What makes you qualified for this job?"
"Uh..." Was the classy response he got from the simple question. The coyote looked confused now as if he asked him what the capital of Finland was. "For a... job?" The coyote asked, unsure of what to answer.
"Why this place?" Auto just continued to press. It was a simple interview question. Something he himself had always been asked. It was a question he hated but as he grew older he learned the value of something so simple.
It was easy these days to pick out people who were going to be good fits and the people looking for a paycheck. This man, before him, he knew was clearly the latter. Something that didn't work well in this line of work. When you get yelled at for the water heater going out, having people knocking on the door during lunch hours (even when there was clearly a sign to say they were on break); when people somehow got a hold of your number and were calling you all hours in the night to come to kill a spider... Well, someone that was in this just for a simple paycheck wasn't going to last long.
"For... money?" At least the coyote was honest.
Auto thanked him for his time, nearly crushing the limp-wristed coyote paw in his own with a real handshake before seeing him out the door. Out the hallway leading back towards the office. And even out the front before shutting the door right behind him; being mindful to watch out for his scrawny tail.
"What is wrong with this generation!" The older dog bellowed out of his lungs as he spun around towards the front desk. Zoe, a gray-fur poodle, was busy working on her acrylic nails. Auto knew very well that Zoe was, in fact, a male but, as Zoe wished it to be, referred to her as female. "Why can't they just... just..."
"Be an old hard-working, run of the mill dog like you?" Zoe said not evening looking up as she looked herself over in the mirror on the desk. She fluffed up her ear poms before working on her mascara.
"Right..." Auto just frowned looking at her. "Don't cha, like, have work to do, pup?" Auto had a habit of adding that last part when he was annoyed or worked up.
"With what? Or who?" Zoe nearly laughed looking around the empty room. "Oh! Hello there sir, I didn't see you being invisible and all. Do you want a reservation for..." The poodle asked the empty room. Being a smart-ass as usual. Auto didn't need another punk around here. He had enough people to deal with as it was. "Besides, it looks like you got company." The poodle just said turning back to her work.
Auto's ears perked up when he heard the delivery truck come to a stuttered-halt out front. His short tail couldn't help but wag as he saw who it stepped out of the front of the truck and head towards the back. The tight shorts, the brown vest, and cap of the UPS dog with that perfectly sculpted rear could only be...
Danny. The beagle was pulling out a few packages to get to the one needed in the back. The shorter male was having a bit of difficulty with it all until he finally came back around, obscured from view by the very box he was carrying.
Auto heart skipped a beat, though he'd die before admitting it. The blue heeler quickly looked himself over in the mirror. Giving his semi-gray muzzled a couple of scratches before heading out front to... assist him with the package the canine head clearly brought for him. The thought made a silly grin spread over the canine's face. Package...
Auto quickly wiped it off before the beagle came around the corner, nearly running directly into the larger dog.
"Hey there, Danny-boy." Auto said, letting his accent coat each and every word with that southern drawl. "What'cha got for me today, boy?" He just loved saying that looking down at that face. Just hoping he wasn't laying it on a little too thick... and yet at the same time, hoping so.
"Hey there yourself Mr. Auto, sir." Danny piped up with that cute innocent voice. Auto winced at the term "sir" feeling it was unnecessary. Auto wasn't that old yet... was he?
The beagle's large floppy ears bouncing and swaying side to side as that animated face moved to one side then to the other. "I'm looking for a Mr. Douglas?" Danny always asked for their first name, Auto never understood why. He was just thankful they didn't have any people here with the names John or Lee. Or other popular names.
"Douglas..." Auto didn't need to think about where he had put the human, instead, he was thinking about other things about the man. Of the trip. Of that night in the hot tub. Auto had been drunker than he thought. The evening growing fuzzy as he tried to recall. All he could fully remember was that warm passionate embrace...
"Yeah, Douglas. Where's he located at?" Danny just asked, oblivious to Auto's current thoughts and the stirring within those overalls. The blue heeler quickly cleared his throat, growing bashful at being caught in such a vulnerable position and ended up just turning away to rearrange himself. He wasn't exactly wearing anything underneath these overalls.
"Yes, Mister Douglas." Auto turned back clearing his throat and trying to be far more professional about it. "He is located in 1-A." Auto was already pointing towards where it was. Trying not to think too much of the fact the beagle's nose was right next to his armpit as he did so. Auto didn't like wearing deodorant and knew the beagle must've gotten a huge whiff of him.
Auto tried as he might to clear the human from his mind. But Douglas's face lingered in the back of it. With that smile. The beagle was a much needed, wanted distraction.
Danny just blushed, turning towards where he was pointing. Dog's had a habit of sniffing things put in front of them and Auto was shameless to say he enjoyed teasing the younger male so. Watching him blush and squirm like that in the presence of such a strong burly man like Auto. He just loved watching Danny fumble with those big oversized paws of his that didn't match his short, lean frame.
"That's right next to your place, isn't it, sir?" Danny just asked wide-eyed and hopeful, already knowing where that was. Auto ended up ordering dozens of replacement parts throughout the month for each of the apartments. He wasn't sure why Danny was the delivery boy here, he was just grateful for it.
"Sure is!" Auto chuckled heavily, making his gut bounce with the sound. "How about I show you the way? Keep an old guy company for a bit?" Auto just slapped a large paw right on the beagles back making his brown cap fall onto his short muzzle.
Danny readjusted it, blushing a bit with those big droopy ears hanging low as he looked up back at him from under the edge of the cap. "I don't want to be a bother, sir." Auto heart nearly melted as he just gave the beagle a good strong one arm hug at that.
"Not a bother at all, pup." Auto just gave a playful growl as they made their way, chuckling some more and slapping his gut as they went.
The two just enjoyed one another's company as they made their way to the other side of the complex. Taking the long route, out of the sun. Danny knew his van was safe within the cement walls surrounding the apartments. There was always a dog around, a watchdog as it were, keeping an eye on things. Everyone was just so... friendly. And more importantly, it was safe.
"It's just been a bit rough at home, is all." Danny started up as they ducked into the shade. Auto stopped at that and the beagle followed suit. He wasn't sure why the older blue heeler was helping him out so much. He was glad for the support, some of these packages could get rather cumbersome.
Auto's ears perked up at his words. He didn't say anything, just holding the package instead for him. Something he knew Danny appreciated.
"Just... life and such." Danny was evasive. Not wanting to burden others with his troubles. It was one thing Auto respected about him. Still, the older blue heeler was here for him. It was in his nature to help others in need. Be it a genetic thing or just how he was raised.
Holding the heavy box under one arm, Auto placed his rough hand on the beagle's shoulders. Danny could feel the coarse paw pads on each one of Auto's fingers. "You can talk about it if you want, pup. It's a safe place here." It was something Auto always told those who moved here. A tradition he never wanted to abandon.
Danny's ears drooped even more than normal, shoulders slouching as he reached up to touch that large hand. It was so reassuring. Holding those big fingers with his whole paw. "My dad." Danny started slowly, softly. The heat of the day was making his palms sweat. "He just... isn't very open about things, is all." Danny left it at that.
Auto didn't pry. It wasn't good to force a jar open, you might break it that way - or so he'd been told. Someday Danny was sure to open up to him.
"Been a bit difficult is all." Danny smiled though after, trying to be strong about it. Like Auto would've been, he was sure. Auto returned it with one of his own.
They walked in silence the rest of the way. It wasn't how the blue heeler wanted to start things out with but at least the beagle had opened up if only a little bit to him. It made him feel useful. Needed. Auto stood a couple of doors down, not wanting to be seen by the human right now for many reasons. The main one being the very dog standing at the front door. Danny waited for Douglas to answer. "Good afternoon, sir." Danny just started up with that warm smile and glowing personality of his. The two exchanged pleasantries to be polite before Douglas signed for the package.
Auto could hear someone else inside the apartment. He wasn't sure who it was. He wasn't close enough to get a good smell. Of course, his mind instantly jumped to the worse case scenario and his spirits sank.
"All done," Danny said in a far more chipper voice, nearly bouncing on his toes. Most canines didn't wear shoes. Instead, they used leather-like wraps around their paw pads, so the hot asphalt wouldn't burn them.
Auto heart sank a bit at that. Danny never stayed long. Having a busy schedule as he did. Today though, Auto would make sure to try and squeeze a bit more time out of him. If only for the beagle's sake. The dog was overworking himself in this heat. Or at least that's what Auto told himself.
Inside? He just needed some company himself...
Auto brushed off his brow with the back of his forearm, letting out a big woof of a sigh after. "Man! This dog could go for something to drink!"
"You should get back inside then, sir." Danny just offered, missing the undertone to what Auto had been offering.
"Well, I did just make a whole batch of sun-warmed tea... With a bit of ice and lemon, that could be very refreshing..." Auto nodded thinking it over. The beagle just smiled at him blissfully unaware of what Auto was offering him. The blue heeler could've hugged the cute pup out of that ignorance. Hopefully, Danny wouldn't need to grow up in order to survive this world... Like Auto had too.
It would be nice if he could stay a pup just a bit longer.
"Well..." Danny started up as they grew closer to his truck. The beagle glanced over to his truck indicating what he wasn't saying.
"When's your break? I mean, sure! Even you got to get a break in this heat, am I right?" Auto just blatantly said aloud. It came out as more of an accusation, a gruff sound that made the smaller dog's tail tuck down instinctively. Auto mentally hit himself for coming off as such. He didn't mean too, he just... had that personality. Most people were afraid of the older canine. "How about you take your break here." Auto laid it out for him. "Get some cool refreshments and give your paws a bit of some o' that rest, hm?"
The beagle hesitated, looking a bit uncomfortable about the offer. Unsure if it would be ok or not. Auto just placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey." Auto said softly, waiting for the beagle to look up at him. "You always have the right to say no. No matter who asks something of you, pup. Know that. You always have that right. Don't let anyone force you into anythin' that ya don't want."
Danny nodded at that. Taking it in. He placed a hand on Auto's once more. "Ok." He smiled. "I would love to have some tea."
Auto just showed him the way with a forceful shove on the back, without giving him a second chance to rethink it. As honest as he was about that, Auto would love to have some company right now. It might've been selfish but he was sure Danny would enjoy it too.
"Welcome to The Kennel Resort Inn Extravaganza!" Zoe said with a given lackluster flair, not even looking up from her phone. Both her feet were up on the desk as she rested back playing some kind of game on it, tapping the screen with her finger.
"Ignore her." Auto rolled his eyes. What he wouldn't give for some good help around here.
"Her...?" Danny asked as they walked past, clearly smelling something different under all that perfume Zoe was wearing. Dog's didn't usually wear perfume or cologne unless they wanted something to hide. That was a human thing to do.
Auto waved it off and Danny dropped the subject as they moved into his office. Auto shut the door behind the beagle, going over to the window seal and taking the large glass jug out of it and closing the blinds. He set it on the edge of his desk, getting two mason jars and filling them up with ice from the minifridge tucked into the corner. Auto bent over to get the ice, letting Danny get a good view of his ass - if he liked. Auto wasn't exactly a shy a dog. He was very secure with who he was.
Hell, Danny could get a good sniff under his tail if he liked. Auto chuckled to himself at the lewd thought as he got the drinks ready, offering one to the beagle after. Of course, he wasn't expecting the beagle to go and do something like that. Only hoped so.
Danny accepted the drink with a soft "thank you" and set his hat on the desk, taking a large drink, and letting some of the tea run down his chin and onto his jacket. He giggled a bit at that. Dog's never could drink properly from a glass with that muzzle.
"You can hang it in the window if you like," Auto asked, looking the beagle over slowly as he nursed on his own drink. The tea wasn't very sweet. The peach flavor made it go down smooth on this hot day though.
The beagle blushed a bit before doing so. Undoing each button on his shirt before stripping it off and putting it in the sun to dry off. Auto ate it up. Danny's body wasn't as lean as he thought. Lifting and moving packages all the day seemed to be paying off, giving the beagle a nice tone throughout his body. His dark sandy fur wrapped around his arms and back. The creamy belly fur ran under his muzzle all the way up to his chin, under both arms and down further into those tight shorts he had on. White markings around the eyes and on his muzzle highlighted his already expressive features.
"Peach?" Auto offered the fruit, wiping it off a bit on his chest before offering it to the beagle. Auto loved fresh fruit and tried to get some every couple of days from the market if he could so manage too. The beagle took it, sniffed it once, then bit into it. "So... how long have you been working at this job?" Auto started resting back in his chair on the other side of his desk.
"Over a year now." Danny just said, licking his lips.
"How's it going?" Auto kept up as he cut a peach into slices, watching the beagle as he did so.
"Overall? Not bad. It pays the bills. Mostly..." Danny cleared his throat and took another drink of tea.
"Problems?" Auto pressed thumbing a slice into his mouth. His ears had perked up at that. Catching that tone in the back of the beagle's throat.
"Well... just the hours. I don't mean to complain! Or seem ungrateful!" Danny spoke up quickly making Auto heart sink. It was hard to think such a young guy was dealing with this. "It just seems like they aren't giving me full time on purpose. So, I don't get benefits. It's been rough..." Danny frowned, looking down at the peach pit in his hand. There was more that he wasn't talking about.
"Oh?" Auto just said as he licked one finger and rested both hands on the desk in front of him.
"Just... I think their only giving me part time hours because..." Danny trailed off, not wanting to say what he had feared. It wasn't exactly rocket science to figure it out over the past year what they had been doing. Danny feared to bring it up. Even if it was profiling him it could also get him fired if he said something.
"Deliver only to fellow canine-sapiens, right?" Auto just finished for him. Danny didn't nod, nor did he say no. That was enough for Auto. "That sucks, kid." Auto just nodded for him. "I understand. It's one reason my gramps started this place." Auto rested back kicking a leg up on the table. "We don't end up dealing with... that too much." He picked at his teeth, trying to come off casual.
"Heh, you must have dogs hounding at your door for jobs then." Danny forced a smile before frowning a bit. "Sorry, I don't mean to seem so..."
"It's fine to complain." Auto rested back down, getting up and walking over to sit next to him in the side chair. He placed a hand back on Danny's shoulder. "It's one thing to complain during work or something... but you can always complain still. It's ok to vent."
Auto's muzzle was close enough to the beagle that he could smell his fur. The sweat in it, the heat, the long day he'd been having. Just... enough to make him let that warm breath wash over the younger boy's face, making Danny shiver a little.
"Just been one thing after another. There's no job security here." Danny just said looking at him. "I got... a bit of debt. I can't NOT be working. It's just..."
"I like you, pup." Auto patted his shoulder and got back up and walked over to his desk. Auto began rummaging through the drawers until he found the right one. "I don't want to seem like I'm tricking you or pushing you into anythang. But, a pup like you deserves a lot more." Auto pulled out one of the old resumes he had on stock and passed it over.
Danny looked at it, then up at the blue heeler. Then back down. "Uh, sir I don't know..."
"You always have the right to say no." Auto just repeated himself taking another heavy seat in his chair, making it sag a bit and creak from his weight. "There aren't any big benefits, at first. Still, if you work hard you could even get a rent discount..." Auto just refilled his drink slowly, letting that sink in.
The beagle was looking the paper over, mulling it all over as he bit his lower lip. Thoughts racing behind those bright blue eyes.
Auto wouldn't just offer him a job. He had standards, even if he liked the pup. It had been many months since Danny began visiting The Kennels. The beagle was always asking about the place. About rooms. Rent. Pricing. Auto had figured it out a while back that things at home for the beagle weren't exactly going well. If he worked hard this might give him an... option, at least. Something he believed everyone should have.
"Think it over. Just in case. There isn't a rush, pup." Auto just left it at that, changing the subject. The two continued to talk until Danny's lunch break was over and he had to get back to work.
Auto helped the beagle back into his jacket and put his cap on, tucking it down over his eyes so Danny had to lift it up to look at him.
"Thanks, Auto..." Danny smiled.
"Anytime, pup." Auto just shrugged casually. He wasn't expecting the hug he got after that. It made him chuckle and pat the beagle on the back before Danny ran back for his truck and continued his shift in higher spirits.
The blue heeler stayed outside for a while, watching the beagle go. Looking around the place he owned and just thinking about life itself. Taking a huge breath, Auto let reality back in and headed inside letting out with a satisfied growl as he did. There were plenty of things to do, things he'd been putting off since Monday. Mostly paperwork. He always had trouble inputting the data into the computer.
"What are you doing?" Zoe ended up breaking his euphoria. The poodle was just staring at him as the door shut out the afternoon heat.
"I shut the door." Auto began to protest, rolling his eyes as he figured that's why she was getting on him. It wouldn't be the first time the poodle had gotten on him about that.
Zoe only sighed. A heavy sound as she shook her head back and forth making the pom poms on her ears sway back and forth, looking like a deflated cheerleader. "Why do you do this to yourself?"
"Do what?" Auto frowned getting defensive. He was happily set in his ways and didn't like to be called out. Nearly everyone else here respected him. Nearly everyone.
The poodle set down his brush, resting on his elbows on the desk and just giving him a tired expression. "That kid." Zoe's voice had become far more masculine. He wasn't putting on airs right now. He only did this when he was serious.
"What about Danny..." Auto narrowed his eyes.
"What do you expect is going to happen?" Zoe inquired with no hidden intent behind it. It was a genuine question. Auto didn't say anything. "Or rather... why do you keep doing this to yourself? Inviting some cute boy over for some fun?" Zoe almost smiled at that. It was a sad smile. "Nothing wrong with that." She relaxed, going back to her feminine voice. "Take him into the back. Plow his brains out. Sit on his face. Spin him around the desk," she sighed thinking it over before glancing in his direction.
"It's not like that." Auto eventually caved in at that look, unable to meet those eyes. He stared into the corner instead.
"Exactly." Zoe sat up. "If it was? That'd be fine. He's 18. Nothing wrong with you being with someone that's, what... twice his age?" Auto growled at that. Zoe paid it no mind. Auto being touchy about his age wasn't the issue right now. "That's not what you're after, though. It never is. It never stops for just one night. Or two. You want to make it a week. A month. Maybe? Just maybe they'll be able to fill that empty room next to yours."
"Stop." Auto warned then. It came out as a dangerous growl and anyone else would have left it at that. The blue heeler could be extremely intimidating when he wanted too. All it would normally take is a flash of those fangs. Zoe had a bad habit of finding that line, pushing those buttons and just keep going. Unabated by Auto's threat.
"Maybe they'll stay in your bed. Keep you company during those lonely nights." The poodle just went on without raising her voice. There was no mocking in it. She wasn't doing it just to get under his fur, no. She was just stating the truth. And sometimes, the truth hurts far worst.
"Enough, Zoe." Auto turned away about to head to his office.
"Go on dates. To the movies. Maybe one day get a cabin out in the woods to retire too. Able to spend the rest of your days in some happy dream that you've always wanted."
A fist slammed onto the desk making the table lamp fall over and shaking everything else on it.
Most would've just stopped there. Calling it good. Knowing that they had gotten there point across. Not Zoe. She always took things one step too far. "Just like Douglas."
Auto jaws snapped shut as a vicious snarl escaped him, drool splattering the desk as he reached over and snagged the front of her glossy shirt. Auto was strong and half-lifted the poodle out of his seat. Just staring right into those eyes.
Even Zoe flinched. Auto huffed into his face, tossing him back into his seat. "Get back to fucking work." Was all he finished with and walked back to his office. The door slammed so hard behind him a picture frame on the wall fell to the floor.
The room went silent after that.
The blue heeler was breathing heavily as he took a seat at his desk. He looked at his hands. He could still see red. He clenched both hands into fists, painfully tight.
Taking a breath, he opened the bottom drawer and grabbed the flask within. He drained it in two large gulps. Clenching the metal tin he had half a mind to throw it across the room. Roar and flip the table over and punch the wall.
Instead, he just clenched it tighter. Looking at the damned thing he had gotten from his father. "You're not your father, Auto..." He said aloud, needing to hear it before putting the drink away.
He had work to do and kept himself busy trying to figure out his computer.