Doggie Do's and Doggie Dont's. Chapter Nine.
Doggie Do's and Doggie Dont's Chapter By Roofles
It was another week and the laborous chore of work was hounding the two just as it had the last couple of years. Very little had changed in their singular lives. Work, home, laundry, hanging out on the off times and relaxing during the weekends. All of these things were the same as they had been before, before the two had at least said without ever actually saying they were together as a couple. One of those small things that was digging into Axon's very mind.
There was a small difference Tom soon realized about his day to day routine that he perfected, working on ever since he moved in. That in his equation of his life he had never written in or even theorized about a rather large anomaly. A large, fluffy, drooling, annoyingly loveable one at that.
Owning a saint bernard was in and of itself a large chore. Dating one was in a whole other category.
Tom hadn't even noticed being so distracted by the actual dog himself; noticed that slowly over the past two months since they began whatever it was they had begun, that Axon's apartment transmigrated from one apartment to another. Mainly Tom's.
It had all started with a CD. A simple dvd disc of Monty Python that would eventually open the door to a rabid flow of any and everything. At first Tom didn't even notice, let alone care. Such as the dvd that was watched and then forgotten inside the ps4. This was soon followed by a dozen other satirical, sarcastically, idiotically stupid comedies that was soon followed by an even worse set of old black and white horror movies the man didn't even know exsisted. Most of which would make the original godzilla movie (which soon popped up as well) look realistic and futuristic in comparison.
Movies were followed by blankets, pillows and sleep ware. Even though Tom knew the dog always slept naked anyways. This was accompanied by drinks and chips to watch said movies which. That lead to both of them going shopping for popcorn and more beer. And still the man didn't make the connection that the food didn't go into the dog's apartment but went in and stayed in his own.
Tom only then realized that the ps4 didn't even belong to him but the dogs. Who also by this point ended up just bringing his cloths over after doing the laundry together. The two had been having so much fun, doing laundry no less, that still Tom didn't grasp it until it all hit him.
He was in a relationship. With a dog no less.
Tom woke up one more with actual fur in his mouth, rolled out of (and over Axon) the bed they slept on and got up to look around his dimly lit room planning on getting ready for the day ahead. It was only when he grabbed several pieces of clothing, blindly, and took a rather long shower to watch the smell of saint bernard jizz off of himself that it dawned on him like the morning sun only now rising over hills.
Lining the bath tub were several bottles of furditioner, furpoo and Flea-B-Gone! that Tom was rather sure he himself hadn't bought. There was a rather large furdryer resting on the sink with an oddly shaped, elongated toothbrush Tom was sure wasn't made for a human. There was even an additional towel for the dog. Both towels however smelled strongly of the mutt who was still snoring in the bedroom.
The cloths he had grabbed was a pair of his own pants, an old brief Axon had worn a couple days ago and a shirt four sizes too large for Tom to wear. Even the mismatched pair of socks he had found belonged to the canine. Which was odd seeing as how Tom had never seen the dog wear socks. Well except the one time when they cuddled in on a cold day, wearing nothing but their socks under the covers.
Even outside the bathroom the dog's influence was beginning to stand out. A blanket they used most nights was still crumbled up on the couch, it only appeared after Axon slept over the first night. Next to it was a rather large fuzzy cotton dog bone decorative pillow.
Within the kitchen were several dog bowls soaking in the sink, a rather gay looking pink frilly apron hung from the hook next to the fridge with a classic "Kiss the Cock" written on the front of it. Two mugs rested on the counter, neither were his. Axon had put them out the night before for their morning coffee addiction. Each with their own "witty", as Axon put it, remarks on it.
"For toilet water," Axon's read. Tom's had a single panel cartoon on it reminding him of something from The Far Side. A bunch of dog's playing poker using biscuits as betting chips.
This all made two things very clear to the naked man, with only a towel wrapped around his waist. That one? He really didn't own that much stuff. And two? He was in a rather serious relationship. One of which he seemed to stumble into.
Tom honestly had half a mind to march back into the room, wake the dog up and kick him out to go back to his own apartment. But as he stepped back into his bedroom he saw the large brute curled up in his bed. His massive body curved around a body pillow, Tom wasn't proud about owning. The dog was still snoring but mumbled in his sleep as he normally did, his leg kicking as if he were having a rather vivid dreams.
Those strong white fur fingers gripped the pillow tighter and the dog's muzzle began nuzzling against it. The sight of the massive nake dog curled up like a (very large) puppy made Tom groan loudly. Something that large, smelly, drool dripping be so...loveable. Like a giant teddy bear.
Tom chuckled watching as Axon whimpered a bit hugging the pillow tigher, only able to assume that Axon thought that it was him. The dog then began gnawing on the side of it, drool dripping down onto the bed. Yup, Tom thought, he defiantly thought that was him.
With another chuckle and a shake of his head Tom looked around for a fresh set of cloths to wear. He held his arm as he looked around, resting the majority of his weight on one leg. Why then? He asked himself. Was he feeling so uncomfortable about all of this?
The fact he hadn't gotten a decent night sleep might've had some reason behind it. Tom was so used to sleeping alone and he enjoyed being able to spread out on the bed and just relax. Not having to share his food or discuss what it was he wanted to do for the day. The freedom of being single. Was he beginning to miss that? Well that and the fact the house was beginning to reek of animal. Ironically as he couldn't bring his own dog with him due to the apartment having a "no animal allowed" policy.
Tom just grabbed a shirt that fit him and a pair of socks before giving the room a once over. He spotted the dog once more and his shoulders fell at the pitiful sight of the large mongrel cuddling the pillow.
"Stupid, idiot." Tom grumbled as he walked over. Brushing a strand of hair from the dogs face he stopped looking at the sleeping face. It only seemed appropriate to pet the dog's face than anything else. It seemed to easy the fitful creature who settled down almost instantly at the gentle touch.
I suppose one has to expect their space being invaded when you first get a new dog, Tom mused as he sat down at the edge of the bed petting the side of that face. Scratching down with his fingers he began working on the dog's large thick neck getting an almost instant rumbling, murring response of enjoyment.
"Have to get up soon, dumby." Tom said softly. He soon heard the sound of the dog's tail thumping against the wall and bed, more of a reflex than anything else. "You got work here in a bit. I'll make some coffee for you before I go." Yet Tom stayed there, on the side of the bed, petting and scratching at the large canine.
Feeling that warm musky fur run between his fingers, how that scent clung to his hand and how the warm flesh underneath sent shives up his fingers and down his arm. The feel of the living breathing creature, so animal and foreign to his eyes and yet...
Tom just sighed, shaking his head as he got up and stretched. Three months now? He figured not exactly keeping track of the time. He chuckled once more as he sniffed his own hand before shaking it off as if trying to get the smell of dog off. "Dude, you need to bathe more." He joked knowing that the dog usually skipped out any form of baths he could get away with.
Tom couldn't blame him looking down at the fluffy beast. It must take easily an hour or two for his whole morning routine. Washing that fur, let alone drying it off. Even with that big substaintially large fur dryer. At least Tom was getting used to that smell, he always did love the smell of dogs. Or rather dogs in general. Able to look past it. At least he wasn't dating a skunk or fox. Now that would be a whole other story.
The drool, he noticed as the dog continued to salivate onto the pillow, was another issue he was beginning (to?) get used too. Mostly. Somewhat. To be so animal and yet so human was a very odd thing to adjust too. It was like owning a dog and at the same time not.
Apparently the act of "ownership" was a rather sour subject for most dogs who of which took it as a racial slurr. And after being informed of it, Tom couldn't ever remember seeing a dog with a collar on. In fact most cloths and trinkets seemed to boycott anything that "collar" the neck such as turtle neck shirts.
Which made Tom feel like shit as he had planned on buying Axon a rather nice, expensive Italian leather collar for the coming holidays. He was even going to have a nametag on it. Tom just took a seat once more on the bed, thinking in the silence of the room. Semi-silence as Axon was beginning to snore loudly once more.
"Out of all the dogs..." Tom grumbled looking at the saint bernard whose very jowels were vibrating with the sound of that snore.
Tom got up, if only to move a bit more onto the bed having to sit over the dogs legs. He rested against the wall looking up at the ceiling. "So little I know." The human said thinking it over. Axon was his best friend, yet he wasn't even sure if "best friend" was in some way offensive. The dog never had a problem with any such slip ups always informing him politely, if teasingly about the issue.
"That's kind of what 'dating' is." Axon had pointed out only the other night. The very term used in their situation had made the man blush as if the realism and reality of it was only clear at those words. That this was actually real. Axon found great amusement at the flustered man and went about teasing, and eventually tickling him about it.
There was even political activists on the matter of "politically correct" wording. Even the term anthropomorphic was found offensive by some. The word could be interpreted to say that they were indeed but animals acting human.
Tom just groaned covering his face and shaking his head wondering if he had insulted the very dog still sleeping next to him. Axon only ever seemed to point it out in order to tease him, never once had the dog been offended by...well anything Tom did. Axon really was...a dog in the end. That "stupid, idiot drooling animal that was far too sweet and kind, naively happy" that made Tom feel even worse about the situation. If it were possible to be too nice, a dog would defiantly be the one to be that way.
Out of all the furs or scales, feathers or other...it was the dog that seemed to fit in best with society. Melding and mixing in with humanity.
Well here he was now with one, in his bed, sleeping together and more than just friends. Tom chuckled a smile forming on his face as he playing with the dog's bare toes. An act that always seemed to annoy and bother the large canine who would fidget and pull his foot away only to put it back the next second as if only an annoying fly had bothered it. Then Tom would just do it again and once more Axon would pull it away, grumbling a bit and putting it back a bit more timidly this time around hesitating before finally putting it back.
Tom snagged that dull claw and wiggled it around getting a gruff grunt from the dog who grumbled loudly sitting up a bit to look at the nuisance. Axon's addled mind slowly caught up with his drooping gaze as he looked at the man.
"Morning." Tom chuckled not even feeling guilty for waking him up. At least he was up, somewhat and wouldn't be rushing in the morning to get ready for work. "Sleep well?" Tom continued to tease as he wiggled another dull claw around.
Reflexively Axon pulled his paw away from him, frowning now (to be honest Tom wasn't sure if he was frowning or not, Axon always looked like he was after all). His jowels opening and his muzzle parted into a very loud, very large yawn his large pink tongue curling a bit revealing that splotched diamond mark on his tongue. Smacking his lips afterwards Axon rose up a bit, crawling over on all fours and plopped his heavy head down into the man's lap.
Tom just chuckled scratching behind the dog's ears and along his neck. "Sleep well?" He asked again more honestly this time.
Axon mumbled and grumbled a few words that were lost on the man.
"I didn't." Tom just mused looking up at the opposing wall. This seemed to get the dog's attention who looked up at him lifting one of his brown fur eyebrows. "I had this big, heavy brutish beast mauling me all throughout the night. I was afraid of losing my poor virginity to the fiend," Tom feigned injury looking away.
"Virgin my furless tail hole." Axon said smartly with another frown before grinning. In the next second the saint bernard flipped himself over, exposing his bare belly to him.
Hands curled up on his chest with his legs open, tail wagging madly he begged "Belly rub!"
"Of course." Tom just rolled his eyes already scratching at his fluffy white chest and down to his belly. Axon scooted up on his back trying to get further into the man's lap so it was easier for him to scratch his belly. The sight of the large canine scooting along on his back made Tom laugh out loud getting another one of those looks from the dog. "Nothing, nothing." Tom lied in explanation.
Axon slowly turned back around sitting up. Tom looked at him a bit wearily, never before had the dog actually initiated the stopping of a belly rub before. Axon rested on his knees, keeping his hands down on his thick muscular white furred legs. "Tom," he said before yawning loudly. "Ah, excuse me." Axon apologized looking off to the side and getting a bit silent.
"What?" Tom said after a very long awkward minute passed.
"Do you...find me funny?"
"Well sure, you always crack me up." Tom just chuckled again smiling. His smile soon faded at the look on the dogs face.
"I mean with my antics." Axon said pressing. "For being, well, a dog."
Tom held his tongue. It hadn't been the first time he thought of it. It might've been due to the old cartoons he grew up with but actually seeing an anthropomorphized dog in person, in the flesh (and fur), up close like this... he couldn't deny that some things he did really were amusing. Not even meaning too either.
Like the expression on his face. How easy it was to read the dog's emotions. If he was happy or sad or curious even. When he was confronted with a difficult brain teaser the droopy face would scrunch up and Axon would get that serious look to his eyes as he tried to figure it out.
He wasn't a cartoon Tom knew but some of his antics, his expression could fool him at times. Like for halloween when Axon had gone all out and dyed his very fur as some arce-nine or something from poke mon. Axon was just a big, goof ball but Tom could see where he was going with this.
"Yes." Tom said flatly. "It'd be a lie if I said otherwise. I'd have to be a...well a moron if I didn't." He nodded before taking his larger hands in his, feeling the weight of them in his own. How the soft squishy yet warm paw pads rubbing against his smooth skin. That the fur tucked between each one tickling his palm. "You are a dog."
Axon ears folded and his head fell down, his chin resting on his chest.
"But so what?" Tom said geting flustered a bit as he let go of his hands and wasn't able to make eye contact. "I'm a human. Your a dog. So fucking what?" He said a bit harsher than he meant too, talking more to himself it seemed than the dog. "So what...I mean it doesn't matter to me. It shouldn't." Tom bit his lip though knowing that it had been an issue mainly in public. "I know I need to work on it a bit, and I'm sorry...for making you feel uncomfortable."
Axon nodded a bit but scooted closer placing his hands back into Tom's a very needy gesture, the dog could defiantly be...well a dog most the time.
"The fact is...you ARE my best friend." Tom said already feeling hot in the face let alone with those large puppy dog eyes watching him. "And you ARE...my well, you know." He mumbled a bit swallowing the words.
"Yours huh?" Axon said, his tail wagged a bit and he teased. Tom was afraid he had said something offensive but as he looked away he didn't see the drooling tongue slobber up his cheek until it was too late.
Relaxing out the dog panted happily, tail wagging as he sat criss cross on the bed opening his arms up. "Come here," Axon just grinned at the now frowning man.
"No." Tom just pouted crossing his arms.
"Come here, ya' big lug!" Axon just said wiggling his fingers and toes with a widening grin. Tom saw that look in those big puppy eyes.
"Don't you dare," Tom warned having already taken his morning shower.
"Come here, you!" Axon just said in a goofy voice already reaching out. Tom fought but all in vain as he was soon roughly pulled up and onto the dog's lap and into a rather large hug making him feel like one of those stress dolls, his eyes nearly popping out.
Tom could feel the warmth raidiating off the dog. Feel the pounding of his heart drumming in his large fluffy furred chest. Hear his heavy almost labored like breaths, smell that natural musk and see only that rich downy soft fur as he was hugged against the dog.
Axon rocked back, pulling Tom with him, back onto the bed laying back down and curling around the man petting at his face with a white furred finger growling softly.
Tom did admit that it was hard to see him as a silly dog when he was in this position. It was very...stimulating, which was exactly what he did not need right now. He still needed to make coffee and finish getting ready for work. Let alone for the fact he'd probably end up needing another shower after this snuggle fest.
Thankfully within a couple of minutes Axon was snoring loudly again, after slathering his face several times in drooling loving licks. And several groping grabs, and a good long humping session.
With a bit of oofing, groaning and pushing Tom managed to slip out of the sleeping dogs grasp once more huffing and panting a bit from the struggle and headed back out towards the shower planning to wash up. He'd wake the dog up once more before heading out.
With a fresh shirt and pants, sock and all Tom spun Axon's old briefs on a finger as he slipped back into the bathroom planning on getting ready for the day.