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The Simple Things

Chapter Twenty-One

By Roofles

"And there is going to be some changes around here, if you want me staying here." I told Richard. He just smiled happily back, wagging his tail and just nodded along every now and then as I spoke. It was hard, sometimes, to talk with the chocolate labrador.

I was used to touching, even hugging or cuddling. Petting was not something I had yet become accustomed too. It was just that, petting. From heavy to light. Richard just ran his hands over the side of my face and head, stroking my back and rubbing down my chest, within my inner thighs and down my leg. It was an oddly relaxing sensation; comforting experience that made me blush hotly as he continued to so openly...molest me in the living room. We weren't the only ones in the room.

"You practically do, already." Max ruffed from his chair watching the game. He grumbled a bit more but I had at least come to know the difference between annoyance and him just bitching about something to bitch at.

It was the day after and we, being me and Richard, had spent most of our day catching up on Monday's work load that had gathered up with us taking the previous Friday off. It wasn't bad. And I got to be in Richard's office, just the two of us. Richard didn't take long until moving his chair over to my side of the desk and working next to me all morning and evening long. We even took our lunch in there. It was a nice, if slightly stuffy, day.

"Oh, har har." I gave a mock laugh in his general direction, even if we both were aware of how truthful his words were. Ever since I came over...I hadn't exactly left, yet. Fully left. We had gone out to the bar, out to breakfast and Richard showed me the sights Sunday afternoon. We just took a long, lovely drive. I still remembered holding his hand the whole time.

Max looked over at me as I reminiscent on the matter and just frowned catching the look he was giving me I quickly corrected my disposition into one of neutrality, acting like Switzerland so his Germany wouldn't invade me with teasing insults. I must've looked rather dopey daydreaming so happily. It took me a moment as he continued to stare that I finally asked. "Yes? Can I help you?"

He took a sip of his drink. "We both know what you want, and even if I swung that way I could do better."The bull terrier said with a smirk and looked away. It took me a moment to realize what he was talking about. I blushed a bit more, grumbling and looking away. Richard just continued to pet the side of my face, this time with his tongue. Licking several times slowly up the whole side of my face now as if he decided petting wasn't enough and now he needed to groom me.

I figured sitting in his lap, him as clothed as the day he was born, and me in nothing more of a pair of his boxer briefs would be enough to satisfy his need for physical contact. Neither of us had showered after getting back to his place, just stripped down and get on the couch to watch tv. I wouldn't have been surprised if he just laid on top of me and began humping. Hell he'd prob mate me right there if I let him. Dogs? They know no shame.

"Richard!" I hissed his name spinning around on the dog who had suddenly grown sheepish and looked away at what Max had said. "You didn't tell him..." I accused and hit the nail on the head from the look he gave me. A sheepish smile, a wag of the tail and guilt written all over his face. And yet he was clearly happy the whole time as he continued to pet me.

"He tells me everything." Max grunted back and looking over I could see a smirk on his face. Smug bastard. At least he found the whole thing to be amusing rather than like insulting, that'd be another whole can of worms to deal with. Even if he was right. Max, hell even Richard, were both out of my league.

You see? Just the other night being man-handled and crushed between two, much larger, musky males got me thinking dirty musky, naughty thoughts involving both of them. I hadn't had a wet dream since I was a kid, though I did daily drift off into space at times with the dullness of my work. Oddly, Max more than Richard, if I recalled correctly, was the main...dog involved in said dream. If my brain was aware of the fact it was the only way I could have him in such a way. Hard, rough, sticky, swelling, knotted fun. I should've been aware it was a dream by the fact Max had tied with me, unwillingly I might add. Dream or not my rear felt sore in the morning.

"I'm sorry." Richard whined as I looked back at him with a deep frown. His tail wagged and he giggled a bit. "I just couldn't resist. It's like a huge compliment. And I was in it." Richard just wagged faster, giggling a bit as I gave him a playful punch. "You tell me everything anyways." Richard just shrugged innocently as if I was aware he'd just blab it the next second.

"And you tell Max everything." I clarified and he nodded. It took me a second before feeling even more embarrassed around the bull terrier just in the other room.

I had opened up to Richard like I hadn't to anyone...well, ever during our long Sunday afternoon together, and he with me. My family wasn't the whole touchy feely kind and I barely talked with them as it was. I never had the close bonds of friendship that brought people together. No slumber parties or whatever the hell kids did and told all their secrets to each other. Never played truth or dare. Or had anyone I trusted enough to tell any of my secrets too. Until Richard.

I blame the whole "dog is man's best friend" spiel. Richard had that face you could, hell you wanted to just open up too. The dog wasn't just welcoming, he was accepting. Open and caring, always wearing his hearts on his sleeves and was one of the few souls in this world I actually trusted. Well did trust didn't think he'd blab everything. Dog's were far too open sometimes. I didn't protest Max grinding behind me all night...but still, far too open with each other.

"I never been infatuated with a teacher. My librarian maybe." Max said seemingly randomly, musing off a bit. He chuckled to himself. "She had a rack that could smother a box of puppies." I tried to get that image out of my head as I turned back towards Richard who had shied away.

"Richard." I hissed once more, glaring at the dog.

"Well...I thought it was a good funny story." Richard said naively wagging his tail once. "I didn't really have a boy hood crush." The chocolate lab didn't seem to find the issue with telling Max another one of my secrets.

"You just wanted someone to take you on walks," Max barked a laugh sitting up a bit, jumping over the side of his chair (it seemed the legs couldn't go down on it) and headed into the kitchen for a drink. "Nice long walks. Leashed and collared and belly rubbed after." He went on. "Alex, you want a drink?"

I took a moment on that, my brain having to register what he had even said. He was asking me if I wanted a drink? One of his? It couldn't be so. "Sure." I said wearily as if he had just offered me a grenade. Maybe hell had frozen over?

The bull terrier came around the corner in nothing but a, open, pair of boxer briefs. He said he liked the comfort of the fabric but wanted his giblets to breaths. I tell you, dogs are far too open sometime. I think he just liked the attention both I and Richard gave him when he strutted around in his muscular glory. We both envied him. And yet I still found myself, in a way, feeling sorry for him.

I hadn't noticed at first, other than his face, just how scarred his body was. Intimately up close and personal to him the other night allowed me to feel, let alone see, the scars on his chest and arms, back and legs. It looked like he had gotten into fights daily. Most the wounds had healed fully leaving nothing more than gashes or cuts. There were parts where his fur hadn't covered or wasn't able too. And it allowed me to understand him a bit more.

I doubt he was but it was like Max had been in prison. He was buff, someone that works out in the yard every day. Not a body builder, an actual physical build you would see someone on the streets have. A body that helped you survive when the shit hit the fan. Bites, claw marks and I was sure he had broken his arm at one point, let alone a few ribs, gave him a few gnarly scars. They had healed but the way he moved showed they hadn't been treated properly by an actual doctor. Powerful but stiff movements.

It wasn't on the news or talked about but fighting was the most common form of... communication between the different sapient species. In the North-West, where I was now, and back home such things weren't so common. However in the Bronx, Chicago and other large cities where several different...groups gathered, there was a thick tension between them. Most sapients were alone in this world, outcasts and the only way to survive was to form packs, prides or other sects and groups amongst their own. You can't survive in this world without others and it was more prominent for a sapient. When you looked so much different than others it wasn't hard to understand why.

It made me want to just hug the bull terrier, wanting to tell him thing'd be ok. Hell, if I did that he'd sock me in the face for sure. He wasn't the type of guy to go whining or begging for help or pity. Even charity would be an insult to him. And I respected that. Too many people, specially where I was now, groveling and trying to get everything just paid for and taken care of for them. Maybe it was a mid-east mentality from back home of a Republican Catholic family upbringing but I always believed you worked hard to get what you deserve, not just hand outs from the government or not. And when life gives you lemons you tell it to go fuck itself.

It made me hold Richard's hand a bit tighter, that and so he wouldn't shove it into the little clothing I had on. I rather not be rock hard with anyone but him around. I wondered if Richard had to go through any such things. I knew he had, it was just easier not to think about too much. If I asked he'd tell me. He would pour his heart out for me if I only asked. I didn't. I wouldn't want him to have to relive those days.

I rubbed my finger on the back of his hand. His fur was so soft. It wasn't like that of a four legged canine, a cousin to him like we were cousins to apes. No, his fur was like a velvet chocolate cake. Smooth and rich. It was the same color of chocolate, his fur, that covered him from those droopy ears to the tip of his toes. It lessened a bit under his arms and between his legs, thankfully so. I still had fur balls in my throat from going down on him.

Richard turned his hand over and I could make out the gray paw pads on each finger and in his palms. His fingers were like mine, though tipped with dull grayish blunt claws. His hands were larger than mine and the sides and back were covered in that silken fur. His skin around those gray pads were a light coal gray. Something as silly as skin color can lead to wars, hate or just bullying. Let alone for being a canine in a human world...

I just sighed resting back against his chest and closed my eyes. Too much to digest in one sitting, that was for sure.

These thoughts were still fresh in my head when the door opened up and a certain husky and dalmatian walked in.

Patch was thin, all skin and bones even for a dalmatian. Colby was a classic husky malamute mix (according to Richard that was). He was the runt of the litter and apparently got hell back at home just because of that. He had a decent, if slightly gaunt body as if he were on a very strict diet. Colby always did look good. Which made me a bit more annoyed when he scratched the back of Richard's head with a hand.

"Hey, if it isn't the cute couple." He chuckled and moved around the sofa. Patch gave us all a wave and then vanished into the back of the house for the night. "I'm surprised you stayed around. Not that I mind." He added giving me a wink and a toothy smile. I could hear the undertone to it even if it was lost on my canine-boyfriend. Then again Richard probably just took it as another compliment. "Seat taken?" Colby asked motioning at the spot where I had my legs up on the coach. Well between them rather.

"Yes." I said a bit too quickly and forcefully making even Richard give me a quizzical look. "Max...'s seat." I finished crudely looking away with a bit of a flush. The husky still bothered me and got under my figurative fur. What he had done to Richard wasn't cool or ok in my book and the fact they were still friends bothered me even more.

"Sure." Max said coming around the corner. He looked between us and then said in a far more conviencing tone. "Sure." And then climbed over the side of the coach, facing me mind you, and took a seat between my legs and kicked his up on either side of me. He turned to face the tv once more as the commercial ended and handed me over a cold one.

"Thanks." I said meekly finding myself rather parched. I was a bit stunned to see Max having not taken a seat in his chair, a place he had cleared marked as his own. I gave him a look.

"Yes? Can I help you?" He asked mimicking my own words back to me. Max gave me a smug look and lifted up a hind paw to push against my chest, hopefully playfully as he gave me a shove.

"Nothing." I just said and looked back at the tv.

Colby didn't have a spot to sit and stayed around for a bit anyways. We talked and chatted, or at least him and Richard did. Max had the same attitude I did about everything, or rather he just frankly didn't care. The game only got louder as Max's team began to won Colby found himself trying to talk over the tv. Not interested in the game the husky said his goodbyes and was already beginning to leave the house without even going to take a shower or change his cloths.

"Maybe I should see him out," the good nature of Richard showed but I held the arm around me. He didn't move just turned to wave the husky off. Richard wrapped a leg around me, which was a bit more awkward seeing as how Max hadn't moved his foot and had rested back, closing the distance between us as he lounged out.

I didn't mind too much just reminded me of the naughty dream I had the other night.

Still I ended up petting Richards arm with one hand, scratching Max's leg (at his request mind you) with my other and trying to keep my legs from getting tangled up with the bull terrier. A hard task to both accomplish and prevent seeing as how Max didn't give a damn where he put his legs, so long as he was comfortable.

I think that was why a part of me liked Max. He was Richard opposite, practically. A selfish, arrogant guy that knew who he was and didn't give a damn in the world what others thought of him. Or at least that's how I perceived the dog to be. While Richard would gladly cut off his own hand and paw to give to his ex if the husky only asked him too.

I'd have to talk to him about that.

"Hey, Richie." Max said moving a bit closer, so I pulled back not wanting to bump noses. His breath still washed over my face. "I left my phone in my room, mind grabbin' it for my lazy ass?" The bull terrier asked looking past me and behind to the chocolate labrador whom of which had rested his chin on the top of my head.

Richard must've given a nod or some other form of agreement as he let go of me, without much of a word, licked my cheek and them clumsily crawled over the couch and headed for the room.

"You didn't even tell him where it was." I pointed out, scooting back at the room given to me from Richard's absence.

"Didn't need too." Max just shrugged a shoulder. "Rich has always been like that." He explained. "Ever since we were pups." Max looked over to make sure Richard was out of hearing range. "An he's an idiot." He finished looking back at me. I could see his brow wrinkle, giving me a cold stare.

"Yeah..." I agreed scooting back a bit more.

Max sighed, shook his head and shrugged with his whole body before kicking back and laying back down. He stuck a paw nearly in my face, letting his leg fall to one side the other off the sofa. He turned his head to look at the tv, scratching inside his boxers crudely.

"I used to pick on him, you know." Max said not even asking as he began. "I lot." He stared off a bit, just facing the screen. "A lot..." He muttered again a bit softer this time around. His fingers flexed and he turned to look to look at the wall behind him, hand-paw still in his boxers. "I used to get into fights a lot as a kid." I'd never had guessed. "I wasn't a good pup. Kind of a dick really." Max chuckled a bit before sitting up and facing me. He scratched the side of his face with the hand-paw that had been in his boxer. "I was the school bully, the block bully, hell I was just a bully. Not tryin' to excuse myself, not apologizin' either." He added.

I didn't say much on the matter, only ended up looking over to see if Richard had come back or not. I turned to face him once more. Max pulled his leg up and scratched at it.

"Things caught up to me one day, bunch of the pricks in school jumped me. Took me a bit, I lost an eyebrow," he reached up to touch it. "An a tooth. I ended up curb stomping the gang leader, dude had to get metal braces shoved into his muzzle for the rest of the school year." He grinned crudely at that, chuckling a bit recalling.

"Ok..." I managed to say trying to keep my face neutral over the whole ordeal.

"You know why they jumped me?" Max asked me his face falling a bit and looking bored now.

"Nope," how could I?"

"I had just beaten the shit out of good ole' Richie," he jabbed a finger over at the chocolate labrador who was still rummaging in the room for the phone. "Dude was a boy scout. Teacher pet. Everything a dog was suppose to be, a stereotype... Fuck." Max growled his face darkened. "I fucking hated that." He rested back a bit tossing his head up. "Still... dumb kid ended up coming over to me after it all," Max wiped the back of his hand over his chin as if to get blood off it. "An you know what he said?"

I shook my head.

"He asked if I was ok." And Max chuckled at that. Shook his head and his face fell a bit, appearing older than he was. He brightened the next second with a bark of a laugh. "That's who the dumbass Rich is." And with that gave my chest a rather painful poke with his finger.

"Shit." I just replied chewing that over, unsure why he was even telling me this to begin with. He lifted up his drink and waited. I returned the gesture and we clanked cans, both taking a rather long drink. "Sounds like something Richard would do." I ended up admitting.

"Yup." Max just grunted in reply. "Colby did the same. Does the same." Max said bringing me up to date as to why he told me such a thing. "More emotionally...than physically. Still." He didn't move back, hell he ended up just sitting right in front of me, turning on his side an tossed an arm over the back of the couch next to my head and went back to watching tv.

"I continued picking on Rich. Hell, I still do sometimes." Max took another drink. "At least I don't use an abuse him tho." He scratched his chest a bit before looking at me. Then he looked at his chest. It took me a moment, before I rolled my eyes. I scratched at his chest. His fur was coarse and thin. "Not like I dated him. Then told him he was a shitty person not good enough to date, dumb his ass and then mooch off him the following months."

I turned to look at the door to the house. "Colby, huh?" I said looking over at the bull terrier. I was still scratching his chest. I stopped, frowned a bit and felt silly for doing so in the beginning.

"You can see it. An you been here only a coup' days now. Rich still blind to the whole thing." Max shook his head a bit, looked down at his can and then finished it off in one final swig. "I never thought he'd end up datin' again. Or not for a good while."

"An this is where I come into the picture?" I tried not to focus too much on the fact I had just entered this relationship, let alone for knowing Richard for only a week an a half, or so, now.

"Fuck no." Max spat off to the side. "Fact o' the matter is," he jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "He's damaged goods as it is. You tell the dog to jump, he says how high?" Max growled a bit at that. "Has an issue with tryin' to make people happy. More of a compulsion. Doesn't like people mad at him."

"An he gets taken advantage of, a lot, I take it?"

"Colby's still here ain't he?" Max kicked a leg up and rested back, taking a heavy gruff breath. If I wanted too I could outline the muscles on his chest with a finger. "If he let me," he nodded back at Richard or where he was rather. "I'd have grabbed that mutt from the scruff of his neck and his damn curly tail and toss him into traffic."

"An...your afraid I'm going to do the same?" I dared to ask before frowning. "No, you want me to ask Richard to kick Colby out." That made Max grin.

"Don't like it when I brings strays home. Stinks up the place." An Max tossed the can over his shoulder. I rolled my eyes and rested back.

"Well..." I had begun but Max was more happy than to give more reasons.

"You know he called Rich fat?" Max looked over at him. "That he needed to lose weight?" I held my tongue on the rebuke I had in Colby's favor. "Just little things, like that. Over and over again to a very...impressionable dog."

I tried not to think about it but I could recall all the times Richard had said he was fat, overweight or just wasn't fit. A bunch of bull, if you got one good look at Richard you'd know that was a load of crap.

"How bland he was too." Max picked at his teeth a bit. "That he wasn't dog enough." Max grinded his teeth. "Even after I told that little bastard to cut it out, I caught him talking to Rich behind my back about me. That I was the problem and he should get me out of the house."

I hadn't really seen Max angry since he covered for me at the bar, an even then he held his composure very well. This was another story. When a dog's angry, pissed off or just annoyed it showed. It showed loudly on their face without them making a sound, an Max was growling under each breath he took. Fangs bared, hackles up and hands clenched into fists.

I hesitated before touching Max's leg, softly. His eyes darted to my hand then his expression calmed and he stood up, stretched and scratched his ass. He took another seat, just needed to get up an take a breath.

"Colby really gets to you, huh?" I said a bit softer than I meant too not wanting to agitate the bull terrier already.

"Third day," Max raised the fingers up resting his head back on the couch. I scratched his chest some more and he calmed down at that. Flexing a bit before easing up. "Mutt snuck into my room and crawled between my legs while I was trying to take a fuckin' nap."

"What did Richard have to say?" I asked scratching over his belly a bit. Max sucked in his gut an for a half second I thought he was embarrassed by the action.

"What do ya' think?" Max grumbled a bit. "Blamed himself for it. That he was satisfying his needs enough. Colby's just a tail chaser, nothin' more." I could only assume he meant Colby enjoyed the chase of the hunt than sticking with what he caught. A lot of people were like that.

The fact Colby had hit on me became a bit more apparent. "Did he really hurt Richard that much?" I asked in nothing more than a whisper looking over to make sure the lab hadn't shown up again. I rather not be talking behind his back but it was clear how biased Richard could be with his opinions.

I could do the same thing to Richard and he'd sing my praises to all his friends...just blaming himself. I bit my lip trying not to think how he'd react when I'd end up having to leave once Central called me back.

Max grumbled a bit. "Don't know the half of it." And he went silent going back to watch the game, his brow frowning a bit as his team had begun to lose after dominating the whole first half.

I got up when Richard came back into the room.

"Hey Max, can't find your phone. Do you need to borrow mine?" Richard asked holding up his own.

I didn't wait for him to finish before I gave him a strong hug, crushing him (or trying too) in a loving embrace. I rested my head against his chest. Richard just blinked his eyes looking down at me, with open arms a bit stunned.

"Hey there." He said softly, his voice was as warm and smooth as his velvety chocolate fur. "Did I miss something." Max grumbled in reply.

Richard looked down at me and I just shrugged my shoulders letting go. "I missed ya, was all." I said half-truthfully.

"Needy much?" Richard chuckled, teasing but I could see him beaming afterwards his tail wagging behind him quickly. "You can come with me next time I leave the room." He went on, tilting his head to the side. I smiled back and so he hugged me. "Ah," he started letting go an taking a step back. I gave him a look. "I found something, an I was just...wondering..." He said a bit bashfully. "If you wanted to have it." And he opened his hand showing me a key chain dog bone. "It stupid. An dorky. An I can understand if you don't want it. I just...Oh, never mind. It was dumb."

"Ya, it is." I chuckled holding his now closed hand. "I love it." I just told him and his smile only widened. It was the first real gift Richard had given me.

We exchanged a kiss before moving back to the couch for the evening and I held his hand for the rest of the night.