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*****

Wanted

The Agency is seeking driven, enthusiastic, experienced firemen to enjoy and exercise in the carnal pleasures of life for a long-term teaching position imparting their knowledge to similarly enthusiastic, budding firemen. Must be willing, eager and above the age of 18 or 21 depending on their state or country's definition of 'minority'. This job opening requires the following prerequisites:

• Full knowledge of M/M content

• Willing to be exposed to homosexual content

• Appreciation of the male, muscular form

• Willingness to be exposed to plenty of semen.

• Acceptance of exposure to a considerable amount of male genitals

In return, the Agency is offering:

• Intense, pleasurable muscle growth

• Transformation and alteration of the physical body

• Growth and development of male genitalia

• Unrivalled job satisfaction

Full training is provided as are a full set of uniforms and clothing.

Apply now!

*****

The Agency: On Fire

Application: Out of Fuel

Nathan Corwin was only thirty-five but each passing second added more greys to his thick, ragged, russet hair. As with the day before, it took an incredible amount of effort to lift himself off from his bed. What little sunlight that streamed in from between the blinds barely illuminated his cramped, studio apartment. Once before, he would have cared if he stepped on the cracked portrait of his wife and his two kids but three years after the divorce and brutal childcare payments later, he no longer cared.

In fact, the only thing that got him out of bed every day was the vague hope that when he opened his laptop, there would be a flashing, yellow envelope telling him one of his job applications had been successful.

As he placed weight onto his right leg, however, he was painfully reminded of exactly why many jobs wouldn't have him. He winced, cursed and shed a tear or two as he endured the pain and hobbled over to his desk piled with plates of leftovers and books that had long lost their value. Beside his laptop, however, was the one picture that he maintained.

His old fire fighting team grinned at him, manly, muscular arms wrapped around one another dressed in their white shirts, overalls and yellow helmets. Each face he could put a name to and each face had a story he lovingly shared. To the far right was Nate, looking so much fitter and with his right leg still capable of holding his weight.

With a sigh, he sat in front of his laptop, the chair creaking nosily underneath his weight. Pulling the computer open was the most painful thing he had to do that morning. Not because his arms were likewise pained but because he was forced to stare at his reflection in the inky blackness of the monitor. The pudgy cheeks merged seamlessly into a jelly-like neck. A ragged, russet beard flecked his face, long since unkempt. Trails of chest hair was just barely visible in the horrid portrait and he was grateful that his eyes didn't get the chance to spy his depressing manboobs before the screen flicked on.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment and braced himself for the wave of depression that would no doubt come once his screen was devoid of that flashing, yellow envelope. A soft bing told him his screen had loaded up.

Letting out that breath, he opened his eyes.

A flashing yellow envelope.

His heart skipped to his throat as he opened his email application.

That wave of depression hit.

He was due for another childcare payment.

Yeah, it would've been better if he hadn't gotten any mail at all. Taking a ragged breath, he opted to close the screen when -

Bing!

Another piece of mail.

And this came from 'The Agency'.

If ever there was an alarm for virus-ridden spam mail, that would be it. However, Nate decided he needed some form of excitement or he'd permanently fuse with his bed. With a shrug, he opened the mail.

_ Dear Mr. Corwin._

_ We at the Agency are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for primary screening for a teaching position in a newly Precinct for new recruits in the city's fire fighting department at the following address. If you should choose to accept this opportunity, please dress formally and arrive at the address below. No need to set at appointment._

_ We will know when you are coming._

He half-expected a 'take this job' button or a 'if you want to know more, send us your credit card details' link. Strangely, that was all to the message except for the address. Time-share lecture? No... That seemed too farfetched.

Again, deciding that he would die of boredom otherwise, Nate got up from his seat with a monumental effort and rummaged through the remnants of his clothing. The only thing that could come even close to 'formal' was the suit he wore to his divorce hearing. That was years ago but somehow, he managed to fit his colossal belly into the tight suit. Wrapping the coat around his shoulders was another matter and the grey fabric almost tore so he just gave up trying to button in.

Unfortunately, his formal shoes had been worn thin so he just went with black sneakers. That was close enough.

He memorised the address and hobbled out of his apartment, wincing with every movement his right leg made. Too poor to afford a taxi, too fat to fit on a single seat in the subway and too proud to take a bus without being interrogated about his weight, Nate simply tried to walk the distance with some hope that he could burn off some weight and look at least a little more impressive by the time he got to the Agency.

His heart almost stopped beating when he came to the address.

A skyscraper rose in front of him. More than a dozen floors reached up into the city's skyline. Pristine, glass windows unveiled little of the inside and as he cautiously stepped up to the enormous revolving doors, he was somewhat surprised to find that the directory was mostly empty. The only entry that was filled was the top floor which was occupied by the words 'The Agency'. The atrium was equally as empty. Just pure white with a potted plant or two. There was a reception area but that lay unoccupied.

The sensation that this was all some sort of elaborate joke began to grow stronger and stronger with each passing minute. A strange compulsion drew him closer to the large elevators behind the reception area. Unsure whether or not he should just wait, he pressed the 'call' button. The elevator appeared a second later, opening up and revealing an all white canvass with - no surprise - white buttons. It was almost blinding but he stepped into the elevator nonetheless and hit the top floor.

A soft bing brought the top most floor. It was really no surprise to find an all-white hallway but his heart skipped a beat nonetheless. The narrow hall was flanked with glass walls with a receptionist's desk sitting empty to the left and a single, white bench on the right. On the far end was a ghostly white door that seemed almost intangible.

Nate considered just sitting and waiting for someone to come but if he remembered the message correctly, it said that they were expecting him. Or that they would know when he was coming. The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous this all seemed. He was half-tempted to turn around now and just head back home to wallow in his painful past but he was never one to do anything half-assed.

'All the way or not at all' he always said.

So he pushed forward, marching towards the white doors and seizing the handles fiercely. With a gentle twist of his callused hands, he pushed them open.

Finding anything other than white was a surprise.

Several books filled two white bookshelves that flanked a central window. On a raised dais was a single, white desk occupied by a man dressed in a jet-black suit broken only by a red tie. The man's eyes were hidden by silver wrap-around glasses and his black hair was slicked back with golden streaks running from his temples.

"Mr. Corwin," the man greeted in a cool, calm voice, "I have been expecting you. Please, have a seat."

The man gestured at a crystal white seat that Nate was sure hadn't been there before. Nate cautiously approached and sat down on the comfortably, cushiony chair grateful that it didn't groan in protest. His hands clasped around his knees as he tried to spy the man's eyes beyond his sunglasses.

No luck.

"I believe I have the perfect job for you, Mr. Corwin," the man said, reaching behind his desk and pulling open a drawer. He placed a manila folder on the desk, opening it. "It's a teaching job at the new firehouse being opened right next door as it seems. This precinct is being divided and we need new firemen."

"First off," Nate interrupted, finding his voice. "Who the hell are you? Next, I never applied to any job from you guys!"

"My name is Jacob Reaper, Mr. Corwin. And sometimes, you need not apply for the job. Sometimes, the job finds you." A chill was present in the air the instant Reaper finished that sentence. "Now then," he continued, turning his eyes down to the folder, "the job isn't actually as a fireman. You will be an instructor. With more fresh, new firemen being produced, this precinct requires some experience to make sure they don't end up helping the fire burn instead of putting it out."

"I haven't seen any action in years," Nate growled. "Why choose me now?"

"You come highly recommended," Reaper answered shortly. "Now then... The job is a one year contract. The firehouse is right next door. The pay currently sits at a non-negotiable one-hundred and twenty thousand before tax. Additional benefits include a month of sick leave, membership at the gym being built on the second floor of this building, several discounts for the shops within this building and much more. Oh and paternity leave."

Nate was still balking at the figure of the pay. The last he could say was, "Paternity leave?"

"Oh yes. New rule. Fathers or potential fathers are allowed a set amount of leave to take care of their children."

"Okay... Where do I sign...?"

Reaper held up his hand. "One moment there Mr. Corwin. There is a catch." Reaper flipped the page of a contract and ran a golden pen over certain lines. "You see here? This a requirement that after a certain period of time, you and your students undergo a mandatory fitness and competency test undertaken by the city's safety regulatory commission."

Nate didn't care much about that. He could still pass any test that was thrown his way. He may not look the fireman but he still very much had the soul of one.

"Where do I sign?"

"Mr. Corwin, I suggest you seriously consider the work that you will need to put in concerning this test."

"Yeah, yeah," Nate grumbled, snatching the pen from him. "I can do it. Where do I sign?"

"Mr. Corwin -"

"Where do I sign?"

---

Orientation: Learning the Ropes

Needless to say, the firehouse did not meet Nate's specifications.

The floors were polished, clean. The walls freshly painted. Hell, the poles from the upper barracks were nice slippery and unused. The beds upstairs were fluffy, warm and smelled of the sweet musk of a something freshly washed.

It was too clean.

Just like the 'fire_boys_' that stood in front of him.

About twenty guys stood in front of him, each of them about twenty. Probably nineteen but no younger. Nate wondered how any of them were ever accepted as firemen and then he took to mind that most of them were Dalmatians. He never got how or why these dogs would perpetuate the stereotype that they were good firemen but they did. There were a few other canines milled about but most of them were spotty.

They were all green and eager. All their tails were wagging. In their fireman's overalls, they looked like kids playing dress-up.

He sniffed the air. Part of him was glad that the 'fresh building' smell was fading but the other part was a little sickened that it was replaced by the 'wet dog smell' that perpetually hung around canines of all shapes and sizes.

He had spent the entire night wondering what kind of teacher he would be but never came to a proper conclusion. The result was him wearing a vest that couldn't wrap around his belly, a casual, branded short-sleeved shirt and denim jeans that chaffed his thighs.

"Guess I'm here to make sure you boys become men," he growled gruffly. "So some ground rules."

Ground rules? Since when did he have ground rules? Back when he was serving, he played it loose. Sure he never made captain or anything but if a few boys got a bit rough with one another, he didn't pull them apart and reprimand them. He joined in! If the boys got drunk, he bought the next round.

But times change.

He was a different man.

"No roughhousing," he snarled.

The boys just giggled amongst themselves.

"What?" he sneered.

A huge, black wolf with sapphire-blue eyes raised his paw. He towered over the rest of the boys and the look in his eyes betrayed his experience. Massive muscles were barely contained by his overalls and veins popped across his arms as he moved.

"You show your age, professor," the lupine chuckled in a deep, rumbling voice. "No one these days says 'roughhousing' anymore."

Nate narrowed his eyes at the wolf. "And who the hell are you?"

"David Wolfram," the wolf answered. "Captain David Wolfram."

A bolt of surprise rocketed through Nate's system. "You're the captain of this precinct?"

"No, sir. I used to be. When this place fell under my jurisdiction, I did. But now that it's bigger, I captain the precinct next door. I was asked by the regulatory commission to make sure when the new captain gets here, he doesn't have a bunch of grass-green boys to meet him." For emphasis, he tussled the brown hair of a Dalmatian next to him, bringing a soft 'hey' in response.

"So the captain isn't here yet?" Nate asked.

"No, sir. The precinct isn't officially open yet. So my team will be taking the fires until you and your boys are ready. Think of this place as 'fireman's college'." He wrapped an arm around the big Dalmatian, flashing Nate a big, broad grin. "These boys just graduated from high school. Now it's time for further education."

That made much more sense now. These boys were really here to pass some competency test as advised in the job description. A test Nate had to pass too. This precinct was their training grounds and when they passed, it'd become their home grounds. It saved on building costs and transport. Plus, the boys wouldn't have to get used to new environments if they trained in the same area as they worked. No wonder they were so young.

Clever.

Nate grunted softly and realised that he had just lost a lot of credibility in front of the boys. As their instructor, he should have known this.

"Alright," he muttered softly. "Well... Get used to the place. You'll be here a while. The name's Nathan Corwin. Remember it."

With those words, he spun on his heel and walked away, feeling a blush on his cheeks burning. He could feel the mocking eyes of those boys behind him, predatory dogs ready to rip out his throat the instant he showed any signs of weakness. No doubt he looked delicious to them as well considering he was all round, pudgy and filled with succulent fat.

Nate moved into his office which - in all respects - was the vice-captain's office. The captain's stood empty beside his. He shut the door behind him and sat down heavily on his chair, feeling the squeaky chair groan under his weight. Sweat rolled down his forehead. Regarding his reflection in the mirror across from him, he noted that he was beetroot red, his brown hair plastered to his skull. His right leg was constantly jabbing him with daggers of pain and he hoped he hadn't hobbled in front of the boys.

The door sprang open and David Wolfram stepped in unceremoniously.

"Don't you knock?" Nate growled.

"Sorry chief," Wolfram answered, clearly unapologetic. The large wolf seated himself in the chair across Nate's desk, the chair groaning for a totally different reason. "Just thought you ought to know, the boys out there..." - he hiked a thumb over his shoulder - "about fifty percent of them think you're a washed up fatass too old and rusted to do any real work, another twenty think you're just some desk jockey who thinks he can pass off as a real fireman, another twenty think you're damn-right fuckable and the last ten percent actually believe in you because they have too."

Nate blinked several times. "What was the third one?"

"The twenty that want your ass?" the wolf replied, lifting one eyebrow. "Don't be surprised, chief. These are dogs you're dealing with. You're in a pack. You've got to prove you're the alpha male or those guys are going to rip your ass wide open. These are young, eager boys, chief. If you were ever a teenager, you'd know what hormones do to a guy."

Suddenly, the job didn't seem so appealing. "What do you suggest, then?"

David shrugged absently. "I can't say. I'm not human. This is your class, chief. You've got to run with it the best way you know how. If I start stepping in, I'll be the alpha male and you won't have a class."

"I'm not the captain of this precinct," Nate growled savagely. "Shouldn't he be here to be the 'alpha male'? According to what you said, if I go out of my way to earn these boys' respect, the captain won't have any left over to be an efficient leader!"

David shrugged absently. "That'll be his problem. As far as I know, by the time he comes in, you'll be long gone. He can earn their respect however he wants. You should concern yourself with the fact that those dogs out there are going to rip you apart if you don't start showing some balls and the competency test that's coming soon."

Nate sat up straight. "How soon?"

"Sooner than you think," David replied ominously, rising from his seat. "Lives are at stake here, chief. You've got to make sure these boys are in top shape or someone might just wind up dead. Don't disappoint them. Most of all, don't disappoint yourself."

With those words, the gargantuan wolf turned and left the office, shutting the door without even the slightest sound. Nate found himself shaking. He glanced at his hands, lifting them to eyelevel and watching them quake right before his eyes.

"Shit..." he muttered softly. "What am I gonna do...?"

---

Training: Fire Alarms

"Hey! Come on! This is important!"

Nate had shouted himself hoarse over the past few days but the boys were acting... well... like boys. They completely ignored him as they chatted amongst themselves even as they sat on fold-up chairs in front of a whiteboard. Nate cast a glance at the diagram he had drawn, a messy scribble that was barely recognisable even to him. A long, drawn sigh escaped him as he turned towards the twenty or so guys who were so busy being boys that they didn't have enough time to be firemen.

He decided to give it one more shot.

"Hey! Assholes!"

That caught their attention. Most of the guys were looking at him with wide-eyed shock. The others looked somewhat amused like he had grown a pair of grapes that could be called testicles... for a chipmunk.

"The pressure of a hose is important!" he barked, glad to finally have their attention. His grapes grew into cherries. "Too much pressure and you lose control of the flow. Too little and you'll get nothing. You also have to make sure that every hose you use is well maintained. Every day, you have to make sure every hose undergoes a maintenance check-up. "

"I bet you're hose needs a check-up!"

A heavy blush wormed its way across Nate's cheeks and he had to fight not to duck his head in embarrassment.

Surging on, he said, "You always have to remember that the water will travel in an arc. Make sure that when you aim your hose -"

"How do you aim something so small!?" another barked, bringing a massive burst of laughter from the rest of the crew.

"Hell, how do you find that thing!?"

Nate persevered, straightening his back and choosing to ignore all the jibes. "You've got to ensure that there are no tangles or knots in the hose as well."

"We've got knots right here, chief!" someone shouted near the back. The Dalmatian stood up, thrusting his hips at Nate lewdly while clutching his crotch.

Nate was nearing boiling point. He promised himself that he would endure just one more jab like that before he lashed out. Though he knew he didn't stand a chance against twenty muscular, youthful would-be-firemen. Most of them were even going around shirtless. Typical furries, really. Clothes made them too warm on top of their fur.

"In the case your hose fails..."

Another student stood up.

Crack!

Everyone in the room jumped and all eyes turned towards the entrance to the common room. Standing rigid with severe, square glasses nestled on the bridge of her nose and a whip of all things in her hands, was... 'Victoria' from her nametag. The woman had a waterfall of black hair that reached halfway down her back, meticulously cut and maintained so there wasn't a single strand out of alignment. Her light-blue suit seemed to give her broader shoulders that didn't fit the rest of her lithe, curvy figure. The fact that she wore, jet-black, knee-high heels added to the screaming 'dominatrix' aura that hovered around her.

Victoria strode into the common room, her sharp, icy-blue eyes shrivelling everyone's manhood. Nate's cherries went back to being grapes... and then raisins.

One person didn't get the message, however. The same Dalmatian that had earlier thrust his crotch at her grinned, rising out of his seat. "Got a collar to go with that whip, ma'am?"

Crack!

The Dalmatian let out a loud yelp as the whip encircled his neck with a thunderous crack. The woman gave her whip one, hard yank and suddenly, the dog was on his knees in front of her. To add further humiliation, she pressed her sharp heel against his forehead, making him whimper.

"If you're going to follow that thread of thought," she answered, her voice cold, menacing and definitely 'ball-busting'. "Take note: I like my cream whipped."

With a flick of her hand, the whip uncurled from around the Dalmatian's neck. She lowered her leg and strode past him... but not before cracking her whip once more and letting the leathery length snap against the Dalmatian's rear.

Even Nate had to wince at that.

"I am Ms. Langley," she announced, striding down the length of the common room. She came to stand beside Nate, spinning around sharply. Her long, black hair whipped Nate's face, making him stagger back. "Victoria Langley. Victoria 'Ball-Busting-Bitch' Langley."

Eep.

"I'm the cold hard bitch that's meant to decide whether any of you are worthy of being firemen," she continued, her gaze sweeping over the crowd and systematically turning all of them from boys to little, snivelling girls. "That includes you, Mr. Corwin."

She didn't even spare him a glance.

"I don't really see why I have to take the test..."

"Because the city doesn't want to be wasting time and resources on a washed up pussy," she answered sharply. "You have two weeks to get your students and yourself into shape. The test will include a written component and a physical component. Your entire team must pass. No slackers. If so much as one of them falls below the threshold, you will be held accountable, Mr. Corwin."

Her eyes suddenly flicked towards the rest of the class. "And none of you will be firemen. Of that, you can be assured."

Crack!

Everyone flinched as she cracked her whip once more. "Have I made myself clear?"

A soft mutter was her reply.

Crack!

"I said, 'Have I made myself clear!?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Good."

Cra -

Nate reached his limit. His hand snatched out and seized her wrist. Victoria barely even flinched.

"I can sue you for sexual harassment," she warned.

"I could say the same to you," he replied. "I don't think the law looks very kindly to people going around whipping others and making comments about liking their cream whipped."

A small smile touched her lips but she kept her cool gaze away from him. "We shall see, Mr. Corwin. My employer is very influential. He makes the rules."

"Just because you make the rules, doesn't make them right," he growled back. "Only those laws that are needed, that are asked for should be the ones enforced. And as I recall, no one asked to be whipped!"

Victoria's smile remained as she yanked her arm away. "I see." She folded her whip calmly. "Very well. Your team must be ready in two weeks, Mr. Corwin. No excuses."

She turned and strode through the class. Literally. Her sharp steps took her cleaving right down the middle of the chairs assembled for the class. Like parting the sea, every would-be-fireman got up and scrambled away from her, taking their chairs with them so she had an unobstructed path straight to the door.

Nate couldn't blame them.

He was practically pissing himself after having confronted her. When the door shut silently behind her, the remaining eyes swivelled towards him. He reached his breaking point... and snapped.

"Class dismissed," he muttered and quickly stormed out of the firehouse.

He wasn't even entirely sure where he was going but he did know he needed to keep Victoria out of his head. Thankfully, as he crossed the Agency Building, he found several of the floors had been filled. The second floor was actually a bar.

Alcohol. That was what he needed.

He quickly hurried to the second floor, to 'The Real Bar'. Nice name, he thought, but the last thing he wanted to do was to think. Since it was just a little after three in the afternoon, the bar was practically empty. Open but practically empty. Some workers from the building lingered but most of them were already heading off to their jobs.

Nate seated himself at the bar itself and flagged down the barman, a tall, imposing lion.

"Your strongest beer."

"Little early for that, ain't it?" the feline grunted.

"Actually, it's a little too late."

The muscular specimen of lion nodded and poured him a nice, frothy, amber concoction and placed it in front of him. He downed it entirely and ordered another. He wasn't sure how long he stayed at that bar or how many drinks he had but no matter what he did, Victoria's threats and visage continued to haunt his every making moment. He was almost crying when a paw rested on his shoulder.

"Come on, time to get you away from here."

He saw spots in front of him. At first, he thought it was just his vision blurring but by the time his large rear found the soft cushion of a booth, he realised he was staring at a Dalmatian. In fact, it was that same Dalmatian that had harassed him and had, in turn, been harassed by Victoria.

"Hey... I know you..." he muttered.

The Dalmatian smiled softly. "Yeah. Probably do." He held out a paw. "The name's Josh."

He took Josh's paw, shaking it firmly. "Nathan. But everyone calls me 'Nate'."

As they let go, Josh said, "Little early to be drinking, don't you think?"

"My grave isn't so far away. I figure I might as well live it up now before I croak."

"So is that it? We're just another pay check to you?"

"No!" Nate answered quickly. "O'course not..." He sunk into the seat. "Just... Look at me." He made a vague gesture at his bulging belly that was halfway to tipping the table onto Josh's lap. "Now look at you."

Josh was fit, lean and was only wearing a black vest that showed off his chiselled abdominal muscles and luscious, firm, perfectly square pecs. His thin fur accentuated every muscle and curve on his athletic body. Even his bright, green eyes seemed fit and sharp.

"What can I teach you that you don't already know?" he said with resignation. "I bet you guys have gone over the manual over and over again. You know your stuff from college. This whole exercise is just another way to squeeze more money out of you guys before you start risking your necks for little gratitude and the shit the media throws at you. You'll be undermanned, underequipped and underpaid. Is that the kind of job you want?"

Josh didn't hesitate in his answer. "It's not about the pay. I'll be saving people."

"You know how many people you'll be saving in this city?" Nate lifted his hand to make a big, fat 'zero'. "None. The fires you'll be called to will all be false alarms. Ovens overheating, house fires that everyone knows how to put out and occasionally the little experiment that went wrong. By the time you get there, the fire will already be out. As for the big ones? Arson cases, bushfires, explosions or whatever else? You'll get maybe 5 at most in the twenty or so years you'll be serving. Each of them, you'll be too late."

He looked sullenly at the ground. "You won't be saving anyone."

The silence killed him. Killing someone's dream was the last thing he wanted to do especially since his dream was murdered years ago.

"I used to be just like you," he murmured softly. "Idealistic. I wanted to save people too. I even had a family. But being a fireman means that you spend more time on call than with your loved ones and when that one big fire starts, you don't even get the chance to say goodbye if things go south." He rubbed his leg absently. "And when things do fall over, no one is there to catch you. Not even your best mates."

Finally, Josh spoke. "I heard about what happened to you. You were pretty big down at the old precinct before Captain Wolfram took over. Then you had that accident and your leg..."

"Yeah, my accident," Nate muttered. "I tried to get back on my feet. I really did. But when your own feet won't even keep you up, you can't do anything but lie down and wait to die."

"I don't believe that."

Nate's eyes met Josh's in surprise. The young dog's eyes were fierce, strong. "I was like you, you know," he replied, a sly smirk on his face. "I gave up once before too. I wanted to be a fireman bad. My dad was one too before he died. Not a fire. Went to war. Died overseas. But I wanted to save people even if I didn't have the balls to hold a gun. So, I tried out. I failed. And failed. And failed. And failed. I failed over and over again. I practically gave up. I almost threw myself off the top of this building, you know?"

"What changed?"

"Captain Wolfram," Josh answered, smiling softly. "He gave me my last test. I bombed that one too. The written test is what always gets me. But you know what? He looked right into my eyes..." Josh leaned forward, locking gazes with Nate. "... and he asked me dead on... 'Do you want to be a fireman, son?'"

"You said 'yes'?"

"I said 'No. Not anymore'," Josh replied with a soft chuckle. "Then he leaned back and laughed. Telling me, 'Too bad. You're one now'."

"What?" Nate replied incredulously.

"He told me that some of the things you learn out there can't be learned from some test or simulation. You just have to experience it. One of the things I've apparently experienced more than anyone is disappointment. You've got to be ready to be disappointed. He told me that I won't be able to save everyone. No way I'll be able to put out every fire or save every damsel in distress from a burning apartment complex.

"That's why I'm in your class," Josh continued. "Call it 'extended training'. I'm officially a fireman but not yet on duty. The whole class is. We're the guys that flunked the test but who Captain Wolfram thinks would make good firemen nonetheless."

Nate wished he had the Captain do his assessments when he had his accident. "Wolfram sounds like a pretty stand-up guy."

"He is. You should listen to him."

"Wish he were around more," Nate muttered softly. His fists clenched tightly but there was wisdom in Josh's words. As a fireman, he had to be ready for disappointment. He had been disappointed over and over again but like Josh, he had to stand up after each one.

Looking at Josh, it was like looking at his opposite. Where he had started out great and fallen, Josh had started on the ground and turned out great. This Dalmatian was who he wanted to be again.

"You know," he said, slapping his palms on the table. "You're right. Wolfram is right. We need to be ready for disappointment and when we fall, we need to get up. No other way around it." He smiled softly at the Dalmatian. "Come on, let's get back to class."

"It's eight o'clock, chief," Josh laughed. "Class is over."

"Oh."

The Dalmatian stood up, smiling at him brightly. "But hey, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Count on it."

Josh turned to leave then stopped and turned his head back towards Nate as if remembering something. "Actually, something else Captain Wolfram told me."

"Oh?"

"When you get up, you don't have to do it by yourself."

---

Development: Hosing Down

Perhaps it was Victoria's appearance and the threat of never becoming a fireman or perhaps it was just the energy Nate was suddenly putting into all of his classes but the firehouse was filled with less boys and more men eager to learn the trade. Nate decided to alternate between lectures on the theory and physical training.

A gym had opened up at the Agency Building and using his discount from being employed by the Agency, he got a membership for each of the team. Every day, he would take them for some intense training sessions. That would be followed by a healthy lunch provided by the caterers also run at the Agency Building. Lastly, lectures for the evening just to wind things down.

Nate was starting to get sick of eating 'healthy' but as he downed the leafy, vegetable sandwich, he had to admit that he was coursing with more energy than before. Maybe it was the fact that Josh's jibes had become less frequent and were no longer barbed with disrespect. Instead, they had become friendly jabs that made everyone laugh, Nate included. A lot less was weighing him down these days and it had only been a week.

Well aware that he still had one more week before the competency test, he decided that it was time to start getting fit without just relying on eating healthy.

Sadly, he had no idea where to start. He spied Josh from across the small mess hall, eyes fixated on the television mounted on the nearby wall. The young Dalmatian was the closest person he'd call a 'friend' in this place. David Wolfram came a close second but he was hardly around. However, Nate didn't want to go 'begging' to one of his students concerning his own fitness especially since he had to pass himself.

The weight on the bench suddenly shifted and he glanced to his right. Wolfram sat there, hulking, muscular mass hefting a meaty sandwich in one titanic paw.

"You've got one week, chief," he reminded.

"I know," Nate grumbled, peering down at his pronounced belly with despair. He peered at his reflection coming off the metal table. An audible sigh escaped him as he saw the splotches of white that cut through his otherwise dark beard. It almost gave the illusion of black and white stripes. "The last thing I want is to disappoint the boys... They're learning really fast but..."

"Being a teacher is all about learning as much as it is about teaching," Wolfram said through a mouthful of meat. "Don't be afraid to ask for their help. They're as much your colleagues as you are theirs."

"But won't that kill my 'alpha male' status?"

"There's a difference between an 'alpha male' and being a 'lone wolf'," Wolfram answered, a smirk on his face. "My grandson once fancied himself an alpha. Funny thing is, you're only ever an alpha if you have others around you, people who you command respect." Wolfram nodded towards the budding firemen sharing a joke. "Just because you're an alpha, doesn't mean you can't be friend with them either. This isn't the wild, chief. You don't exile or dominate those who disobey you."

Nate pondered the words before turning towards Wolfram with a steady smile. "So... Will you help me get fit?"

Wolfram's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Huh?"

"From one alpha male to another," Nate answered with a smirk, "can you help me pass the test?"

The wolf let out one barking laugh. "I like you," he said, waving his sandwich at Nate. "Alright. But I'm not miracle worker. We'll start tomorrow."

"Why not now?"

"Because you still have a lecture to make and the Ball-Breaking-Bitch is back."

Nate instantly went rigid and spun towards the entrance to the mess hall. Victoria stormed inside, cracking her whip and bringing silence to the mess hall. The only sound was the chatter of the TV. With a simple flick of her wrist, her whip lashed out and switched it off.

"She's good with that thing..." Nate muttered.

Victoria's sharp eyes locked with his, making his shrunken raisins of testicles all but vanish. "You should see what I can do with a ball and gag." All eyes spun towards them as she approached, folding her whip casually. She sat on the table, casually sweeping aside the wrappers of both Nate and Wolfram's lunch. One leg over the other, she fixed Nate with her penetrating stare.

"So, I estimate you have about 6 days and fifteen hours before I have the pleasure of rejecting your ragtag group of wannabe fire fighters on the merit that their instructor is a fat, lazy, incompetent, unfit slob."

Nate found himself unable to speak.

"Not all of us can be top dogs," she said, waving a hand casually. "The world is filled with either sheep or wolves. You either follow the herd or you prey on the weak. Am I right, Captain?" She turned her gaze towards Wolfram.

"You're absolutely right," Wolfram answered. "Of course, of the wolves, we can't all be alpha males. The rest just have to be bitches."

Victoria strangely offered a slight smile. "Of course. So who's your alpha male, bitch?"

Nate fought back a wince but some of the boys further down the mess hall weren't so restrained.

"I would tell you but I'd think your daddy wouldn't like that."

Someone whispered 'burned'.

"Oh? So you like my daddy's dick up your ass, puppy?"

"Who wouldn't? At least one member of your family can pleasure a man."

Nate was trying to figure out why everyone else was staring at him, Victoria had this challenging smile on her face while Wolfram looked quite proud. The boys a few tables over just looked horrified. It took him a few moments to realise that he had thrown the last volley.

"I would be insulted if there were men in this place to pleasure," she answered, a cocky smirk on her features.

"Right. Because your daddy likes boys right?" Nate responded without thinking. His mind was rapidly trying to tell him to shut up but it wouldn't work. "Is that why you like emasculating men? So your daddy can fuck them?"

It was odd... but Victoria actually seemed a little pleased. She got up from the table, cracking her whip loudly. Turning her back to him, she headed towards the door but stopped just before leaving. She cast her gaze over her shoulder, her eyes twinkling with glee. "Why don't you come over to my place and find out?"

Then she was gone.

Silence was once again all that ruled the mess hall.

Then there was a rush of bodies and lots of spots. Paws were all slapping his back, congratulating him and laughing. He was being shaken left and right, bright, gleaming eyes looking to him with more than just predatory hunger but respect. Nate could only chuckle mildly as he was suddenly pulled out of his seat.

"To the bar!" Josh shouted. "The chief deserves a beer!"

Nate wanted to protest, tell them that they still had the rest of the class to go to but once glance at Wolfram and the wolf's sly wink told him to just go with it. Before he knew it, he was being rushed off to the same bar in the Agency Building. Like before, it was relatively empty but once he was in there with the rest of the precinct, it became so much more crowded.

They found a booth easily enough. Beers were being pushed towards him as the boys laughed at his remarks, commented on how he had smoked Victoria and shared their own 'bitch' stories. Nate didn't know half of what he was saying but it felt like there was a veil that had been lifted between his heart and his mouth. It meant he didn't have so much control over what he said but at the very least, he wasn't so worried about it either.

It felt... good.

He even began to learn the names of the others boys. Paul never really wanted to be a fireman but his family - being Dalmatians - came from a long line of firemen. He joined up to appease his parents and eventually grew into it. Sean originally wanted to be a police officer but he couldn't stand the idea of holding a gun being a pacifist so he opted to save lives instead of take them.

And Charlie...

Well...

Charlie didn't have any balls.

Literally.

He... was a she.

"What!?" Nate exclaimed.

Charlie threw his - her - head back and laughed. "Bet you couldn't tell by just looking at me, huh?" the Dalmatian asked, giving him a sly wink. She was surprisingly flat-chested but when one looked hard enough, those 'pecs' seems a little more bigger peaks than broader bases. Now that Nate knew, the way her broad chest narrowed to her hips seemed far more feminie than masculine.

"No... I'll admit I didn't."

She just grinned broadly at him and sauntered away, shaking her thin whip-like tail at him. "Well boys, you'll need some way to relieve your tensions, right?" She suddenly jumped onto a nearby table. Someone started some music and the bar was suddenly alive with hormones.

A crowd had miraculously started filtering in and as the music grew louder, Nate found the temperature growing hotter in more ways than one. Charlie's dancing antics were quickly joined in by others from the precinct.

Nate could only laugh and swing his beer to the tune of others.

"You should go up there, chief," Josh urged, nudging him in the ribs. "Show everyone that you've got some real balls."

Shaking his head, Nate said, "I don't have the body for it. Besides, I need to keep my image, right?"

"Captain Wolfram doesn't seem to mind."

Nate's eyes snapped back towards the tables that now served as a makeshift stage. Captain David Wolfram stood atop the stage alongside Charlie and a few of the other boys. He was stripped down to just his pants, showing his ripped chest, finely cut abdominals and veined arms. Despite his massive bulk, his movements were all smooth and fluid. He wasn't afraid to tease either.

The captain shook his nicely rounded, bubble butt at the cheering crowd, lifting his tail for all. As the men and women hollered for more, he picked up a mug of beer and poured it all down his chest, the amber fluids flooding down the curves of his body, taking with it the frothy bubbles that gathered in every crevasse, outlining the cuts his muscles made across his thick, black fur.

"That guy never stops surprising me," Nate laughed, lifting his mug to Wolfram. The wolf caught his gaze and gave him a sly wink.

"You're telling me," Josh laughed alongside him. "Did you know his son is gay and happily married? They've even got a son!"

Nate turned to the Dalmatian, eyebrows lifted. "You're kidding me. Really?"

Josh shook his head. "Nope. All true. Every time he speaks about his grandson, he always sounds so proud. Hard to believe huh?"

"You don't have anything against gays, do you Josh?"

The Dalmatian shook his head vigorously before puffing out his chest and hiking a thumb at his chest. "No sir! Hell, I'm gay too!"

Nate's eyebrows lifted even further. "Really?" he asked with a hint of surprise. "Got any boyfriends?"

"Still looking," Josh answered. Then he broke into a broad grin. "Lots of eye candy out there. Lots of eye candy in the precinct." He nodded towards the crowd. "Just looking out there, there's plenty of hot guys."

An affirmative sound was all Nate could offer. There was an awkward silence that fell between them despite the music and it was a painful silence. Josh's eyes were focused on the crowd, particularly Wolfram. Remembering what Wolfram said about alpha males, Nate was half-tempted to get up there and show the rest of the crowd that there was more than one top dog in the bar.

But... given his physique, that wasn't so wise.

Deciding to take a leaf out of Victoria's book, he said, "Why are you looking out there? There's a hot piece of meat right here."

Josh's eyes turned to him slowly, a sly glimmer in his eyes. "Are you hitting on me, chief?"

He wondered what he was doing but without that veil between heart and mouth, he just kept firing off words without giving them any thought. "Depends. Are you biting?"

To his surprise, Josh turned his gaze back towards the crowd. "I'm kind of full right now, chief. Not now."

It was at that moment that Nate realised why Victoria was such a bitch.

She came on far too strongly and thus pushed potential suitors away.

Furthermore, he also realised that he had just pushed a potential suitor away using her tactics.

And he was the one doing the pushing.

When in reality... he wanted to be pulling...

---

Training: Embers

The storm which was Nate's emotions continued storm and brew throughout the following day. He was sure his students saw it. Many of them approached him and asked if he was alright to which he gave the excuse he was just worried about the up-coming competency test. Most of them bought it.

Josh didn't, of course.

The Dalmatian pulled him aside just after their morning workout session. "Listen chief, if this is about last night..."

"No, it isn't," Nate replied, lifting his hands up. "I really am just worried about next week. I don't want to fail you guys."

For a second, the Dalmatian's eyes glimmered with... hope? "You sound committed..."

"I am committed," Nate insisted. "Haven't I shown that?"

Josh's eyes flicked away for the briefest of moments. "I dunno..."

With those words, they parted, leaving Nate somewhat shaken. Wasn't he committed? Wasn't he doing everything in his power to make sure that these guys got what they needed to become true firemen?

That storm became a destructive hurricane and he couldn't bring himself to eat with the rest of the team. He took his tuna salad sandwich and wandered around the block, looking for someplace to eat in quiet. There was a park several blocks away but just half a block away from the firehouse, he was already feeling winded so he decided to head back.

He almost dropped his lunch when he saw a grey-suited woman wielding a whip coming down the street towards him.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath as Victoria headed towards him. She didn't seem to have noticed him so perhaps she wouldn't notice him inconspicuously crossing the street. However, there was a policeman sitting in his car just a few feet away and he doubted that jaywalking in front of him would be very wise.

Swallowing his fear and urging his testicles to stop shrinking into his pelvis, he strode down the street with head held high. Victoria didn't even glance at him as they were about fifteen feet away.

At thirteen feet, still no glance.

At ten, Nate was sure it was her. The air temperature fell around her and his balls nearly froze over.

At five, Nate was in the clear.

At two...

Her hand fell on his shoulder.

A string of expletives sprang into mind but he held them.

"You're coming with me," she said firmly.

What could he say...?

'Fuck off bitch?' No... That was unprofessional and the last thing he wanted was to give her even more reason to fail him and the boys he was training.

'I'm busy. Maybe later?' Nope. Too weak. She would pounce and drag him kicking and screaming.

'I need an adult?' Too easy.

"If I get to top," he replied.

His mind was screaming at him, demanding to know where that came from. Oddly enough, he felt his balls had started pumping some much-needed manliness into his heart and that was giving his words much more force and authority.

"No promises," Victoria answered, seizing his arm. "Your arms seem much firmer. I do hope you aren't taking steroids to further your chances. There is a drug test."

Nate blinked in confusion. He hadn't even started working out with David yet... But maybe it was the food. Maybe he was just leaner. "You're going to take my piss? Damn you're kinky."

"Comes with the job," she answered, a smile on her features. "Come on. We need to talk."

That was not a request. Nate found himself being turned around and dragged towards the park he had spied before. Keeping a groan to himself, he followed her despite the chaffing in his thighs and the shortness of his breath. He was embarrassed at the waterfall of sweat that was rolling down his brow and hoped she didn't notice it when he adjusted the collar of his shirt to let out some of the excess heat.

"Can we hurry this up?" he muttered. "I've got a class to run."

"Alright." Victoria suddenly turned to him and pressed her body against his. Her firm breasts met his own embarrassing man-boobs as her hand expertly found his cock despite the folds of fat that hid it all. "I was hoping to do this somewhere more 'private' but here and now, on the sidewalk with dozens of people watching...? And you said I was kinky."

A lump placed itself in Nate's throat. He struggled to find some response but there was a sudden conflict between his heart and mind. His head was telling him to go for it. He would never get a chance like this ever again. Victoria was hot physically and while her personality did need some work, he hadn't gotten off for so long that he wasn't being picky.

And his heart... Well his heart was siding with his cock.

Which still reeled in the memory of her ball-breaking reputation.

With two to one odds, he pushed her away with a disgusted grunt. "What the hell? You're crazy!"

The cocky smirk on her face confused him all the more. "We're all a little insane, Nathan. I think you just have to ask who you're crazy for."

"Not you!" he barked. Spying her whip, he added, "Definitely not you."

"How about your ex-wife?"

He hesitated. "How did you know about her?"

Victoria tapped the side of her head. "My job is more than just kicking your ass and breaking your balls. I have to assess you psychologically and physically to ensure that what you're teaching those kids isn't some half-assed bullshit that you tell yourself at night to keep yourself from making that last cut that'll end your miserable life. People's lives are at stake. If you're not committed to the job, then you might as well not have it.

"And part of figuring out whether or not your committed is looking into your past and seeing if any of it is pulling you back." Her eyes hardened. "So I will ask again, let's talk about your ex-wife."

"No," he growled.

"How about your son then?"

"Hell no."

"Your daughter?"

"Will you just shut the fuck up!?" Nathan snarled. "You aren't my shrink! Get off my case!" He wanted to storm away but something in her glare petrified him.

"Your odds as dwindling as we speak, Nathan. As far as I can see, you have yet to even hit the gym." She made a vague gesture at his body. "Something is holding you back. Whatever it is, it's keeping you from looking at what is instead of what should be." Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Tell me, Nathan, are you still harbouring hopes that you and your ex-wife will reunite? That after you pull in some more money and prove to her your career is far from over that you will be together again?"

"That's none of your -"

"How old are you, Nathan?"

"I don't -"

"You are forty-three years old," Victoria snapped. "Far too young to be so depressed and far too young to look like you're sixty, obese and ready to jump into the grave. You should be fit, you should still be in the fire department, you should still be with your wife and kids." She stepped forward, jabbing a finger at his chest. "But look at what could be, Nathan Corwin. You could be teaching those kids something worthwhile. You could be leading them and saving lives. You could move the fuck on with your life."

She spun on her heel and strutted away but not before she turned her head back and gave him one last piece of advice.

"It's never too late to turn your life around."

When she was gone, Nate was left shaking. Not in rage. But rather from a sudden bout of weakness like he had his legs taking right out from underneath him and replaced with gelatine. The storm of his thoughts had quelled but it was still there, haunting the farthest recesses of his mind. More than anything, he wanted to push it aside... but instead...

He grabbed it and turned back towards the firehouse.

His heavy steps were filled with determination and purpose.

When he arrived at the firehouse, he headed straight to his office, grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled a note on it. He then returned to the makeshift classroom and posted the note on the door. That done, he left and headed straight into the Agency Building.

He walked right past the empty receptionist desk and towards the basement floors. Heavy, upbeat music hit his ears followed by the shouts of manly men and intense women encouraging their clients. The smell of sweat filled his nostrils as he took that last step into the underground gymnasium.

He headed straight towards the reception where a towering Doberman met him.

"Sign me up," he demanded.

He never noticed once, in his storm across the city, that his right leg no longer hurt.

---

Job Satisfaction: High Pressure

"Ten! Eleven! Twelve!"

Josh let out a triumphant laugh as Nate set the bar back on the rack.

Sweat rolled all the way down Nate's face and back, soaking his grey workout shirt and smearing the bench press with his sweat. Still, he never felt so alive. There was a burning in his chest and every part of his body was sore but as he got up, energy just coursed through his veins. The grin plastered on his face felt genuine and he felt proud of himself for the first time in his life.

"You've made a lot of progress, chief," Josh laughed, patting his back.

Regarding himself in the mirror opposite, he didn't see much difference but he had to admit, that his clothes were feeling less strained over the past three days. He wasn't sure how much progress he could make before the big test but, despite his reservations, he was determined to do the best he can. If not for himself then for the boys.

He could see what should be and he was striving for that.

"Hope it's enough," he chuckled softly, grabbing his sweat towel and wiping his brow. "So what's next?"

Josh gave him a knowing smile. "Nothing, chief. We've been here for over an hour and a half. Any more and you'd probably do more damage than good." The Dalmatian wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Come on, let's hit the showers."

Nate had to admit that initially, he had some reservations about showering in the open shower rooms of the gym but he pushed aside the thoughts of what is and focused on what should be. That filled him with confidence, gave him a lot of strength and he wasn't so afraid about showing off his less than ideal physique in the shower room full of hot, steamy guys rippling with muscles.

As he stripped off his sweaty clothes, he took a moment to admire Josh's own body. The Dalmatian was lean and very ripped. While nowhere near as big as the titanic Captain Wolfram, Josh was certainly very manly. As with all canines, it was a little hard to tell how big his 'puppy' was as it sat in its sheath and Nate would have been lying if he wasn't just a little bit curious.

He took a moment on what should be and imagined himself in Josh's arms. He never fancied himself as gay or straight. Victoria had hit the nail on the head when she accused him of just focusing on what was instead of where things should be. He found Josh attractive. No doubt about that.

So... What was the next step?

Currently, he was Josh's mentor. He couldn't just go sparking a relationship. Wouldn't that be unethical?

But, what he wanted and indeed, what should be is that he can engage the Dalmatian however he wanted. If that was sexual, why not?

At the very least, he allowed himself the courage to ask.

"Hey Josh," he began, taking some soap and shampoo towards the stalls. He wasn't sure what effect wiggling his ass would have on the Dalmatian but he tried anyway.

It took a moment for Josh to reply. "Yeah, chief?"

"What're you doing this weekend?"

"Studying," Josh replied shortly, coming up beside him. They turned the dials at the same time, letting warm water sprinkle them both. "The test is on Monday after all."

That's right... The last thing he wanted was to put more pressure on Josh. It was his future on the line after all. But still...

"Stressed?" he asked. "Worried?"

"Little bit," the Dalmatian answered. "I've got to admit, I'm not sure if I'm ready. It's a little... soon don't you think?"

"What did you expect from Victoria?" he replied with a laugh. "But if it's any consolation, I think you and the boys are ready."

A long pause... Then...

"What about you, chief? You think you're ready?"

Honesty time.

"No." But he quickly followed that up with, "But we've still got another four days before that day. I'm going to work my ass off to make sure you boys get over the line."

"You'd do that for us?"

Nate allowed himself a moment to turn towards the Dalmatian, smiling brightly and not at all ashamed that a large portion of his blood was seeping into his crotch. "Hey, I'm a washed up old fireman. You... You've still got a future in this profession. You should have a future. I'm going to make it happen."

Josh's green eyes ducked away, a faint pink shade touching his flesh and showing through his fur.

"Are you blushing?" Nate laughed, giving Josh a playful punch. "The big, tough fireman blushing? You going to do that every time a woman swoons at you?"

"I'm into cocks, remember?" Josh answered with a playful smile. That smile faded fairly quickly, however and he shook his head as if to brush some thought away. "Anyway... We better hurry up and get back to work..."

Some predatory instinct kicked in for Nate. "What's the rush? We've got time."

"Not really... Just four more days, right?" Josh was clearly nervous and he was starting to stutter.

"Yeah, but you don't need all that stress keeping you up at night." Nate offered Josh a lewd grin. "What do you say we relieve some of that stress?"

The Dalmatian was blushing deeply now, almost to the point that he looked more like pink with black dots. "I... I uh... I don't know... I mean... You've got a kid... an ex-wife... What would they say...? Even if this is just a fling..."

Nate seized Josh's shoulders and spun him around. He pressed the Dalmatian against the wet, shower stall walls, letting his lips hover over Josh's lips. No one else was in the shower stalls, offering them some privacy but he was still feeling a little nervous.

Then he remembered...

Focus on what should be.

And he should be with Josh.

"What if I don't want just a fling?"

"Chief..."

Nate pressed himself up against Josh, surprised that his throbbing eight-inch cock could rub against Josh's own canine manhood. "What're you afraid of, kid?"

Josh swallowed loudly, his lips quivering. "Just... how committed you are...?"

To answer him, Nate pressed his lips against Josh's. There was a moment of hesitation... then Josh's paws wrapped around the back of his head, pulling them closer into a tight, lusty kiss. Nate was surprised himself that he had dared such a move but he threw caution into the wind and pulled Josh closer to him, adoring the touch of the Dalmatian's ripped abdominals against his flesh. Those firm, square pecs rubbed against his own chest, the heartbeat pumping through them matching his own.

Josh suddenly pulled away from the kiss. Nate thought he would call it off. Then the Dalmatian bent over and sank his fangs lightly against Nate's shoulder, sending a ripple of pleasure rocketing up Nate's entire body.

Their embrace grew tighter as they wildly thrust their hips at one another, grunting and moaning softly as the warm waters of the shower drizzled all over them. Josh pulled his fangs away from Nate's shoulder, licking at the slight indentations they made before brushing his long, flat, canine tongue over Nate's lips once more.

Nate eagerly suckled on that tongue, drawing it into his own mouth and savouring its touch. When Josh pulled away a second time, the Dalmatian sank slowly to his knees, pressing his muzzle against the cleft between Nate's manboobs. He took a long, deep whiff of the thick chest hair there, snorting slightly to get rid of the droplets of water that had drifted into his black nose.

A gasp escaped Nate's lips as Josh wrapped his lips around his left nipple, his right paw working its way to the right and giving it a tight squeeze. Nate's legs almost gave out on him there and then. A fresh blast of pleasure rushed through his body when Josh wrapped his free paw around Nate's cock. Supplemented by the burst from his nipples and Nate was almost hazy with euphoric bliss.

He grunted as Josh pulled his muzzle away, trailing his tongue all over Nate's fuzzy belly before working his way to the erect, human cock. The feel of a hot muzzle around his cock sent bolts of hot ecstasy throughout his entire system. He tried to keep himself standing but his legs were constantly shaking from all the pleasure, his body quaking.

Josh was surprisingly deft with his tongue, sliding it all over Nate's length and even finding enough room to lick his balls even when he was hilt-deep in Nate's cock. His paws worked over the sore muscles all over Nate's both, squeezing his belly and pressing hard against the firm abs that rested beneath the rolls of fat. His back and chest were next attended to, squeezing and pressing against hard knots that had formed from strenuous exercise. Coupled with the wash of hot water, Nate never felt so good before.

Nate felt his balls starting to churn.

"Wait..." he muttered softly, pushing Josh away.

The Dalmatian's eyes regarded him, big, round puppy-dog eyes.

Nate grinned broadly. "Bend over."

Tail wagging, Josh turned around and offered his nice, rounded bubble butt to Nate. A lusty growl escaped Nate as he seized Josh's hips and slowly pressed his painfully erect cock deep against Josh's tight, pink ass.

"Ooooh..." Josh moaned, arching his back as the tip of Nate's cock pressed into his ass. "Yeah... Fuck yeah..."

The hot embrace of Josh's ass around his cock left him yearning for more. Nate pushed in deeper, thrusting his hips and burying himself more and more into that hot, doggy ass. His legs were barely keeping him up but he pressed his weight against Josh's strong, mountainous back. The Dalmatian was strong enough to maintain both their weight, encouraging Nate to push deeper and deeper until his balls were slapping against Josh's.

The Dalmatian was letting out soft yips and barks with each thrust.

Each push came quicker than the last, the pressure building deep inside Nate's balls as he felt his entire body quivering in anticipation of his release. He seized Josh's shoulders and yanked the Dalmatian onto his feet. His legs gave way at that moment and they were both sent tumbling onto the shower floor. Josh was a little startled and struggled for a moment. He was quickly calmed when Nate pressed their lips together. The Dalmatian's firm, muscular body relaxed. All but his ass which tightened around Nate's cock.

Nate's eyes rolled into the back of his head as his thrusts reached a feverish pace, his thrusts becoming wild and animalistic. A deep growl rippled from his throat. His hands held Josh firmly, one hand around the Dalmatian's firm, muscular chest and the other around that hot, throbbing cock.

Then a blinding blast of pleasure hit him.

His cock jerked violently, spilling years of pent up sexual tension in a single, epic burst that poured into Josh's ass. The Dalmatian whimpered and Nate felt a hot splash against his hands. Nate thrust one more time into Josh, spilling a little more of his seed into the dog.

Slowly, he dared to open his eyes and found Josh in a sleepy state, green eyes dazed and dreamy. Nate could only chuckle softly as he landed a gentle kiss on the Dalmatian's nose. Josh blinked a couple of times before sharing the smile.

"Shit..." Josh muttered softly. "This is the stuff they write about on the net."

"Huh?"

"Student and teacher fucking in the gym showers?"

Nate could only snigger softly. "Yeah... Pretty hot, right?"

"Totally." Josh licked his nose softly. "Does this make you gay now?"

Nate gave those words a couple of moments to think about that... then he broke into a grin and said, "I was never straight."

The look of confusion on Josh's face was priceless. "Weren't you married?"

"Married, yeah. Happily married. No." Slowly Nate pulled himself out of the Dalmatian, eliciting a moan. "Never figured out why," he grunted, slowly rising and helping Josh to his feet. He took some soap and applied to Josh's fur, gently rubbing him down. "And I think I know why..."

"You were gay the entire time?"

Again, Nate had to give that some thought. Then, he shook his head. "No... I think it's because I always felt so much more at ease and like myself with the rest of the guys in the precinct than at home. Does that make me gay?" He shrugged. "Dunno. But that was what was. Right now... I know what should be."

Josh gave him a few more confused blinks. "Huh?"

Grinning, Nate reached over and squeezed Josh's still-hard cock. "I should be with someone like you."

The Dalmatian's eyes widened. "Y - You want to be my boyfriend?"

"Who said anything about being boyfriend?" Nate answered with a smirk. He saw Josh's heartbreak but pressed on. "I've decided I'm going to be a fireman again. I'm going to get off my fat ass, get back into shape and do what I love doing. As for this..." He pointed to himself and then Josh. "We've known each other for two weeks, Josh. Let's take it slow, okay?"

"So... We're going to give it a shot...?" Josh asked, hope in his eyes and in his voice.

"I think we already did," Nate answered with a grin. He squeezed Josh's cock one more time. "Twice."

That made the Dalmatian laugh.

After showering completely, they threw on their clothes and headed out of the gymnasium. Nate had a skip in his step and was only vaguely aware he was holding Josh's paw. He didn't care. Let people stare.

This is how things should be, of that he was certain.

When they arrived at the firehouse again, there was a crowd gathered in front of his office door. By the looks of the boys, it was either extremely good news that came as a surprise or horrible bad news that broke their hearts.

Suddenly on edge, Nate let go of Josh's paw and pushed past the rest of the crowd.

"What's going on here?" he demanded.

Charlie handed him a note. "This was posted in front of your door."

Just looking at the stylised writing, Nate just knew it came from Victoria. He didn't know why. Slowly, he opened the envelope and read the letter.

His eyes widened.

"The test has been postponed to four months from now!" he exclaimed with triumph. "We've still got time!"

A cheer ran up from the crowd.

"Awesome!" someone shouted from the crowd. "More time to calibrate our hoses, eh chief?"

He didn't need to know who said that. Just one look at Josh, and he just had to grin.

"You still need to learn how to aim, kid!" he countered. "And that's what I'm here for!"

---

Appraisal: Stop, Drop and Roll

Four months passed by quickly but progress was not measured by time but rather by... well... progress.

Nate puffed out his chest proudly as his team scurried about practicing some drills. As confident as he had been four months ago that his boys could have passed the test, he was dead-set sure that they would pass now.

He clenched his fists, watching the sinewy muscles criss-crossing his arms and the veins popping against his flesh. With a satisfied smile, his confidence mounted as he regarded his reflection in the puddles of water that lay strewn about the practice grounds.

In four months, he had lost a lot of weight. It surprised even him just how much he had lost and he was glad to see old muscles appear from beneath the folds of fat like old friends that he hadn't seen in such a long time. Pride brimmed from every pore on his body as he glanced down at his feet, finally able to see them after being hidden behind the mountain that had been his belly. While still far from lean like Josh or most of the other Dalmatians, he was bigger than they are and, as he recently proved to Josh, stronger.

He couldn't attribute his success just to his own motivation either. Josh was a driving force behind his transformation and his spotty friend had done more than just help him workout both in and outside of the gym.

Nate reached into his pocket and made sure the carefully wrapped box was still there. He grinned when he felt its shape and turned his gaze back to the practice grounds. His crew had been over the same routine over and over again. Even with the simulated fires, they never once flinched or hesitated. They were true firemen.

They just needed the papers for it.

A soft grunt beside him caught his attention.

Victoria scribbled something on her clipboard, frowning here and there. Nate ignored her, however, and instead regarded Captain David Wolfram who stood beside her, grinning from ear to ear and with massive, muscular arms crossed against his chest. He had learned not to take Victoria's facial expressions seriously. Wolfram was far more honest.

"I've seen enough," Victoria said, lowering her clipboard. "You can call off your dogs now."

Nate reached up and pulled up the whistle that was wrapped tightly around his neck. The shrill noise of the whistle told the first team of firemen who currently worked the pyrotechnics to cut the gas. The flames died and the second team spilled out of the practice building. Nate blew his whistle once more and gestured with a meaty arm for the team to form up.

Every member of the precinct came together, perfectly lined up. Nate took his place beside them, standing right next to Josh. Just like the rest of them, he was covered in soot with his fireman's overalls dirty from his run with the first team.

The air was still were nervousness and even Nate had to admit he was feeling a little shaky. A paw gently brushed against his fingertips and he squeezed Josh's paw tightly.

Victoria regarded her clipboard for one moment more before lowering it again. "I think I'll let you all stew in your juices for a little longer."

A collective groan escaped the entire team.

"She means," Wolfram cut in, "that she still has to run through the written test. She'll have the results for you by tomorrow."

"What!?" Charlie exclaimed. "Girl, can't you just tell us what we got!?"

Victoria's sly smile returned. "Come over to my place and you'll be the first to get it, girl."

Before a verbal match could ensue, Nate stepped forward and lifted his hands up to stem the anger. "Okay, okay. We've all had a long day. Shower up and get cleaned. Then call it a day. I'll see you all here tomorrow."

There was a lot of muttering and grumbling but also a few sighs of relief. The boys filtered out but not before Josh gave Nate a glance that told him he wanted to talk. Nate returned an affirmative nod before turning towards Victoria and Wolfram.

"Tell it to me straight," he said, long after his team had gone, "how did we do? Really?"

Victoria's severe features were unbreakable. "Bad."

His heart sank. "What went wrong?"

"The fact that there wasn't a Captain amongst them."

"What? But I -"

"Are you the Captain, Mr. Corwin?"

Nate's tongue got tied.

"I didn't think so." She regarded her clipboard. "Your boys do well when going through the motions but they need true leadership in case things go south. However, this can only be said for the second team."

"Huh?"

Wolfram rolled his eyes. "What she's saying is that you made a very good leader out there, chief. Ever considered coming back? Your boys could use you."

Nate was confused. "What happened to your search for a real Captain?"

"I'm looking at him."

He stuttered. "Wha -? But - ? Why?"

Both Victoria and Wolfram exchanged glances. It was Wolfram who inclined his head towards Nate. Victoria replied by vigorously shaking her head and then jabbing a finger at Nate.

Wolfram scowled. "Hey, I did it last time. It's your turn."

"You're such a baby," Victoria muttered, turning back towards Nate. Strangely, her features softened. Nate was suddenly very afraid. "Nathan... Nate... Do you believe in giving other people another chance?"

Still a little confused, Nate said, "I guess so... Everyone deserves a second chance..."

"I didn't say a 'second' chance," Victoria answered. "I said 'another'." She sighed, massaging her temples and took a step forward. Her hand fell on Nate's shoulder, squeezing the firm muscle there. "Look, life is hardly fair. Just one screw up can lead people down a path that is far from desirable. It could be a wrong choice, a bad investment... an accident." She nodded towards his right leg. "But whatever the case, people all deserve happiness. But they just have to be committed to getting it."

"You're at a crossroads here, chief," Wolfram said, arms firmly folded against his chest. "You're back on your feet and it's not an issue of where you're going. Now it's just a matter of who you're going to go with."

"You mean...?"

"Whoever you want," the massive wolf replied. "There's no such thing as 'the one'. If people were as selective as the movies would have us believe, we'd all die as a species. The chances of finding one person in the six billion or so on this planet are... well... six billion to one." Wolfram shrugged. "You don't instantly love someone. You learn to love them."

"Just what are you two saying?" Nate demanded. "Neither of you are making sense!"

Victoria turned Nate around, forcing him to look at the firehouse where his team had departed to on his right, the setting sun just ahead of him and the burning practice house to his left. "Then let me make it clear for you. To your right, awaits the captaincy of his precinct. Not only that, you'll have a team you know, a boyfriend who's smitten by you and a future that is fraught with thrill, adventure and the occasional drama from your ex-wife over the accusation that you were gay the entire time and thus she'll try to rip you of your money as much as possible."

Nate gulped. "That sounds great except for the last part."

"If you want, I can tie her down and make her a lesbian."

"What!? No!"

"Car crash?"

"Hell no!"

"Alien abduction with a lot of probing."

Nate gave her a stern look. "Just who are you!?"

Ignoring his comment, she grasped the sides of his head and forced him to look at the setting sun. "Another choice, Nathan. Ride into the sunset to seek your fortune elsewhere. You'll find your love be it man or woman and I assure you, you will be just as happy as the other stories you have to tell. The only thing will be that you'll be abandoning not only the boys you've come to know so well but also your past. Still, my offer stands for some 'accidents'."

"No."

Victoria shrugged and turned his head towards the practice house. "Last choice: go back to where you were. Wolfram has an opening for a lieutenant at his precinct. Your old precinct. You can join him and after a certain amount of time, he's planning to retire so you might just get the captaincy there too. You can go back to your ex-wife, to your kids and to everything you had before but you'll be left wondering what could have been. Or perhaps it is what should have been?"

She offered him a sly smile as she removed her hands from the side of her head. "Your choice, Nathan."

Nate glanced left and right before turning back around to face these two... strangers. "Who are you two...? Really?"

Wolfram smirked. "No one."

"Huh?"

Victoria lifted her hand into the air. "We're just your friendly, ball-breaking guardian angels, Nathan."

"I never asked for your help." A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "But thank you."

"Our pleasure." Victoria nodded. "Just keep in mind that people can also ask angels to help others."

Nate wasn't exactly sure what that meant but he turned around and headed straight for the firehouse. He heard Victoria shout that despite their conversation, 'this didn't mean they passed'. That made him laugh.

As he charged into the firehouse, he wasn't surprised to find mostly everyone gone. Except for Josh. His silhouette was visible through the blurred glass of Nate's office. Smiling brightly to himself, Nate twisted the knob of his door and stepped inside, Josh sitting on his desk, giving him a nervous smile.

"So...?" the Dalmatian asked. "Did we pass?"

"I'm pretty sure we did," Nate answered, sitting right next to the Dalmatian. "Why? Nervous?"

"Little bit." Josh was blushing deeply and it was clear he had something to say.

Nate decided to take the plunge. This was his choice, after all, his path. This is what should be. "Hey, I got you something." Josh's ears perked up as Nate reached into the pockets of his trousers and pulled out the carefully wrapped, long box. "I was going to save this for when we found out we passed but seeing as it's basically a sure thing..."

Josh eagerly took the gift and prised it open. His eyes glimmered when he saw the black leather and gold buckling of the collar. "Damn... This looks expensive!"

"This job has its perks," Nate chuckled softly. "Here, let me help you." Taking the collar, he gently wrapped it around Josh's neck, tightening just so that it was firm but not suffocating.

Josh turned around, grinning. "How do I look?"

"Hot," Nate admitted, showing off the bulge in his pants shamelessly. "Though you'll have to take that off when you're on duty. That metal will heat up pretty quickly."

"You're really sure we'll be firemen?"

Nate smiled, placing a hand on Josh's shoulder and squeezing it. "Of course. You'll be putting out fires, saving lives and being a real hero."

"I thought you said I wouldn't be saving lives."

"You've already saved mine. That's got to count for something, right?"

Josh rolled his eyes. "God, that was so cheesy."

That was a challenge if Nate ever heard one. "Oh really? Then how about this for cheesy: There's a fire."

Josh was instantly alert and he immediately jumped off the desk. "What!? Where!?"

Wham!

The two of them when down in a tumble, Nate pinning Josh to the ground with a big grin on his features. He ground his hot loins against the Dalmatians, adding, "Right here."

Josh's eyes sparkled. "God I love you."

Nate's heart skipped a beat at those words. He instantly knew he had made the right choice. "I love you two, kid."

Their lips met like never before, their tongues dancing in the bridge that crossed their bodies. Nate expertly, unbuttoned the straps of Josh's overalls, helping him wiggle out of them. Both of them kicked off their boots as Josh's paws worked with Nate's straps. They discarded their clothes wantonly around the office.

Stripped down to just their black pants and shirt, the two grinned at one another as they collided halfway down the room, their lips meeting in a loving kiss as their hands and paws explored each other's firm muscles and defined bodies. Josh was the first to tear his muzzle from the kiss, planting his lips against Nate's massive bicep.

Grunting in pleasure, Nate lifted his arm, flexing his arm just for his puppy. A vein popped against the summit of his bicep, pushing his shirt down towards his shoulder. Josh's paws quickly wormed their way under the hem of his shirt, yanking it off in one, swift movement.

"Goddamn, chief... You're fucking hot," the Dalmatian growled.

Nate suddenly found himself being hurtled against the wall, the entire room shaking as their massive bodies slammed against the plaster. He moaned loudly, Josh's lips wrapping around his left nipple and his paws working the firm abs that jutted out just beneath his firm pecs.

A ferocious growl ripped from his throat as he seized Josh's shoulders, bringing his lover into a tight kiss. He pushed Josh backwards, still keeping their lips locked. They staggered across the room until they reached his desk. With one arm, we swept off all the junk on his desk, sending them scattering on the floor. He pushed Josh onto the desk, leaving the Dalmatian breathless.

Nate seized Josh's feet, tearing the socks clean off and revealing his huge feet. Grinning, he bent down and wrapped Josh's big toe in his lips. A soft moan escaped Josh as Nate drew his tongue in between each toe, dragging it across every leathery pad on the soles of his feet and squeezing his thick, muscular calves.

Another growl rose up from his throat and he seized the rims of Josh's pants. His arms bulged and thick veins popped against his neck as he tore the garment right down the middle, taking Josh's jockstrap with it. The Dalmatian's bright pink cock stood erect taunting him, inviting him.

Nate pounced, shaking the desk as he landed on it with his knees on either side of Josh's calves. He bent over, running his tongue up the length of Josh's entire 10 inch cock. The scent of the dog sent ripples of lust throughout his entire body, making every cell lust and crave for the Dalmatian. His lips found purchase around the head of Josh's member, quivering as warm precum spurted into his throat.

He hungrily drove his head down onto that thick, pulsing member, pressing his nose against the thick gathering of fur just at the base of his cock. His throat instinctively close around the cock, squeezing more of that precum out of Josh's quivering form. Eager to bring his pup to release, he ran his hands over Josh's lean, muscular form.

Those washboard abs...

... firm, perfectly square pecs...

... thick, veined thighs...

It was all unbelievable to think that all of them was in his reach.

Not a shred of doubt remained in Nate's mind as he bobbed his head up and down, savouring the taste of his pup's flesh dick. The heat in his pants became unbearable and he scrambled to tear them off. Josh's paws worked their way to the rim of Nate's pants, pushing them off his legs and letting his own eight-inch cock bounce free and slap against Josh's thighs.

Nate pulled his lips away from Josh, grinning as he let a bit of spit dribble on his pup's cock. He massaged that member, peering up at the look of pure ecstasy on Josh's face, his green eyes shimmering with love and joy. Nate wormed his way up the desk, resting his thighs on either side of Josh's broad chest.

"Fuck..." Josh moaned.

Nate readied himself, taking hold of Josh's member and slowly lowering himself down until...

"Oh god yes!" he cried, arching his back in pleasure.

Like being injected full of molten steel, the instant Josh's cock pushed into his ass, a wave of pleasure pulsed through every vein and made every muscle on his body quiver with joy. Eager for more, Nate lowered himself more, his legs seizing up as the pleasure became almost too much to bear.

He lost his balance and that only made him fall further onto Josh's cock, bringing a roar of utter bliss rippling from his throat. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as pure instinct took over. Nate pulled himself up from that member and pushed back down a second later, driving more and more of that cock deeper into himself.

"Fuck yes!" he roared, his voice rumbling with deep, manly baritones.

Nate was relentless, rising and falling with every beat of his massive heart. Blood coursed through every vein in his body, pumping into his muscles and pushing each of them to new limits. His face felt like someone was pushing it from all angles, squeezing it together tightly with ever rise and fall he made. It became annoying as he could only focus on it.

But he should be focusing on Josh's cock deep in his ass.

A fierce roar exploded from his throat as he shook his head wildly. His lips surged forward as did his nose. A firm, sort, square muzzle formed as his ears grew rounded and crawled ever so slowly to the top of his head. His russet hair became lighter in tingle, sun-bleached and nearly orange. It spread rapidly, crawling along his jawline and spreading across the top of his head. Like a thousand tiny pinpricks that left him sweating and tingling all over, countless hairs sprang up all over his face. Following the pattern of his striped beard, they formed a distinct colour pattern, orange around the rims with white under his neck and chin broken only by stripes of black.

The pain from his face gone, he pushed downwards once more, feeling Josh's knot just at the rim of his ass.

"Yes! Fuck yes!" he boomed.

Another discomfort welled up in his chest.

His shirt.

A deep growl cut through his throat as he opened his eyes, staring at his pesky, black shirt. His chest throbbed beneath the black cloth. Each pump of his heart pushed his pecs out further and further, all bits of fat bubbling away and reshaping themselves into firm, rock-hard muscle. His chest grew tight as his shirt constrained all breathing. He could only hold his breath...

But he should be shirtless...

With all his might, he pushed his chest outwards.

Rrrrrip!

Shards of black cloth went flying as his broad, muscular chest exploded out from the confines of his black shirt. A lusty grin crossed his features as he watched the fur on his neck spread and crawl all over his chest. The thick, dark chest hair he already possessed grew even thicker, interposing itself over the white that covered the rest of his chest.

His shoulders bulged, the bones growing and filling his body with a sense of freedom. He took a moment to tear off the remnants of his shirt and stare at his left arm. A quick flex and he watched thick, veins pump outwards from his broad, muscular shoulders and crawl over his entire arm. Where they touched, the muscles grew bigger. His bicep nearly became as large as his head and his forearm as thick as a normal man's calf.

For a second, he was shocked and lost his balance.

Josh's cock speared him once more, making him arch his back and thrust wildly upwards. His thrust eventually came back down, that thick, canine member pressing up against his prostate. Precum spurted out of his cock, each one pulling his own manhood outwards. He could only watch in awe as his now bright, pink cock surged outwards to match Josh's own impressive ten inches.

A hazy grin crossed Nate's features as he felt his balls start to grow tighter, his entire body seizing up as his release came close. He tried to hold on, relishing the feeling as he felt the pinpricks of the fur roll over his legs, thickening them and removing all traces of fat from his body.

"Awwww fuuuuuuuck!"

Like a volcano eruption, his cock shot molten hot cum in gallons. He felt Josh's own cream fill him but it was little compared to the pure ecstasy he felt as every part of his body seemed to orgasm. Every muscle in his body twitched and gave one last burst of growth.

His cock was rocked with a second set of spasms, spewing more cum than the first and with more force. Another roar shot from his throat, this one an unintelligible mess of lusty words. His cum splattered against the far wall.

He felt a powerful pressure build just above his ass. Somehow he knew what was coming.

The third spasm hit...

"FUCK YES!"

A blast of cum nearly coated the entire far wall. His new tail slashed out with the final orgasm, slapping against the table in joy.

Nate, dizzy and light-headed, couldn't keep his balance. The world took a strange tip and he felt the dull throb of the floor hitting the side of his head. He heard Josh shouting his name and when he next saw spots, he was sure it was his pup looking over him worried.

When his vision cleared, he saw Josh's green eyes staring at him, filled with concern and... fear...?

"Hey, pup..." he rumbled.

"Nate... are you...? Are you alright?" Josh asked.

Nate strangely felt very energetic. He flexed every muscle briefly, relishing the feel and the power the coursed through them. Suddenly very awake, he said, "Never better." Slowly, he sat up, regarding the mess that he had made on the opposite wall... and the fur that now covered his body. "Whoa..."

Josh took a step back, leaving Nate strangely cold. "No... I never wanted this..."

Staring up at his pup in confusion, Nate asked, "What...? I thought you wanted to be together...?"

"Yes... but... Not this! Look at you!"

Nate stood up and regarded his reflection on his table's reflective surface. A tiger's face stared back. A manly tiger covered in stripes that accentuated every curve and crevasse on his body with a thick patch of black fur that covered his broad, muscular chest.

He was huge.

And he loved it.

"I look great!"

"No..." Josh whispered, stepping back in horror. "No... This... This isn't..."

"I thought you wanted to see if I was committed," Nate replied, turning back to his pup. "Look, I think I'm not covered in spots but... But this'll work!" He grinned broadly. "I mean, now I'm fit, I'm strong and I'm covered in fur! My ex-wife won't even recognise me anymore! We'll be together and no one will think I was ever Nathan Corwin!"

"No!"

Josh's cry froze him.

The Dalmatian stepped back, back pressed against the door.

"Just... No."

Then he was gone, the door slamming behind him.

"Josh! Wait!"

Nate followed him through the door... but he was already gone, the cold night's air greeting his nude form.

"What the hell...?"

---

Pay Day: Fire Fighter

Nate thought it would've been hard to explain to his crew that he was the same Nathan Corwin that had trained them over the past few months but he was surprised when each of them just took his transformation in stride and focused on the issue at hand... or paw as the situation may warrant.

"We need to find Josh," he boomed, pacing impatiently with his tail thrashing. "He could be anywhere but we need to find him fast."

"You sure he's just not out sulking somewhere?" someone asked.

"No... Josh has had... suicidal tendencies before. I don't want to risk that." He spun towards his team. "Look... I know this is weird. I know... I know... Hell, I don't know. I'm not sure what happened to me or how it happened but Josh is one of us! We have to bring him back!"

There was a shout of acknowledgement from the entire team and he quickly gave orders. He split them up into four teams, one for each corner of the city. They were out of the door as quickly as he had called them back.

Worry marred his features as he quickly hurried towards the phone, eager to call Josh but afraid that if he did, he might miss his lover's call.

"God, I would've thought after four months you'd know where he'd be."

Nate instantly spun around.

Victoria and Wolfram stood there... as well as another that he hadn't seen in a while. A black-suited figure with a red tie and a pair of silver-wrap around glasses despite the near-darkness of the station.

Mr. Jacob Reaper.

"You!" Nate growled, storming over to Victoria. "You knew this would happen, didn't you!?"

"I suspected," Victoria answered with a dismissive shrug.

"I should tear you apart with the very claws that you gave me!"

"Wow, looks like your transformation added a couple of brain cells." She smirked coyly. "What gave us away?"

"You're a fucking angel! You're the only thing that comes close to supernatural! And this -" He gestured at his massive body barely concealed by some shorts and a singlet. " - this is far from natural."

"Oooh, smart kitty," Victoria laughed, petting him lightly. He knocked her hand away.

"Tell me where Josh is now!"

"Ask nicely and I might even throw in a ball of yarn."

Nate growled.

Strangely, it was Mr. Reaper who spoke. "When Joshua first told you he almost committed suicide, do you remember where he almost took his own life?"

Nate focused, quelling his anger and trying to think about that day in the bar when he had nearly drowned himself in alcohol. Josh had been there. He had supported him, gave him that spark of hope that set him on the path to recovery.

And he said...

... he said...

'So, I tried out. I failed. And failed. And failed. And failed. I failed over and over again. I practically gave up. I almost threw myself off the top of this building, you know?'

His eyes snapped towards the Agency Building.

He didn't waste another second and charged past the three 'angels' if that what they truly were.

Wolfram was smiling proudly.

Victoria had her cocky smirk.

Reaper... His features were unreadable, a still mask. Although... as Nate swept past him, he caught a small glimpse of what lay beyond those silver glasses.

Sapphire-blue eyes...

... with pupils shaped like eight pointed stars.

He set that thought aside and hurried out of the firehouse. It seemed like an eternity before he burst into the Agency Building and reached the elevators. Time seemed to go by slowly until the elevator came with a faint ding. He charged inside, hit the top floor and waited impatiently until the doors shut tightly.

Then came the waiting.

The horrible, horrible waiting as the elevator slowly brought him to the top floor. He had practically chewed his lips raw by the time the doors sprang open and he charged down that familiar white hallway and charged into the one office on the top floor.

"Josh!"

His Dalmatian stopped, standing on the edge of the open window that sat behind Reaper's desk.

Josh turned around, eyes wide in shock.

"Nate..."

"Don't do it!" Nate begged. "Please... I... I can't live without you!"

Josh shook his head in despair. "But... Are you even sure this is you? What if... If you were just turned into this?"

Nate regarded his hands... Paws now. As he looked up and saw Josh flanked by those two bookcases, he was reminded of a similar scene where he had to choose between right, left and centre. A smile crossed his features and he straightened his back.

"Josh... When I picked up this job, I thought it was just another pay check to me. But as time passed, it became more than that. This job... It needed a commitment from me. You needed my commitment. I couldn't give you that back then because at the time, I was held back by what had happened to me. I stopped that."

He clenched his fists and dared to take a step towards Josh. "Josh... I made a commitment. I stopped looking at what was and began looking at what should be. And we should be together. I made that choice, Josh. No one else did."

The Dalmatian's eyes wavered, closing slowly before shaking his head. "Nate... I'm just... so sorry..."

Josh took one step back.

"No!"

Every inch that Josh fell back was another fragment of Nate's heart giving way. He tried to move forward, to rush and catch his love but he was too far. The white chamber seemed too big and only grew bigger as Josh fell from view. Nate's tears streamed behind him as his cry shook the entire building.

The last thing he saw from Josh... was his green eyes... begging for forgiveness.

"NO!"

He hurried to the edge... but froze, daring not to look downwards at the mangled body of his love. He stared instead at the stars above, twinkling brightly and joyously as if to mock him. They all seemed to be laughing.

Nate just couldn't understand why Josh would do that.

Why would he... throw his life away when they finally had a chance to be together...?

"Because he asked."

Nate turned around, facing Reaper who stood behind him, silver gaze mysterious as ever.

"What?" Nate asked softly.

"Joshua. He read your story. Back at David Wolfram's precinct. He read your story and fell in love with your heroics, your deeds and I believe how cute you were back then. He heard about what happened to you and he wanted for all of that to change for you. More than anything, he wanted you to be happy. I do not think he realised that happiness was synonymous with being with you."

"How could he not?" Nate demanded. "I love him!"

"And he loved you in turn. However, did it ever strike you as odd that he rejected your initial advances? You must remember that your story is not the only one being written. Joshua was facing his own conflicts. He was conflicted over what he had wished for you. He wondered if his wish had, in fact, turned you into his lover; if the person who confessed love and attraction to him was just a figment of his deepest desires or the true Nathan Corwin."

"How could he think that!?" Nate cried, clutching his head tightly, his newly formed claws digging into his skull. "I love him! I did this of my own free will! This is what I want!"

"I know that. But did he?"

Nate was in tears. "How could I have shown him I was serious...? How could I have shown him that I wanted to be with him more than anything...?"

"Show him you are committed."

"What? He wanted me to marry him?" he demanded. "I would have! I swear I would have!" Nate surged forward, seizing Reaper's collar. "Please, do something! It's in your power, right? Give me another chance! That's what you guys do, right? Give people another chance?"

"Is that what you truly wish then? Another chance?"

"Yes! Anything! I just..." Nate felt his limbs shake. "... I just want to be with him... please..."

"No turning back. We give people chances but a story cannot be unwritten even if it is not remembered. Is this something you can commit to?"

Nate straightened, steeling himself and locking his jaw. "Yes... Yes please. Let me be with Josh."

"As you wish."

Reaper pressed his hands against Nate's shoulders...

"By the way... You will see spots..."

... and pushed.

Shock rippled across Nate's body as the world took a surreal dip backwards. His eyes went wide as his legs left the ground and the cold, night air embraced him. Reaper waved at him mockingly as he was hurled away from the building, the air rushing past his ears as he plummeted to his death.

One moment, he was shouting at Reaper, cursing his name.

The next... his life flashed before his eyes.

Any regrets...?

Just one.

Not telling Josh just how truly committed he was.

And then...

Peace.

He was going to be with him... He was going to be with Josh.

Nate couldn't help but offer a little smile as he just suddenly felt at peace with himself. His eyes closed as he waited for the sickening splat that would end his life. Head cracked open maybe? Spine horribly mangled?

Well... If hopefully wherever he went, Josh would be waiting.

Anytime now... There would be that splat.

Who was he kidding? He'd be dead before he heard it.

There wouldn't be a splat.

There would just be a

Floof!

... A 'floof'?

Nate's eyes sprang open. All around him was white... Except for the night sky... And the Agency Building looming above.

"What the...?"

"Nate!"

His heart skipped a beat. "Josh!?"

He turned to his right and scrambled through the white... cloth of some sort? It took him a moment to realise that he was scrambling over an inflatable cushion. The kind that firemen used to catch people who jumped out of burning buildings.

"No way..." he whispered softly.

He found the edge and dropped down. His head banged hard against the asphalt. Someone spun him on his back, spots flashing before his eyes. But they were spots that he knew. Even specked by the flashed of red and blue, he would know those spots anywhere. Especially the green spots that shone with worry and were smeared with tears.

"Hey handsome," he muttered groggily.

"Are you nuts!?" Josh demanded, green eyes wide in horror. "Why would you throw yourself off like that!?"

"Because... I wanted to be with you...?" he offered lamely.

"That's crazy!" the Dalmatian cried. "You would've died!"

"But I would be with you, right?"

For a second, Josh blinked several time. "That was... That was all for me? You would've gone to those lengths... just for me?"

Nate managed to sit up with some help from some others. A quick glance around told him that his entire team was here. Victoria and Wolfram stood on the outer edges of the gathered crowd and he didn't have to guess twice to know how they had gotten here and erected the equipment so fast.

"Josh," he said, turning his gaze back to the Dalmatian and holding their paws together, "I would go to the ends of the earth for you. I'd do anything for you. I would change for you. Hell, I have changed for you. I even followed you off a building! What do I have to show you I'm committed to you? Get you a ring? I'd throw myself off a higher building if I have to! If I have to - "

His answer was a tight, loving kiss, one that sent his senses reeling.

Josh slowly pulled away, a smile on his face. "You've done enough." He nuzzled Nate tenderly. "I love you, Nate."

Nate held his pup close to him, tears of relief streaming down his cheeks.

"I love you too, Josh."

Promotion : Fire Away

Fire alarm went off.

It was the middle of the night but there was never any rest for Precinct 93. With the ever-expanding boundaries of their city, 93 jurisdiction was caught between the urban, industrial and suburban locales. That meant there was anything from a house fire, a gas leak or an industrial accident that they had to handle.

Nate Corwin was out of his bed as quickly as the others on the night duty. He quickly retrieved his shirt, pants and overalls, quickly throwing them on. He already had one boot on when he turned around and slapped the firm mass of spots and muscle that lay beside him.

"Come on! That was the alarm!"

Josh Corwin murmured softly and waved back at him sleepily. "Too tired..."

"Bullshit," Nate laughed. "You wore me out!" He yanked at the Dalmatian's tail, making the canine turn around, green eyes wide awake.

"Asshole," Josh sneered mockingly.

"You know it," he laughed, yanking his mate up to his feet. "Come on, hot stuff. We've got a fire to put out."

"My hose is empty."

Nate gave him a playful nudge, throwing him his gear. "Get dressed. We've got a job to do."

Josh rolled his eyes but broke into a grin as soon as he was partially dressed. "You do realise this means I'll need help getting back to sleep right?"

"Best part of being a fireman," Nate replied, his own grin matching Josh's. "You get to use your hose all day long."

*****

---

The alarm could be heard from the top of the Agency Building.

Jacob Reaper stood with his arms folded behind him, watching the fire truck speed out from the firehouse next door and off to whatever emergency they had to attend to.

The owner inclined his head to the side.

"Did you have fun, Victoria?"

Victoria stretched, groaning softly as she hobbled up to the dais in the white room. "I'm sore, I've got fur in places that shouldn't have fur and I think I may have developed a fear of the game 'connect the dots' but it was totally worth it. Charlie is insane in the sack."

"I am glad you had your fill."

"Next time, I'll be straight though," she said, tapping her chin and gazing up at the ceiling. "I feel like being penetrated."

"I'm surprised," David Wolfram said, stepping into the office. "I would've thought you'd have all sorts of penetrative tools in your abode."

"Oh I do," she answered, waving her hand absently. "But the little grey men I borrowed them from need them back by tomorrow and I doubt I can convince someone to probe me."

Wolfram winced. "God... Sometimes, you scare me."

She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Do I now?"

"Gay remember?" Wolfram said, lifting his paws. "I'm happily married and that's my grandson."

Victoria rolled her eyes and turned back to Reaper. "Well, at the very least Josh and Nate are happy. Did you really have to push Nate out the window though? Or let Josh inside for that matter?"

Reaper chuckled softly. "I believe it had somewhat poetic. Josh almost killed himself here when the building was still being built and he was saved by 'Captain Wolfram'. He then made a request to me in this very same building to grant happiness to Nathan. It was fitting that our role in their stories end in the same place it started."

"That and I bet you just wanted them to have crazy hot sex in your office, right?" Victoria accused. "Seriously, from the moment we set up shop here, almost every couple we've intervened with has ended in sex. It's sex, fuck, fuck, cum, cum, cock, vagina everywhere! Am I seeing a pattern here?"

Reaper turned towards Victoria, a sly smile on his features.

"My dear Victoria, why do you think my realm is all white?"

---