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The Simple Things

Chapter Twenty-Two

By Roofles

It was a sweltering hot day by the time I got back to Richard's. My hotel room, provided to me by the company, just wasn't worth going back too. It was a nice, expensive place but whenever I was there it felt far too large, too empty without him there along side me.

It had roughly been a week since Richard and I had begun dating. Not officially, we kept it on the down low. Which only really seemed to make things more interesting between us. Taking a few seconds whenever we could to hold hands, hug or kiss behind our coworkers backs. It was exciting and made me feel five years younger. We still got a few looks from the others in the office and I knew some of them knew about us. I knew all the canines did, was kind of hard to hide the whole smell factor. Still it was fun going behind Mr. Gold's, my direct boss, back.

Still I found things to be... empty without him around. It was quiet, peaceful and boring as all hell when we were split up at work or when I ended up working by myself. And that was a knew experience for me. I liked working at my job, I really did. I enjoy the mundane work and filing papers, fixing clerical errors and data configurations of the E solution program. An outdated system I spent most my week trying to get up to date and planned on getting replaced by the time I left. I'd be lying if I wasn't putting that off to the end in hopes of getting, maybe, another week or two here.

The fact was, though. I liked my job. And it was an odd, strange feeling to have without him there with me, when I was working. Work just didn't seem work... unless I was doing both mine and Richard's work, heh. Richard really didn't even get the E solution program, so that left me to handle it. I'd just replace it I decided.

It'd gave me the option of staying longer if I wanted too. Or rather, if things went well between Richard and I. Despite what I'd think or say or even tell Richard, it was just nice to know that I had an escape plan of some sort. If things didn't go well, I'd say fuck the program and leave when I was suppose too. And if things were good? I could stay a week or two longer.

Leaving was a sour topic between us and Richard avoided it like the plague, living in his happy little ignorant world that he had made for himself. I didn't like bursting his bubble but from time to time it did slip out and I didn't like making the dog wince at the sound of it, as if I had just blew a dog whistle or something.

So, of course, with this on my mind, I felt guilty as hell as I knocked on Richard's front door sweating through the black suit I had on. Through the course of the walk from my rental car to the front door I had not only undone my tie, pants and the front of my shirt but had taken off my jacket showing off the bad sweaty stains under my shirt. Which, of course, only made me feel worse.

I found myself sniffing under an arm, hoping I wasn't too bad, and trying my best to make myself look less disheveled from work. Presentable. And then I realized I was doing this on the soul hopes of looking good for Richard.

Funny. Something so simple as wanting to look good for ones boyfriend made me feel so giddy inside. Happy for the day. Looking forward to seeing Richard, who had been avoiding me the whole day before inviting me over. And no sooner did I get the text that was said invitation to come over, did he call me. A call just to ask to make sure that I had gotten the text...

I knocked once more. And I got a text message a second later. "It's unlocked." I rolled my eyes at that and opened the door slowly, carefully and stepped aside to make sure I wasn't about to be Calvin and Hobbs. Having a two fifty pound chocolate Labrador bum rush you was frightening enough, let alone for if he was going to jumping hug you. It wouldn't be the first time...

Nothing happened. So I took a look inside.

The lights were off and the curtains drawn, leaving the room shrouded in the setting summer evening light. The whole living room had been cleaned up and I could actually see the floor. The large couch had been pushed to one side of the wall and the table had been moved into the side room, I assume. Max's chair was where it always was, something I wasn't shocked to see. Even with the coming of the apocalypse I doubt it'd actually be moved. That chair was bolted to the floor for all it mattered.

In the place of the couch and cooler, there was a table. Two chairs arranged on either side and a Hanukkah candle stick holder had been set up in the middle of the table, which I found to be a bit odd seeing as how it was the middle of August. I took a step in.

The heat wasn't so overbearing inside and I could hear the old air conditioner churning from the other room, sounding like an old lawnmower on it's last leg. I shut the door and could smell the faint smoke coming from the unit that could catch on fire any second. The room also smelled of food. And chocolate. It really smelled like chocolate the further I headed inside.

The small table set up in the middle of the room had a red velvet table cloth draped over it. There were flower petals on it, the chairs and floor as well. Richard most likely had just dumped a whole box on and around the area. The candles were white vanilla and smelled like white chocolate. The central candle was rich chocolate color and was the main source of the smell.

"Hey," Richard greeted me from the kitchen quickly coming around and giving me a hug. He was shirtless but had an apron on over his shorts.

"Whats with the menorah?" I asked eying the candles, still holding Richard after the hug.

"It's the only thing we had." He chuckled and gave a shrug, seemingly far more embarrassed than someone normally would have been.

I frowned a bit before smiling, shaking my head. "If me being gay, dating a dog," and I gave Richard an apologetic look after saying that, "and someone whose Jewish? My parents wouldn't flip out. They'd just fall over dead." And I shared a laugh at that. Richard smiled along but didn't seem to understand the truth behind my words.

Republican, Catholic family don't exactly take well to Sapient's to begin with. Let alone to dating them. Let alone for them being fags. Let alone for them being Jewish fags that their only son was dating. Of course, I'd never tell Richard this. It'd ruin all he had done for me as well as make him worry about something he could never fix.

"You really didn't have too." And I gave him a kiss before he could object or say anything else. His lips were warm, velvet smooth and somehow tasted like chocolate. I blame the candles on that last one. "You didn't have to do this," and I motioned at the table. "Or anything." I felt I needed to add.

"Well, duh." Richard rolled his eyes, was the first to let go and pulled back to look down at me still in his arms. He rubbed my shoulder with a hand just taking a moment to look at me. And by the time he finally spoke again, I was blushing. "I don't got to do a lot of things. Doesn't mean I don't want to do them." And he bent down just enough to bump noses. "Besides, it's valentines day!" And he motioned towards the table.

I frowned at this.

"It's August." I pointed out, the heat of the evening alone was enough to tell me this. And I was still sweating. For Richard? I must've smelled awful. He didn't say a single thing about it but I saw his nose twitch. That might've been the candles though. They were rather overpowering.

"Well, duh." And he rolled his eyes yet again, this time in the opposite direction. It made me chuckle. "But," he countered this time before I could object. "You won't be here for Valentines day. So I wanted to bring the V-day to you!"

"It's August." I just pointed out once more wanting to jab my finger down on that very fact and not move it. "V-day? Sounds like D-day... are you going to storm my beaches?" I said rather lamely and only made my cheeks flush worse.

"Nah," Richard waved that off and moved closer. "Only your trenches." And we kissed once more.

For such a simple thing, I couldn't have asked for a nicer evening to spend with Richard.

We talked mostly, just as we had the last Sunday. Talked about things I talk about with all my friends. Talked about things I'd never talk to about anyone else. Richard just had that face you wanted to open up too. And we talked about nothing. A whole lot of nothing. Things you say just to say something because you want to talk with that person, to hear their voice and get their opinion on things that really didn't have any meaning or purpose.

Like how there was a stop sign on the end of the block, for this street. And yet not a single person stopped at it.

A stupid, ridiculous thing like that and yet I had Richard's full attention and regard on the matter as if he truly found it to be a fascinating, intrigue topic to discuss. He watched me speak the whole time, politely waiting until I had finish before he put his two-cents in on the matter.

"Never noticed," Richard said truthfully with a shrug and that warm smile. "I don't drive often enough."

"Never understood that." I replied placing a hand on the table, next to the mug Richard had gotten out for our drinks. An off brand wine that tasted as cheap as it was. I never took a second sip and Richard didn't say a single word about it. "I can't live without driving. The freedom, control and just the... speed of it is far too convenient in our society."

"When you have money." Richard pointed out in a cheerful matter and I smiled at that.

The last real date I had, before I even came here, was with a friend of a friend. The guy hadn't been bad looking, he was interesting and had a good job going for him. But he hadn't been... Richard. He hadn't held onto my words, only seeming to wait for himself to speak and listen to himself go on. That my life, my input on things wasn't meaningless. Just boring. Not worth the bother to even really listen too. Like background noise. Richard on the other hand...

"Money can just complicate matters." I shrugged and turned my hand over just in time for Richard to put his back into it. Holding hands even in an air conditioned room caused us to have sweaty palms. Not exactly romantic. Richard had to turn the air conditioner off so it wouldn't explode from being used for more than ten minutes in a day.

"Yes, but with money." Richard gave me a wink and a wag of his butt, playfully going along with it. "You can treat your boyfriend to something nice. That isn't discount wine." He finally said having noticed, ages ago, that I hadn't taken a second drink.

"I didn't even know they made a discount... wine." And we exchanged a half laugh at that. "Is it made with the spoiled grapes or something?"

"I thought wine WAS spoiled grapes." Richard frowned, his eyebrows scrunching up as if trying to meet together. I did laugh at that and held his hand even when Richard tried to pull it away, trying to be polite most likely.

He tightened his grip at that, petting the side of my own hand with his thumb and looked down at it. I could tell he was thinking of something, something complicated. Was it about us? This? The fact I wanted to hold his hand? Or was he just gassy?

It was hard, if not impossible, to tell without asking him. But I'm a guy. And we're dumb. Thus I kept my big fat mouth shut and just looked down at our hands. Richard's hand was larger than my own.

Richard opened his muzzle, about to say something when the front door popped open and hit against the side wall. It drew both of our attentions instantly and I found myself grinding my teeth as I saw Colby, the malamute husky mix, standing there. It looked as if he had been crying and his shirt was on backwards.

Before I could say anything, he ran over to Richard and started bawling.

Richard remained seated as I got up, glaring daggers at the other dog. Richard had mentioned that he had told the others about this little shin-dig he had planned. So Colby knew he would be occupied and still felt the need to bring his own fucking drama into the middle of this.

"It's Tommy," I managed to make out of Colby's crying voice as he hugged Richard. "H-He broke up with me!" And there were more sobs, snot running down the front of his muzzle and fat crocodile tears running down his face.

Richard, the good Samaritan and fool he was, was already hugging the husky back. Telling him it'd be ok and asking all about it. So Colby did just that, taking my seat no less and beginning to tell Richard all about it. In the middle of our faux-valentine's day!

"H-he said I was too immature and that I w-wasn't good enough to date." Colby went on and on, telling Richard all the stuff he himself had told the chocolate Labrador. It was nice to see things do finally come around to bite the bastards on their ass but this wasn't like that at all. It took me a second longer than it should but once I realized it, I was pissed.

There are some people in this world of ours that are the key word of "Selfish." They think that the world somehow revolves around them, as if they are the star of their very own sitcom. And thus, when others lives come into play they feel the need to barge in and make it all about them. Most the time this is subtle, but very few things about Colby were subtle.

Back in Central, I remembered, there was a girl in the office next to mine who was having a baby. However, one of the manager's daughters would always butt in during any time there was talk about the baby. Even in the delivery room, or so I heard. That someone could take such a personal, magical moment and make it all about them? That was fucked up. And this dog wasn't about to have his day.

"Richard," I said a little louder than I meant too keeping my voice even and checked. "Why don't you go grab some tissues from the bathroom." I eyed Colby and also added. "And maybe a towel." It was far more spiteful than I meant too but this wasn't the time to use kiddie gloves.

Richard nodded, seeing that as a good idea and quickly excused himself.

Even before he was really out of ear shot I turned on Colby and had to stop myself from picking the husky up and throw him out the door.

"The hell are you doing?" I hissed between clenched teeth in a whisper, balling my hands into fists.

"I'm s-sorry," Colby said, sniffling and looking all around pathetic. I had to keep telling myself that this was the very dog who had hit on me not even five days ago. How butt hurt could he be from being dumped? Was it because he wasn't the one to break it off?

"Look." And I ended up slamming both my palms down on the table and nearly throwing the candle and cups off the thing as I tilted it to one side. "Stow the crap. Richard and I are having a nice, quiet, peaceful, lovely evening and don't need you ruining it for us." And Colby shut his muzzle at that, eyes widening as if taking some personal offense to the fact he had crashed our little alone time. "You aren't physically hurt, are you?" I shot the question at him with such force he winced.

Colby just shook his head.

"He didn't scam you or put you into a situation where you need help this exact second, did he?" I said trying to keep my voice even and leveled but didn't manage too well on the matter. I'm glad I wasn't a dog or I'd have been growling, baring my teeth and that just wouldn't be a pretty sight to see.

I was taking this far more personal than I really should have, to be frankly honest. In retrospect, looking back on it, I did overreact a bit. However, during that time I really wanted to spend every second of my time off just being with Richard. Getting to know him. And having this trampy slut come in, claiming that he had his heart broken was a load of bull shit. And I wasn't about to have him take a steaming load off on our lovely evening.

"Then it. Can. Wait." I said very slowly, pushing each and every word onto him as if they were weights. "So. Fuck off. Until we're done." And I smiled friendly enough as I finished, just in time for Richard to come in.

"R-Richard," Colby began to whine and I wondered if he was about to rat on me.

Max had told me that this husky had done just that about the bull terrier. That he had gone with his tail between his legs, crying on his knees to Richard to do something about him. Max and Richard had a...complicated history, for sure. But they were still good, if not best friends.

"He's right." Richard ended up saying, deflating my anger instantly and turning it into an overflowing well of embarrassment. "These things are just to make me look cute." Richard said to me motioning to one of his floppy ears. It took me a second to realized he was talking about the fact he could hear far better than I had originally assumed.

"Uh..." I managed to choke out, taking a seat on the couch next to the wall.

Richard turned back to Colby and handed him the box of tissues. "I'm not going to kick you out, but this is mine and Alex's alone time. I told you a full day in advance that I would need only an hour. A single hour alone." And he looked down at the husky with the face of a disapproving parent rather than a scorned ex or an ill-tempered roomie.

I wondered how many times Max had talked to Richard about Colby. Or just pointed these things out. As it was clear Richard wasn't surprised by this at all, in fact he almost seemed to waiting for it to happen. I was just glad he didn't fall for the scam. I still felt horrible for being caught being so... disrespectful in his home.

There was some more arguing between the two. About whose home this was and how Colby should be able to come and go when he pleases, getting defensive one second. Then turning around and accusing Richard of not being supportive and not helping him out. From there it became a twisted storm of chaos that lashed back and forth.

"And another thing," Colby ended up barking at Richard his tears still staining the fur of his face but having stopped at this point. "Why did I have to move out of the side room and into the back one? It's stuffy in there! And gets so hot." He ended up whining.

I'm not sure when it was that I had gotten up and moved over. Colby was smart, manipulative and somehow ended up turning this whole mess onto Richard and my good-hearted boyfriend couldn't take the abuse for long. He was crumbling under it and I could see Richard wanting to cave in and give Colby everything he wanted too, make promises he couldn't keep... and it was like they were dating again.

That's the thing about Ex's. They are ex for a reason. Yet, most people claim to still stay friends with them, hell a lot of people still room with them and even sleep with 'em on a weekly occasion.

"It's because I don't work as much as you, is that it?" Colby huffed now. "It's always that. Just like when we were dating." And I actually groaned as he brought that up, admittedly it took longer than I thought for him too. It seemed to be the key topic Richard was trying to avoid and once it was up, Richard was down for the count.

Thankfully, when push comes to shove, I use a wrecking ball. So in I came and swooped Richard off his feet (uh... the best I could), told Colby he can enjoy the meal by himself and practically dragged Richard into his and Max's room.

"Alex, I-," Richard began as I shut the door. I could tell Richard was angry. That he was frustrated and on the verge of tears himself. So I did what a good boyfriend would and took his pants off. "Alex!" He said my name again, his voice a bit higher as he looked down at himself. He made no attempt however to cover himself.

He had gotten rid of the apron some time ago and was only wearing a loose pair of shorts with nothing underneath. I admired him for a few seconds before standing back up.

"Get comfy," I motioned to the bed. "I'll be right back." And gave him a kiss. So he took a seat and I marched out into the living room.

Even before Colby could open his muzzle up I just raised my hand stopping him.

"I don't care." I said frankly. "I really don't. So stow it." And with that I moved into the kitchen to grab the food Richard had been kind enough to attempt to make. Most of it was burned or dried out and I wasn't even sure what he had put into the microwave. I just called dinner a bust, decided we'd order chinese or pizza and grabbed a few of Max's beers. I'd pay him back, double or even triple the amount. I'm sure he wouldn't mind too much... and then headed back into Richard's room.

He was waiting for me where I had sat him down, folding his hands in his lap and looking down at them.

"Sorry," Richard began after I shut the door and got him to take one of the beers. He took a drank of it before looking at it. "Is this Max's?"

"Yup." I shrugged. And took a seat next to him. I placed a hand on his strong thigh and gave it a squeeze. "And there isn't anything to be sorry about, hun."

"I know!" Richard said a bit louder than he meant too. Taking a moment before he said it once more, far softer. "I know. It's just Colby... he has no where else to go!" He gritted his teeth a bit, shaking his head. "If I kick him out, then it's just that. I'd be the one making him homeless and I just..."

"Just can't be the one to do that." I nodded along. I'm defiantly not as soft as Richard was.

"Something like that." Richard nodded. He took another drink before setting it down. He turned towards me but I spoke before he could start.

"Lay down." And I smiled at him. He did and I moved down a bit before laying his hefty foot-paws in my lap. I picked one up and began rubbing it, kneading and massaging the tension out of them. "Ok, go ahead."

And he began. Slowly but surely began to talk to me about it.

"It was always like this. I'd get on him about something, anything. From not doing the dishes to... to not working! And he'd just... just turn around like that. Flip all the issues and problems back on me like it was somehow my fault?" And Richard sighed, relaxing into the foot rub some more. He wasn't really complaining, I wasn't his shrink by any means. Instead he was just talking, talking about his worries and concerns that he never openly said aloud.

"That always been the big one. Work. He'd go on about how he cleaned the house and took care of things here, going grocery shopping and such. That that's how he was making it up for me. And that I was never grateful for his help. For all he did." Richard went on. I nodded and didn't say anything. At times like this, a listening ear was far more helpful than having me put my two cents in on the matter. "It was hard enough, though. I don't always work full hours. And Max has his own bills to pay for. Patch helps when he cans but even with three incomes, not all of it goes to the house or the other payments. The food bill alone is outrageous!"

Money, politics and religion. That was what I had always been taught to never talk about. Not with friends, family or strangers. Those three things could start wars. Break up marriages. And destroy friendships. And ruin relationships that were already destined to break up.

And yet here I was with him talking about just that. Money issues. Maybe not between us directly but still it was there. And it was one of those things you never really talk about this way, unless you were in it for the long run. Sure, one can bitch and moan about bills and money issues with friends. But you don't actually go into the finer details, the points and try and figure them out.

At this point I switched to his other foot and worked on it. Rocking the heel back and forth, rolling it around in it's socket and then stretching each toe out. An ex of mine had been a masseuse, a male masseuse that is. He could give the best massages but had little else, if you know what I mean, going for him. At least I picked up a few things.

"I don't want to concern you with this." Richard said every now and then. Or "I understand if you don't want to hear this." He never really said that this didn't effect me, that I wasn't somehow a part of it. I had to read between the lines. But it was clear, Richard wasn't in this relationship half-way.

Something else that had been a first for me.

I've been a lot of relationships. Very few had I actually invested time or effort or money into. Let alone the other person doing so. And here Richard was basically telling me that this, us effected him more than just that. He was good though, I'll admit. Never outright saying anything, giving himself enough wiggle room that he could deny if something made me upset. While at the same time not rushing anything either.

I tried not to think about it. Just listen to Richard go on.

Somehow I ended up laying next to him. Petting and scratching over his chest with my hand. My shoes were gone, my socks were off and I had at one point stripped out of my shirt and pants.

It was too hot to snuggle, to cuddle or to be in arms length of each other... Richard didn't even attempt to move away though, even covered in fur as he was. Richard had begun panting but otherwise did his best to show that he wasn't hot.

Even when I moved a bit closer, feeling his warm body against my own bare skin. It was almost hot to the touch, like a heated blanket. And he squirmed a bit but moved into me as he went on.

"Hope I didn't bore you." He finished with, though I knew he stopped only for my sake.

"Not at all." I replied resting my cheek on his bicep and look up into his face. I scritched his belly some more. "We got the rest of the night." I replied.

"No we don't." Richard said flatly. It made me blink a few times at the bluntness. "I told them I wanted an hour of alone time. It's been more than an hour, Alex." And he used one finger to pet and scratch the side of my face. "They'll be bothering us again." He teased a bit moving down until I could feel his hot panting breath on my face.

Our lips met once more. Those warm velvet soft lips of his made me groan into him, pushing my body against his some more and he smiled at that.

"You know," I said slowly looking at his muscular chest. I scratched up over it before resting my hand on it. "Before we were interrupted, you were going to say something to me."

"Was I?" Richard mused thinking back about it.

I smirked at that and held my tongue for a while. I could hear the door open and maybe it was Max or Patch who came in. The door opened up a little while after that and the other one came in. Whoever it was, I could care less as I lay there with Richard.

"Hey," I began.

"Yeah?" Richard asked.

"I think I'm in love with you." I said rather flatly.

"Oh?" Richard said, his ears perking up.

"Yeah."

"Cool." Richard replied.

"Yeah." I agreed.

"I think I might be like in the same boat." Richard replied staring up at the ceiling.

"Oh?"

"Yeah." He returned.

"Cool." I smiled.

"Yup." He smirked, closing his eyes as I listened to his heart beat. "What do we do about it?" He asked.

"Not sure."

"Does it really change anything?"

"Not really." I just smiled at that.

"Cool." He replied with a smile.

"Hey, Richard."

"Yeah?"

"I'm hungry." And as if in agreement his stomach growled in protest at the word of food.

"What should we do about it?" He asked as casually as he had before.

"Not sure." I replied trying to stop myself from laughing about it.

"Maybe, we could like order something." He shrugged a little bit. He stopped mid shrug though as I started to move off, he waited until I laid back down.

"Like pizza?" I offered.

"Or Chinese." He answered back as if reading my mind.

"Sounds good."

And with that. Neither of us moved a muscle until Max barged into the yelling out his two missing beers.