FSE

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Apollo whistled to himself as he made his way to work. Standing outside the Good Boy Café, he took a deep breath and entered the establishment. Once inside, he was met with his good friend, Donovan. The eastern dragon was already in his freshly pressed butler outfit and standing at the desk, idly twirling his whiskers.

“Hey, Don Don!" Apollo leaned on the desk and tapped him on the nose. “How was your night?"

Donovan chuckled. “Oh, Apollo, it was quite enjoyable. A book and a calming Spotify playlist are all I really need to have a good time."

“Glad to hear you had a good night. Is the boss in?"

“He's in the back, but as per usual he's not mentally there yet." Donovan tapped the side of his head.

“No coffee?" Apollo quirked his eyebrow.

“He forgot on his way in."

“I'll be right back." Apollo turned and went towards the bar. 15 minutes later, he returned with a piping hot cup of clarity.

“You coddle Martin too much." Donovan chuckled. “He's a big boy now."

“If I don't do it, no one will," Apollo replied. Waving goodbye to his friend, he made his way to Martin's office with the cup.

He knocked and heard a muffled grumble which he assumed meant he could enter. Once inside, he saw the green bear hunched over a small pile of papers. Placing the cup next to him, out of the way of his papers, he stepped behind Martin and began rubbing his shoulders.

“Mmph… This has to be Apollo." Martin huffed, then slowly leaned up and looked at the cup of coffee. “For me?"

Apollo nodded and kept massaging him. Martin grabbed the cup and gulped down the steamy hot liquid.

“Aaah… Thanks, Papa."

“Anything for my sweet cub." He pinched Martin's cheek.

Martin huffed playfully and swatted Apollo's paw away. “How was your night Papa?"

“It was pretty good, cub. I made sure my hydrangeas were well taken care of before I got some dinner and turned in for the night".

“Don't go too crazy, papa. You might need to take a sick day if you party that hard." Martin held his paws up in fake surprise.

“Oh, hardy har, cub. I'll have you know my roses think I'm very wild. They got that good plant feed."

“You see the problem with that sentence, don't you, pop?"

“My partying days are numbered. I just don't have it in me anymore."

“I never said you had to go clubbin'. Just take a nice walk or maybe go see a movie. Anything not gardening-related. Your flowers will thank you."

“But I love my flowers." Apollo touched his flower crown.

“And just like your social life, they're not going anywhere."

“Harsh, cub."

“Ok, that was too far, but I'm right. Now I have to get these papers filed before we open." Martin watched Apollo walk to the door and stopped him. “I appreciate you, Apollo. I just care about you."

“Thanks, cub." Apollo gave him a warm smile and carefully shut the door.

Apollo stepped carefully around the two dads coddling one of their son patrons. He readjusted his shirt so his name tag shone properly as he made his way to the table he'd been serving.

“Here ya go, boys. Two chai explosions on the rocks."

“Thanks, Papa Gary," The skunk boy replied, face flushed as he read the dad's name tag.

“Yeah, Papa Gary. You're the best." The rabbit boy next to him added.

“Anything for my boys." Gary leaned in and tapped both of them on the nose. The boys' heads floated down onto the table, eyes glazed over. He chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. Seeing as they wouldn't be drinking them anytime soon, he took the tray with the drinks back to the kitchen.

“The boys are lively today, Jasper. I think I sent one into a bliss coma just by winking at him."

“Well, you're a good looking dad and you sure do look the part." Jasper chuckled and waved up and down at Gary's outfit: an open green Hawaiian shirt, brown khaki shorts, and socks with sandals.

“Are the shorts too baggy? I don't want my bits to be exposed to my boys." Gary began frantically adjusting himself.

Jasper held his arms to get him to stop, and then spoke, “For literally anyone else that works here that would not be a problem in the slightest."

“Oh, Jasper, you know I can't do that. The boys just need a kind father figure from me. For everything else, there is a whole slew of dads to choose from."

“Yeah, lemme know when you get over that working around all these cherries that are flinging themselves into your basket." Jasper rolled his eyes and put a new order in front of Gary. “I'd be harvesting the lot if I was in your shoes."

“I'm not a farmer, I'm a gardener. Huge difference. Plus I'm not even that attractive compared to most of the people on the floor."

“Bullshit, you think you got to be one of the Five Fathers because you're just a sweet older man?"

“Yes! My role was needed in our group and I stepped up!"

“Just… take this sad boy smoothie to table 3. Maybe that kid could use a Father Figure."

Back on the floor, Gary found Table 3 and saw a very sad looking ram sitting in a booth by himself: a ram he knew pretty well. He slid the smoothie and sat next to him, keeping a comfortable distance even though the ram wore a green band.

“Hey there, Boku. Everything ok, sport?"

“Yeah, Papa Gary. I'm just not feeling it." Boku stirred the smoothie with his straw in an obtuse pattern.

“What aren't you feeling? Love?"

“No, the love is there. I can feel it radiating off you, Dad. I'm just not feeling the sunshine."

“Well, we are inside."

Boku chuckled a bit, then went began to frowning again. “Funny as that was, even when I go outside, I don't feel the sunshine. Someone stole it."

“Who?"

“I dunno, but I plan to find out. And when I do, I will end their bloodline." Boku's eyes seemed to light up.

“How about a hug from your pops instead?" Gary rubbed his horns affectionately. He'd like to avoid any bloodshed on his watch, especially from the innocent ram boy.

“Ok. You do give the best hugs."

Boku scooted over and threw his arms around Gary's torso. He looked so content pressed into the St Bernard's fluffy chest fur. Gary silently stroked his horns and reassured him that he was a good boy. This elicited a murr from Boku, who huffed and dug his face deeper into Gary's chest fluff. His mouth curved at the memory of the last time he'd served Boku.

“So what's really bugging you?" Gary said, breaking their routine.

“You ever been in a relationship and just thought it wasn't going anywhere?"

“Yeah… but I'm sure it's not all bad."

“They b-broke up with me after 7 hours."

“Oh…" Gary rubbed the back of his head. “Well, they don't deserve a guy as good as you, son."

“He only left me because he's dying tomorrow."

“Umm… Papa has no idea what to do here, son. I really wanna help but I have no idea what to tell you. This is rare." Gary was stunned that he couldn't think of anything to help calm the ram down. He was usually very good at that if nothing else when it came to anyone he'd spoken to but Boku seemed to stump him completely.

“A hug would help. And maybe r-rubbing your belly?"

That, Gary could do. “C' mere, son." He guided Boku's hoof to his belly where it began tracing circles into his fur.

“Mmm… your fur feels nice." Boku huffed.

“Take all the time you need."

And there they sat, Gary, rubbing Boku's horns and Boku rubbing Gary's belly. Boku could hear the dog's heartbeat as he sat head pressed to his chest. For once his mind was clear and he didn't feel like crying. Time seemed to tick by as they comforted each other. Soon, Boku began to yawn and sat up, removing himself from Gary's warm embrace.

“Thanks for just sitting with me, Dad."

“No problem, son."

Boku looked down and put his hands on his thighs. After taking a deep breath, he spoke, “Well… This is a shot in the dark, but would you go out with me? Like, outside of the café?"

“Oh… Umm… what happened to your ex and all that?" Gary wanted to say yes, but he could only think of what Boku had just told him an hour ago. Wait, it had been an hour? Damn, time flies. Nevertheless, he didn't want to take him up on his offer so quickly after a break-up.

“He told me to move on and I was hoping that I could try to with you. I always see you around here and you're very nice to everyone, but you spend a lot of time with me especially."

“Well, where's your proof, son?" Gary pulled at his collar. Was he that obvious?

“I've been rubbing your belly for about an hour."

“You needed it."

“And you know my name. You don't remember any of the other guy's names."

“Yeah, I do!" Gary huffed.

“Oh yeah, what's that guy's name? He's been coming here for days and you're always serving him."

“Oh well…" Gary had no idea what the boy's name was. He'd been snared. “You know what fine. If you still want to a month from today, I'll go out with you."

“Great! Here's my number. I'll see you later, Gary!" Boku slipped him a piece of paper, hugged him then walked out of the café.

Gary clutched his chest as a sharp pang hit him. The pain faded as soon as it came, but he was still worried. Picking up the number, he slid it in his shorts and went back to the kitchen.

Jasper took one look at him and chuckled.

“So when's your date?"

“Wait how'd you know about that?!"

“Word travels fast with some of the dads. Sandy told me."

“Sandy needs to mind his damn- I mean Sandy's a thoughtful person for telling you." Gary clenched his fist.

“Hey, chin up! You got yourself a good guy to push all that lovey-dovey crap on so you can get your dick wet."

Gary pushed a paw to his face as the blood rushed to his cheeks. “Boku isn't like that. I mean if push came to shove I would but…"

“You. Want. To. Smash. Him. I can see it in your eyes." Jasper leaned in and tapped his nose.

“You don't have an Ultimate skill."

“I don't need one to see how you look when you talk about him or to him. You're a love-struck puppy."

“Is it that obvious?" Gary leaned back against one of the preparation tables.

“Not to anyone but me. Well me and the boss."

“What's Martin got to do with this?"

“He gives Boku that same booth whenever he comes since he knows that's the spot you love most.

“Anyone else knows I'm down with the lovesickness?" Gary took a deep breath and forced a smile.

“Would you chin up, Gary? He asked YOU out. Easier than you hiking up your nutsack and doing it."

“But his ex is dying tomorrow."

Jasper rolled his eyes. “He was probably exaggerating. Remember when he said his grandma was no longer with him and she was just moving into an old folk's home?"

Gary nodded, and then he said, “Wait why would he lie about that?

“Sweetie, he exaggerates all the time. It's probably less serious than you think."

“Why do I like that boy so much?"

“Because he's a challenge and he cares about you. He's probably the only boy who hasn't asked to do anything lewder than holding hands."

“I do love holding his hand…" Gary tried to hide his smile.

“My point stands! Now go take this pizza to table 7. Sandy is scared to come to pick up orders while you're here."

“Heh… little bitch." Gary caught himself a bit too late.

“Wow, Gary cursing? Is it my birthday?" Jasper fanned his face flamboyantly.

“Shut it, Jasper." Gary grabbed the pizza and went to deliver it to the hungry boys.