FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Like any other weekday Zach pulled into his office building right at 8:00. The husky had 10 minutes to be at his desk before he was late. Like every day before and every day to follow, he intended to use it to his advantage. His little hatchback rolled through the parking lot quickly as he headed to “His Spot", a shaded spot hidden from the Summer sun under the solar panels stationed throughout the car park. He found himself frowning at the sight of a large black 4 door suv occupying the space instead. Zach was too stunned and too pressed for time to even grumble properly, instead he began to hurriedly scan the nearby rows. It looked like all the other shady spots were occupied. With an exasperated sigh, he instead backed into the spot directly across from the offending Jeep and threw a sunshade across his windshield. Taking a moment to check his mop of shaggy charcoal fur in his side mirror, he used his claws to straighten out his white facial fur. Satisfied, he buttoned the collar on his shirt and attached the clip on tie from his passenger seat.

Professional enough, he thought to himself.

He walked by the offending suv to see what kind of details he could glean about the owner as he hadn't seen it in the parking lot before. From a distance it looked to be a regular Jeep, but up close it was far larger. The badge on the fender confirmed it was one of the XL models produced for the larger species of furs, with everything proportionally scaled up about thirty percent. Blue eyes peered through the dark window tint to find the interior to be immaculately clean. Aside from a few long white furs on the “Sahara tan" leather and plastic dashboard, there wasn't much else he could glean from the vehicle. He turned to the entrance of the building and began a hurried walk, grumbling to himself. He began to think through his mental inventory of employees who were both large enough to need a special vehicle while also having long white fur and came up blank.

Who had white fur but wouldn't fit in a standard vehicle? A polar bear or malamute maybe? He hadn't seen anyone like that at the office, maybe it was someone knew? He shrugged to himself and began to quicken his step to the door. He waved his badge at the card reader, yanked open the door, and walked quickly through the lobby. It was empty except the receptionist and he waved to her as he crossed.

“Good morning, Alexis!"

She replied with a wave.

“Good morning, Zach! Later than usual?" She picked up a cup of coffee and sipped before grimacing a moment later..

“Yeah, someone took my spot. Had to find somewhere else to park"

She looked at him over her glasses.

“Someone took your spot… and that made you late?"

Zach sagged under her gaze. “Okay fine, I'm late. "

She giggled as he came clean.

“If you hurry, you can still log in before the system counts you as tardy!"

Zach ducked his head in embarrassment, tucking tail as he continued to stairwell. Zach's curl disappeared into the stairwell as he leaping up them two at a time as he hurried on his way, totally oblivious to the amber eyes watching him from the alcove by the entrance. Large triangular ears perked and erect as they watched. The figure continued to track the husky when he emerged on the 2nd floor and b-lined for a cubicle just over the railing. A quiet rumbling came from the figure, as he sat back into his chair.

I wonder what department he's in? The observer thought to himself.

Zach practically dove for his desk in the two desk cubicle and logged in as fast as he could. His clock read 8:08 as he sighed deeply, adjusting his tie and setting his jacket on his chair back before sitting down. At 8:10 his manager walked by and nodded at the husky before continuing on down the row to his office. Zach settled into his morning office routine.

~~~~~~

Zach took his peanut butter biscuit and dipped into his coffee before chomping it down. Setting his biscuit on his desk he continued to focus on his main monitor as he continued to manipulate the data on his spreadsheet. He built an“If" statement formula for column D and an Xlookup for Column E, moving back and forth between sheets. The earbuds tucked into his ears kept him isolated into his own little world of music rather than the hustle of the office around his cubicle, foot tapping to the beat. It came as a surprise when a popup chirped his attention and he opened the chat window. He moused over it, pulling up the window. It was from his yellow shark friend down on the first floor.

'Hey! Did you see it looks like we have a new hire?'

Zach brushed the crumbs from his fingers and typed a response.

'We do? What department?'

'I don't know! He was waiting in the lobby when I came in. He was nearly as tall as me sitting in his chair!'

'Really? What was he?'

As Zach watched the three ellipsis that showed his friend was typing, he heard a knock at his cubicle. He must have missed the first few knows as Miles smiled and waved his paw as he looked up. Zach removed his earbuds and set them to the side.

“Good morning, Sir!" he said, swallowing nervously and sipping from his coffee.

“Good morning, Zach. Can I see you in my office?"

“Uhm, sure? Do I need my computer?" He motioned to his laptop, trying to mask his sudden spike in anxiety as he did so.

“No, just yourself is sufficient for this meeting."

As Zach stood he took a deep shaky breath to calm himself and waited for his boss to turn before quickly brushing the crumbs from his shirt and pants. Silently, he followed behind the pine marten. Zach's tail and expressive eyebrows showing his agitated state as his blue eyes locked with other coworkers who looked on curiously before turning back to their screens. As he entered Miles' office his eyebrows immediately shot up surprise and his tail stiffened anxiously. Sitting with his back to them was an iceberg of a man swathed in an expansive black suit. This stranger possessed wide shoulders and rounded triangle pointed ears. A thick and shaggy neck ruff spilled from the collar of the suit and a long and artfully brushed tail spilled out of the chair and down to the floor. Whoever this was positively dwarfed the standard chair he was sitting in and yet the back of his head was eye level with Zach as he stood there. One white ear swiveled minutely in their direction but the stranger continued to stare forward at a blank space on the wall as he waited for them to enter.

Who the hell is this guy? Zach thought to himself.

“Zach, have a seat please," Miles said as he went around to his desk, mounting the steps, and sat himself behind his big desk. The large wooden piece of furniture had been built for the previous occupant before they transferred down to their Texas office, a big tiger that Zach no longer remembered the name of. When Miles took the position, the company had decided it was much easier to provide a platform to raise him to an appropriate sitting position rather than finding a more appropriately sized piece of furniture based on the user alone. As Zach came around to the open chair, the hulking figure in the other seat looked down at him from the corner of his eye before quickly looking away to focus on Miles. The husky tried to control an involuntary shiver that flowed down his raised hackles onto his curly tail. Those eyes had been the unique amber of a wolf.

Normally Miles' natural musk was all encompassing in his office, despite his best efforts. It didn't matter, the stranger next to them had a much stronger smell. Zach found his nose twitching in the direction of the stranger as the woodsy scent gently wafted over. The scent evoked images of the forest and snow within his head. Zach was practically staring up from below. It was rude but he couldn't control himself. The mystery man could have and should have growled at the action, but instead he remained seated and stared forward blankly. If he was observing Zach, it had remained much more subtle in his own observations. From Zach's vantage several heads shorter, he observed a long proud muzzle pockmarked with barely concealed scars.

I wonder how he got those? Zach thought to himself.

Miles cleared this throat across the desk, drawing Zach's attention out of his rude staring and back to himself.

“Zach, I would like you to meet Daniel Padfoot. He completed his onboarding process earlier this morning and will be starting in your department today."

“He–he will?" Zach's head titled in confusion as he looked between the wolf and his manager. His heart was unexpectedly racing at this point as Zach tried hard to control the anxiety rising within him. He was also beginning to feel warm as the foreign scent of the canine washed over him, why was it making him so nervous?

Padfoot? I think I've heard that before. Is he from one of the bigger packs maybe?

The big figure shifted, suit rustling as he turned to look down at Zach with those piercing amber eyes. Reaching across his expansive chest, a giant hand extending towards Zach. The strain in his suit seams seemed to creak audibly. Zach looked between the offered hand and the smiling muzzle of a white wolf.

“Please, call me Dan," he rumbled.

Zach shrank back unconsciously, eyes as big as dinner plates. Those shockingly amber orbs framed in a short white fur were almost hypnotic, they commanded respect and yet there was something more in them. The scars on that muzzle suggested this wolf grew up in a pack or enjoyed brawling in the far. It was the missing chunk of ear where the earring of a pack affiliation belonged that truly gave it away. This wolf was an exile, rejected and ejected from a pack. He finally recognized what he was seeing in those amber eyes, they were soft and warm. This was not at all the harsh gaze of a predator he had been expecting, even framed as it were in the wolf's currently stoic expression.

The wolf began to frown before Zach realized he had been staring. Swallowing thickly, he reached out a timid hand to accept the offered paw. Dan smiled again, eyes wrinkling pleasantly. Zach found his paw dwarfed by Dan's mitt of a hand, velvet soft fur and calloused pads. His whole hand fit completely within the wolf's massive palm and the husky almost squeaked as it squeezed his whole hand twice. It was measured, consciously strong enough to show that his strength was capable of being tempered.

“A pleasure to meet you, Zach." That voice was like the low roll of thunder or a rock slide. Amber orbs flickered between blue, observing the husky as he squirmed under the attention of the large predator. Zach's ears flattened as he realized how rude he had been. There was a barely audible swish of a large tail that eased his guilt a little. Had the wolf expected that type of reaction? And yet he was still choosing to be friendly. Zach broke the wolf's soul piercing eyes to look to where his smaller paw was sitting on the opened paw of the wolf, taking note of the ivory shade of fur vs his white.

“Likewise– Dan," Zach replied, pulling his back suddenly with a nervous lick of the lips. He looked at Miles with a bewildered expression. The pine marten chuckled, spinning idly side to side in his chair like he had been entertained by the whole thing. He set his palms flat on his desk and cleared his throat.

“Zach, your performance has been exceptional since Slade's departure. I really must congratulate you on your performance."

“Thank you–"

Miles sat back in his chair once again, interrupting the husky. “But!"

“B-but?" Zach stuttered in reply.

“Yes… but. Ever since Slade left there's been no redundancy in your department. When you are out sick for a day or, god forbid, a vacation… everything grinds to a halt," Miles paused with a sigh, pointing at the wolf seated across from him. “Corporate has approved the payroll for Dan here. He is the first candidate to meet criteria in the last 9 months. He's going to be your assistant."

“Assistant?!" Zach almost barked, looking once again at the giant wolf and back at Miles.

“Yes, assistant. You and Dan will be your own team and you will be taking Slade's role as Dan's Supervisor."

“Super–SUPERVISOR?" he all but yelped, the husky was visibly confused.

“Yes, Zach. Supervisor. I explained it to Dan here already but I plan to grow your department more if I can." He reached to his left to pick up a laptop and a manila folder full of paperwork and handed it over to Dan.

“Here's your laptop and a copy of your paperwork for your records. I'm sorry I couldn't get you an XL model but IT should have left an appropriately sized keyboard and mouse for you, just stop by on your way to your desk. Zach, I want you to spend the next few days walking him through how you accumulate and input your data, create presentations, etcetera."

“Yes, Sir."

“Any questions?" asked Miles.

“Many! But I'll get back with you on that later."

“Excellent! Gentleman, thank you for your time."

And with that Zach stood up and turned to leave. A shadow fell upon him from behind and Zach gulped as he opened the door and held it open for his new assistant. He hesitantly swung his gaze to see the broad v-shaped figure wolf stuffed tightly into a well tailored suit that clung to his form. He was HUGE! Easily two heads taller than Zach. His paws had to be the size of Zach's head, requiring equally large and specialized laced digit grade paw shoes. His bulging quads seemed ready to tear through those slacks, the broad chest and prominent shoulders stressing the buttons from the suit jacket. He had a relaxed expression, almost exuding a meditative state of calm behind his piercing eyes. Zach's heart skipped in his chest, his stomach doing flips as heat creeped into his cheeks. Dan's lips had pulled back into a careful, teeth concealing smile. The Husky cleared his throat and straightened himself, an open paw motioning to the door.

“A-after you, p-p-please.

“Of course, Sir," Rumbled the wolf once more in that gravel crusher baritone. He had to duck under the door frame to avoid smashing his head as well as turning his torso to fit his shoulders through the frame. Zach looked back at Miles with a 'deer in headlights' face as a massive wolf tail flicked near him as Dan stepped away. The mustled simply smiled a toothy smirk and gave an effeminate finger fluttering wave as he dismissed Zach. The husky shook his head as he backed through the door, closing it behind himself. When he turned around, he almost yelped in alarm as his muzzle stopped an inch from the wolf's sternum. The wolf hadn't taken more than a step away after Zach had let him through the door and also hadn't stepped away, leaving Zach trapped between the door and his expansive chest.

Dan looked down his nose at Zach, his hands behind his back, a serene smile once more upon his muzzle. What had been a noticeable scent sitting side by side was now all encompassing to the husky. In the small space, Dan's scent was overwhelming. It was a deeply complex woodsy musk with an undercurrent of wet dog. It smelled like oakmoss, pine, vanilla, and tobacco leaves. Blue eyes tracked down the buttoned suit before him. Down and down to a radiant heat source projecting heat level just below his own chest.

B–b–big. Big boy, very big boy, he thought as his eyes rapidly swapped direction. Blue eyes met amber once more and Zach felt like prey caught in an expertly crafted trap. A hint of fang slipped out from Dan's muzzle, but otherwise he continued to smile placidly back. Zach could feel himself vibrating with nervous energy, licking his lips nervously as he was caught between fight or flight. He was beginning to lean toward flight. Dan took an expansive step back to give him space as his large thickly furred tail slowly swayed behind him.

“Sorry, Sir. I wasn't sure where we were going and you stepped out quicker than expected." As if the wolf hadn't planned for this to happen. Hadn't planned to see how Zach reacted.

“It's no– no prob– problem. Don't worry about it." Zach licked his lips nervously and let out a shuddering breath. “We're this way, follow me," Zach said, scurrying away to his cubicle. Dan followed behind him, matching one languide step to every two for husky. Curious eyes looked at them from cubicles as they passed. A rat squeaked and turned to walk the other way. A mouse froze in her chair, eyes wide as they passed by. An Ewe and alpaca bleated in a momentary alarm before turning back to their monitor with a red blush. As he looked down into the atrium he saw a curious yellow shark and paused to wave. The shark nervously waved back with a webbed hand before he quickly scurried away. Dan chose to walk next to Zach for the rest of the short walk. Zach watched as the wolf gave a friendly nod to a goat. The herbivore froze in confusion before giving a quiet bleat, leaping from shock to fear as he hid behind his cubicle wall.

Oh boy, this is going to be difficult, Zach thought to himself as he sighed aloud. Dan looked down at him, seeming to lose that mask of calm as he deflated. Zach gave Dan a sympathetic pat on his arm as he continued to lead them to their cubicle. There was a reason big predators didn't usually find themselves in office jobs. At least, not without the company putting them behind closed doors such as they had done Miles' predecessor. One was more likely to find them in a confrontational role such as a lawyer or a labor role such as construction. Muscle and strength had its natural place in the work, but predators were also used to the confrontation of fighting for prey too. Some “Packs" chose to deal with seeddier business, organized crime as it were. As Zach watched the wolf, he wondered what he was doing here. Was he a diversity hire? He managed to contain the sad sigh from escaping him this time.

Even if he did well, would the others here give him the chance to succeed? Or will they foist all of his accomplishments on me? The dog that keeps the predator away from the rest.

Zach's roomy two desk cubicle suddenly felt anything but as Zach sat Dan down at Slade's old desk. Zach was standing and found himself barely able to point around the giant's shoulder as he nervously guided him through new logins, installing new programs from the company portal, etc. His nervousness slowly faded as he began to walk Dan through this setup, finding himself leaning more into the wolf's space. Zach had even grabbed his own chair and moved it around to Dan's side, kneeling on the cushion as he pointed here and there on the screen. He barely noticed the big black nose sniffing in his direction, nor that Dan was covertly watching his smiling expression.

Dan thought to himself, Maybe it won't be so bad here. Not with him at least.

“Okay, you're all set up," said the husky as he pushed back in his chair. He looked up at Dan and into those deep amber eyes.

“Thank you so much, Sir," smiled the wolf from behind his black framed computer glasses.

“Absolutely!" Zach was beaming, his earlier nervousness all but having vanished. He pulled out his phone and checked the time.

“Oh wow, it's already noon. Did you bring lunch? If not, we have a cafeteria I can show you."

“They mentioned it at my onboarding. Do they–" paused the wolf.

“Yes, they serve predators. It's a meat free cafeteria unfortunately, but Garbo is pretty good with the substitutes and his vegetarian dishes are usually amazing."

Dan stood and pushed his chair in, tail languidly swaying behind him.

“With a review like that, Sir, I will happily give it a try."

~~~~~

Once more, curious eyes watched them as they walked out of the elevator and down the main hall to the common area. Off to the side was the cafeteria bustling with activity. Garbo was a large and convivial Boar running the kitchen, clothed in a white paper hat and chef's apron. He was calling out order after order as his customers came and went, his other kitchen staff bustling along behind him. The boar did a double then triple take when Zach walked in with Dan in tow behind like the inverse of a shadow. The boar wiped his paws and tentatively approached as the wolf and husky both walked forward with a tray in hand. He called out the number of the ticket in his hand and set it aside on the counter before clearing his throat.

“Hello Zach, good to see you. Who's your– friend?" A nervous grunt tumbled out from the boar, causing him to flush. Zach grinned apologetically back to Garbo and motioned for Dan to come forward.

“Garbo, this is Dan. He's my new assistant. Dan, this is Garbo. He's the amazing cook I was telling you about."

“Pleasure to meet you," Dan rumbled, dipping his head and lowering his ears in greeting. The boar looked from Dan to Zach and back again, seemingly in a state of shock.

“Uhm, Likewise!?" This time he did grunt, but it was less alarm and more one of Garbo's normal noises. “Welcome to the team. What can I get for you? No meat in this cafeteria," he said pointedly, gauging Dan's reaction “--but I've got the normal substitutes. I have burgers in the black bean, tofu, and an 'improbable' variety. If you're open to vegetarian options I have a mild Indian dal with saffron rice. I doubt you'll be too interested in the salad bar or the spicy yellow thai curry–"

Dan perked up at the last option, his large tail raising as he leaned forward. His expression was suddenly intense, lips twitching into a fangless smile. “Did you say curry?" the big wolf blurted before calming himself. He lost control of his tongue for a moment before swallowing his saliva audibly. Zach could hear his stomach rumble loudly. “The last one please, if you don't mind. That sounds heavenly."

Both the husky and the boar were gobsmacked. Gorbo had almost dismissed the option, most canines skipped the spicy stuff and he had never heard of a lupine who liked spicy food. Typically they stuck to mild foods that did not irritate their sensitive noses.

“And you, my friend?" Gorbo mumbled to Zach. His gaze was still on Dan, watching the wolf salivate and unsure how to handle it. Most of his customers weren't as intense as this wolf. He broke his gaze with the wolf, shaking it off as he looked at Zach.

“Improbable burger please. Can I get that loaded the way I normally do?"

“Of course you can! " the Boar said, scribbling down on a piece of carbon paper and tearing it free. He slid one into the tract above his grill before handing a copy to the husky. He then turned around to scoop a heap of rice into a large bowl before covering it with a big ladle of curry. Looking back over this shoulder to the salivating wolf, he winked before adding another scope of the vegetable and synthetic protein curry for good measure.

“Would my new lupine friend like me to add some fatty salmon oil to the mix?" Gorbo asked, eyebrow cocked at the lupine. Dan nodded eagerly and the Boar measured out a healthy portion before setting the bowl down on the wolf's tray.

“Bon appétit!!" He said with a grin. “Zach, yours will be out shortly."

“Your meals on me Dan," Zach said to Dan, attempting to yank the ticket from the wolf's paw. The ticket disappeared with the wolves hand and he watched amused as the husky tried to pry open his fingers. He relented after a moment, grinning as the husky held up the ticket in triumph. His curl was wagging and the sight made Dan happy. “I want to make sure you enjoy your food today. If you do enjoy it, you can pay me back another day."

“Very well, Sir. Thank you."

The din of voices died momentarily as Dan padded out behind Zach with his tray in hand into the seating area. As the husky scanned the seats before them a yellow webbed hand shot up from across the room and Zach pivoted on his heel to head over to his friend.

“Hey Triston! I'd like you to meet Dan, my new assistant. Dan, this finned fiend is my friend Triston from Accounting."

Triston waited for Dan to set his tray down before his webbed hand cautiously reached out. Dan took it within his paw, watching the smaller hand disappear within his large hand. He gave a soft shake and let the hand go. Zach watched with amusement as the shark's eyes lit up in surprise at his whole hand having disappeared for a moment.

“Nice to meet you," squeaked the shark.

“Likewise", the lupine rumbled.

Triston cleared his throat and picked at his food. “I see you went for the curry, I must say that is a very bold choice. Gorbo doesn't hold back on the spicy options. Typically only a few adventurous avian or scaled types end up choosing that."

Dan sniffed at his bowl and licked his lips. “I know it's a little unusual but I love spicy food. I picked it up at University, much more enjoyable than plain seared protein and rice, day in and day out."

Zach and Triston both looked on in trepidation as Dan took a big scoop curry and downed it after just a cursory sniff. The wolf groaned happily to himself and their eyebrows slowly rose as he chewed and swallowed before taking another bite. Soon the wolf was simultaneously sniffling, wiping a runny nose, and panting happily. He'd even found himself loosening his tie. Gorbo swooped by the table and dropped a tray loaded with french fries and an improbable burger stacked high with fried egg and extra toppings in front of Zach. The husky grinned happily, licking his lips.

“One everything improbable burger royale with cheese, hold the onions and no tomato." Dan looked up and frowned for a second, looking at the size of the meal. It was the correct portion for a wolf his size but for the husky it was excessive.

“Ah, wonderful Garbo. Thank you!"

“You're welcome my friend. Wolf. Dan, was your name correct?"

Dan nodded, sniffling. He took a cloth from his pocket and wiped his nose.

“Dan. You like the curry?" said the boar. He tapped a finger to the side of his own short muzzle. “Not many with a nose like yours enjoy this type of food."

“It's amazing, Sir. I love it! I think the heat is just right, it doesn't pull any punches."

Garbo let out a bark of laughter and clapped him on the shoulder with a heavy paw.

“Hahaha! Crazy crazy wolf! I like this crazy wolf. Good wolf. I will see you again, yes? I have many recipes for you to try."

“Absolutely, I look forward to it!"

With that the boar left them to their meals and the quiet that had pervaded the cafeteria since Dan's arrival slowly dissolved. A badger and a possum got up from where they sat to instead join their table, sitting across from Dan. Questions for Dan soon followed.

“Is this seat taken?"

“May I sit here?"

“Do you really like spicy food, that's amazing? I think Gorbo makes his spicy food just a bit too hot," rambled the badger lady.

“I'm Mary, it's nice to meet you. Is today your first day?" squeaked the possum.

Of the many pointed glances to his ear and the questions that were asked, Dan was relieved to find not a single one was asked about his pack. Or rather, the missing chunk of ear that was missing the piercing that signified his alignment with one. That was likely the biggest contributing factor as to why the prey species sitting at this table were expressing an interest in him.

~~~~~

“These lookup functions are awesome! I didn't know Excel could do all this. Do you know how much time this would have saved me back in school?" The wolf said, leaning down and encroaching more into Zach's personal space as he looked at the syntax. Dan hadn't been able to avoid the sweat creeping into his fur from his spicy lunch and as a result Dan's woodsy musky scent was becoming more perceptible to the husky's nose in this proximity. He had fixed his tie but elected to take off his suit jacket and roll up his sleeves, revealing more snow white fur. Zach marveled at the side of Dan's forearms while Dan wasn't looking. As the wolf typed, Zach tried to catch a deeper whiff of the scent, leaning into his side and breathing in through his as quietly as possible. It was intoxicating.

Is this his deodorant or body wash? It wasn't this strong earlier but now my head was practically swimming. Do all the wolves smell so… good? Zach's eyes fluttered closed as he found himself transported away to a winter forest and lost track of the noise his sniffing was making as it began to grow louder and less subtle. Dan cleared his throat and Zach's eyes snapped open to find that Dan had lifted his big arm out of the way to look down his long long white muzzle. Amber eyes observed Zach curiously. With his arm up, Zach realized the scent was not from any fur soap or deodorant at all. Specifically, the scent was from the sweat that was soaking into Dan's shirt after their spicy lunch. Zach jerked back and apologized profusely, turning violently and vibrantly red under his white and white furred cheeks. Dan merely chuckled.

“I'm used to other canines scenting me curiously, Sir. Do not worry."

“Please don't call me 'Sir.' I'm your supervisor, yes but it just feels wrong. Just call me Zach please."

Dan's ears flattened and he bit his lip in thought. With a huff, he looked away to an empty spot on the wall.

“Zach, have you– worked with a lupine before? Specifically one– without a pack?"

Well that answers THAT question, Zach thought to himself as shook his head 'no.'

“When a wolf chooses to leave his pack… or that choice is made for them by the alpha, well– “ The wolf looked uncomfortable, fidgeting in his seat before he sighed. “A wolf seeking to establish his own pack is going to assert himself in his interactions."

“Okay–" The husky said, unsure where Dan was going with this.

“I … I am not seeking to establish a pack." Dan swallowed nervously, reluctantly meeting Zach's gaze. “My calling your Sir is a sign of–" He just couldn't say the word, what this really was. The word 'Submission' just wouldn't leave his mouth, no matter how true it was. He was submitting to this husky, whether the dog recognized it or not. “--Let's just say I am placing you higher in the hierarchy than myself, Sir."

Zach took this all in with a contemplative silence, head tilted as he thought. Whether or not he truly understood, he still nodded his head.

“Thank you for sharing this with me, Dan. I know almost nothing of Lupine culture but I will try to be respectful."

Dan's tail twitched behind him as he dipped his muzzle. “Thank you, Sir."

Zach checked his clock and was relieved to find that it was already five minutes after five, they were done for the day.

“Anyway, we're done with the day. You've done excellent so far, you're free to go." Zach said, standing. The wolf pushed back in his chair and stood as well, pushing his chair back over to his undersized desk.

“Very well, Sir. Thank you."

As they walked out of the office towards the parking lot there was an uncomfortable silence that grew tense as they continued to walk in the same direction. Zach was growing more and more anxious until Dan pulled out his keys and clicked three times. To Zach's surprise, the black Jeep from earlier today honked and started with a v8 roar as they approached. Zach stopped and gawped.

“Y-you're the one who took my spot?!?"

“I– I did?" Dan stuttered. “Sir, I apologize. Are these spots assigned? I can speak to Miles in the morning, no one from onboarding said anything about assigned parking."

“No no, please don't!" Zach replied with a wave. “Spots aren't assigned, ignore me. I've just parked there for months because it's shaded during the day." He pointed up at the solar panels above them that shaded where they stood.

Dan smirked and Zach was stricken by just how handsome he looked when he wasn't trying to appear as meek as possible.

“I thought the same thing, black paint and all. I won't do it again."

“Thank you… I guess. Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. It's stupid." Zach was nervously fidgeting, unable to look at Dan and suddenly feeling shy. The slow swish of Dan's tail was the only nose for a moment.

“You're welcome," Dan said finally. He reached into his Jeep and hung his suit jacket on a hanger behind his seat before then removing his tie and tossing it on the seat. He also unbuttoned and removed his shirt, pitching it onto the rear seat and leaving him in a tight tank top undershirt. Zach watched as Dan stretched, freed from his stuffy suit and dress shirt. He scratched his fluffy chest. The husky found himself turning red under his facial fur once again as he tried not to ogle all the fur and muscles that were suddenly visible.

Why am I still standing here, I should leave. Get in the car Zach, get in the car!

“H-have a g-good night Dan," Zach mumbled, turning away and stepping quickly to his car.

“You too Sir," Dan rumbled back, watching the husky scurry away to his car with a curious glance. He sniffed under his arm, Do I stink? I don't think I stink. Well, not a bad stink at least. He's been uncomfortable several times today. And then a thought clicked into place, causing him to smile and wag. “Oh– oh that's gotta be it!"

“Smooth Zach, so smooth!" hissed the husky as he slammed his car door shut. “Be mean to the sexy new coworker on his first day. Dumb, dumb! 'That's my spot!' Stupid stupid stupid! Did… did I say sexy?"

Dan has yet to climb into his own car and from where he stood, could hear the husky mumbling to himself. When Zack took down his window shade he was surprised to see Dan staring at him from the open door of his Jeep with a thoughtful expression, tail slowly swishing over that muscular rear.

“Oh shit," Zach hissed once more, trying to remain calm. “Did he hear me? Shit shit shit shit, I'm so screwed!" Zach waved shyly and watched as Dan closed the door to his Jeep and turned to walk over to Zach's driver window. Zach rolled it down and looked up at the beefy wolf as Dan leaned down. Zach watched those muscles bunch up and slide over each other as Dan placed an elbow on the roof of his little hatchback as he leaned his head down level to Zach's.

“Y-y-yes D-Dan?"

“Sir, I recognize this is last minute but I'm headed to the gym from here. I'm new in town and… I could use a partner."

“A partner?"

“Yes, Sir. A spotter specifically. I don't suppose you would want to join me?"

“N-n-now? I don't– I don't have any gym clothes."

Dan smiled. “Okay, tomorrow then perhaps?" The wolf looked stunning in his window, acres of exposed ivory fur rustling in the small breeze.

“S-sure?" Zach squeaked, shrinking into his seat as that musk wafted into his car.

“Excellent, Sir." Dan said with a smile. “See you in the morning." Dan said, thumping the roof gently with a knuckle before walking back to his Jeep.

“See you," Zach mumbled back, hand on his muzzle in embarrassment. He watched the wall of muscle and fur walk away and climb into his Jeep. With a gentle burble, he motored out of sight with a paw waving goodbye through the driver's window. Only then did Zach roll up his window, still in shock.

What did I just agree to? The scent of the wolf was still strong in his car and as he pulled his belt across his lap. He looked around again to make sure no one was watching and took a deep breath of the wolf's scent before shuddering to himself.

F–fuck m–me, I can't get his smell out of my head. What the fuck is wrong with me!?!?