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The Simple Things

Chapter Twelve

By Roofles

The sun was already beginning to set as we drove down the side road. I found myself with my legs up on the seat resting back against the chocolate labrador and facing out towards the open window. The breeze felt nice. Richard kept an arm up on the cushion as we road and didn't say much on the matter as I scooted in a bit closer into the crook of his arm, getting a bit cold and nippy as the sun sunk below the horizon. I could feel his lumbered breaths against the back of my head. The warmth radiating from him alone was like a space heater in the cool spring night air.

The air was already cooling down for the day and it was nice to have my own fur jacket when we were out and about, having forgotten to grab a coat while at Richard's. One thing about Spring, the day was hot but the nights were always so cold. I didn't realize how long we had taken in the bowling alley, or getting ice cream after. Walking along the docks as we each enjoyed our own reasonably sized ice cream cones and chatting the day away. The dog was more than happy than to lick his fair share, seeing as how he insisted on buying us them (as well as treating me to bowling and nachos and beer and soon enough the bar; he was beginning to spoil me). One single lick with that tongue was equal to ten of my own or practically. I made sure he didn't live it down all the cream he owed me after that.

Spending the whole day with the canine-sapien was in and of itself a treat. It was nice to be outside in the sun, wearing something other than a suit for a change and enjoying the fresh air. And with good company no less, which in and of itself was like a ray of sunshine. Like Richard was.

Richard was robust and energetic even when it was just the two of us taking a stroll along the docks. There is a difference between shooting the breeze with a coworker, and shooting the breeze with someone like Richard. So engaging and riveting that you don't even notice hours had ticked by and that you were already strolling back around towards the car you had come in. Time truly flies when your having fun.

The dog had held onto my words with a favorable curiosity as if he actually wanted to hear what I had to say. It was refreshing as we had taken a seat at a picnic table on the way around, on the beach front and continued talking about nothing and everything to the point I can't even recall what we ended up talking about. Food, music, pop culture and random things that held little meaning. Still I had to say it was, had been, so far one of the best days I've had in a long time.

"Cold?" Richard asked and I could feel his muzzle bump the back of my head as if to just give me a nudge to make sure I wasn't asleep.

"A bit." I just nodded and watched the world go by. Richard wrapped and arm around me and I held his hand in my lap without saying anything more on the matter.

His fingers were strong and scratched at my belly through the thin shirt I wore. They wormed their way under moments after and I sucked in my gut a bit as those dull gray nails glided over my fuzzy belly. Gray paw pads pressed against my naked flesh, each were kind of scratchy but were warm to the touch. It felt nice in the cool night air.

"We don't have to go, if you don't want too." Richard said and I held my tongue for a bit on that one. I knew he wanted too and was asking more out of courtesy than not. Chewing it around in my mouth, I mulled it over. Again, the one thought that kept me here as it was came to mind. What would I be doing right now if I wasn't hanging out with Richard? I'd be just working most likely. There wasn't much else to do, maybe watch some netflix or something while working. The idea was alluring, if Richard was there with me. He didn't need to be as I could be here now, with him.

"It's cool." I said sitting up and stretching a bit, managing to contain a yawn. "It'll be nice to get out for a bit. Relax. Get a few drinks." I finished rested back a bit against him.

"Get a few games of pool in?" Richard offered and I was sure if he wasn't sitting on it his tail it would be wagging. He moved his arm off me when I moved over but as I closed the distance between us he once more let that arm slide down behind my back. It was nice as he rubbed up and down my spine a bit. "Maybe a few drinks?" Richard smiled softly at that, perking his ears and looking over at me if only from the corner of his eyes.

"I think you had enough booze for a day." He waited. I waited. And then finally added. "Booze hound."

"Ah," Richard rolled his eyes clearly waiting for it giving a dry laugh. "That was almost as funny as the nothing but a hound dog comment." A remark I had made when he was asking for seconds of the obvious; offering with open legs, zipped fly as he drove saying it'd help him drive. I almost took him on it. My jaw was still sore from morning.

"Yeah. That was a good one." I just smiled with a nod remembering. I waited a moment and finally asked when Richard didn't speak up on the matter and the amusement from it faded away. "You don't mind the remarks, do you?" I dared to ask looking over at him.

"No, of course not." Richard said but not with as much gusto as he had spoken before. "You do make a lot of them." He said not meeting my eyes and focusing even more on the road, using both hands now.

"Yeah." I agreed softly. "Sorry." I almost added a "it's just" but I had been using that excuse for some time now. "It's just," I still ended up saying on the matter.

Richard gave a nod finishing for me. "I'm a dog." I winced as if he had spat the word at me but it held far more anguish to it than I'd ever want to inflict on him. The dog had suddenly grown rather melancholy and it seemed to make the night colder as we drove.

"I know it shouldn't be so hard!" I complained resting my head on the back of the cushion. "I know there isn't that big of a difference. And yet... there is." I added truthfully looking over at him. "Sorry." I said lowering my eyes. Fact of the matter was, it was just that. The difference isn't something you can ignore for good or bad. "Why does it have to be so hard?" I asked more to myself than to the canine-sapien. I didn't not want to be around him because of that, by any means. I've even heard people would only hang around them. Good or bad, it was still biased to favor or disapprove. To treat another differently because of it though was still human nature.

"Maybe 'cause I'm not just a dog?" Richard offered with a shrug and the corner of his smile pulled up a bit.

"Yeah, true." I nodded and then gave him a playful shove. "You're just a furry mongrel as far as I'm concern, stealing my boyhood dreams and innocent away." I chuckled glad his simple words could ease the confusion broiling up inside.

Richard looked over at me as he pulled up to a red light. He licked his thumb, "hold still." He said and rubbed it just below my lip. "Sorry you still had a bit of jizz left over." And he grinned toothily. I grumbled and looked away getting the picture. He wasn't the only bad influence it seemed.

"So what is this place we're going too?" I asked changing the subject and sat up a bit more to get a better look of the area we were in. Richard could've driven to Canada and I wouldn't have been the wiser.

We had come into the downtown part of the city. It wasn't bad, per say. It just felt more like a slum than anything else. Boarded up buildings here and there, graffiti on the walls and not all the street lamps working. Just a lower class area if I've ever seen one. A part of the town not known for human straying into. Signs lined the street we were passing through. Bars, restaurants, jazz cafes and such from the looks of it.

There were people on the streets begging for money, others who were performing and a few rather eccentric people, to use the term loosely of course, that either were full fur dyed or wearing nothing at all or both. Some didn't look so bad actually, I did have to admit. Others even appeared to have cloths on from the dyed fur they had. I had seen similar things with tattoo and body paint art. Some species could pull it off. Most could not. And the ones who did it had to be, even I could tell, the ugly fat ones that already were an eye sore.

Richard must've been watching me as he made a comment on the matter. "I was thinking of dyeing my fur." It took me a second before I looked over at him. He shrugged. "Just a thought I've been having."

"Why?" I asked with a bit of a frown. "That'd cost a fortune. I mean if you really wanted too I guess. I just don't see the allure of it." I added seeing a rather pink looking dalmatian walk by. He gave us a wink and blew a kiss. I wanted to gag. He looked like a bad mascot for a cereal box.

"What?" Richard chuckled then seeming to brighten up on the matter. "You don't want me to be one big blue giant smurf?"

"Wouldn't that be like blues clues or something?" I asked frowning and trying to remember the kids show I had seen my niece watching ages ago. The reference seemed to be lost on the dog as he pulled the car in behind the stores and into a gravel parking lot. A chain fence was around the place and the lights were dim, giving me the creeps.

"The place is just a walk away but this is the best spot to park. We'll be giving the others a lift anyways." Richard explained a bit as he fussed with the break, fighting against the old beat up pick up truck before finally getting it locked in. "If it doesn't fall apart first..." He grouched as he kicked the door open. I was sure he'd break it out of frustration before it broke down.

"Oh!" He suddenly said as I hopped out and shut the door. Richard crawled back in and began rummaging in the under seat storage. He pulled out a dark red, black trimmed, spike dog collar. "Here." He said handing it over to me. I took it, bewildered as to what to do with the thing. "You got to wear a collar." Richard explained as if to enlighten me. I was still perplex.

I gave him a look.

"You got to have a collar or a bone." Richard said. He motioned to his groin as he finished. "Dog bone that is." He grinned and I rolled my eyes.

"What an original name." I found myself just looking at the leather collar, giving it the twice over. The funny thing was that it was actually a nice brand (I assume) and was very well made. There was a golden tag on the front reading "property of Richard." I frowned at this seeing a phone number stylized underneath the black letters. "Property of Richard, huh?" I asked looking up at him..

"In case you get lost." Richard gave a wink and headed around. I barely could make the dog out in the dimly lit parking lot. His deep rich brown fur made in him blend into the night. Richard didn't seem to have the same problem I was as he strolled around looking over at me. His slightly glowing eyes was a bit eerie as they drew close enough for me to feel his breath against my face. And then feel that soggy wet tongue lap over my cheek. "Here," he teased taking the collar. "Let me put it on for you."

"And what if I said I wasn't comfortable wearing it?" I asked with the same frown.

Richard stopped and I was sure his ears fell back. It was hard to see. "I mean I wouldn't make you wear it." Richard nearly sounded hurt by the accusation of forcing the collar on me and I rolled my eyes at the pitiful display. "We don't have to go if you don't want too. We can do something else."

"Give me it." I snatched it from his hands and fussed with trying to get it on. It sagged a bit, oversized and design for a canine's neck. Richard ended up helping me tie the damn thing back together. The tag rested down on my chest, jingling softly as I followed beside him. I ended up holding his arm as we made our way out of the dim parking lot and quickly let go as we got onto the street.

"I feel like a loser." I grumbled looking down at my outfit. Baggy shorts, loose T and sandals that weren't even mine. Wearing a dog collar no less. "Now all I need is a leash." I muttered under my breath as we headed down the street.

This seemed to embarrass Richard. "That can be arranged." He said a bit meekly.

"And what would you do with it?" I rolled my eyes once more.

"I could like...hold it in my teeth and tug you closer when..." He cleared his throat a bit and looked away with folded ears, tucked tail and grinning shamefully at some dirty thought I didn't want to picture seeing as how Richard was giggling a bit at the very idea.

The bar had a neon sign of a dog bone, the actual dog bone and not a Richard dog bone, that was wearing a collar and resting in a food bowl. It was a little on the nose, as Richard's dog bone had been this morning. I tried to ignore it. The dog standing next to the door was a little hard to ignore however.

Massive, abomination of dog breed. Some horrific mix of rottweiler and doberman that was pure flexing muscle. He loomed over us as it was and had a face that would put even the most bravest of fools weak in the knees. The terminator of dogs.

"Collar?" He just grunted looking at me. Looked at Richard. "Bone?" And then with a nod just gave us pass without even moving. He didn't need to stand in front of the door. No one would be stupid enough to move for it with him standing there. Be the quickest way to lose a hand.

"I didn't realize this place was so classy." I joked as Richard shut the door behind us. "Needing a bouncer an all."

"Yes." Richard chuckled and placed a paw on my shoulder. "We are very classy here." He teased as we headed up the red carpet steps to the main floor.

Glossy wooden railings ran up from the steps and around this side of the room. Booths were set up next to them, with a few tables and chairs scattered about. Several TVs were mounted on the walls with different games playing. Scattered along the walls, between the TVs were various sports team logos, road signs and pictures making it look like a strange hunting lodge. With the wood and all it kind of was like a hunting lodge, it even had the same atmosphere to it.

In the far corner were four pool tables. On the other side taking up most of the wall was the bar itself with a back room, assuming leading to a kitchen as a rather large steaming plate of french fries came out. Richard was practically drooling watching the plate go by; I'm not sure how he kept his figure the glutton he was.

"Hey!" A familiar voice called over and I could see the husky at a table with two familiar dogs, the dalmatian and the bull terrier from before. Colby had his paws kicked up, resting back in the cushioned stall and was grinning over at the two of us. His eyes sifted back and forth between us before resting on me as we walked over. "If it isn't our favorite tag along." Colby wagged sitting up a bit and offering me the spot were his paws had been.

I reluctantly took it, only after Richard refused to, being too busy greeting the other two dogs and catching up. Not surprisingly Colby tossed his paws right back up and into my lap, I ignored them and greeted him despite his, as I believe to chose, whimsical ways.

"Shouldn't you be working." I teased as I smiled at the energetic husky. I ended up rubbing his paws despite myself. He gave an very warm smile and tail wag at that. His paw pads were squishy an warm.

"I've been working all day," he feigned a groan and shook his head side to side, resting back and stretching his toes clearly enjoying himself. "I got to ease up, kick my paws up in a cozy lap and down a few brewskis before going on with my humdrum ways." At this he slid a half empty drink my way. "And what better way to do it than with friends." It seemed innocent enough but the last word held a heavy underlining meaning to it. That might've been the playful growl he had added though.

I eyed the glass and gave him a skeptical look.

"Don't worry. I didn't backwash." I highly doubted after watching him lap some of Max's, the bull terrier, drink seeing as how he wished to share his own. Colby muzzle was opened and his tongue lapped heavy gulps of the frothy brew down but still some spilled from his lips and back into the glass.

One of the biggest issues with coexistence between the two races was eating habits.

"I'll pass." I chuckled raising my hand. I had enough junk food for the day. He whined a bit when I stopped rubbing, so I continued with a roll of my eyes.

"Fine, fine." Colby just shrugged and scooted closer a bit. "You two have fun this morning?" He asked not even trying to hide the murr this time around. His nose twitched and I saw him take a sniff or two at me before looking disappointed. His tail still wagged and he didn't seem to mind scooting even closer.

"It was a blast." I tried to keep my voice as monotone as possible but smiled at the enthusiastic canine nonetheless. "Went bowling, got ice cream, did the whole nine yards." I rolled my eyes after if to make sure the joke was clear. Even if Colby knew it was he played it off as if he didn't.

"Oh my." He grinned and gave me a wink. "You dirty boy." I chuckled but flushed a bit at the name. Colby's ears perked and that grin widened a bit. "Dirty, dirty boy." He teased nosing a bit now and I gave him a playful shove as my flush grew worse. Colby's legs were heavy, muscular and his paws really were rather on the large size. Something I only notice as the husky began rubbing at me with one of them, under my shirt and up my side. The worse part was, it actually felt good. And I didn't stop him when he slid the other paw under my shirt. I was just glad he wore sandals today.

"I think I will grab a drink actually." I said standing up and planning on excuse myself, he pouted at this but didn't mind giving my groin a good grope with his toes on the way down. Half way through I almost gave up not wanting to wander such a scene by myself and the grope was in and of itself distracting. Colby elected himself to tag along, slipping his sandals back on, and I was glad for the company as Richard was engrossed talking with Patch and Max about one of the games that had been going; catching up to speed from the looks of it.

"Order the toilet bowl." Colby said tossing an arm around me and helping me over to the bar. He gave me a nuzzle and a sniff even before we reached the bar. The dog was shirtless and was wearing a pair of baggy cargo shorts. His fur was a creamy white on his underbelly and a rusty red on the back. His eyebrows, hair and even a small tuft of red on his chin were all the same color. "It's basically everything." He answered before I could even look up to see what was in the drink. "It's on me." He finished with a chuckle and had slipped his wallet out with his other hand, slid the card free and was handing it to the fox terrier behind the counter. "It's the perfect drink to get started for the evening."

"Well as long as they have a straw for it." I half joke, mumbled under my breath. I got a few looks from those in the vicinity until Colby laughed it off and slapped my back, hard. Felt as if I were walking through a mine field here.

As much as Richard would like to argue against it, being here alone made the fact clear that I wasn't part of the crowd. Like a foreign body brought into an ecosystem it was trying to get rid of me; if only with looks, mutters and the soft (yet audible) gibes I got as I walked back to our table. This is not to say everyone here had an issue with it. Most just a fancy curiosity for the passing moment before going on. Others, some drunk some not, took it as either some kind of challenge or personal insult with my presence. Like a nerd walking into a locker room or a jock into a library there was a tension before the storm.

Colby out of courtesy, ignorance to the matter or not wanting to stick his nose into it ignored the problem as we passed back and sat down at the table. I let him sit first before taking the corner seat planning on getting the best optimal position to make a break for the door if need be. Or that's the way I felt anyways. That kind of claustrophobic feeling one gets in such tight spots. Like a wet towel draped over your shoulders.

"Relax." Richard waved it off as he bumped me over with a hip check and took the corner seat. "You're the fresh meat in a tank full of sharks. They need to smell ya', taste ya'. See if your worth the nibble or they should toss you back." The chocolate lab chuckled finding the whole thing amusing, rubbing my back as he spoke. It wasn't much help. It did help some, better than the silence Colby offered. Richard continued rubbing my back as he leaned on the table talking with the dalmatian on the other side.

One thing about canine-sapiens, be it their nature or just a cultural thing, they were very touchy feel. I had paws on one side from a playful husky who was talking with a passing waitress. On the other I had a chocolate lab rubbing my back, under shirt, and resting a bit of his bulk and weight against me. His legs were bumping into my own as they swayed back and forth.

"Slogan," Patch started off talking about one of the players. "Has been in the prime of the season! He's been fumbling a bit the first couple of games and now hes top dog ever since the one down in Cali." The dalmatian continuing where they had left off.

"I heard his kid got sick during the first game and he lost his confidence without her." Richard shook his head at the thought. His ears perked up as he continued. "Been nearly a celebrity since! Winning one game after another! Single paw on his balls." He joked at the end, or I hope so.

"He didn't go to the last press conference so he could attend his daughter's play." Max spoke up but gave a shrug not that interested in the matter. He was half turned towards the nearest screen, drink in hand and wasn't even looking at the other two. He was drinking same dull name brand beer, not surprised. Max might hate stereotypes but he was kind of one as it was. Funny how the world works.

I tried to listen along but lost interest even before I began trying. I placed a hand on Richard's knee as I rested back on the cushion and watched the game if only to appear to be enjoying myself. His thigh was warm under hand. Richard rested back a bit at the gesture and tossed an arm behind me like he had in the car and I was sure he moved a half inch closer as he continued talking with his friends. He also noticeably adjusted himself; it was a nice compliment I could have such an effect on him. He could've just had a wedgie though but sometimes a guy needs the ego boost.

"How'd you meet Richard anyways?" I ended up asking Colby who, like me, seemed to only be half paying attention to the conversation. He had a semi glazed look to his eyes and was putting far too much effort into cleaning his teeth with his tongue.

I rolled my eyes, open the front of my shirt and the husky gladly put both paws back under as if they were cold. They were in fact rather pleasantly warm.

"Huh?" The husky blinked a few times before looking over at me. "We met here, Barn." He motioned over to the fox terrier at the bar. "Introduced us after hearing they needed another roommate. Just us guys. Figured we'd get a place together after having a couple of drinks." He droned on a bit not losing interest on the coversation. I was a bit surprised it'd happen so fast. Getting a roommate from the internet took more effort than they did. "It worked out well." Colby added a wink after giving me the once over.

"Lucky bastard." I just chuckled. Then again I could say the same thing for myself, able to meet Richard by chance really. Life was a different place when you had a friend like him around. Even if he also happened to backwash when he took several lapping gulps of your drink that had just arrived.

The toilet bowl was in fact just that. A cup shaped like a toilet with just about every known liquor poured inside with a blue tint to it. It was not, in any way, appealing. Still I found myself drinking some if only to stop Richard from guzzling it all down, the glutton. It tasted like a sewer drain.

"Chicken strips!" Richard called over after half the massive, double gulp sized cup was drained down into the mongrel. He hiccuped, giggled a bit and hugged me a bit closer. And the funny thing was, he was only tipsy too. "French fries!" He called over as well. "With extra creamy ranch! Buckets of the stuff." And with that he nuzzled the side of his face against mine. Maybe he was a bit more than tipsy as he slipped a paw into the bottom of my shorts.

I squirmed being molested by a pair of husky paws and chocolate lab hands. Squishes between two fuzzy, warm, musky males could be far worse I'll admit.

"You need to pay your tab first!" Barn shouted back as he turned to help a few costumers that had arrived.

Worming my way from under Richard's heavy, strong grip I gave a half wave. "I'll pay for it. And make it a double, please." I added.

"You got to pay, huh?" Max asked turning around to face me with a raised eyebrow. There wasn't much hostility behind the question but I still got a bit defensive at the accusation.

"It's the least I can do," referring to the time Richard payed for everything that had happened today; even if the other dog wouldn't be aware of this.

"I don't mind." Richard waved it off taking the drink for another lick. I took the glass away wishing the food would get here a bit faster to help soak up the alcohol currently making my friend slur his words together. "It's the least he can do." He repeated what I had said and I got another face full of a muzzle nuzzle on my face; his whiskers were scratchy and his breath smelt like a toilet bowl.

"Whose my little fuck buddy?" Richard asked suddenly and if I had been flushing before it was nothing like now. "Yes you are my little fuck buddy." He teased in a loveable drunken stupor as he scratched a finger on my chest. "Yesh you ish." He nosed and it was cold, bumpy and wet. Almost like the tongue that soon slurped up my face.

"Yes, no more booze for you." I tried to laugh the embarrassment off as I gave him a playful shove. If I had been sandwich before it was nothing like now as Richard pushed me against the husky who didn't seem to mind one bit.

In fact Colby was rather welcomed to it and gave me a hug as I found myself in between his open legs and in his lap.

"Sorry." I found myself saying with a half-chuckle, the flush in my cheeks making me feel rather giddy in the moment. It had been a long time since I had been hugged between two guys; admittedly they were far less fuzzy. And less musky. And far less pawsy.

"For what?" Colby just smiled, tail wagging and giving me a squeeze with his strong legs.

Legs wrapped around me from one husky and a chocolate lab topping me on the other side. This might actually be rather enjoyable if it wasn't for the simple fact we were in the middle of a bar.

Oddly enough it seemed to help my rather poor standings with the crowd. Most of which went about their merry way and ignored the man being dry humped by two adult canines. Max was the only one disgruntled, not that I blame him.

"I knew you were a collar chaser." He frowned staring hard enough at me to bore holes in the seat behind me.

"A what?" I asked as I gave Richard another shove and was able too distract him with the fresh, steaming plate of chicken strips and ranch. He eased up a bit and I was able to get in a better position, half turned between the two. I kept a hand on Richard's thigh as he burned his tongue on a chicken strip and focused my attention on the larger problem. The husky who had scooted closer - that or actually humped me.

"Collar chaser is someone that goes after only dogs." Colby said moving his muzzle a bit closer and sniffing. "It's a compliment." He grinned and I figured it was better for him than me.

"Not really." I said truthfully, still a bit defensive. The bull terrier got under my skin whenever I talked to him as if he were always trying too. "It's hard to resist a good male." I also said truthfully and the bull terrier moved back glaring at me. It took me a moment to realize he thought I was actually interested in him. I might be gay but I don't try to get with any guy, let alone some random bum. I'm no slutty ho and I got standards at least.

"Too true." Colby gladly agreed and smiled at me, a warm smile that was filled with lewd kinky thoughts. "The good ones are hard to come by. It's the fun ones you want to keep around." He snickered.