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A rapid clanging of bells rang out into the darkened room and with a grumbling reply a hand reached out and flicked the switch on the rear of the alarm clock, turning it off. Dragging himself out of bed the kelpie rubbed his face, ruffling his red-brown fur, before slapping his face a bit to wake himself up.

Groaning as he looked at his the hands on his alarm clock resting at four o'clock he grumbled "Why do they have to practice so bloody early?".

Michael is starting his new job as the towel boy for the Brisbane Brumbies. Which surprised him that he got the job as he wasn't even a huge fan of Rugby, let alone the Brumbies, and there were thousands of fans biting at the bit to get the job. But through some miracle he was selected. Michael thought of a few reasons as to why like how it *may* have to do that he wasn't a huge fan of the Brumbies so that way he wouldn't geek out over the players or just shear luck. He didn't hate them, they just weren't a team he followed.

After getting showered, blow dried and brushed he put on his new uniform, a pair of rugby shorts and a maroon polo with a stylised horse's head in profile over his heart. He straightened it and looked at himself in the mirror. At five foot five the canine was a bit shorter than average and covered in a thick, solid russet coat of fur hiding some decently toned muscle. Taking a deep breath then exhaling he grabbed his bag and left his apartment and made his way down to the parking garage to drive to work at Lang Park where the Brumbies train and practice.

Driving so early in the morning was strange for Michael. The sky was still dark and would be so for another hour or so and the streets of the still slumbering Brisbane vacant of nearly all traffic. The streets were so vacant that Michael actually arrived at Lang Park half an hour earlier than Coach Williams and had to wait parked in the stadiums employee parking waiting for him to arrive. FIghting to stay awake as he did so. He almost lost the fight as a rap on the window snapped him to attention and got him out of the car. It was Williams.

"You're early, that's good," rumbled the older stallion. His black coat broken up by the greying fur on his muzzle.

Rubbing his face the canine replied, "Mhm, yes. Totally planned. Lack of traffic didn't throw me off at all."

With a deep, rumbling laugh Williams clapped the smaller kelpie on his back. Knocking the breath out of him and waking him up fully. "That happens to all the new towel boys".

Unlocking the employee entrance Williams asked Michael following behind him "You know what to do?"

"Help set up the training equipment, inflate any balls that need it, fill the water bottles and make sure the towels and gym clothes are cleaned," answered Michael.

"Good," WIlliams passed Michael a bag of rugby balls and agility poles from the equipment closet, "set the poles up and come back for the tackling bags" and he picked up some training hurdles himself.

After setting up the poles and checking the balls he returned for the tackling bags. He was wheeling out the wagon of them he was greeted with the sound of raucous laughter and jeering telling him that team arrived for practice. As the team made their way past him on the way to the locker room towering over him as they all gave Michael acknowledging nods and "heys". The right wing though, a dingo, broke off from the rest of the team to help Michael set up the last of the tackling bags. He couldn't remember the dingo's name, He thought it may be Richard

"So you're the lucky guy who got the towel boy job?" The cheery dingo's eyes creased in a smile.

"U-uh, yeah..." stuttered Michael. His ears folded back and tail between his legs. Although he wasn't a huge fan of the Brumbies it still didn't change the fact a star player was talking to him and it made him extremely nervous. "Thanks for the help, uh... Rich-?"

"Robert," corrected Robert. He brought his arm around Michael dragged him into a rough, one armed hug. "But you can call me 'Rob' or 'Robbo'". Michael's heart beat picking up and tail starting to wag.

Still hugging Michael, Rob leant down and whispered, "Heads up. They're gonna to try and haze ya"

That stopped Michael's tail. Rob patted his shoulder, "Just keep a look out and you'll be fine"

With that Rob jogged off the pitch to the locker room. Michael's eyes drawn to his rear before setting off to get the water bottles ready.

* * *

Michael kept a look out and asides from a few stray balls that nearly hit him nothing of note happened to him. Wheeling in a laundry bin into the locker room Michael blushed as the whole team were various states of undress as he collected the dirty laundry from them. Michael was thankful that his thick fur hid the blush. Some of the more naked teammates had their towels wrapped around the waist and others nothing at all. As he started collecting the dirty laundry he saw out of the corner of his eye the hooker, one of 'the pack', a ram that Michael remembered was named Nikau, nudged Rob, gesturing over to Michael and waggled his eyebrows at the dingo in which Rob replied with an elbow to the ribs.

Before he could think into what that was about another member of 'the pack' a tall red kangaroo, the number 8 Alex, walked up and dumped his towel into the bin. Michael *desperately* trying to keep his eyes above Alex's waist line.

"So you're the new towel boy, Bluey" he said with a smirk. His eyes flitting to something behind Michael and ignoring Michael's attempt to correct him on his name.

"What were you and Robbo doing before? He doesn't normally help set up."

Thinking fast Michael replied, "He was just saying 'hi' and trying to help with nerves. I've never met anyone from a big team before."

"Really? That all?"

"Yeah, he ju-what are you looking at?" Michael turning to see what Alex was looking at.

'No!" shouted Rob. But it was too late.

Nikau slingshot his jockstrap at Michael. Bullseyeing him right in the face.

The entire locker room erupted with laughter, Rob had his head in his heads and Michael was answering the laughing with a series of coughing and dry heaving.

"Alright, alright," called out Rob, escorting the coughing Michael out of the room "You got him. Now leave him alone."

When alone he asked, "You good?"

"Yeah," answered Michael before quickly taking it back, "Ugh, I can taste it. Fucking foul."

"I did warn you," he said, offering Michael a bottle of water to wash his mouth out.

"I know. I know. I just thought it'd happen during practice." his ears drooping.

That got a laugh out of Rob.

"Yeah nah. Not with Williams breathing down their neck," still chuckling he added, "he'd rip them a new one."

"Anyway, thanks for the warning. Even if I didn't heed it properly," Michael said, his ears folded back and avoiding Robs eyes and making his way back into the locker room, "I should go get the clothes to the laundry"

Wheeling the laundry out Rob put a hand out onto Michael's shoulder to stop him.

"Hey, we're going to the pub tonight. The Harvest Inn" he told Michael. The kelpie tilted his head at that. Confused on why he was being told this.

"Come join us," pointing back to Nikau and Alex with his head he added, "Their treat."

That started a stream of complaints from them. Which Rob silenced with a look.

"How about it?" his hand still on the kelpie's shoulder.

"Oh, uh. I-I'll think about it" stuttered Michael before quickly wheeling the laundry out of the locker room a bashful smile sneaking onto his face. He paused when he heard two slaps and grumbles of pain come from the locker room before moving on.

* * *

Michael spent the rest of the day a bundle of nerves. Why that was so he wasn't too sure. He attributed it to wanting to make a good impression on the team. So he started fussing over what to wear. He thought a jersey would be a good fit but he didn't have any Brumbies jerseys. Some were even teams that opposed them so he quickly shelved that idea. He eventually decided on a simple tee and cargo shorts. He then got ready and left for the pub.

The drive to the pub was different than the drive to work. The sky was awash with the orange of a rapidly leaving sunset. And the roads were still swollen with the day's traffic. Michael drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, annoyed. He had already moved twice at this intersection and still hadn't made it through. He looked at the clock on his dashboard, six-thirty eight. At the rate traffic was going he was going to be late. Frustrated he honked his horn which triggered an echoing of horns from the rest of the people stuck in the jam. Michael slid down the seat trying to hide from the shame as the ruckus he caused continued.

When Michael finally arrived it was already dark and he was late by at least forty minutes. He hurried over to the Harvest Inn, his car parked down the block, and made his inside. Michael was pleasantly surprised when he took in the interior. He'd expected a pub this deep in Brisbane and a frequent haunt for a big name team like the Brumbies would be something more "high class" but it wasn't. It looked like a proper pub with a heart. A polished wooden bar equipped with beer spouts, cushioned wooden stools, well used tables and cozy booths lined up along the far wall. In one of the booths sat a sour looking Nikau and Alex with a smiling Rob waving MIchael over.

"There you are, Bluey" grinned Rob, patting the bench next to him "Was starting to think you were going to flake on us."

"Sorry," Michael slid into the booth next to Rob while grimacing at the nickname, knowing the name's not going to go away, "I tried to take traffic into account but there was a huge jam back up the road."

"Oh, you were in that?" Rob pointed his thumb at Alex and Nikau, "We were wondering what the horns were about. We could hear the horns from here when we got here."

"Yeah, turns out someone rear ended a bus. Driver had to go to the hospital," added Alex. "Didn't stop people from ripping their horns though."

"O-oh, I didn't see any wrecked car," quickly changing the subject, "Rob, when you said 'We're going to the pub,' I assumed that the whole team would be here."

"Ah, nah. Unless it's after a game it's nearly impossible to get everyone here," he replied then pointed over to a border collie on his own at one of the tables, "Ray's here though."

Michael didn't know what his position was, probably one of the backs.

"Why isn't he over here with us?"

"He's here on a date," said Alex.

"He's been here for a while though," Rob said, looking over at Ray, concerned, "I'm hoping she's stuck in traffic like you were."

Clapping his hands, smiling, "Anyways, first round," he looked over at Alex and NIkau. His cheerful smile became more and more forced as they didn't more. Until finally, with a grumble, Nikau shuffled out of the booth and headed over to the bar.

"Just the one beer for me," Michael said, "I have to drive home."

A few rounds in, with Michael tipsy and bordering on drunk, Ray joined with the group to drown his sorrows having been stood up.

Nursing his beer he asked MIchael, "So you play?"

"I played back in high school at a sports club in Beenleigh. I was the Right Wing" That got Rob's attention.

"Why'd ya stop?" he asked.

"I wash-I was shit at it," replied Michael, "I loved playing but holy hell I was shit at it. Could only ever pash-pass the ball to my left."

Nikau chuckled into his glass, "Sounds familiar."

Rob shot back with, "And Coach won't let you play Fullback cause you wouldn't even be able to kick a beach ball with those pissy little hooves of yours."

Nikau started grumbling into his glass and everyone started laughing before quickly stopping when they heard a high pitch squeak.

"What was that?" asked Alex.

"Nothing" said Michael before giving another squeaking hiccough.

It started as a series of chuckles before erupting into roars of laughter from the rest of the booth as Michael slid down bench, ears folded in embarrassment before being dragged back up and pulled into a rough, one armed side hug by Rob.

"Aww, we got ourselves a squeaker," laughed Rob as Michael squeaked out more hiccoughs. As the laughter continued Michael couldn't help but bashful smile and giggles himself as he tried to drown his hiccoughs with his beer.

* * *

Several rounds later and after last call Michael stumbled out of the pub being held up by one arm by Rob as he waved down a taxi with another. Both falling into the car and told the driver his address.

Michael, slurring "Oooh, a shtar footy prayer ish takin me to hish houshe," and he leaning into Rob, giggling.

"Do-" Rob hiccoughed, "Don't get ahead of yourself. I can't let you go home by yourself"

"Aww, your sho shwee...," Michael started snoring into Rob's chest, his head being petted.

"Come on. Wake up, we're here," Rob shook Michael awake. Michael groaned, peeling his face off of Rob's drool soaked shirt. He looked around. The taxi had stopped and the driver was waiting for them to get out. Rob shuffled out, practically dragging Michael out with him.

Getting to his feet, with help from Rob, he looked up at the apartment building. It was a modern, expensive looking building. A lot of whites, greys and straight lines. He followed Rob into the building and up to Rob's apartment, clinging onto him closer than he needed to.

"Whot noww?" Michael asked as Rob closed the door to his apartment.

"Getting *you* to bed."

Michael cooed at that. Rob freezed when Michael started groping his rear as he was guiding the kepie to his room. Bringing him to his room despite that, he dropped him onto the bed. Michael crawled up the bed and waved his rear at Rob

"You-," Michael squeaked out a hiccough,"You joiinin'?"

"You're drunk."

"That'sh not a nooo," Michael waved his rear more at Rob.

Rob put a hand on the randy kelpie's side and pushed him onto the bed then left the room. He came back with a bottle of sports drink and a bucket. Setting the bucked by the bed and, dodging the kelpie's groping hand, he gave the bottle to Michael.

"Heyyy, change your mind?"

"Drink this," said Rob, "it'll make you feel less crap in the morning."

Michael drained the bottle and dropped the empty bottle by the bucket. Rob started tugging the covers from underneath Michael and pulling them over him. Michael gave a little cheer, thinking Rob is getting into the bed with him.

"No," Rob dodged Michael's attempt to pull him into the bed with him, "you'll regret it in the morning."

"No I won't," Michael's eyes drooping.

"Goodnight," Michael said leaving the bedroom but Michael was already out. Softly snoring and drooling into the pillow.