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It was over three years ago now that Felix's mother had passed.. But in that moment, he swore he could feel her embrace trying to comfort him as he sobbed against the dog's fur for what felt like an eternity. "There there, you're gonna be okay." Kaiser said with a very calm, soothing voice, paw gently rubbing Felix's back. He was so caring, it was almost unbelievable. He cried and cried. Until there were no more tears to cry, all the while Kaiser stood patiently, holding and consoling him. And no matter how many times the fox apologized to him, he never let go.

After awhile, once Felix could gather himself, he and the dog migrated over to the couch. They sat with each other in silence for a good bit. Felix just wanted to catch his breath again. He felt awful for breaking down like this, but he just couldn't help it. Kaiser didn't even mind it. He almost acted like it was.. Okay to cry.

"Sometimes crying is the only way to let it go.." The shepherd said, breaking the silence. What a mind reader. "Believe it or not, I've cried quite a bit." Had he really? Felix really didn't take the dog for being a very emotional one, then again, he just continued to let the stereotypes rule his world. "Most people think that I'm just one big rock.. Like nothing moves me ya know?.. But I'm just like everyone else." Felix agreed quietly, nodding his head as he sat there with his paws over his face, muzzle to the floor.

"I don't know what it is that's gotten you so worked up, but I can promise you right now that it all gets better with time. Always."

While Felix wanted so badly to believe this statement, he couldn't. Time? For how much longer did he have to wait for himself to finally be considered a societal normalcy? For how much longer did he have to continue hiding himself from everyone? Hadn't he waited long enough? Finally, he gathered the strength to speak. "When you've waited for things to get better for as long as I have, you start to wonder if they ever will." Kaiser nodded slowly, pondering for a moment as usual before he gave an intelligible response. Felix admired his patience with finding the right words. "Or maybe you're always just so busy focusing on the bad, that the good passed you up a long time ago.."

What was he trying to say? Was Felix too negative? This upset him a bit, and as usual he took things the wrong way. It wasn't like he wanted to be down all the time. It wasn't like he wanted to be upset more than half of his days, or like he wanted to cry himself to sleep. It just hurt.

"I don't mean to be this way Kaiser.. I just am." The fox said with a slight attitude. Without much time in between, Kaiser responded and shocked Felix to his core. "What..? Gay?"

...How does he keep doing this?...

Felix quickly turned and looked at the dog, dumbfounded. How does he keep reading him? Its like he knows everything about him before he can even say it. "How did you..?" Was all he managed to get out.

"I had a friend a lot like you once back in high school.. He went through a lot of the same stuff. Always bullied, depressed, felt like no one ever accepted him." Felix then felt something fall right off his shoulders and onto the floor. A huge weight. He needed to know more now. "What happened to him?.. Do you still talk?" Just like that, there went the eye contact. Uh oh. This can't be good...

"He killed himself.. Almost six years ago." The dog said grimly. That poor creature. Felix didn't even think twice about his next move. He quickly grabbed Kaiser, burying his face within the nape of his neck. "I'm so sorry..." Kaiser sighed and squeezed the fox gently, continuing on with a firm voice. "He didn't deserve any of what they did to him.. It wasn't fair. All the crap they put him through, all for what? For liking another guy?" Felix nodded solemnly, letting go of the shepherd but staying close, looking up into his distressed eyes. It was time for him to do his job..

"None of us deserve half of what we go through.. But this world is a very cruel and unusual place.. It's filled with terrible things. Nasty creatures. Violence.. You name it." Felix was always realistic first.. But then, he changed his tone, going from dark.. To sincere.

He began to speak from the heart. His eyes aflame. "But.. This world is also filled with some of the most beautiful things you could ever imagine Kaiser. Natural wonders, even in the smallest forms. From the sun rising and setting, to the birth of new life.. Miracles happen every day, yet we spend our time so caught up in our own worlds and issues that... we tend to overlook it all..." It was then that Felix realized he just proved Kaiser's earlier statement..

"Kaiser smiled warmly as he saw the look on Felix's face. He knew exactly what had just happened.

"How'd those words taste?" He said cheekily. Felix growled and playfully batted at the dog who began laughing and batting back. Then like that, all was well again.. What an experience today had been. For the first time ever he met someone new, who didn't think he was a total freak. Who listened, and also knew how to keep up in a deep conversation. Felix could get used to having someone like Kaiser around..

The remainder of the evening consisted of the two watching whatever was on television, chit chatting away again until Kaiser finally sat up and stretched, glancing over at the clock hanging in the kitchen. "Nine o' clock already..? Man.. I really should get going.." Felix whimpered to himself as he heard the statement. But then that means... He'd be.. Alone...

...Again...

Kaiser stood to his hind paws and stretched again, then ruffled Felix's hair a bit. The fox spazzed, quickly shaking his head. The shepherd chuckled and motioned towards the door. Felix obediently followed and opened it up for the dog, being greeted by the quiet night. "I really never expected to stay as late as I did... But.. I'm glad it happened. You're a really cool guy Felix." His heart melted. Someone thought he was.. Cool. He grinned from ear to ear, blushing like mad. Compliments were one thing he rarely got. "I am too.." The fox said softly. "Even if it did involve me falling into that puddle." Kaiser laughed and shook his head. "I'm starting to think you did that on purpose."

Felix shook his head. "Nope. Just naturally clumsy." Never had truer words been said. A little more small talk followed that.. Then finally, Kaiser stepped out into the night, preparing for his journey home. He looked up, pondering for a moment at the sight of the stars. "I see what you mean now.." They were truly a sight to see. Little sparkles of white painting the sky as far as the eye could see, as a full moon shone down upon the coastal city, bringing it all to life.

"Goodnight Felix. Take care of yourself okay? Try not to do anymore unsupervised swimming." Felix giggled. "No promises.. Goodbye Kaiser." Ouch.. That word always hurt.. It was always a reminder of an end to something, and this feeling was something he never wanted to stop. With a soft sigh he turned away from the departing dog, heading back inside with his tail and ears wilted. I guess that's it then..

...Or was it?...

"On second thought." The fox suddenly heard, his ears popping back up. "I've got no plans for tomorrow... You wanna maybe grab lunch or something.. Say twelve?" Felix couldn't help himself, he was too giddy with excitement at the simple thought of what was just suggested. Plans!? With someone!? Going somewhere!? TOGETHER!? It was just too much for the little fur ball. He turned around and launched at the shepherd, hugging him tight once more. Only this time, much happier.... This he could get used to.

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By the time Kaiser made it to his street, he was exhausted. He quickly pulled his phone out and gave it a glance. "10:01PM. Not too bad." He thought to himself as he neared his house. The entire way there, all he could think about was that little fox. It was so strange to him. He'd never had someone on his mind this much before. Maybe it was just the thought of seeing how happy his presence made him. It felt good.

The steps creaked as he ascended to his front door step. He winced. That sound always bothered him. As he approached the door, he noticed the light in the living room window was still on. Oh no.. Dad.

...He knew...

In his careless toss to the wind of his daily obligations, one thing Kaiser forgot to mention to the fox was that while coach Vernon may not care much if he misses one practice.. Dad was a different story.

There it was. A feeling that Kaiser hated more than anything in the world... Anxiety. His chest tightened. His stomach turned. And opening the door was now much harder than it looked. He began to wonder if sleeping outside was a better option.. But why was he so afraid? It wasn't like he did anything wrong.. He did an honest deed for someone. Yeah. No harm there. And it was only one practice. Nothing to sweat. Maybe dad just couldn't sleep anyway.

After a slight pep talk, and newly found confidence, Kaiser was ready. He carefully turned the knob on the old wooden door, and entered the house, meeting his father in the corridor. The older shepherd turned around to face his son, quietly nodding his head. He didn't look very happy. And like that, all the confidence went out the door as Kaiser slid it closed, his tail between his legs.

...Here we go...

"So I heard you skipped practice today.. You care to explain?" The gruff voice said. Kaiser quickly spoke up. "Dad, I promise, it was for a good reason." The old dog rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall. "It damn well better be." Kaiser then went on to explain. "I was on my way to practice today and there was this guy walking on the same street as me. It was storming like crazy. The poor dude couldn't even hold himself up right in the wind, and before you knew it he was face first in the street. I ran over to help him, and we talked for a bit, then I was back on track to get to practice." His father interrupted. "So why didn't you?" Kaiser sighed. "I was literally sending a text to Mike telling him that I was going to be late, and I looked down and saw a wallet. It was the guy's. He lost it. I couldn't just leave it there. So I followed the address and got it back to him!" It felt so great to tell the story, he was so animated while doing it too.. But he could tell this conversation wasn't going well, then again, none with his father ever did.

The old shepherd shook his head and began to talk a bit louder, agitation very much present in his voice. "So you're telling me, that you skipped practice so that you could play detective?" Kaiser tried to speak. "No dad, it wa-" But was cut off by the steaming dog. "No, shut up. You're telling me, you skipped out on practice so that you could go and take a wallet to a complete stranger? Do you have any idea how much money I paid for you to go to CCU Kaiser? How much you begged me to let you take football" Kaiser felt himself becoming angry, and all that anxiety began to boil in his churning stomach as the barrage of bitching went on and on. "You and I made a deal Kaiser. You go to school and I let you live here rent free so you can focus." Kaiser had heard enough. "Yeah, so I could continue to be your perfect little robot right? Doing anything and everything you want me to do instead of what I want to do all because you wish you could've achieved them!? You only paid for this school because I agreed to 'try' other classes, but you know what it is I want dad!"

...Oh boy...

Kaiser's father began to scream, slamming his fist against the wall. "I don't give a shit! You're not the one paying for it all! I've told you time and time again Kaiser, football isn't going to pay your bills or get you a house of your own! Football isn't going to allow you to further your knowledge! When are you going to stop chasing this pipe dream!?" Kaiser by now was falling apart. He was so angry but so hurt by his father's words. So sick of going through this time and time again. He began to cry, still trying to fight back in a battle he'd clearly lost. "I know I messed up by not going to practice today, and I'm sorry.. But Felix isn't jut a stranger.." He croaked out.. "He is a good person dad.. Someone who reminds me a lot of Alex. And I really miss him."

Kaiser's dad let up a little bit now as the subject was brought up.. Contrary to how it seemed, he did not enjoy bringing his own son to tears, and he knew exactly who Alex was. One of Kaiser's best friends through childhood. The two were inseparable. When he had found out that Alex was gay, he became skeptical of Kaiser spending too much time with him. He began to push him to get involved with extracurricular activities.. To keep him busy. Then Kaiser picked up on football.. In the end it was his own damn fault his son was so obsessed with it.. But all he wanted was for him to be successful. When Kaiser found out Alex had passed away he was distraught. He stayed locked in his room for a week, almost even gave up completely on sports..

Finally, his father gave a long sigh and rubbed at his temples. There was no point pressing on. "You're too kind hearted sometimes Kaiser. I just hope it pays off someday for you." And at that, his father turned and walked back down the hallway and into his bedroom. Kaiser just stood there for awhile, struggling to keep his head on straight. Felix really brought back the memories. He just hoped that didn't turn out to be a bad thing.

After a few more minutes of mindless spacing, Kaiser headed off to his room and pushed shut the door.

...It was time for bed...