Dog House

Story by RSM on SoFurry

, , , , , , , , , ,


If you asked Eli what made him take the long way around to his house,

he wouldn't be able to tell you. Maybe it was a supernatural

occurrence. Maybe he just wanted to relax more before getting home. Or

maybe it was fate...he definitely wasn't expecting to find what he did,

on that note.

"Why's he alone...?" He asked himself as he saw a short bear (only

slightly shorter than himself) walking on the side of the road. With

nobody else around. He slowed down his car until he was next to the

ursine, then stopped. But he didn't park, just in case this guy turned

out to be crazy. The bear looked up at him, surprised that Eli had

stopped. Then he looked weary. Just in case I turn out to be

crazy... Eli thought, holding back a giggle and instead grinning as

kindly as he could manage. "Do you need a ride?" He questioned, still

smiling even as a blush makes its way onto his gray and black muzzle.

The bear looked the canine over for several seconds, almost evaluating

him on some kind of scale. Finally, he answered quietly.

"Yes, please..." His voice was slightly shaky, but Eli assumed that

it was from the cool air. The bear's fur didn't look thick enough for

mid-Autumn. Eli didn't realize he had been staring until the bear

shifted from foot to foot. The Australian Shepherd blinked, then blushed

deeply and gestured to the passenger seat.

"Come on, then! I haven't got all night." He joked, grinning. The

bear smiled and got into the car, buckling his seatbelt and laying back

against the seat. "See, was that so hard?" The bear didn't answer, so

Eli began the drive towards his home.

"Shane..." The bear almost whispered. Eli's ears perked, and he

looked over for a few seconds before returning his gaze to the road

ahead.

"Excuse me?" He asked. The bear looked at him this time as he repeated himself.

"My name is Shane." Eli nodded and smiled, though he didn't know how convincing smiling at someone without looking at them is.

"It's nice to meet you, Shane." He replied. "My name's Eli. So, do

you live nearby? Or do you need somewhere to stay?" The bear shook his

head and told Eli his address. He looked shocked when Eli declined

taking him home.

"Wh-why not?" The bear asked, looking nervous. Eli looked at him again.

"Well, it's not exactly on the way. In fact, it's a thirty minute

drive past my house. That means it would take me an hour to drive there,

drop you off, and come back home. And I need to be up bright and early

so I can look for a few odd jobs here and there." Eli shook his head. "A

high school diploma just doesn't get you very far anymore..." Shane

finally nodded and sighed, still looking tensed.

"Okay..." He finally agreed out loud. "Okay, then you can just drop me off nearby and I'll-"

"You're not walking, either." Eli cut him off curtly. "You're staying

the night at my house. And don't worry, I live alone. It's almost

impossible to impose on a dog living on his own." Shane frowned, but

didn't offer an argument.

"Thank you..." He uttered, looking out the car window. Eli smiled, his tail quietly swaying from side to side.

"It's no trouble, Shane. Really." The canine replied. "I'm glad to

have some company for once." They finally approached his house, stopping

in the driveway. Eli parks the car and gets out with Shane. Within

another five minutes, they're inside of the dog's small house. It's a

simple one bedroom, one bath house with a pullout couch and a small

television. "I know it's not much." The dog said with a friendly smile.

"But I can call it home."

"It's great, really." Shane replied with a shy grin. They pulled out

the couch, then got a pillow and blanket for Shane. As the bear laid

down and got comfortable, Eli smiled and headed towards his room.

"Goodnight!" He called out, walking into his bedroom and closing the

door. Shane returned the word and sighed, relaxing on the makeshift bed.

...

It was midnight when Shane began to wake up. He started to get up,

then froze when he felt a foreign weight on top of him. He looked at it,

then blushed when he realized what-or rather, who-it was. Lying with

his muzzle buried into Shane's chest was Eli, fast asleep. Shane thought

about waking him up, but couldn't deny the warm feeling that flooded

his chest as he looked at the canine's sleeping face. Finally, he laid

his head back down on the pillow and wrapped his arms around Eli's back,

closing his eyes.

"Sweet dreams, Shane..." Eli whispered, smiling. Color rushes to the bear's cheeks, but he just tightens the hug.

"You too, Eli..."