Walkies
A romantic walk on the beach is perfect for many couples. But not for all of them.
This little vignette was written for my dear friends Cassius and Killian. It contains M/M romance and doggy derpiness. :3
Walkies
The beach was more than just sand and water. It was the sounds of children shrieking with laughter as they raced between islands of resting parents. It was the texture of dry sand between toes. The smell of sun cream, seaweed and the occasional picnic. It was freedom. It was holiday.
Cassius and Killian walked hand in hand. The lynx gazing ahead, his partner's eyes darting all around with giddy excitement. Each relished the beach for many of the same reasons. The open space, the fresh sea air. For the German Shepherd however, the beach was incomplete without the people. The noise. The fun and frenzied activity of a hundred families sharing the same space. His lover however preferred to focus on the space between those families. The peaceful, rolling miles of sand with open ocean stretching out to the horizon beyond.
His tufted ears twitching slightly, Killian smirked as he heard a delicate whimper escape the dog walking alongside him. He squeezed Cassius' paw in his own.
"I believe in you. You can do this."
A nervous blush crossed the German Shepherd's white furred cheeks. He swallowed heavily, nodding and glancing to his mate with gratitude.
"I know. I-it's just..."
A group of college students, three men and three women, rushed past just in front of the pair. Bolting for the shoreline, they laughed and shrieked as they ploughed into the cool sea at top speed. Instantly they were splashing, flailing and assaulting one another with armfuls of water. Cassius' voice trailed off, and he gulped nervously as his eyes drifted towards those eager, swimsuit clad bodies.
Killian shook his head, eyes rolling.
"Hey. C'mon. We're just walking. A nice, long, relaxing walk. Holding hands and enjoying the time together. That's what you wanted, right?"
Again Cassius whimpered, but he nodded and forced himself to look away from the cavorting college-goers. He focused on Killian. On the man he loved. He clutched tightly at the lynx's hand in his own, beaming warmly.
"Yeah. That's right. Sorry."
Killian shrugged, suppressing a grin as he thought of how adorable Cassius was when he got this way.
"Don't be sorry. Just don't be a derp."
A soft chuckle escaped the German Shepherd, and he stuck his tongue out, crossing his eyes and bobbing his head from side to side so that his ears flopped comically. Killian sighed fondly, and Cassius laughed louder.
For a while longer they walked together, not saying much, just enjoying one another's company and the beautiful day. The further they walked, the less crowded the beach became. Fewer families, fewer people in general. The tide was retreating, leaving more and more open sand and space on which to walk. Or, indeed, to play.
Up ahead, the two men could see one final group of people. Pretty much the last populous congregation before all that remained was empty, open sand and a few casual, quiet strollers such as themselves. They were an athletic bunch. The men bare chested with well defined abs, the women wearing sports bras and shorts. The whole group looked primed for exercise, as well as looking damn good to both the approaching lynx and dog.
Between them, bouncing back and forth upon the soft sand, was a football. At first it moved slowly, rolling with gentle kicks and taps. The closer Killian and Cassius drew to the group though, the more into their game of passing they became. The ball moved faster, each kick becoming harder, forcing the next receiver to run in order to catch it. Both Cassius and Killian found their eyes drawn to the ball as they approached. Killian couldn't help but admire the skill of the players, not to mention their fitness. Indeed he became so engrossed in watching the game, he barely noticed Cassius' grip on his hand slackening little by little. Until finally, it was too late.
The ball zipped past the nearest member of the group, its delivery too fast for him to react to. It shot up the beach, right across the path of the lynx and German Shepherd.
With a yelp of excitement, Cassius broke free from Killian's hand. Barking and howling with glee, he gave chase, rushing towards the ball with his tongue lolling out and his arms outstretched; manic excitement gleaming in his eyes.
"Mine!"
He reached the ball, punting it hard with his left footpaw and sending it sailing away further down the length of the beach. For a single instant the German Shepherd turned his head, glancing with exuberant mischief at the original owners of the ball as they stood and stared. Then, as a few of them began to move towards the still rolling, retreating ball with varying degrees of speed, Cassius bolted away once more. After the ball, ready to intercept it, to defend it, to guard it for all he was worth.
"Can't get it! Can't catch it! Mine. My ball. My ball!"
Howling with joy, Cassius raced after the football. A few of the ball's original owners continued to give chase, crying out after the seemingly possessed, giddy dog in frustration as he intercepted and kicked the ball yet further away, racing after it without the slightest hesitation. The rest however simply turned, wide eyed and frowning, towards the German Shepherd's partner. Towards Killian.
The lynx's cheeks burned brightly, and he stared after the rapidly shrinking blob of his lover with a despairing expression of frustration.
"Oh Jesus..."
He muttered under his breath, wincing as in the distance he heard Cassius yelping yet again with frenzied excitement.
"...I knew I should have brought the leash."
By Jeeves