A dog named Toby (3)
A dog named Toby Chapter 3 By Roofles
"This is so your fault." Cody said speeding through a yellow light getting several cars honking at him and a few choice digits pointed in his direction.
"You weren't complaining." The dog said casually as if they were just shooting the breeze. He was trying to fix his tie in the mirror but couldn't get it right with his large butterfingers that kept fumbling and messing it up.
Screeching to a halt Cody stopped at the next red light with a choice curse. He closed his eyes, tightening his grip on the steering wheel after putting the car in park. "Let me." He said more softly as he relaxed.
He reached over and took the ends of the tie from him and quickly, proffessionally and almost lovingly did it. At the end he put a hand against it before pulling back and looking forward with a frown. "When's this light going to change."
"Thanks..." Toby said softly lowering both ears and looking over at him. He still faced forward but kept his eyes fixed on the man next to him. "Sorry." He said meekly smelling his anger.
"It's not you." Cody sharply said before easing up again. "I just hate morning traffic. One reason why I leaving late... Well I just hate driving. But you got to drive in this day and age. Morning traffic just makes you want to drink, heh."
"You hate driving?" Toby asked trying to fish for topics. He hated the silence. Growing up in a house where only a few words were exchanged every hour between distance parents that should've gotten a divorce a long time ago. Only staying together because of him. And recenting him because of it.
"My dad was killed in a car crash." He replied flatly shutting the dog up.
The light soon turned green and before he could shift back into gear the car behind them honk cutting his apology off. The two drove the rest of the way in a heavy silence. Toby buttoned his shirt up and adjusted his pants. Toby had just run inside his place and snagged the clothes, coming nearly butt naked outside while both trying to get to the car and put his pants on. He fell over twice much to Cody's chagrin and amusement. The man just watched the dog face plant before scrambling to his feet, holding his pants up as much as he could before tripping over his own clumsy paws again. Cody had to get out of the car and help him out before they managed to get going again, though time and his patiance was wearing thin he was smiling for the whole show. Even as he grabbed the sides of Toby's pants from behind and were pulling them up for the dog.
"Remember what I said." Cody repeated himself for the fourth time as the two stood in front of the door only a minute or two to spare before clocking in. He was fixing the dog's suit collar and smoothing out his outfit. Fussing over him like a mother would her child on the first day of school.
"Yeah, yeah. No word on the whole butt sex thing." Toby answered him again speaking even louder as he went on making Cody wince at those two words.
"Good...good." Cody said looking at his chest as he tugged on the ends of the suit to smooth out a wrinkle that just rewrinkled every time he let go.
Toby looked around with a bored expression making sure the coast was clear before planting a large, wet sloppy kiss on his forhead. Cody straightened up at that but didn't look up at the dog who continued to nuzzle his hair with his snout, breathing softly against it. His paws holding the side of his head as he did so. One thumb stroked the side of his cheek.
The dog was six two, large body with an impressive set of shoulders on him. He wasn't the tallest person in the office but had a large growing presence about him that captured the eye of anyone in a room. Always with a bored almost droll expression on his face with an air of superiority that had gotten him promoted to the position he was in. It all just made him stand out. It was that quality that got him promoted. He was a looker and got more than one offer a day about it. Even with the small beer belly he was sporting. That was now pressing against Cody's lower chest.
Cody was five ten. A friendly warm guy anyone could come to at any time of day for any matter. But he wasn't one that stood out. More of a good face in the crowd. Someone that nobody noticed or didn't notice. A person nobody would have problems with. Even now he was just a man before the dog who was resting his chin ontop of his head. The minute before work made sure that they were left alone for the moment.
"I'll see you around then." Cody finished deciding it was best just to leave the wrinkle as it was. It was just an excuse to stay behind after all. To be held in those strong, large warm paws.
"For lunch." It almost sounded like a question until Cody caught the dog's eyes. Eager and full of hope at the invitation. His tail even wagged at the prospect of their future meeting.
"Don't we always?" Cody answered as if he had in fact been asked a question before taking a left at the front desk after checking in. The heavy steps behind him told him the dog was following in his wake.
Cody pushed the button for the elevator and waited, folding his hands in front of him. "Don't you work on, like, the other side of the building?" He said out loud and to no one in particular even though it was only him and the dog in the hallway. Evening having checked in before the hour most to everyone was already busy with work.
"I'm taking the scenic route." Toby said followed by ooing and aweing. Cody raised an eyebrow at him but didn't push the issue as the doors finally opened.
He joined the cleaning custodian who was busy looking over her supplies to notice the dog grabbing his ass as Cody headed inside. Cody took the corner of the elevator being out of the way as he usually kept himself during work. And the dog stood in front of him matching his folded hands with paws grinding his rear back towards him as he moved closer. Whistling a soft turn before bidding the cleaning lady to "have a good day" as she departed. Moving back a few more inches as the doors shut. Cody pushed the dog away with a laugh, keeping an eye on that firm ass in front of him tail fully raised.
"You see to be in a rather good mood." Charlie, a beagle, said getting on and adding a button to the rotation. The dog was in a faded, moth eaten gray suit much like the one Cody had except it looked several years older. He had several papers in his paw and was trying to keep a hold of them. Toby already moved away from the corner before the doors opened looking completely innocent, guiltily so.
"Had fun last night." Toby shrugged licking the side of his teeth as he did so. He focused on the back corner of his muzzle where he could still taste the man standing behind him on his lips.
Cody popped his brief case open and took a file out. He began looking it over ignoring the dog's wagging tail hitting him in the side.
"Oh, I so know that look! You hooked up didn't you." Charlie said slyly with a wink and hushed tone as if trying not to have Cody hear him. "I can still smell the aftermath."
"Oh that?" Toby sniffed under his armpit before laughing it off. "That was from this morning." He finished with a loud swallow though.
"Damn." Charlie looked up at the numbers slowly ticking by. "Wish I could get that lucky."
"It take's persistence." Toby confessed modestly but his grin gave away the devious mind it came from. "Oh, see you later then Cody." The dog said waving as the man slipped by him and out onto his floor at the next stop.
Cody stopped after keeping his place in the file and smiled back at the two. "Have a good day, Toby. Charlie." A warm meaningful smile that made Toby want to shove the beagle out of the way to recieve the full effect of it for himself. "See you later."
"Bye," Toby said a little giddy raising a paw to wave him off.
"See ya'," Charlie nodded but kept an eye on the bernese mountain dog. Cody vanished around the corner looking through the file and making mental notes as he went. "You have such a thing for him." The beagle shook his head making his flopping ears swat his face like fly swatters. "When are you just going to ball up and ask him out already. Hounding over him since you met isn't becoming. Doubt he'd turn someone like you down...straight or not." He spoke with a bit of envy in his voice, frowning as he did.
"Hey I went to his party last night. It's a start." Toby said sticking his nose up still smelling him on the end of his snout. It only made that giddy feeling inside greater.
"Dude. You like so want his puppies." Charlie groaned covering his face with a paw and shaking his head. "Your a pathetic puppy when he's around. I'm surprised he hasn't noticed. Human's just don't pick up on some of the most obvious of things."
"Right. Human's don't." Toby looked at the dog before grinning at the inside joke. "It's the smell." He said getting off at his floor. He'd have to cut through the building though to get to his department.
"Hey," Charlie said grabbing his wrist before he could escape. "Are we still...on for lunch?" He said with a heavy undertone as he bowed his head down towards his crotch.
"Sorry. I already got plans." The dog said looking at him with lingering eyes but his fingers still gripped the paper lunch bag that Cody had made him that morning. Something Cody had almost forgotten to give him as they exited the vehicle.
Toby could hear the beagles whine as he turned the corner.
"A lunch bag." He shook his head as he headed down the hall looking at it in his paw. He hadn't had one since he was a pup. He didn't even know people still made them having bought his lunch for the past six years. Toby couldn't help but have a warmth in his heart thinking of the fact even his sandwhich had the crusts cut off. He always did hate the crusts.
Dropping into the breakroom he put it in the fridge. Admiring his name on the bag with a small doggie paw print on the corners. It had taken a little time and effort to do the bag and make the lunch. But it was the thought that counts. And if Toby loved one thing more than jerkin' it, it was being spoiled.
Sticking his tongue out happily he sashayed to his desk.
Cody was alreayd knee deep in paper work. Collecting data, filing papers, making calls, fixing other people's problems, cleaning up one mess after another all the while in his good hearted spirits.
"I'm sorry Miss...Clarksky but we can't except your claim. No. The fact that...Muffin was caught in your drain pipe for the past month doesn't give you claim to the insurance legalities of the bill. I'm sorry. Yes. No I can't shove the paper works there. No. Sorry. Yes. Have a nice day." He finished putting the phone back on the hook and going back to business already forgetting the transaction.
Time itself was relevant to him as he worked. He figured out that as long as he never actually looked at the clock the minutes would tick by like seconds and flow into hours before he knew it. As long as he consumed himself with his work and in the moment time itself was fleeting and before he knew it the small tigger figurine clock on his desk was bouncing up and down.
Cody was glad to shut the file in front of him. He hated refusing some people aide. Some sob stories really touched home and others were just crazy. Stashing it and the other files away in his desk, locking the drawer and his computer, he got up stretching with a groan. His joints felt stiff and creaking much as he'd imagine the tin man felt after rusting in the rain for so long. The chair he was given was as comfortable as an electric chair. Seemed appropriate. A chair sentencing his death for a dead end job.
One thing he was glad about his cubicle, four small walls that always felt as if they were going to collapse at any minute; was that the small box was right around the corner from the break room. He just had to slip out unnoticed before he was given any more work and hide in the saftey zone of the break room where most of the hire official avoided.
The room was mostly empty except for the stray coworker coming in to grab their lunch to quickly retreat back like gophers to their cubicle to eat and continue working. Lemmings about to walk off a cliff as he liked to think of it. A few strays would come in to grab their coats to head out to eat, a wise choice but dangerous territory walking around without noticeable work. Any suit would be glad to remedy that for them and then their already short lunch would be done before it began.
Cody grabbed the paper bag with his name on it noting the fact that Toby's wasn't there. It wasn't too surprising seeing as how Toby worked on a few floors up. Though he began to wonder if that dog was even going to show up. He saw him in passing from time to time and every now and then he'd drop by this break room to visit with his friends in Cody's department. It's not like he came down just to see him. Although just last week his friend Charlie hadn't shown up and it was just the two of them here. It was at that time Cody asked if he wanted to come to his party.
His hopes began to plummet as the minutes ticked by and he sat at the table picking at his food alone. Sharla and Janet came by and asked if he wanted to join them at the "cute little Arab place" that had opened up at the corner. Cody politely refused and didn't bother trying to explain that they were Indian not Arab. He had seen the Scaley Anteater's setting up the shop a few weeks before but had never actually gone inside. Right about now it sounded like a better option than the bland baloney sandwich he was playing with. He had used the last few pieces of turkey for the dog's.
Shaking his head he went back to his meal. Greeting Carlos as he came in and Antoine who came in five minutes later. The two guys usually joined him around this time. A routine and schedual he was used to and liked. At least some people could be expected.
He didn't even notice the voices coming down the hall or the two dogs that soon joined them in the room as he talked with his two coworkers. Or maybe Cody didn't want to notice the dog that came in with his friend. A selfish part of him inside wanted to ignore him out of spite. But Cody didn't think of it like that. Just greeting the dog in a friendly but distant manner he always had. As before.
"Hey." Toby said sitting down across the medium size table that took up most of the room in the break room. The sink and kitchen set took up the east side, lockers lined the walls and right next to the door were two large vending machines taking up the rest of the space.
Cody waved at the two. The bernese mountain dog and a beagle that worked only a few cubicles down from his own. He went back to talking with Carlos who was talking over a case he had been filing all day using anigrams and code names for any sensitive data. Cody noticed the change when the two walked in.
Toby's ears drooped at that. He only recieved a slight wave. Like he had all the other times he acknowledged him in the past. A friendly smile and tone that he gave to everyone. The tail that had been wagging drooped half hiding between his legs before slowly wagging again as he turned back towards Charlie.
"The games pretty sick I got to say." The beagle went on as he popped his can of soda open. He tipped his muzzle back before taking a drink.
"Isn't it the same as the other fifteen football games out there?" Toby replied as he open his lunch. A turkey sandwhich, some chips from the party in small baggies along with some grapes. And at the bottom of the bag was a biscuit dog brand cookie.
Toby turned around to look in the vending machine and smiled at the same brand cookie on the third shelf, five spots over. It was true about most dogs. The best way to a dogs heart was through their belly. He rubbed his at the notion and took a bite of the biscuit looking over at the man chatting up with his friends. Their eyes me before Cody looked back at his lunch.
The two groups kept their distance from each other but one dog kept trying to cross the bridge. One ear jumped up at something he could grab onto and gladly joined into the conversation if only to add a remark, quirp or jest at the situation. Carlos tensed up at being recognized and focused on his meal even more. Antoine mostly ignored the remarks as the minutes passed by. Cody laughed at one in particular about not doing the work and blaiming the dog on eating them. It only made the other two men with him embarassed and uneasy as if by laughing at the remark was offensive coming from the source.
"I don't own a dog though." Cody said as the thirty minute mark ticked by. He was looking over at the two but focused only on the dog grinning back at him.
Toby lounged back in the chair tossing an arm over the back as he licked one finger after another. Slowly as he worked his way down the digits.
"Should get one. We're good companions." He teased sticking his tongue out and opening his legs as he relaxed. "Specially for those lonesome nights." Toby licked his middle finger after that. Slow. Long and fully with his broad tongue before wrapping his muzzle on it and sucking it clean.
Carlos was further unnerved and quickly excused himself stating he had to finish his paperwork and call the doctor office again to recheck on the forms he requested. Charlie was looking between the two that had kept their eyes locked as if in a game to see who could look at each other the longest without blinking. Toby won only because Cody noticed he was being watched.
Cody finished his drink and tossed it into the recycling bin in the corner. "I'm more of a cat person anyways." He said in the silent room. It seemed to bounce off the walls echoing around them several times afterwards.
Toby's fur bristled up at that but he kept his cool not playing off the taunt. Though he took some time before he spoke again. "A cat." He said. "Just doesn't have enough bite." He added snapping his jaws to prove his point.
"A dog's all bark and no bite." Cody replied almost instantaneously as if waiting for his reply. That only made Toby fur puff out more.
The dog smoothed his arm fur down as he let out a slow breath. Before glaring at him and pressing a paw against the table he was about to come back, rather poorly, when he was cut off.
"Why don't you two just get a room already." Antoine said pushing himself up from his seat and heading out. "Don't forget to clock in in ten." He noted waving over his shoulder at the clock. "Talk with you later, Cody. Text me the juicy bits." He added before leaving.
"Did I...miss something here." Charlie asked pointing between the two with his finger like a dog's tail wagging.
"No." Toby said relaxing as he pushed himself up from the table. He began to clean up his garbage and Charlie's as well. "Just a bit of teasing gone too far."
"Some people can't take a joke." Cody added in with his genuine smile and warm welcoming tone that made it almost impossible for anyone to think that there was something more in his words. "Just a Halloween prank we concocted at the party."
"Right..." Charlie said before smiling a bit uncertain still. "Well I do enjoy a good joke, heh. Heh. Heh..." He got up as well and not having anything to clean decided it was best to leave te two with their silly game feeling more awkward by the minute. "See you after work." Charlie said standing in the open doorway.
"Cody's giving me a lift home." Toby said not looking at the beagle.
"I am?" Cody asked surprised but amused.
"He is?" Charlie said almost in a whine. "Well. Then. I'll just. See you around then. Mr. Steel." The beagle turned on his heels and left.
"I think I missed something here." Cody said watching him go. He reminded the man of a high school girl after her boyfriend refused going to the mall with her. A thirty year old man throwing a hissy fit was kind of a funny sight. "Mr. Steel?"
"You didn't miss anything." Toby said flatly, tonelessly. "He just wanted something is all. And my last name is Steel."
"So he didn't get what he wanted and now has a stick up his bum because of it?" Cody laughed.
Toby grinned at the notion. "It's because he's not getting a 'stick' up his bum that he's pissy." The dog muttered.
"What?"
"He's just a prissy drama queen." Toby said louder looking over his shoulder as he washed Charlie's dish of last weeks lasagna. He didn't mind as it got the dog out of his hair.
"Charming." Cody said cleaning up his area most of which was just garbage. Tossing it away he fidgeted not sure what else to do so he went over to stand next to the dog. Sneaking his hand under the water he began washing them, moving Toby's paws out of the way as he did so.
Toby nudged him aside playfully with his hip. Cody nudge him back making the dog's tail wag.
Cody began to dry his hands as the silence ensued. He was about to ask the dog what had taken him so long to get here but at the same thought better of it. It was more out of curiosity than a wanting need to know. Yet it still tugged at a corner of his heart.
"Sorry." Toby said after a few more seconds of silence. He could smell the unease from the man, see the nervous agitation he had. "About being late I mean. Charlie wanted to...eat out." He lied through his teeth glad that Cody wasn't looking at him. At the droop in his whiskers or his sagging ears. Both of which would've easily given his lie away. "So it took me some time to get down here." He finished abruptly.
"No worries. I didn't even notice." It was Cody's turn to lie and the fact he eased up alone told Toby that. "I'm glad you came on down to eat with the clods." Cody said using the inside joke between him and his friends.
"Is that how you see us?" Toby asked talking about those he worked gesturing skywards to indicate so. "Ha." He grinned though and stood a bit taller as his ego inflated.
Cody looked over his shoulder, knowing that the break room camera didn't work, before slapping his ass. Hard. Making the dog yipe. "Only most of them."
Toby reeled towards him with a growl. "That." He stated flatly catching Cody off guard. "Is sexual harrassment in the work place." And a growl escaped him as he licked his lips. "And that's exactly how I like it." And with that pounced.