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Unjust Love

A Shepherd’s Love: Part Four

By Roofles

It was the following afternoon, during their lunch break, that Tan Colt sat down in the too small booth across from his partner Bradley. He tried to convince the human to take another personal day off but Bradley refused without telling him why.

Bradley had begun doing that a lot more in recent weeks. Not necessarily withholding things from him but just not going into detail about it as he once did. Tan Colt knew some things, but not everything. And it was beginning to get underneath his fur, so to speak.

How can you help someone when you didn’t know what all the issues were.

The human was waiting for him. A large bowl of noodles in front of him from the Asian fusion restaurant down the block. Chili Chili’s had a heat rating just to enter the door and Bradley face was already sweating as he blew on the noodles, holding it with a pair of wood carved chopsticks.

“Just make sure not to accidentally take them with you, after.” Bradley told the German Shepherd sitting across from him. The booth was too small, and their legs were tangled up underneath the table. Tan Colt needed to stretch his legs out the best he could so he didn’t knock the table with his knees. He ended up placing a paw on Bradley’s left and the other between the human’s legs trying not to think too much about it.

“Stealing is illegal, Brad.” Tan Colt said though the humor in his voice told him he was just teasing the other man. When it was just the two of them, like this, Tan Colt would hang up his hat and take off the badge. Just two friends getting lunch together.

It was nice. Able to just go out and relax like this. Even wearing their suits out in public, they tried to pretend they weren’t still on duty. Just take an hour lunch to unwind for a bit before going back out there.

Their legs bumped again, and Bradley shifted in his seat. Tan Colt could smell the human’s… interest, once more over the nearly overpowering smell of chili sauce they used in these noodle bowls. There were chili pepper flecks floating on top and seeds sunk at the bottom. The canine frowned at the concoction that was trying to kill his insides.

“Yes, yes. The only thing you ever stole, is my heart.” Bradley teased the K-9, blowing on the noodles before slurping them up. Tan Colt glanced up at that. “I’m just joking, sheesh.” He smiled though and the hint of red in his cheeks wasn’t from the spice. Those bright hazel eyes were far too captivating.

“Of course,” Tan Colt just nodded. “After all. It’s illegal for me to,” the German Shepherd tried to bring up again. Wanting to douse such… interests before it got either of the two in trouble. He could smell it from the human.

He smelled it a lot.

And he didn’t exactly… mind, knowing he was the cause of it.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Bradley waved it off and now he was red in face from the heat of the food. “I know. I wasn’t the one snuggling up last night.” He pointed the chopsticks accusingly at the German Shepherd. “I think you just enjoy teasing me about it.”

Tan Colt did but wouldn’t ever say.

“Sleeping together strengthens one’s bond.” Tan Colt offered in reply, giving a half-assed shoulder shrug. He’d never admit that he enjoyed it as much as Bradley did. Maybe even more. The two had ignored Bradley’s bed for the most part and had ended up in the futon the last of the summer months, both half naked as they sprawled out on it sweating. “I was worried you’d call out of work today after last night…”

Tan Colt said it but he had also been the one trying to get Bradley to do so.

“Like I can afford that.” Bradley joked but Tan Colt’s ear twitched just hearing those words. Words that meant so much more knowing the human’s financial situation now. “Besides. I didn’t black out or anything, this time.” He added, bringing up the time the two had been at the cop bar drinking until Tan Colt had to carry him home.

“If you ever do, please let me know. Just want to make sure I can bring you home.” Tan Colt slurped up some noodles, chewing the strange concoction of spice and sweet before adding on. “Our home.”

“Well, yeah.” Bradley nodded.

“How’s that going.” Tan Colt tried to tactfully ask. He got a look from Bradley. “The rent. I am living with you. I should be helping out. How much is my share?” Tan Colt had thought over it a great deal and was trying to assess how to approach Bradley about this… he doubted slipping credits into his wallet would work.

Bradley, bless his heart Tan Colt thought, waved it off. He rather not get into a fight about this.

“Don’t worry about that kind of stuff. I got it covered.” The human just gave him a big smile. He hadn’t shaved in a while and had been sporting a fuzzy face this past week. Not that Tan Colt minded. Bradley looked good with a short beard. And in that shirt. Hell, he looked good when he wasn’t wearing a shirt… covered in that soft body hair that curled slightly at the end… he just wanted to nip and nibble at it…

The German Shepherd shook such thoughts from his mind. He’d need to go back in for his weekly check up at the local facility to make sure his levels were still within reasonable ranges. He’d been feeling… frisky, lately. And didn’t want to jeopardize his mission. The weekly test was a pain and he hated leaving Bradley to do them every Thursday morning. He couldn’t get around it, like any K-9, and needed his top off to get through the rest of the week.

“Well… I can pay for this then,” Tan Colt motioned at the food in front of them. “When the check comes, I’ll get it. At least.” The German Shepherd held the whine from his voice, looking at the human with bright hazel eyes flecked with gold that seemed to shine in the right light.

He wished he could just give Bradley money. Tell him not to worry as he shifted in the uncomfortable booth. They hadn’t built these yet for his size or for his tail which was cramping painfully behind him.

“Already paid for.” Bradley shrugged it off. “You can get next time, how about that?” The human offered but Tan Colt knew that wouldn’t be the case. Bradley would just sneakily pay for it again.

“I can help out…” Tan Colt didn’t want to just up and drop the subject. This was clearly taxing on the human’s situation, and he didn’t want to be the cause of it. Afraid if it was left untreated Bradley situation would get worse and then… maybe he’d end up resenting Tan Colt for showing up in his life.

“Help by cleaning the apartment then! I found wads of fur in my sock drawer this morning. My sock drawer! How the hell did you manage that?” Bradley got on him but the smell coming from the human wasn’t of anger. He acted up the fact it bothered him.

As they both knew, how grateful Bradley was for having Tan Colt come into his life. Even if it finically crippled him, he would happily incur such a debt to keep Tan Colt from moving out.

Bradley lived alone in an apartment complex down near 32nd avenue. He knew his neighbors. Was on good terms with the mailman. Was friendly with most the people on the block and had a very “neighborhood cop” feel to him. People came to him to ask about their lost cat or if he could go see their son’s baseball game.

“The friendly neighborhood cop,” Bradley had joked about as he led Tan Colt down the street waving at people as he went. It was everything Bradley had wanted back in his small, quaint hometown.

He even left one of these mysterious “tips” for a homeless man on the corner, explaining to Tan Colt that the man had lost his job when the factory shut down because the company had exported all the jobs overseas and replacing the ones at home with robots.

“Not his fault.” Bradley had just said after dropping ten credits into the open bag in front of the man. “I wish I could give more.” Bradley had complained. “Ten creds isn’t much these days. What with inflation, can only really buy a soda down at the convenience store.” A place he went too often as it was to help out the family there, a sweet older couple from South Korea, who ran the place. They had been the ones to recommend their lunch the very next day at Chili Chili’s.

Tan Colt tapped his chopsticks on the table, looking out the window. His ears were up, keeping a part of his mind on those around them just in case someone tried anything fishy. Most didn’t bother with the six seven K-9 keeping an eye out. Tan Colt could afford to let the majority of his focus think about the situation they found themselves in.

Bradley was too prideful to just take handouts, he knew. Bradley liked to see himself as the guy that helped other people out, not the guy who got help. That was why he hadn’t brought up the bills or asked for payment from Tan Colt. He thought… the German Shepherd was like that man, the homeless guy, at the end of the corner of their block.

That Tan Colt needed help. A place to stay. To learn about the city, how to fit in with humans. That’s how Bradley saw him… To help the German Shepherd K-9 out until he could… what? Get back on his feet? He didn’t need that. Tan Colt made enough to get by and could always stay at the facility if it came down to that. They even encouraged it.

Those back at Project Tomorrow were very friendly towards the K-9’s and gave them everything they needed to get by. Tan Colt got a small allowance from the place on top of his policemen income. He was doing good, not needing to pay for anything these past five months living with Bradley. He had a growing savings account through a Project Tomorrow owned bank. They hadn’t gotten on him for not using any of it and left them mostly independent after they left the facility.

Tan Colt could buy Bradley something… to help out. They didn’t stay at the apartment often enough for anything extravagant. The human didn’t like staying there most the time… something Bradley didn’t seem fully comfortable with. Just another thing Bradley hadn’t explain to the K-9, yet. The human had a car and used the police issued vehicle otherwise. It wasn’t like Bradley wanted to go anywhere big for, like, a vacation.

Tan Colt focused on that instead of getting him something frivolous.

He heard humans liked to go camping. Would that be something Bradley would be interested in? The two of them could go out into the wild together. Taking it easy, relaxing, and just… fish? Is that what humans did when they camp? Fish and make s’mores and just…

“You okay there?” A voice broke his concentration and Tan Colt bright eyes turned back to see Bradley, across the small table from him, watching him. “You’re focusing pretty hard on something there. Cred for your thoughts?” Bradley tapped his nose. “Your uh… snout wrinkles, at the end, when you really get to thinking. Though, that doesn’t happen often.” The human teased him.

“It does not.” Tan Colt huffed out, growling softly. A sound he had to explain to the human was in good jest, not wanting to intimidate Bradley ever.

“It’s cute.” Bradley just noted. A simple, small compliment that always made the K-9’s tail wag. “Your expressions. I wish others could see that,” Bradley turned to look out the window seeing a growing group forming on the streets. It was already packed. The city was always packed with people. “Mr. and Ms. Park almost shot you when we walked into their convenience store to buy milk that first time together…”

“The K-9 program is only in the states… currently. It’ll take time for the US to get used to us, let alone outside the country…” Tan Colt tapped a dull finger on the table. His blunt nail clicking against the polished surface each time. “Dr. Conwell might be from British descent but he holds no connection to England. He came here to get away from the growing… tensions between the EU and the middle east, again. To focus on his research.” Tan Colt continued to tap a finger. “Though, he did suggest he would be willing to send K-9’s over if the war were to spread into the civilian areas…”

“They moved the front lines, the uh… political boundaries, right? Between the different nations back? Like they have that massive wall in Austria going up. Pulling civilians away from the warzone on the other side. I heard their capital, uh… Vienna I think.” Bradley wasn’t too familiar with history. His attention focused on just trying to scrap by enough to pay next month’s rent than to keep up with the news. It was just too depressing too... “It’s such a beautiful place…” He noted, thinking of the capital.

“Something like that, yeah…” Tan Colt turned back towards him now. “Would you ever like to travel? To go somewhere?” He shifted his foot at Bradley’s side and the human took it by the ankle and, turning it, placed it on one of his thighs without another thought. Tan Colt liked to take his shoes off when people weren’t noticing.

Bradley rubbed over the paw idly as the two continued to talk.

“Go where?” Bradley laughed at that, feel the warm texture of that paw pad against his thumb. The sweat and smell of it getting on his hand. Not that he minded. “It’s not exactly safe to travel, these days. And it’s such a hassle. No matter where you go, there’s always something going on somewhere… and I like it here. Despite New York not being my home city, or state, it’s my new one.”

“Okay. What if we stayed within state then?” Tan Colt pressed, not letting the issue drop but trying not to pressure the human either. He tried not to focus on that touch. He craved the feel of Bradley just… touching him, next to him, against him as the two slept together… “Get out the big city! Just the two of us. Go roughing it in the wild.” Tan Colt tail thumped at that. “Stay in the state but like, get out at the same time.”

“Sorry,” Bradley rubbed the back of his neck letting go of Tan Colt’s paw. “I need to save my personal days off.”

“Whys that?” Tan Colt tilted his head to the side, curious as to know. “This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“My brother’s wedding is coming up. I need to make sure I take the time off to be there. I’m one of his best men.”

“Best man.” Tan Colt corrected but Bradley shook his head.

“No. My brother has all his groomsman as his best man. Thus, best men instead of man.” Bradley shook his head before Tan Colt could ask. “Georgy doesn’t want to offend anyone…” Bradley just gave him a look. “He’s making sure everyone sits where they want. Brings who they want. Everyone all happy on his wedding day.” He rolled his eyes. “Instead of worrying about his soon to be wife. Yeah, that’ll go over smoothly during the wedding day.”

“When is it?” Tan Colt scratched under his muzzle. Bradley chuckled at the look he got and reached over to scratch for the K-9 who tilted his head to one side happily. “Scratches from you are so much better. Should bring the brush next time.”

“And what get fur in our food?” Bradley teased. “It’s next month.” He just continued as he scratched and rubbed and pet over the German Shepherd’s muzzle.

“Oh…” Tan Colt’s ears jumped up, eyes widened before he turned towards the window as he pulled out of Bradley’s grip suddenly. “I hope you have fun…” He said with a cutting tone, showing his bitterness for only now finding out.

“I was going to invite you as my plus one, you dork!” Bradley just laughed. “I mean, if you want to come. As my plus one…” The human fidgeted and Tan Colt didn’t need to sniff to know how embarrassed Bradley had become. “I just got distracted, by things, and forgot to bring it up. Is all. Sorry.”

“Distracted, huh?” Tan Colt rested his large head on a hand looking at the human. “Do tell. What kind of incredible, sexy, dare I say, creature could keep the ever-vigilant Bradley Nichols distracted?”

“It was more like the smell.” Bradley shook off his hand and made a face, stirring the leftover broth in the bowl. “And the snoring.”

“I don’t snore!” Tan Colt said louder than he meant too.

“Oh? Who said I was talking about you?” Bradley looked up at him as Tan Colt just pulled back, grumbling. “And also the fact he hogs the bed. Steals the covers and always tries to push me off.”

“Har har.” Tan Colt just rolled his eyes, crossing his arms.

“That smile.” Bradley muttered now, thinking about it.

“Bradley…” Tan Colt’s ears folded back.

“His warm voice and how he always makes sure I’m doing okay. How he cares. The way he wakes me I the morning so we have time for breakfast before work…” The human just focused on his leftover lunch.

“Brad…”

“How we always go out and have such a great time. Talking about just, everything… I’ve never had that before. Someone who just is interested in what I have to say or what I think about things… Time just passes us by whenever I’m with him. The troubles in the city don’t matter. And just…” Bradley trailed off, tapping his finger on the table as he stared out the window blankly. “Maybe you shouldn’t…” But he couldn’t finish his sentence.

Despite it all, Bradley truly enjoyed having Tan Colt around. It was his own selfish desires that were getting in the way of things. Not Tan Colt. And his horrible track record wasn’t helping any when it came to dating. Problem with picking a guy up at a bar, it usually only ever ended up as a one night stand.

At least he wasn’t touch starved thanks to Tan Colt’s affectionate snuggles he got on a daily basis.

There hadn’t been many, or any, options back home. It had been one reason why he’d come out here. Well, there had been Charlie but that didn’t count. Besides, Bradley hadn’t wanted to stay in such a small town anyways. The corps had taken over the farmlands and half the town had lost their job after. Farmlands were bought and controlled by corporate, faceless entities all for the “good of America” they said. Leaving all the farmers without jobs and only a check in the mail that would only cover a couple months worth of bills at most.

He wasn’t sure how his parents were making do these days. Bradley had a good job and was barely scrapping by, though that might be because his food bill had tripled since Tan Colt had shown up in his life. A worthy sacrifice for the friendship it had brought him.

“I don’t have to go.” Tan Colt was the one to offer which only made Bradley feel guilty for even having the fleeting thought, let alone suggesting it.

“No, I want you too. I need you too.” Bradley winced. “Please…” He said in that soft voice, he tried never to use. Growing up as the only gay kid in a small hick town hadn’t made it easy to get by and Bradley had done it by being the bigger, stronger guy at the end of any confrontation. He had his dad’s family genetics to thank for that.

The two sat in silence for the rest of their lunch. Only when Tan Colt brought up they should get back out there did Bradley mention anything.

“It’s not like you’d be going as my date.” The officer said putting his hat back on and looking at everything other than Tan Colt. “It’s just taking my partner to my brother’s wedding…” He pursed his lips at that. “Okay, maybe that sounds a wee bit gay.”

“Just a pinch.” Tan Colt pinched his fingers together but his smile had returned. “I’ll think about it,” Tan Colt just shrugged figuring he would anyways and was making a mental list in his head what to pack for it already.

The two continued out front right into what appeared to be a rally going on. The growing crowd becoming a throng of people blocking the streets and yelling about something. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what their issue was. One glance at any of the signs would explain.

“Well, our works never done.” Tan Colt huffed putting on his tough face once more.

“Job security?” Bradley just offered in return as he approached one of the people holding a picket sign. “Excuse me, ma’am. Do you have a permit to be doing this?” He asked professionally in that soft, but stern dad voice he was beginning to master with this job.

“This is a free country!” She snapped back at him. The older woman’s face looked as if she’d been sucking on lemons, her skin pulled too tight around the cheeks and forehead. She might’ve come from getting Botox shot up into her face. That, or drugs. Sometimes it was hard to tell.

It was the oversized gold cross around her neck that made the human groan internally. Thou shalt not covet didn’t seem to apply if it was religious, ironically. That cross had to be worth its weight in the gold it was made from, studded with diamonds and hanging from a large chain.

It reminded Bradley of back home… he really wasn’t looking forward to his brother’s wedding and had been one reason why he didn’t want Tan Colt to go. But he was selfish and needed his partner there with him to get through it.

“You’d think.” Bradley rolled his eyes though. “Free speech.” He laughed. You could claim whichever amendment you wanted but you still had to get a permit for anything these days. Or lawyers. A shit ton of lawyers solved problems as well. In other words, money. It did make the world go round.

Thou shall not covet seemed to only apply outside the states because that’s all Bradley could think of these days, outside of his partner. Money.

“Permit. Ma’am.” Tan Colt pulled up his belt, letting it drop before coming over with a haughty tone. Bradley was still working on him with his… cop voice. Bradley preferred the comforting father, a stern but soft tone of voice where he wasn’t mad, just disappointed. Tan Colt just came off as somewhat of a bastard.

She sneered, lifting her nose before shoving her sign in the K-9’s face. It was a simple “no dog’s allowed” sign that had a handle attached to it.

“Creative.” Tan Colt was the one to roll his eyes now as he moved back, rubbing his snout with a hand. “Like we haven’t seen those stamped everywhere.”

“Or on billboards, posters in shop windows, in the mall,” Bradley just nodded.

“Or in yards.”

“Don’t shit on my lawn signs!” Bradley openly laughed as the protester scowled before the two joking about it so openly. “Those ones are kind of creative you got to admit!”

“I just don’t understand why they actually went out of the way to draw a naked,” Tan Colt gestured down over his body. “Me. On those signs,” he teased talking about the bare bones picture of the dog crapping on the lawn signs with a red circle cross off around it. “Seriously. That’s gay.”

“They’re gayer than I am!” Bradley just joked with his friend as he walked past her, even as she ranted at them about god and how man and animal aren’t supposed to be separated. Something something animal serve man this something something burn in hell.

After a couple of sermons growing up going to church every Wednesday and Sunday, you heard it all. Hellfire, brimstone, beg for forgiveness… it was all the same. Bradley knew more than she did he bet and, as such, wasn’t religious in the least because of it.

“They make it sound like I’m fucking you or something…” Tan Colt pulled his hat down over his eyes as if that’d help hide what he was as they pushed through the crowd. Several people sneered and pointed at Tan Colt as if they were pod people screeching.

“Too bad you’re not.” Bradley gave him a sly wink at that as he went to find whoever was in charge with a swagger to his step and a shake to his ass knowing Tan Colt was looking at it. Or at least at him. If he couldn’t sleep with the K-9, he could at least tease him.

A loud voice was yelling ahead of them over a megaphone. Bradley unfortunately recognized it and wasn’t looking forward to this one bit.

“We need food. We need affordable housing. We need jobs! Not these K-9’s trying to replace us!” The man, someone Bradley recognized instantly, was shouting out. He was jabbing a hand at the people, shouting random bible verses to stir them up before putting lowering the megaphone seeing Bradley come his way. He was more than happy to talk with him.

After all, they had been partner for years until Tan Colt had showed up.

“Andrew?” Bradley felt uncomfortable facing his ex-partner after all these months with Tan Colt. As if he were cheating on the guy with the K-9.

“I had to get a new job after they let me go.” Andrew smugly greeted his old partner with a forced hug that hurt Bradley’s ribs after. He glared at the K-9 before promptly ignoring the six seven German Shepherd standing next to Bradley. “I thought they’re supposed to tuck tail and stand behind you.” Andrew had to take a jab at Tan Colt. He just had too.

“Maybe.” Bradley didn’t let it get to him, or tried not to. “But as my partner, Tan Colt always stands at my side. AS my equal.” He added unnecessarily.

“After he took my job you mean!” Andrew shoved Bradley back and he had to stop Tan Colt from stepping in. “I was your partner LONG before that flea bag came into our lives and ruined everything!”

“You know we have cameras on our uniforms, Andrew.” Bradley just reminded the ex-officer. “And you didn’t lose your job. You got fired!” He added just to get back at him for insulting Tan Colt. “You lost your job because everyone flat out refused to work with you! You became an unbearable, unsufferable sorry sack of shit!” Bradley tried to keep the heat out of his voice and failed by the end of it that even Tan Colt gave him a look.

“You’d do anything to cover for someone doing your job for you.” Andrew just said in turn, shooting Tan Colt with a glare. “Bet he even wipes your ass for you? What, can’t shower alone still?” Andrew sneered and Bradley just clenched a fist at that.

“Whatever, Andrew.” Bradley just shook his head. He pitied Andrew more than anything else. He was angry with how long he had to put up with and deal with this man before he got someone he enjoyed partnering up with. “Do you have a permit for this rally?” Bradley just finally got on why he’d shown up in the first place.

“Free speech.” Andrew just spat into Bradley’s face, literally. Bradley wiped the spit off his cheek, wishing he had put down the face guard for this conversation. He’d been having such a good lunch with Tan Colt he hadn’t thought about it.

Tan Colt snarled by Bradley’s side.

“Still need a permit to take up and block off the entire street.” Bradley just sighed heavily, shaking his head. That tone he used for perps coming out again, something Andrew instantly picked up on. “How did you get like this, Andrew? You were a good cop!”

“Don’t talk to me like one of them!” And for some reason Andrew pointed at the K-9 standing next to Bradley. He glanced over at Tan Colt.

“Tan Colt has never broken the law. Ever.” Bradley felt a bit melancholy though for saying it. “And doesn’t plan too. If you touch me again though,” he quickly brought up seeing the look on Andrew face. “It won’t be police brutality. It’ll be arresting a criminal for assaulting an officer, Andrew.” He warned then and there. For both Andrew’s and Tan Colt’s sake.

Bradley had dealt with his fair share of bullies in his day and knew how to deal with them. In fact, it was because of bullying he had gone into law enforcement.

“I don’t think I’d mind getting a record, if it put him in his place.” Tan Colt growled low at the look Andrew gave Bradley for that.

“You’d break the law for that?” Bradley asked but his tone wasn’t accusing, it was sad once more as he looked at the German Shepherd whose ears folded back at being called out. Tan Colt didn’t reply which, in a way, was a reply in itself.

That Tan Colt would assault someone before… thinking of sleeping with him.

Sometimes silence was far a worse thing to “say” than actually saying something. Sometimes you remember what wasn’t said more than what was…

Like with Charlie back at their home town…

“I’m radioing this in, Andrew.” Bradley tapped the side of his helmet. “I’m not going to identify anyone, yet. When I come back around though, I want this cleared out. You can return after you get a proper permit from city hall. Like a citizen, like a K-9,” he added on. “Would. Legally.”

And with that, turned his back on the protest and radioed it in.

“You think you’ll last?” Andrew spat down at Tan Colt’s feet. It didn’t, technically, touch the K-9 so the German Shepherd couldn’t charge him for it… yet. Andrew seemed to know where to draw the line, having worked in law enforcement as long as he had before being canned.

“Funny, I seem to be the one still working there. Unlike you.” Tan Colt just said in turn, snorting out a breath before turning away and quickly catching up to Bradley. As Much as he wanted to do something petty like hit Andrew with his tail, he knew that would only cause them both more of a headache than it was worth.

He didn’t want to cause any more trouble for Bradley than he already had.

“I called it in. An officer is going to sweep by to make sure things are fixed…” Bradley said though he didn’t sound thrilled about it. Tan Colt’s whiskers drooped.

“If this is about what I said…” The German Shepherd brought up as the two got back inside their secured police vehicle. It was just safer for them inside it to talk. “I didn’t mean… I wouldn’t break the law. No matter what… or for who…” Tan Colt tried to explain.

“No, it’s not that.” Bradley shook his head. “It’s just… Andrew… he used to be such a good cop! A good guy!” He turned to look at Tan Colt, eyes slightly damp but no tears fell. “I know he doesn’t come off like that anymore! You didn’t get to see him before this city really did just…”

“Chew him up and spit him out?” Tan Colt frowned, worried the very same thing was going to happen to Bradley someday. And maybe his fear of the human taking drugs wouldn’t be just a fear any longer…

“Well, yeah.” The human nodded. “Andrew was my mentor. When I first joined the force, he was there for me. He was the one who said to always look on the brighter side of things. He stopped saying that, though…”

“Why?” Tan Colt asked only to keep the conversation going, he didn’t care to know about Andrew, Bradley’s previous partner. As far as Tan Colt was concerned, Bradley just needed to know him earlier.

“Bright came out shortly after the two of us became partners… the bright dens,” Bradley said talking about the newest street drug. “They’re… terrible. People just lying there. Wasting their lives away… Not doing anything. Staring off into space, staring at walls or their own hands as if it’s the newest VR out there… it’s disheartening. And the smell,” Bradley face cringed just recalling it. “They get so stoned out of their minds they don’t even bathe. Or clean up. Or use the restrooms… just soil themselves…”

Tan Colt was glad he hadn’t had to deal with any of those. His sensitive nose already had trouble enough handling the city as it was. The new team of sanitation workers in the city, all K-9’s, were starting to do a great job cleaning things up. At times literally scrubbing the street down. Jobs and tasks that normal humans would never be willing to do.

That would explain the sanitation worker strike down by the dumps, though. Most these jobs were slowly but surely being replaced by K-9’s who were only ever supposed to assist humans with their tasks. Once people found out they could just delegate said tasks to them, however, things began to change and not necessarily for the better.

“His brighter outlook might as well have become the slogan for the drug.” Bradley shook his head, wiping a hand through his hair with a frown. “It was a slow decline from there. Not worth it, he just began saying. Not worth the effort. The time. No point in trying anymore… one thing after another until he began listening to those podcasts.” And Bradley just shook his head.

“Podcasts?”

“Random people who claimed to be news outlets. They began telling the truth,” Bradley made quotation marks. “And informing the average citizen about what was really going on in the world. Bunch of paranoid fucks that Andrew and I used to take in, not… listen too.” And Bradley just slumped in his chair not even pretending to drive the automated vehicle anymore. “I took Andrew, once, to see my folks. Last time I headed down there.”

“You and Andrew?” Tan Colt’s ears perked at that.

“Not like that. Andrew was my mentor. I was still a young rookie. He accompanied me down there for my dad’s sixtieth. Was nice. He was good company back then…” Bradley turned to look out the window. “He isn’t the same man anymore. Like the city. Things are changing but not always for the better…”

Tan Colt reached over to place a large meaty hand on his shoulder, offering his support. “I’m here.” He brought up. His voice soft and almost lost in the traffic around them. Even with the windows rolled up, it was as loud as ever.

“True.” Bradley just shrugged but placed his hand over Tan Colt’s before the K-9 could withdraw it. “Without you… I probably would’ve moved back by now.”

“To Tennessee? The dirt farm?” Tan Colt teased.

“That’s Kansas, ya’ big oaf.” Bradley laughed though and it was nice to hear the warm sound of it again. There’d been too many melancholy moments as of late to keep them going for the rest of the year.

“I’ll go with you, then, this time.” Tan Colt just nodded giving him that smile again he’d been taught to give humans to make it easier to work with them. Though, when it was with Bradley… it didn’t feel forced. “I’ll be far better company than that stuffy geezer.”

“Geezer? I haven’t heard that in forever!” Bradley just rolled his eyes though didn’t argue against it.

“We usually call ‘em gray muzzles.” Tan Colt shrugged.

“Gray muzzles? That’s cute,” Bradley gave him a look. “Wait… are their old K-9’s then?”

And if only for a moment, Tan Colt almost told him the truth. “No. Of course not. Just what we young dogs say.” The German Shepherd played it off as the two continued their shift.

Some things even he couldn’t tell Bradley. It wasn’t like the human needed to know though. Sometimes ignorance could be bliss… but Tan Colt rather know. Know all about Bradley, his past, and whatever there was to come. So, this time, he could be there to help him through it.

Together.