The Simple Things. Chapter Thirteen.
#13 of The Simple Things
The Simple Things
Chapter Thirteen
By Roofles
It was an interesting experience, to say the least, being here now within this bar. Sure it was well furnished, had a good atmosphere and there was enough money put into the place to forget it was in the bad part of the downtown scene. It was hard to ignore, admittedly, the bars over the windows and the steel door with a bouncer outside. Still it was close enough to be a welcoming change from the mundane, stale bread that was my office back home. It was the fact I was the only human here that made me feel...awkward about this all. Something one would only understand when they were truly an outsider in an unwelcoming environment.
Richard did help put me at ease, unlike the husky or the other two dogs that stayed around only seemingly for the amusement of my suffering. The chocolate labrador made things look easy, as always. The way he spoke, even if he had drunk a bit too much; his mannerisms on the matter and the fact whenever the issue seemed to come up he was there to help put out the fire before it even really began. There was only one real incident, not counting the countless small badgering from others within the place. Someone even spilled a drink on me in passing, no apology or anything. Richard helped wipe it off so it wasn't a total loss.
A rather burly, yet stocky boxer had a bone or two to pick with me (pun intended) and was the only thing I'd actual recall or take from the night. The guy was rather intimidating, even being roughly a head shorter than I. His jowls hung lower than his jaw and even so he managed to bare his crooked teeth at me when I cut him off on our way down towards the pool tables set up in the corner. Richard insisted it'd be a way to have some fun, the other two canine-sapient weren't exactly the best of conversation and Colby's innuendos -0 I was sure he wasn't even a joke at this point - had become rather dry.
The boxer wasn't alone and as I tried to move out of his way he gave me a rough shove with a shoulder. He nearly fractured my own with the gesture. I knew he would've done it even if he was alone, but the drunken chuckle he got from his friends made the matter worse, encouraging the poor behavior. See, most guys are stupid. Get a group together however? And they become clinically retarded. Be it peer pressure or what the fact most tend to act out even more so than they normally would, encouraged and cheer on the whole time. Or laughed and mocked if they didn't which itself was a good motivator. And this wasn't any different of a situation now. Add in the alcohol and even before it began I knew it'd be trouble.
"Pardon me," I tried to say friendly enough, making sure it was clear I wasn't focusing too much on the matter. Hoping, that was, he'd just shrug it off and walk away rather than focus on the matter. I was wrong.
"Pardon yerself!" He growled stopping halfway up the halfsteps leading down to the pool tables and looking over at me. The bulldog and pit bull with him gave another goonish laugh as he made a crude remark I rather not repeat. It was something you wouldn't say in polite company. "Don't belong here as it is." He felt the need to add after, loud enough to draw the attention of a few of the other stray dogs within the bar. As before most watched with partial interest on the matter as if we were putting on a show for them.
Though Colby wasn't a bad guy, he was a coward and had backed away almost instantly folded his ears back and tucked tail submissively. I rolled my eyes at the husky. The boxer must've thought I had rolled my eyes at him as he only got more agitated on the matter and gave me a rather hard shove with a single finger. It felt like he had given me a painful punch. Boxers were after solid muscle and this one wasn't any different.
"This no joke, boy. Collar or no you don't belong here." I had taken a step back at the shove and rubbed at the bruise on my chest. I wasn't the best with conflict and had two reactions to the matter. To walk away or stupidly get defensive over the matter. The fight or flight response could be a real bitch sometime. And I always chose the worst course of action.
"Hey," I said a bit louder than I meant too. The buzz state I was in had removed most of my inhibitions and there wasn't much stopping me from getting right back in his face. "I'm just here with a few friends, I don't want any trouble. Just play a game or two of pool and relax after a long day of work." It did not come off as elegantly as I had hoped and even if I had been a silver tongue politician the boxer seemed to want to pick a fight more than anything else. And nothing I said on the matter would soothe his temper on the matter. And the fact I got in his face didn't help the matter.
He got right back in my face and I scrunched up my brow. Dark sunken eyes, wrinkled face and drooping, drooling jowls was not a pretty sight to say the least when it was only a breath away from you. The boxer had seen some rough times from the looks of it. One eyebrow had a rather large gash in it and his face was cut up, bruised and a part of his jowl had a deep cut in it. Truly making him look like a thug. One could only imagine the life he had. And it only dawned on me as he spat at me why he was the way he was. His words fell on deaf ears.
It was only a guess, an assumption really but more than likely some human, much like myself, had done this to him. It wasn't uncommon and at least once a week you'd hear or read about an incident that happened. Be it in the state or country there was always some douchebags out there that wanted nothing more than to pick a fight with a canine-sapient or other. And because of this most didn't trust, like or care for humans very much. Sadly, this only resulted in more incidents - much like this one now. An eye for an eye after all...
Appearance was enough for most people; people never did like change, difference or those who weren't like themselves. The culture barrier only made the matter worse. And though the civil war was long over, old scars ran deep and memories over the matter were still fresh. Ignorance and all that. And neither side was devoid of this.
I must've been staring off into space as the boxer only got angrier on the matter being ignored as he was and gave me another shove, right back into Richard who had come over to try and help. He wasn't alone and much to my surprise Max had tagged along with him. Patch didn't accompany them, not that I expected him too. In fact the dalmatian looked rather comfortable lazing back in the booth by himself watching with a smug grin on his face. He ordered another drink without even looking at the waitress.
"Sorry," I managed to say not to the boxer but to the bull terrier I had bumped into. Max worried me far more than this dog did, even with his two cronies.
"We've reserved the tables." The boxer said getting agreements from the two with him. "No humans allowed." He added as if to really step on the point he was trying to make.
"He got a collar." Max said giving the thing around my neck a rather painful tug making me gag. I wasn't sure if he was here to help or not as he was causing just as much injury as the boxer had. The fact he didn't let go and kept tugging made me think it was the latter rather than the former he was interested in "An reserved which tables?" The bull terrier asked eying over his shoulder at the four empty tables. "There are four of 'em."
"All." The pit bull with the boxer said and, I don't mean to be mean, but he even sounded stupid like someone that never went to college. Or even high school for that matter. And that made me feel worse on the matter knowing that might've just been the case due to his species. At this point I felt more pity for the lot than anger and guilt for pitying them.
"You alright?" Richard asked helping steady me on the step I was still standing on with a hand. His fingers were warm against the bare skin of my arm and I looked back at him with a soft smile on my face. He returned the smile and gave a wag of his tail. He was infectious with that damn smile.
Where I had hoped Max would stop the matter he only ended up escalating it. Challenged as he was, in front of his friends, the boxer couldn't back down.
"Why defend him? He doesn't belong here!" The boxer just repeated himself with a deeper growl this time. "This is our place! We shouldn't have to look at him." That one hurt I'll admit. "Don't want him using our bathroom or sitting in our seats. Using our table!" And it only got worse from there. My very presence seemed to stir something in him. And he wasn't the only one. Most the others muttered about the very same thing if with less zeal or personal vendetta. Segregation was still an unlawful but common practice.
"Maybe I should just go." I said more to Richard than anyone else. It was only a soft whisper but the pain in my voice was obvious to the labrador. He gave me a reassuring squeeze with the hand still holding my arm. I didn't want to come as it was, to a neighborhood that would lynch me without the Labrador at my side and only hated him for it. I didn't want that for Richard who had only shown me hospitality since my arrival.
"Only if you want to. Don't let someone else force you out." Richard said understandingly, still always giving me the option in the end of things. "I'll do whatever you want."
"Yeah, get out of here!" The pitbull growled at me but shirked back as Max took a step forward as if daring him to make a move. The other canine-sapient didn't have the balls too. Still he held his ground. If he was alone I was assured he'd back down. Peer pressure and all however.
I looked at Colby for some kind of input on the matter. The dog gave a weak smile and I think the tip of his tail wagged but didn't say anything on the matter. I think he wanted me to stay. It was clear at the same time he defiantly didn't want to get involved on this matter which only made my heart sink further. I wasn't about to get any support from the husky who had, only ten minutes before been so playful and friendly, molestingly so.
"It's up to you." Richard said once more and his voice was as warm as ever. Soft and comforting even in this situation like warm caramel. "I'd like it if you stayed, only a bit longer." He said his thoughts aloud without the slightest bit of hesitation. "I won't hate cha' for leavin' though." And I knew he wouldn't. "Just glad you came.
"Maybe just a game or two." I chuckled unable but to smile at the dog as he let go of my arm and we both turned towards the table as if there weren't any other two in this place but us. Let alone a couple of dog's that'd skin me alive if given the chance.
"Who said you could-," the boxer said moving in front of my way. Normally I wouldn't have but without thinking I reached out to give him a shove, moving him aside so we could get to the table. And with that the boxer's vision must've gone red as he threw the first punch.
It didn't connect as I was shoved out of the way and his fist ended up clipping the chocolate lab right in the chin. Richard's head jerked to the side as he fell down next to me. I dropped down with him to brace his fall. "Richard." I managed to say after hitting the floor. "Are you alright?"
He groaned softly, nuzzling against my chest (and I knew he was fine). He whined a bit and looked at me with big uncooked brownie eyes. "Are you ok?" He asked without a second thought for his own well being.
"I'm fine, you dummy." I breathed a sigh of relief as I helped him up a bit, he leaned against me more than he needed too. I didn't mind.
A second or two later I would've had a few things to say to the boxer, with my fist that is. However a funny thing happened. Max was about to move much like I was but it wasn't either of the two of us who said anything on the matter. It was the crowd who had just been watching silently that finally stepped in - funny how that works.
"Whoa!" A far more masculine version of Colby (with gray fur that is) husky got up a bit. "Why did you hit Richard?" He snarled baring his fangs for the world to see.
"What did he ever do to you?" The female with him said. The chihuahua had a thick accent. "Uncool, so uncool."
"What the hell, man!" Another guy said getting up from the next table. His two buddies, both great danes, also got up with him. "This is a peaceful place." Funny how they didn't have any concern when my life was on the line. One small punch to Richard however and the fur was about to fly.
The commotion must've alerted the bouncer outside, as it only began to escalate, who was more than happy to come on in to settle the matter. He moved far faster than a man his size should be able too and was over next to us even before I managed to get Richard fully to his feet. I've never seen a dog, let alone a canine-sapient, picked up by the scruff of their neck before but the rottweiler doberman mix managed to not only lift the boxer clean off his feet but his two friends with one hand (mostly). And promptly dragged them toward the door, tossing them outside with a few choice words of his own. I didn't catch any of them but seeing as how the three took off jogging down the road I could imagine what was said.
"You alright?" I asked Richard again as I gave him the once over to make sure there wasn't any visible damage and it didn't require medical attention. I gave him a once over to make sure he hadn't hurt himself during the fall, which seemed to embarrass the dog, and inspected where he had been hit closer. I had wanted to be a paramedic before going into business, you had to be like...social to be one and I wasn't. That thick coat of chocolate fur hid any sign he had been hit to begin with. Even so I gladly took the ice pack the bartender brought over and, helping Richard to a side chair next to the pool tables, applied it properly and kept a firm grip against it as Richard protested about being treated like a puppy. "It won't leave a mark," he whined a bit trying to lighten the situation as he just rested back and let me hold the ice pack for him. He placed a hand on my thigh and looked over at me with a wag and a smile. It was reward enough for helping him out.
"It'd be kind of hard to get a black eye." Richard gave a grin at the stupid joke and I rolled my eyes at him. "Sorry for this." He muttered a bit under his breath as he rested his head over a toward me.
"For what?" I asked giving his back a rub. Max began setting up the pool table without another word on the matter that had transpired. My fingers were going cold from the ice, I didn't care.
"I should've known something like this would happen. Brought you right into it without even thinking of your concern," it was nice of the labrador to be thinking of me. As he always seemed to be. And I hadn't even known him for that long. "I just wanted to hang with the guys and so I just didn't..."
"It was fun. It's been fun." Even if I almost got my lights punched out. To be rather Frank things hadn't gone as bad as I figured they would. "Nothing wrong with tryin' to have a little fun." And it had been a while since I went out with 'the guys.' "I'm glad you brought me along." I tried to assure him and not sound like a fag at the same time. At least I didn't have a high or feminine voice so I could play it off. Even so I found a blush taking my cheeks, that might've been the alcohol though.
"Really?" He asked looking up at me now with sullen eyes. It only made those uncooked brownies look even more pitiful as if he were part blood hound. The skin around those eyes were an ashen grayish black. "You don't regret coming?" He asked and the corner of his lip tugged up with a crude smile. I found myself rolling my eyes once more at the dog.
"I never regret coming." I chuckled pressing the ice pack against his chin a bit more.
The night went by faster than I thought or would've liked. Even if it was a Friday night, when you're having fun time truly does go by too fast. I had nearly forgot the incident that happened as we did a few rounds of pool. I was terrible and Richard, the good Samaritan he was, was more than happy to help.
"Ease up," Richard coaxed firmly pressing up against me from behind and practically dry humping me. "You're so tense. Need to relax and go with it." He said as if he wasn't the reason why I was so distracted. His hand rested on top of mine as I held the pool cue. His fingers slid between my own and that warm fur on the sides of them brushed against my own. Richard had a far stronger grip than I did and in the end as I took the shot, it was more he than I that did it.
Richard was a good sport and even let me win. Or I think I was winning. It was hard to tell seeing as how this was the first time I played pool in, like, forever. I got the black ball in at the end but Richard got more total balls. And I was sure which of the two of us actually came out the victor. Not that it matter as the dog order another couple drinks and gave me a one arm hug after the third match.
I eased up on the drinks and just nursed my beer as the night continued on. It had been a while since I partied in any sense of the word and wasn't about to binge drink just because a certain dalmatian was egging me on the whole night.
By the end of it Patch gave up as Richard shooed him for the tenth time. "Hey," the now shirtless dalmatian asked two random canine-sapients. "Want to do a three some?" He asked without even a shred of dignity.
The foxhound and coon hound gave him the once over, a shrug and then agreed. "Names Patch by the way." The dalmatian said as the three left. I was almost envious as I watched the group leave. Still I wasn't.
Colby hung around for a bit but when he asked if I wanted to head out with him I refused. "Nah, me and Richard were going to shoot another game to see whose paying the tab." And it was childish of me really but I still hadn't forgiven him for pussing out and not even trying to defend me. Richard took a punch for me, this dog hadn't even said a single word about it. Before, during or after. And it's always the worst of times that you truly know who is your actual friend and who wasn't.
With tuck tail Colby agreed and with a tuck tail slumped off into the night.
"Steel mill." Max, who was the most unlikely candidate, stayed around. "It's not the best job but works work." He just shrugged as Richard had gone to get drinks and I felt some sort of obligation to talk to the bull terrier in the mean time. I waited for anything more on the matter but he just went back to his solo game of pool next to ours.
"Friendly as ever." I mumbled under my breath looking over to see the chocolate labrador come back over without a shirt on. I chuckle, raising an eyebrow at him. "Cold in here are is it just nippy?"
He looked down at himself, unsure as to why he opened his legs at the gesture. "Oh, that." He gave one of his nipple a tweek if only for my benefit. "I was just excited to see you." He licked his lips and rubbed one of those ashen nipples before I just rolled my eyes and looked away. So Richard just gave me another one arm hug as he came over and offered a beer.
I rolled my eyes and looked away as that musky, warm body of his rubbed against my side and I resisted the urge just to hug him back.
And as the night went on I learned one thing. It wasn't the dog but the man behind him that really mattered. Colby was fun to hang with but wasn't much of a man in the end of things. Patch held little interest for things that didn't evolve him. And Max? Ok, I really couldn't figure that dog out. Even so would I want to go home with any of them? Colby was good looking, even I could see that. Patch was fit if a bit on the skinny side. And Max was muscular than all three of the other dogs combined. Still, even the thought of going home with any of them didn't pass over my mind (with the exception of boning Colby once or twice in that cute face of his).
Richard on the other hand was a....dog above dogs.
And even as I rested back against his back as Max drove us home, I was glad that he was in fact in my life. And, as we held hands and slowly drifted between the sleeping and waking world... I could honestly say, in a long time, I was truly happy. And the funny thing was? It only took a good friend by my side to change everything.