Every Rose has its' Thorns

Story by Duo Theus on SoFurry

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Short piece I did to show an example of Duo acting as a god of love, in his weird little way. Here we see him in his chibi form with a wolf, with a very curious problem and is asking for Duo for guidance. A very short love story, told by a wolf in love with the forbidden fruit.

Wrote this since furs were asking why I have not written anything in like four years. Well basically it was because I had a stroke, so it is kinda hard for me to write anymore and the stroke kinda killed my grammar skills, and there is a physical problem in which I get exhausted if I type for too long. But I did type this because so many furs were asking. I hope you enjoy, please leave a comment on your thoughts about the piece as it helps me out.

Thank you, hope you enjoy the read.


Every Rose Has Its' Thorns By: Duo Theus

Crickets chirp as the local star starts its' cycle of sleep and the twilight dawns across the land. The ambiance across the ancient temple of the god of love was most fitting as the onyx wolf entered the ancient grounds. Up the stairs that were slowly being reclaimed by vegetation, up into the large door-less opening into the inner chamber where his booted footsteps echoed across the stone walls. The male wolf stopped short of the large statue of the dragon deity of love, which had seen better days. It looked as though the figure was in a battle; covered in scars of rust and gashes infected with local moss. The lack of care for the statue over the years was easily seen. The furre knelt before the statue, softly speaking to himself as the echo would reflect incoherent words, adding more to the surreal ambiance of the environment. The echo of the wolf's voice was calming and relaxing, though a sign of him being alone, he did not feel alone as he continued his prayer. "Please lord Duo Theus, hear my prayer, I ask you give me proper guidance." The wolf uttered as he finished his prayer moments later. He stood up slowly, bowing before the statue and slowly turning to make his way back outside to walk towards the twilight of the evening. As he approached the opening of the temple, a shuffle of some vegetation caught his ear, making the young man slow down for fear of a vicious animal ready to attack as the temple was located in a remote location in the forest of virtue. "Hello!" A loud childlike voice broke the silence, causing the wolf to turn quickly to his right to see the sight of a tiny winged dragon of western decent clinging onto a stone pillar looking at him with lovely purple eyes. "Um hello there little guy, you startled me by sneaking up like that." The wolf replied to the little gold and black dragon. "Oh I'm sorry, I hear someone here at my home and I came to see who is here in the house." The tiny drake smiles, cocking his head to the side as he viewed the wolf curiously. "You live here? I didn't think anyone lived in this place, it looked abandoned. But I guess it is still a shelter from the rain and snow right?" The dragon gave a nod and crawled up the pillar a meter. "I have many places I stay, but today I heard someone here and I wanted to see who was here. I saw you and I said hello." The wolf smiled and playfully rolled his eyes "I know, I was there little one. But at first glace you looked like a big bug being on that pillar as you are you know that right?" The wolf took a few steps closer to the little dragon atop the faded stone column. The dragon flicked his triple pointed tongue at the male playfully, slowly crawling down off the pillar and waddling over to the wolf. "Hi. Would you like to keep me company for a lil bit? I don't get visitors often, and talking with someone is helpful at times." He gave the taller furred male a tooth less smile. A soft chuckle and a nod was returned as the male crouched down and met the dragons gaze at his level. "I don't mind, but would it be alright if I pick you up and we sit at the stairs? I have a bad back and I need to sit." The tiny dragon squeed and nodded, practically jumping up into the arms of the wolf. The wolf was caught off guard, nearly dropping the little dragon "Oof! You're an eager one arnt you?" The dragon nodded as he crawled up and sat on the furre's shoulder. "I enjoy being held and cuddled, so any time someone can offer, I am going to say yes! I'm an affectionate little dragon you know?" he gave a cute giggle as the wolf slowly stood up and turned. The furre started towards the stairs, slowly turning his head and gaze back at the temple one more time. "You know I was honestly expecting my butt to be slapped by visiting this place. Like some sort of spiritual slap considering whom it is. But my butt feels normal, like nothing has happened, which makes me have some doubts." "Don't worry, you'll get one." The dragon replied as the wolf headed down the stone staircase towards the bottom where it met the stone path that lead up to the temple.

The wolf sat himself at the bottom of the stairs, leaning up against a small column used to hold up the stone stair railing as the dragon sat himself on the man's left shoulder, both looking at the setting star at the horizon. "Why did you come here?" The tiny scaled figured asked. "Did you come to pray?" "I did yes. I wanted to ask the god of love for some guidance to a situation I am in." The wolf's voice was calm and deep, his face showing he was lost in thought. "What kind of situation are you in? Maybe talking about it could help you out?" "Maybe, but I wanted to make sure I was in love and not like, fake love you know." The little dragon blinked a few times, turning his head to look at the male with a confused look. "I think I do, but can you tell me the story? This way I have a better understanding." The wolf gave a careful nod and drew in a large breath. "Sure. I don't mind sharing the story." The wolf shifted his body and weight, slowly relaxing and a beam of light shined from his finger, causing the little dragon to shift his gaze at the source, which was a wedding ring. "Ooooo what a pretty ring you have there. Where did you get it?" A curious tone was in the voice of the drake as he watched the wolf lift his left hand slightly and look at the ring. "The love of my life gave me this, so I wear it to remind me of my love." The wolf replied before looking up at the little dragon. "I never caught your name small one. My name is Dwayne, what is your name?" The little dragon shrugs "Well Dwayne you could call me something or give me a name if you'd like. I've been called a number of things, but I'd like to be thought of as a friend or buddy." Dwayne chuckle and reached up patting the little dragons head "I'll call you Bud for short, how's that?" Bud leaned up against the furred hand, purring and smiling "Mmm I like Bud. Sounds like a flower. It is pretty." The wolf smiled back and started to pet the dragon gently "You're a little kook aren't you? And I mean that with great respect." "I am kookie, but that does not mean you can eat me." The larger wolf laughed and shook his head "I would not think of eating another. You're safe little Bud." The dragon opened his eyes halfway and smiled again "That's good, I like to be safe. But please, tell me your story. I want to know what a guy like you is doing in this shabby dump that I call my home?" Dwayne nodded and brought his hand back down to his lap to look at the ring. "It is because of the love of my life I am here. I want to say I am in love with them, but I am unsure." Bud looked puzzled, slowly crawling down the wolfs chest to sit in his lap and get himself comfortable. "Them? Is there more then one?" The wolf shook his head, watching the tiny drake make himself comfortable. "Boy you sure make yourself at home, you are lucky you are cute and tiny. Anyhow, let me explain to you what I mean by them. You see, they are transgender and in the process of changing their gender from a woman to a man, so I say them." "Shouldn't you say he then?" Bud asked. "I normally do, but since you are a stranger, it would be easier for me to say them to help you understand better." Dwayne continued gently petting the top of the dragons head causing the little drake to purr. "But it all started when I met them a few years back digitally. I was browse some images and-" "Hope they weren't dirty images." The dragon cut off the wolf with a little chuckle. "Um, no. They weren't, but I found this really lovely image of two figures in love, in the night, and it was very beautiful. The pair were smiling, the scene was at night, and the coloring had excellent taste, so I left them a comment, and they replied back. I'm not a rude wolf, so I replied back and that is how it began, from a simple image and small conversation from that image and their artwork, we started to talk more and more and quickly became great friends." "Well that is a nice way to make a friend." Bud smiled and wrapped his little body with his wings and murred loudly, giving a weird facial expression. "Mmmmmmi gusto! Es buneo!" the dragon remarked in a strange horse tone, which mixed with his tiny voice, came off comedic making Dwayne chuckle. "I guess it is a good way to make a friend. Back then, she was still a she and a very rare kind she at that. Louise was her name then, and she was such a thrill to be around. In those times, it was hard for me to make friends. I mean I'm a wolf, and most herbivores or omnivores believe I'm a mean and nasty guy, and when they find out I am not, they believe me to be a push over and take advantage of my trust. Other carnivores believed I had to live up to that code and since I did not fit in with them, I really did not fit in anywhere and it was and still is, very difficult for me to make any kind of friend. Louise is a wallaby and did not care that I am a wolf and I did not care she is a wallaby. We just seem to work together when we talk and our friendship is very strong. Though Louise is mated to a very nice gentleman, I did not mind since we were friends, but I promised them I would never get between them and their mate." Bud yawned softly and gave a little nod "Noble of you to do for her. Lotsa guys just give up after that and go home. But you are nice enough to not mess with the gentleman, and that makes you the nobleman." The dragon chuckles and licks the wolfs hand. "Please continue, I wanna hear more." Dwayne gently rubbed the wet spot on his hand against his jeans, making sure it was dry before he continued petting the dragon. "Louise treated me like a normal soul. I was never someone to be taken advantage of, even with all my flaws, they saw passed them and we quickly became best friends. She would give me free art, I would give her free art, and we would talk as often as possible digitally with cameras and mics and it was nice. When I would have a down day, and boy have I had many, she would always be there to save me. When she was having a down day, I was there for her, and we just worked and helped out one another every time we needed one another. It started to bother me though because they had lots of furs to love her and lots of friends, and I was still struggling to make friends. I felt they were turning into a crutch for me and I told them this. They assured me I was fine, and that is what friends do, they are there for one another. She was a great means of healing for me, and I really hope I am for her. In time, we began to grow closer to one another, closer and closer. We shared secrets that no one else knew about us with one another. We were open to one another about anything and everything and we spoke about everything and anything, even sexual stuff and that never compromised our relationship or anything. It was very natural and there was no awkward moments." "So what happened? Something must have happened? She sounds too good to be real, did she leave you?" But asked, curious and invested in the story. "Well, we grew feelings for one another. We grew to love one another, but not in the sense of mate love, it was like beyond. Louise said she loved me like family, and I used to be told many times in the past that I am like a big brother, and that is why so many didn't want to be my mate because I was more like a big brother. Louise said she could see that, but she loved me as a close family, a brother, a sister, a niece or nephew, but I would always be considered to them, their family. I felt greatly accepted and I could feel their love, yet the love we had was beyond that. It was weird. It was a level of love that we could do anything and we would still be the same. We could have sex and still be the same, nothing would change between us. We could fight and argue and nothing would change between us. We could be married, we could not be married, nothing would change. It was weird. We told one another everything about one another, be it dirty, naughty, nice, sweet, it was natural. I felt so weird telling her all this mushy stuff, that she thought of a nick name to call me and this level of love we shared. We call it mushy, because that level of love is all mushy stuff." The wolf laughed along with the little dragon, whom was nuzzling up against the wolfs hand. "That sounds adorable. You two really sound nice together and could be a cute couple, but they do have a mate." Bud continued rubbing up against the hand, beckoning for more pets. "Yes. For a while I was worried about them thinking they were cheating, but they are not. We talked about the subject many times and they love their mate deeply. But we are so close to one another, that they shared a secret with me, that I kinda guessed when I met them due to signals and us being so close. They came out as transgender to me and I helped them come out more to others about it. I don't care if they have a penis or vagina. What matters to me is that they would be the same wonderful soul no matter what they looked like and we'd be mushy together no matter what happened. They were so thrilled, and shared with me their new name of Brock, which was a very manly sounding name and I started calling them Brock, with the exception of a nick name I gave them, which was Rocky since it was a tease at their appearance to a popular cartoon character." Bud laughed and turned to his side, having the hand against his stomach for tummy rubs "Did they like the nick name?" "Yes as a matter of fact they do. But they gave me a nick name of my own, Lobo Koga." The tiny dragon started to laugh "Oh I get it. That is cleaver of them." "So we are Rocky and Koga. That's our pet names for one another. It's cute, but we don't mind. But as I said, we are very close, and an issue came up as they feared rejection from their mate on being transgender. Their mate is very straight, and they fear he may leave him, but this is who they are. I assured Brock he was fine and if his mate loved him as much as Brock told me, that he would accept it and things would be okay. It is a scary thought for them, but they did not come out as transgender to their mate yet. About this time of deep worry, we both sort of got the same idea at the same time and talked about it." "Oh? What kind of idea did you get? Is it making Brock's mate a lady so they can be together?" Dwayne shook his head to the dragons question, petting the scaled spine of the tiny drake. "No. As he told me in the past, his mate was the only other person they have ever been mated with, and they feared about being rejected and being taken on the rebound. I had the same fear for him, he would be so fragile and could be taken advantage of and such a kind soul as Brocks, he didn't need to experience that horrible experience. So by their request, and a little of mine, we decided that if worst came to worst, I would be the back up. Not like a safety net, but we are so close that if the worst happened, we could both be together like that and I do not want them being taken advantaged of by being a rebound for someone. They mean too much to me to be treated that way. But being so close did make us help one another more and more. I helped them with being more manly, and they revealed they would prefer a homosexual relationship simply because to them, it feels more real and solid to him. Brock is unsure that once he finishes his transformation, if he'll be attracted to women and loose attraction to men, which is possible, but I will still stick by his side. One day though, Brock and I ended up doing a cyber sex session. It started off as a dream for me and I shared it with him, and he thought it was sweet, though he was very curious and shy of gay sex because he was new to being a man. He revealed some of his desires and we did a cyber sex session only because I wanted to help him understand more male thoughts and help him get adjusted to male terms and having a penis. He was very thrilled and we both felt closer to one another because now he felt more like a man after that kind of experience. He was so used to female terms and to just be in a gay situation like that with someone who understands and was close to him, it really helped him a lot and it made me very happy to help out my mushy ol friend like that." "Dawww that is sweet and adorable of you to do. You are being very supportive of them and it sounds like they see this and recognize it." The dragon squeaked softly nuzzling himself up against the wolf's stomach. "Well yes, but they also helped me. I'm going through a rough trend in my life at the moment, and I was recently nearly taken advantage of by a woman. I remember entering the relationship with Elisabeth and telling Brock about it since we are best friends. Brock was happy that I could find someone to be with, but did reveal to me that they were kinda jealous, that since we spent so much time together as friends and me being single so many times, that me being with a woman made them a little jealous. I respected the honesty and it was a compliment as I never had anyone feel jealous for me like that. But I later learned that Elisabeth was only with me to do the cradle trick." "Cradle trick? What's the cradle trick?" The dragon asked, curious to such a strange term. "It is where you get a young woman whom gets pregnant from a man to give herself security. Like she was trying to get me to have unprotected sex with her by saying she was on pills and everything else just so she could get pregnant and take the child for herself and get benefits as a single mother and I would be forced to give up half my income to her in the form of child welfare so she would have a child she has always wanted, benefits from the government, and an income from me for being the father of a child. I said I would not have sex with her and I did not want any children and this made Elisabeth upset and she left me and went off finding other men to have lots of sex with in hopes of getting herself pregnant." "That is a low move, but those kinds of moves do happen. I am sorry you lost your girlfriend." The dragon nuzzled up and gave Dwayne's stomach and affectionate and comforting hug. The wolf smiled and gave the little dragon a gentle hug back. "Thank you Bud." Slowly the wolf leaned back up, petting the smooth scaled dragon again. "Brock was sorry, but very angry with Elisabeth. With things happening in my life giving me stress and having no one to turn too, well Brock was, and still is, my Rocky rock. It was around this time I was having a very bad set of days, and it had got me so low, that I felt life was no longer worth living again. They usually could save me, but they saw something in me that compelled him to propose to me. That caught me off guard and at first I thought they were joking, but Brock was very serious. I stated that they would not be happy with me as their husband and it would not be a great life. They said it would not be that bad and gave me a giggle, which showed me they had love for me and I was speechless. I love my Rocky with all my being, and he proposed to me, I should be happy, though I said no." "Why in the world would you say that? It is obvious that the two of you are in love and work together and you both would heal and help one another. So why would you turn down probably the greatest happiness you could ever have in your life?" The drakes tone was quickened, slightly angered sounding. Dwayne lowered his head and closed his eyes "Because I love Brock. If I was a selfish wolf, I would have said yes and we would be engaged. But I love Brock so much, that I want him to be happy most of all, and he would not be as happy with me as he would with his mate, whom he loves very much. I know Brock very well, sometimes more then he knows himself and the same goes for him to me. Brock knows me more then I know myself sometimes, and before you say anything Bud, yes I understand this is what happens with real lovers and mates as they learn one another to a tee. Yet, I know how much his mate means to him, and I did vow to never come between the two of them. Brock's proposal was well intended. Brock knows me more then myself, and he was seeing that I really needed him in my life in order to be happy and they were just thinking about my own safety and concern." "That is love though. Brock proposed to you because he loves you. His proposal showed he wants you to be happy and he proposed with a sacrifice in mind just so you could be happy with him. He proposed to you. He wants your sweet bod bro." The dragon chuckled using the youthful jargon of the day to help get a smile from the wolf. "Be that as it may, I know Brock very well. I cannot let him do that to his mate Jeremy. Brock told me so much stories about Jeremy that Jeremy is a very loving and sweet guy who needs Brock and Brock needs him. There was only one time when something happened where Jeremy upset Brock that I know of, but Brock never told me what was said. But Brock was being a sweet heart, and proposed to me not to make me feel better, his proposal was real, but I reminded him of his love for Jeremy and made sure to put the focus on that because let's face it, with all my flaws and limitations, I can never make Brock as happy as Jeremy can, and I want my Rocky to be the happiest wallaby ever, even if it means I am not in the picture." The wolf remained silent for a while, his eyes glazed with budding tears. "This is hurting you though. Is that a sacrifice you want? They did propose to you. You didn't propose to them, they proposed to you. You did not ask them to leave their mate, Brock did it to himself in his heart because of his love for you. You didn't break your vow, if anything they did." The dragon huffed up his chest a little, and did a low playful growl murr. "Bud, you suggest they cheated on their mate. They would not cheat, their actions were from the heart, but they were only thinking of just helping me. Once I reminded them of their mate, they wised up. Though I think it is partly my fault because of the love we share. I know what is best for my Rocky, and I want him to be happy, and this is where my trip here begins. After the proposal, we talked more and though they saved my life, more times then anyone should really, we did agree we could be married in spirit. That for the time being, I am his husband and spiritually we are married. A gay marriage. I am married to Brock, but their mate has Louise in person. In a sense, a fair compromise for the time being, they may have two loves as they have two sides. Louise has her mate as she always has, but Brock has me, and Louise is terrified to tell her mate about Brock. I have assured Louise that Jeremy would not reject Brock, his love for her is too strong that he would accept Brock with much love." "Well that is all good and dandy for Brock and Jeremy, but what happens to you once Jeremy accepts Brock for who he is?" The dragon looked up at the glossy eyes of the wolf. "I don't know Bud. I honestly do not know. I do not want to ever risk loosing what I have with Brock, I love him too much and I really mean that. We have just been getting closer and closer simply by helping one another. I even revealed myself naked to them once, and they were very accepting and felt we were closer to one another. I have done things for Brock that I would have never done for anyone else. For Brock, I would do anything they would ask of me simply because it would make them happy or if it would help them. And they recently have shared the same desire for me. Brock talks to me like a wife would, and it makes me laugh when he does that since we are so close. I mean I've never argued or had a fight with the guy, and that is such a rare thing. Past relationships, I've had many fights and arguments with other girlfriends and boyfriends, but with Brock, we have never had a fight or an argument so it is weird. We both know if we ever had one, we would be alright since the two of us are so close, yet the ironic thing is, they are so far away in distance, but they are the closest one to me in my heart." The wolf gently lifted the hand with his ring and placed it on his chest, drawing a strange look from the dragon. "So what's with the jem on your finger then?" Dwayne smiled and looked to the dragon. "Part of the reason why I came to this temple to the love god. Since we are spiritually married, sort of speak, I had bought a cheap ring for a separate occasion with a family member of mine and a possible business investment and I joked with Brock that it could be our wedding ring and we had a good laugh. Well Elisabeth's sister ended up stealing the ring from me and I was so upset about it since I did associate the ring with Brock, that Brock bought me this new ring to symbolize our marriage and love. It is a very kind and sweet gesture from the mushy Rocky, though I vowed to him that I would keep it safe and I would wear it. This way when I would look at my hand, I would see this ring, which is cheap by normal standards, but it holds so much emotional value to me since Rocky got it for me, that it would remind me that there is one being, one beautiful wonderful soul, that loves me, when the rest of the world rejects me." The little dragon smiled and nuzzled up against the male "That is a very touching reason to wear a wedding ring, but that doesn't answer why you came here?" Dwayne rolls his eyes playfully and pets the dragon some more. "I'm about to get to that Bud. When Rocky proposed to me and I said no to them, they did not realize how much great pain it caused me. I wanted to say yes so bad, so much so, but the pain of saying no was a lot. I love them so much I could endure it so long they are happy and we can still talk with one another and be all mushy. But recently I was having more problems and how I would do anything to help them and make them happy, which I have done in the past in ways I have not revealed to you Bud, they did something for me. They returned the gesture of revealing themselves to me. Not in full, but part, something the dragon of this temple would enjoy. But the impact of that gesture to me was enormous. I mean it made me feel so much more closer to them, but it was, to me at least, a very precious gift and it would be a strange thing to say such an image is a gift, but to me, it was the gesture behind the gift. The amount of trust we had in one another, the amount of love behind it, the affection, the joy it gave me." "I'm sure it gave you joy in your pants right?" the dragon laughed. "No way! I mean yes it's lovely like that, but to me it was just amazing. Not for a sexual part, rather just the act in itself. I mean if I wanted to see a sexy ass or something I could probably find pictures in dirty magazines." "Then make the pages all sticky right?" The drake giggled and buried his face against the wolf's stomach. "Sure, why not. But because of who this person is to me, because of that beautiful act of sharing and trust, I cried like a little bitch." The wolf blushed, his eyes tearing up some more. "I'm a bit of a kind and emotional wolf, another reason why I am so rejected from other carnivores. I do not receive love, like ever, and such gestures and actions from someone I do love and care about greatly, just touch my soul. Brock has no idea how much that gesture meant to me, and it is not the subject matter I am touched up about, just Brock. I want Brock. That is why I came to this temple because I am so emotional for Brock. That gesture brought me such happiness, that I am not lying when I say it was the greatest gift I have ever received in my entire life. And yet, at the same time, it has caused me so much pain and sadness. It is like I am teary and emotional in such a happy way, so filled with joy, love, and acceptance, and one second later, the tears are of sorrow and sadness because I can never have Brock. It is this constant tug of war in the pure fiber of my being, my heart, my will, this pain. It is like being stabbed and cut open with such sorrow and sadness, and then the joy and happiness of the love behind the act instantly heals the wounds, and then I am stabbed again, and healed again in a repeated cycle." "Why do you feel you cannot have Brock? He is giving himself to you in ways you cannot see, perhaps ways he cannot see." The little drake hugged the wolf again, trying to help comfort him, as Dwayne was crying. "Because they have a mate, and I want them to be happy with their mate. Yet, I feel I will never have anyone as beautiful and wonderful a Brock. I'm not talking physical, Brock could be a skeleton or fat as a car and I would still feel the same way about him. His soul is so beautiful, he honestly cares, and I care for him back just as much if not more. I am old enough to know what I want and what I need, and Brock is both. Yet, I am grown up enough to know that what Brock needs, is not me. Brock is everything I would ever want in someone. Though the reasons why I love him, are not selfish. I don't love Brock because he makes me happy and helps me out and cares, I love Brock because he is the most beautiful soul I have ever encountered and I want him to be happy because he deserves to be happy. I did not agree to marry him if Jeremy rejects him just so I could be with him. I agreed because I don't want Rocky to be hurt by someone else or taken advantage of. If I could, I would hold and hug Rocky, keeping him close to my chest, and try to protect him from the slings, the arrows, the torments of the cruel cold world, using my body as a shield, though the absolute love in my soul to comfort him and keep him safe. I can take it. I can endure any and all torments so long Brock is happy and safe. I do not want this beautiful wonderful man to be hurt or taken advantage of; such a soul is extremely rare, and his well being is my highest priority." The little dragon nods, closing his eyes. "But you are intentionally hurting yourself. If you up and leave Brock, then you could try and find another, but you are so close to him you'd forever wound yourself, and you put Brock on such a high pedestal, that no one else will ever compare to him. You know that right? If you leave Brock, you will be fine. Brock has Jeremy, and you were alive and fine before you met Brock, so it sounds like you are thinking of leaving for fear of causing more of an emotional rift between Brock and his mate, and yet, it is hurting you even more." Dwayne reaches up and wipes away the tears from his eyes with his right arm, giving a sniffle and replied with a shaken voice. "I am confused. Do I love Brock that much, or do I hate myself so much to show that my own needs are not important? Rocky is one of a kind, and I feel I can never have him. Leaving him would just hurt us both, more so then staying with him. The trick, as I am discovering, is me making a sacrifice for Brock. We were both fine before we met one another, but I helped Brock come out of the closet along with other things in his life, and he has saved my life multiple times when everyone else would have left me die. We do need one another, and abandoning Rocky would harm both of us. As I said, I do not want to hurt Brock, I love him so much that if I did, even if it was a little, I could never forgive myself. I came to this temple to ask Duo Theus if I am in the wrong, right, and to guide me. I need someone in my life, and I have prayed for a girlfriend or boyfriend, just only to show if maybe, maybe there is someone for me that I can love more then Brock, and my prayers have not been answered. Elisabeth I tried with, along with others before her, and the relationships were never as strong of a connection I have with Brock. It has come to a point that I am going to sacrifice my own happiness in the future if I do not find someone. I am spiritually married to Brock, and if I do not find another, then so be it, Brock will be the only one for me. We will not be together physically, though our love would continue on in other ways, and I would not interfere with Jeremy and Brock. I will be the mushy friend I've always been, and give Brock extra love and support when he needs it so he can be happy. When Jeremy is away and they need someone to talk with, I will be there for Brock until Jeremy returns, so Brock is not alone and upset. All the while, I will simply remain alone in person. Brock is the only rock I would never need. And when I say things like that, I sound so delusional you know." The little drake sat up and looked up at the wolf. "So you came here to ask if you are delusional or in love? That's a dumb question, you sound grown up enough to know you are in love and your own love is sabotaging you and yourself from being happy. I mean, you are sacrificing a lot, including your over all happiness just to make this transgender wallaby happy. To be a secret guardian to someone you don't see as transgender, but just as a living soul. You love him a lot, that is clear, and it is not the distorted love, just your words are distorted so you sound crazy. But I do have a question for you. What do you really want? Is it sex? Is it him? What is it really?" There was a silent pause, the star disappearing behind a mountain in the distance, making the grounds a little darker. "Honestly, I want to marry Brock and be with him and be happy. If we fight or argue, I would still affirm my love for him in those times because we would still be together, be it in anger. If we had a hard time on the streets, I would still love him and do my best to help him. Even if we were married and had one of those old type of relationships and he cooks me something to eat that I don't like to eat, I wont get mad at him and say I don't like this. I would eat it even though I don't like it, and I would tell them the truth, I would say to him, I like this because you made it for me. I may not like the taste, but if they made it for me out of kindness, then I would like it, even love it because it is the gesture. If I were the king of the world, and had all the world under my power, control, and care, I would marry Brock just so I can give him all the world to keep, so he could do what ever he wants with the world, and be happy, even if it means me leaving him in marriage so he could be someone better. I cannot be that selfish of a wolf. My head gets clear, and I think to myself, Brock is everything I need, desire, and want in a husband. I will forever be happy if I am married to Brock, and I am sure of this, but would Brock be happy with me? Brock may be right for me, but I am not right for Brock, and it pains me because I know I will never find someone else like Rocky, and if I do find someone to be with, I will merely settle down with them, though Brock has my heart, my love, my very well being. So little Buddy, to answer your question, I want Brock to be happy and know he is very much loved. If I were to marry Brock, it would always bother me about Jeremy. I would feel like I took him away from Jeremy and hurt him and I could never live up to Jeremy. So I would sacrifice, if necessary, my own happiness in the form of marriage or finding a mate to be with in marriage, just so I can still be with Brock in a spiritual nature, to protect him and help him and make sure he is loved and happy. It would be very sad and painful for me, but seeing Brock happy, or making Brock happy, heals me. This tug of war in my soul; being stabbed and then being healed, it is very sad and happy. It hurts me a lot, very much so, more so then Brock knows since Brock is all I have. Sure I told Brock how I feel, though I never told him how much this hurts me, but I can take it, because I love Brock so much, that a little pain to make him happy for life with the one he needs, is something I can do. I just want my mushy Rocky to be happy, and when Brock is happy, I am happy for him. This ring will just be a reminder though, that I am loved by someone, and though we cannot be together physically, I know I will have Brock, as a friend or more, as my mushy Rocky and I his mushy Lobo. So little Bud, even if it were up to me to marry Brock, it really would not be. If I married Brock, we would eventually divorce because I want Brock to be happy, and being with Jeremy would make Brock happy enough though it would cause me great torment and pain. So long we can still be our mushy selves, I can take it." The little dragon sighed and nuzzled up against the male "It is very sweet, but sounds stupid to me. You're giving up your own happiness to make someone else happy, stupid by normal standards, but it also shows how much you love him. That him not being happy, would make you very unhappy. You fear you cannot live up to Jeremy simply because he met him first, but what would have happened if Brock met you first? I think you sell yourself short and have a lot to offer, I honestly believe you can make Brock happy if you two were really married, but you throw yourself into a pit of nails to hold Jeremy above your head because you know how much he means to Brock, and it hurts you a lot. That is your own fault, though I cannot be angry with you. You are honoring both requests, and just leaving would hurt the two of you. But does Brock know how much pain you really are in?" Dwayne sighed once more, petting the dragon. "No. Not yet. Brock will know soon. But I don't want it to upset Brock either, I never want to loose Brock, even as a friend. This is a lot of tension I have with Brock, but we are close enough that it would not change us, so long we both know how we feel and Brock knows why I am doing it for him. I only came here to ask for guidance from the god of love Duo Theus. I am unsure if what I am doing is the right thing to do. If I am being selfish, if I am blind by emotions, what it is that is that I should do. Will I find another that would mean more to me then Brock? Should I continue being there for Brock? Should I really leave Brock and Jeremy alone so they can be together in peace, and I forever to live in the sadness and pain of abandoning the one I love the most? What should I do? I want to be guided to know what to do by the god of love." The little drake hugs Dwayne's stomach once more to try and comfort him. "You want my opinion? You're gonna get it anyways. You have a shot at Brock if Jeremy rejects him, and if that happens, the two of you will be happy with one another." "The selfish part of me wants that to happen, and then I get mad at myself because I don't want Brock hurt at all. I honestly believe Jeremy will accept and love Brock for being Brock instead of Louise. He would be a complete asshole to throw away the years they spent together simply because Brock has a penis and Louise doesn't. So that scenario isn't in my mind because from what Louise and Brock told me about Jeremy, he is a sweetheart and he is not like that and would not reject Brock just because he has a dick and no boobs. But I still seek guidance. I still need something. Least my sacrifices can be acknowledged or something you know. I've been so rejected and torn all my life, that the one beautiful soul that sees me for me and does not run away, but embraces me for who I really am, I desire, yet I will never have. Will I find another that wonderful? I feel I will not. You get one shot to meet a one of a kind rarity like Brock, and I never want to loose Brock, even as a friend. We still need one another." "You certainly are head over heals over your best friend. You didn't fall in love with him if it took years. You two just grew to love one another in a beautiful way. But your love is harming yourself and conflicting it. And the truth is, the two of you just continue on as you should." The drake smiled blinking his lids at the male. "What do you mean by that bud?" Dwayne peered down at the smaller dragon with a confused look on his face, his eyes red from crying. "You love Brock so much you do not want there to be pain. You do not want Brock to be in pain, yet you will be in pain. You are unsure if this is real love or not, and it is. And you fear things being awkward if Brock knows how much pain you are suffering because of your love for him." The dragon gives the wolf another hug and looks up to him again, his own eyes glossy with tears. "I have had a hard childhood myself, and I understand growing up with love. It was not until I lived with Milar that I knew real love. And one thing I learned, is an old saying. Every rose has its' thorns. That means a number of things, in this case, more pain related." "I don't understand. I mean I get having arguments and how every relationship is not ideal. But what does this have to do with pain and roses? The pain of being poked by a thorn? Is it because Brock is a rose I cannot touch because when I do, I get pain?" Dwayne asked, still unsure of himself. The tiny drake face palmed and sat in the male's lap once again. "Love, if it is real love, must hurt. A father may send his son to get a root canal, and the child would cry and beg his father to stop it and help him. It would hurt a father to see his son being in pain, but he knows if this root canal does not happen, it would be more painful for his son. So he endures knowing it is better for his son, but he does not leave his son's side. I am saying you are not in the wrong, you love Brock as the father in my story did his son. It hurts you like it hurts the father to see his son in pain, with you it hurts with these feelings. But like the father, you know it is best for Brock, because you love him. You are acting on love, and it is real love, so it hurts. But know one thing Dwayne, you cannot predict the future. There are plenty of fish in the sea, but one can eat so much fish before they get tired of it, and there are so many fish, that one can never see them all. Brock may be the one for you, that much is true, but think of it this way, you went praying so trust a god of love. If it is meant to be, then it will happen in time. It could or could not happen, but if it is indeed meant to me, then it will happen. You and Brock will be married and the two of you will be happy with one another if it is meant to be. There could be something sad to occur with Jeremy in the future for Brock, but Brock will have you to turn too. You will be the first one Brock will turn too with any problem, and you will be there as you say to help keep Brock happy and calm. If it is not meant to be, then you will find the one you are meant to be with. But you will still have Brock and you will always be the first one they turn too when they are troubled. You cannot predict the future, but you have good assumptions. Keep going how you are going, and if you and Brock are to be together, you will. When when and if this happens, the pain you are feeling and would have endured for years, will turn into such powerful love, that it would make Duo jealous. And Brock, the precious loving soul that he is, will be the first one to feel this beautiful out pouring of love from you. Oh what a lucky man he will be, to have such pent up love, poured onto him. Of course he will be happy with you Dwayne, with that much love flowing out from you, for so many years kept inside locked away, to be poured out onto him, how could he not be happy? Let me ask you this though Dwayne, what would you do if you did end up getting Brock? Like is this a sexual goal, a game, what exactly would you do if you did win over Brock? What is your goal with that?" Dwayne smiled and patted the top of the dragons head "Sex is sex. Love making is love making right? If I was with Brock and together with him, I know it is not like happily ever afters, that is not how relationships work. I would continue doing what I am doing now, making the person I love most in all time and life happy and keeping them happy and loved. But having such loved returned to me, would offer me the security I need in my life, and I would forever be thankful and continue to do my best to make them happy and give them love always." "See, he would be happy because you would keep pouring out an endless powerful flow of love to him." The little drake smiled. "But I do have one goal." Dwayne added. "Oh? What sort of goal is this then? I am curious. Please share." The dragon wiggled his two toned tail, almost as if he knew the answer already. The wolf drew in a large breath, a big smile on his face. "it is not sex of course, though we are both close enough to trust one another with that topic. No. The one goal I want, be it as a married couple or as friends, is to go there and be with Brock physically, just so we can sit together, with him in my arms, cuddling, and watching a childhood cartoon program we both love together in the arms of one another. A simple little goal, but it would mean so much to me." The dragon gave a laughing fit, not expecting that kind of an answer. "You don't know how adorably sweet that sounds. It's so mundane and such a simple request, that it is funny in a very positive and cute way you realize that?" Dwayne nods and continues "Oh yes I do, but it is something I want to do with the greatest person to be on this planet. But I also have another goal with them, be it friends or mates. I want to be able to cry in front of them and then cry in front of me, be it tears of joy or pain. I want to cry in front of someone and not feel ashamed." The little drake cooed in awe to himself. "That is a strange request, but it has powerful emotion behind it. Lotsa guys get emotional and ashamed when they cry in public or privet, so I can see why you would set that as a goal. It's about trust, love, and understanding one another. You said you're and emotional guy, and because of that gift Brock gave you, it meant a lot to you, yet you hide your tears from them. So you feel ashamed, but give it time, and the tears can be a gift." Dwayne smiled and gave the little dragon a hug "You're a pretty smart little guy you know that right? But if we watch that childhood cartoon that we both love so much, I have a feeling we will both be crying like babies in one another arms." Both the wolf and dragon laughed at the statement, and continued to remain together until night fall, when they both stared up into the stars above. The wolf kept petting the little dragon at the foot of the stairs of the temple to Duo Theus, the dragon god of love. Dwayne sighs softly "Do you mind if I spend the night with you? It's too late for me to go back Bud, and you have a home here and I'm hoping Duo wouldn't mind me and you sleeping in his temple for a night." The dragon shook his head and yawned "I don't think he would mind, and of course you could stay. You're a nice fluffy wolfy. And you are soft and fluffy and warm; you make a great bed for this little dragon to sleep on mate." Dwayne gave a smirk at the dragon "Oh really? Is that why you want me to spend the night Buddy?" The wolf playfully gives the dragon a noogie, causing the drake to fidget "Nuuuu noogie!" The wolf laughed and stopped, patting the top of Bud's head gently "Okay okay, have it your way. No noogies." The wolf smiled and leaned back against the stone pillar as the little dragon smiled back and gave a cute tiny squeak to show his appreciation.

A couple of moments passed as the pair continued to stare up at the stars. Dwayne continued to pet the dragon slowly and gently, opening his mouth to speak "Do you believe lord Duo would appear to me and answer my prayers and request of guidance little Bud?" The tiny drake gave a very sneaky little smirk to himself, and then yawned, slowly curling up in a little ball in the wolfs lap shaking his head as he cuddled the wolf. "Naaaaaaa. I think he'd be too busy cuddling to care."