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“To protect and serve," The words were emblazoned across the doorway like they were some profound statement. To Dalton they had once meant something, as a colt, he had looked up to his cop father in pure awe. The first equine to ever walk to beat. Bringing justice to humans and mophics alike.

Dalton Senior, the first equine ever on the beat. Every night he had come home with a dozen new stories of what he'd done to make the world safe again. A wide-eyed young Dalton junior had stared up at the mountain of a man like he was a god. Every day his father had told him stories of what he did on the streets, the criminals he caught, protecting humans, protecting morphics.

When Dalton was just twelve things had changed. It was just a normal day, a day like any other. Only it was the day his father never came home. Instead, a strange human had come to the house, a man in uniform. Dalton remembered his mother's tears and sobs. He hadn't cried, not then. The young pony couldn't understand, couldn't believe that his godlike father was never coming home. In his mind he was sure it was some mistake, there was some other horse with a bullet in his head.

It had been when his bedtime rolled around and his father didn't arrive, the phone didn't ring. His father had always spoken to him every night, either on the phone or in-person before bedtime. It didn't matter what was happening in the world, this was their time, always. Dalton's heart had shattered at that moment, he had lain all night weeping, with his sobbing mother trying to reassure him. An impossible task, the foundation of his world was gone, it would take years to build a new one.

As soon as he was old enough Dalton had applied to the academy. He'd worked hard all through school, trained hard in the gym. His body was every bit as thickly muscled as his father's had been. Dalton was a golden mountain compared to almost all of the other pupils at his school. His short fur was entirely golden brown, save for his mane, which he kept short per regulation, which was slightly lighter in colour.

The academy had opened his eyes to a truth his father had never shared with him: cops are all people, some of them are good and nice, some of them are racist fucks. Sadly, he had little choice but to work with them regardless of which category they sat in. They couldn't avoid working with a morphic, he couldn't avoid working with them, they depended on each other. Dalton had learned that his father had heavily edited his stories. There had been no swearing, no knives, guns or cleaning hooker vomit off his hooves.

Though, the one thing he had definitely not told his son was that as an equine that he would be pushed, willing or not, into the riot squad. Hell, Dalton was so fucking big he was a riot squad on his own. Not that he was on his own, he was partnered up with Thor. A jet black equine every bit as big as the golden horse. However, Thor had joined up because of affirmative action. To him, it was a job with a good paycheck which allowed him to push around smoothies and morphics alike.

They had been at the academy together, then had served a year on the street; as required of all new officers. On the very anniversary of their start on the beat, they had been pulled from it. Dalton had never been happy about that; his father had been the first equine cop and he had dreams of being the first equine detective. Those dreams had been crushed by the captain, “you were hired as a meat wall, I want you there using your… God-given talents to keep the peace."

Dalton could read between those lines easy, two large morphics were perfect for the riot squad and the captain wanted their bodies, and he didn't think much of their minds. That also meant he certainly didn't want any damned morphic looking to move up the ranks. Without the support of his superior, he was stuck dealing with drunk fights and parades, and his chances of promotion were dwindling away to nothing.

The golden furred equine strode quickly under the arch and into the building. He didn't even glance up at the words that had once meant so much to him. Dalton just trotted quickly through the building to the locker room. Smoothies and Morphics alike recognised him, and he responded in kind. Although, he stopped to talk with no-one.

Pushing at the morphic locker room door the equine sighed. That was another thing his father had never mentioned. The humans didn't like to change in front of morphics, “cause it makes them feel inadequate." Thor had joked. However, Dalton had caught a few glimpses through the door of the human lockerroom and he knew there was another reason.

It was three times the size of theirs. The morphics lockers were old and battered, human's were newer and shiner. They had individual shower cubicles, morphics had to make do with three rusted showerheads attached to the far wall. The room was originally a storage room, it had never been designed to drain properly. That meant if any more than one of the shower heads was used at the same time the floor became flooded.

Plenty of Morphics had to report to duty with wet patches on their clothes, or wet socks on their feet. While, the human officers, were always fresh and neat. Dalton showered at home, as did most morphic officers. However, the riot squad was often subject to unpleasant missiles. Bottles of beer, cartons of food, eggs and worse had been pelted at them. On days like that, you needed to shower before you got into your own car.

“Hey, pony!" Thor's cheery voice boomed out at him. “You catch the game?"

With a shrug of his well-muscled shoulders, Dalton replied. Thor knew his partner didn't much care for sports. Dalton wasn't even sure which of the many games that were played at the weekend Thor was referring to, or indeed what sport. For all he knew there was a fierce tiddlywinks competition with an absolutely nail-biting finish.

“Yeah, probably for the best. I actually fell asleep we stomped them so bad it became dull," laughed the black equine. Nothing ever got Thor down, he was born looking up at the blue sky and that's all he ever seemed to see. It was both wonderful and fucking annoying in equal measure. “So what delights do you think we have in store for us t…"

“Parade duty," Dalton cut in quickly as he pulled his blue uniform shirt on. “It's been in the news for weeks. The equality parade…"

“Oh yeah, that's the ones with all those perverts and…"

“Yes, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and cross-species alliance. Along with the Morphic Equity League and the Humans for Equality. All three marching right through the city," Dalton replied as he checked his tie in the mirror. It wouldn't matter really, the riot gear he wore would cover his tie entirely. However, he liked to look smart, to show that he wasn't some slovenly morphic looking for a free ride. Not that anyone actually gave a damn, so long as he did what he was told and acted as a meat shield for the little smoothies.

“Well, that bunch shouldn't put up any problems whatsoever. I mean freedom, equality and love. It ain't exactly a battle cry anyone is going to run from," observed the black stallion as he finished dressing. They both knew they'd be back in the locker room soon to put their riot gear on, but they had to join the morning briefing and get their assignments formally.

“Oh no, I expect them to be charming. It's the Christian Champions Crusade that is likely to kick up shit," snorted Dalton as he slammed his locker shut. “Don't you watch the news at all? They are supposed to be marching through the city… in the other direction."

“Fuck, not those assholes," Thor's cheerful demeanour slipping for a moment. Then he shrugged his shoulders, “On the plus side if there's got to be violence, I can think of no smoothie I'd rather punch than one of those assholes."

“True," admitted Dalton, although in the back of his mind he just hoped that things wouldn't come to that. The Crusade was a relic, something leftover from yesteryear, fighting against the tide of change and inclusivity. It would almost be sad if they weren't well known to be violent assholes who are always looking to intimidate morphics and anyone more liberal into line.

The two made their way to the briefing room. They stood out against the rest of the officers, by a full foot or more in most cases. There were twenty morphics in the force, Dalton knew them all by name. However, the others had stayed on the beat, only the horses had been assigned to the riot squad.

Sergeant Ames was giving the briefing. The large human was actually a pretty decent guy, by smoothie standards. He seemed to accept the usefulness of his morphic officers without question and thus far hadn't tried to stamp his authority any harder than he needed too. Other sergeants Dalton had worked for could not say the same thing. There is nothing funnier than a smoothie two-foot shorter than you bellowing at you as if you couldn't just walk straight through him like he wasn't there. Of course, the fact they outranked him and often gave him unpleasant assignments to 'keep his attitude in check' wasn't quite so funny.

“Alright guys, I'm sure you all have been keeping up on the news, we've got a whole cluster of a-holes marching one way down through the city and another cluster of a-holes marching the other." The sergeant was decent, although he was also often crass and impolite. “The Mayor, in his infinite wisdom, has authorised both parade routes and actually not done too bad a job. Mostly the two parade's are going through separate routes and shouldn't interact with each other, save at one point. Right here, where Main Street and Second Street run side-by-side for a few meters."

Dalton didn't have to guess where he was going to be placed. Two big horses with police armour, shields and batons were going to be stuck wherever the trouble was going to be the most likely. A few seconds later Ames confirmed this. Though the entire riot squad was going to be placed in that one small section of road. The rest of the force would man the rest of the route, along with some additional support that had been bussed in from nearby cities last night. Fairly routine procedure.

Ames gave a bit of spiel about how best to handle any hostilities and a rundown of procedures they all already knew by heart. Dalton paid attention anyway. Less than an hour after the briefing he was in full riot gear and on the streets. They were refreshingly empty this early, there was time to grab a coffee and a sandwich. Something they would all be grateful for later.

It was almost perfectly timed, the moment he finished his sandwich the crowds were starting to build. People on both sides waiting to cheer and jeer in equal measure. It was difficult to tell who belonged on which road. Fortunately for Dalton and Thor mostly what they needed to do was stand still and look imposing. Fortunately, while decked hoof to mane in riot gear looking imposing was a default position.

The first parade to arrive was the 'multi-culture homo pals' as a few smoothie officers had described them. Rainbow flags were waved and a few guys showed which side of the street they belonged on. It wasn't too bad though, not at first.

As he worked the horse became aware he was being stared at. Hardly a new feeling, but this man wasn't just staring he was pointing a camera at them. A human male, mid-twenties. He wasn't wearing anything flamboyant, but he'd been walking with the parade. Possibly just someone taking photos unofficially, it happened and was hardly concerning. However, as Dalton stared back their eyes met and he saw a slight pink flush come to the young man's cheeks.

Around the photographer, the parade was walking. With a little smile, the man suddenly made a beeline for Dalton. The horse found his heart racing just a little, he was sure this wasn't an attack he wasn't sure why he was suddenly nervous. “Hey." The human said as he arrived, Dalton nodded in acknowledgement of his presence. He wasn't sure what he should say, there was no aggression going on and there was nothing to stop parade-goers saying hello to the cops lining the route. Although, it was a tad unusual. Abuse or jokes were what was thrown at the riot squad when it wasn't actual physical objects.

The human held up his camera, “do you guys mind if I get a few snaps, you two look really rad. Our furry boys in blue!" His eyes were shining as he gave a hopeful smile, Dalton noticed his eyes were a surprising emerald green colour.

“Sure, make sure you get my good side!" Thor cut in quickly, much to Dalton's chagrin. “Who'm I kidding? I don't got no bad side," the black stallion replied and he pulled a couple of poses.

Smiling the human snapped a few pictures, “looking good. Seriously, so great you guys doing this, not the pictures. The whole protect and serve thing. Can't be easy to do in a city where you aren't even allowed to use the same bathroom as a human cop." His political stance was hardly surprising given the parade he had been marching in. The human turned his green eyes back to Dalton, “how about you, tall blonde and good looking, can I get a few shots without your shield in the way?"

Dalton felt his stomach tighten as the human called him good looking. He wasn't the first to say such, plenty of females had hit on him before. Yet this felt different. It made him uncomfortable in a way he couldn't identify. He did, however, lower his shield to give the human a better camera shot at him.

“CARPET FUCKER!" The scream came from behind him, as did the missile. It sailed clear through the gap Dalton moving shield had created and thunked into the side of the human's head. His green eyes closed and his lithe body hit the pavement. Reacting more on instinct than logic, the two equines leapt into action, supported by their other officers. The cameraman was treated and put into an ambulance, the guy who threw the bottle was identified and arrested.

The next ten minutes were furiously busy, the second parade had finally arrived. Only it was much smaller than the first. There were some deeply unpleasant clashes, and Dalton had beer splashed all over his shield and he could smell it in his fur. However, eventually the unpleasantness finished and he and Thor returned to their spots on the line.

While he was standing there Dalton spotted something, a camera on the ground. He recognised it as once as the one the poor human had been using. Stepping out of the line for a moment he grabbed it from where it had skidded under a small bench. He knew which hospital the human had been taken to, it seemed only right that the guy who screwed up and got him injured should at least return his property.

The rest of the parade seemed to go smoothly enough. A few guys came up to them and made some inappropriate remarks. Dalton acquired professional deafness. Thor, however, couldn't help but shout back, “you couldn't handle it boy, those skinny arms couldn't even lift my damned dick, let alone…" A swift hoof to the black stallion's leg cut him off before he drew any more attention to the pair.

“Awww, come on pony. It's just a bit of fun, I'm making their day. Now all those fags get to go home and think about just how big my Johnson is," Thor grumbled with a chuckle. “It's a gift really, from me to them, a nice big wet fantasy. Of course, that's all it'll be. Going to hit the bar tonight, find me a little filly and see how loud I can get her to neigh. I'll have to work hard to piss off the neighbours as much as I did this weekend."

Dalton knew that Thor was just waiting for him to ask about the weekend. There was no way he was going to gallop into that obvious a trap. Unfortunately, Thor was never one to let the lack of reaction actually stop him from getting out whatever horrible story he wanted. “So I'm with this filly, early twenties, melons like a champion fruit farmer, nice red and white painted fur and a pussy so warm and tight that I just couldn't hold back. You know what that's like…"

Thor's words faded out as white noise. Dalton kept his eyes fixed on the tail end of the parade. The cross-species alliance was last, humans and morphics walking hand in paw. Most of them were couples, twenty years earlier and they could have been arrested for such a show of affection. Dalton's eyes flicked to a small stallion walking with a young human female. She was slightly dumpy, as was he. However, they were holding hands and smiling with everything but their eyes. Dalton knew that smile well, it was the 'I'm not happy but I'll be fucking dead and buried before I let you think anything you can do or say bothers me at all' smile.

They both glanced at the small gathering of protestors behind the police line. The other march was long past, however, a few moral individuals had felt the need to return with their placards to inform people they had never met that they were going straight to hell. Dalton saw the human woman say something and the stallion smiled and suddenly turned and at the nearest point to the protestors, he kissed his girlfriend.

A torrent of verbal abuse was hurled, but thankfully nothing more. Dalton's grip on his shield tightened as he faced the religious group. A couple of them were hurling never-ending strings of racial slurs, but nobody seemed to be preparing to do anything. Glancing back behind him, the pony saw the human and stallion laughing and skipping a little as they let the abuse wash over them. Dalton couldn't help but smile a little to see the couple so happy.

“You ever think of doing a smoothie filly?" Thor's question cut through whatever filter Dalton had been using to ignore him.

“I.. what?" His speech stumbled as he tried to grasp the concept.

“I bet you have. I have. I mean… they have to be real tight down there, no matter how slutty. Probably give shit head though, no muzzle they'd probably be lucky to get my whole flare inside their mouth." Thor continued talking and Dalton tried to filter out his lewd words again, this time, less successfully. “Still… maybe once. I mean, it's not illegal and I bet they would be an easy pull. Though I bet the neighbours would think I was killing her when I shoved it all in…"

“Thor?" Dalton cut in sharply.

“Yes?"

“Shut up," the pony put a little bit of a growl into his tone. The black stallion had filled Dalton's mind with far more mental images than he'd ever wanted.

“I'm just saying, you see those videos and stuff that they are passing around. On Betamax of course, got to have the best quality," Dalton rolled his eyes, he'd not bothered to get a video recorder yet. Thus far he couldn't see the point, books were usually better than television anyway, or the radio. “Human females who just can't get enough morphic dick. It makes you wonder doesn't it?"

He'd be lying if he said he'd never wondered. Though sex had not really been part of his life, so far. All the focus most teenagers put into getting laid Dalton had put into getting into the academy. Following his father's hoofprints had meant everything to him. So much that he hadn't really thought about what to do once he caught up with his father and had no more hoofprints to follow.

“I guess, but not my kind of thing really," that at least was an honest reply. Dalton had tried a few nudie mags, but none of them seemed to really interest him too much. It was just images of women posing, it was hard to picture any of them with him. Although he did still manage to get erect and drain his balls, it just felt wrong and a little empty. Dalton had just assumed what his mother had told him was true; when he met the right woman he'd know and things would feel right.

Thor made a few more lewd comments, which Dalton let wash over him. With the beer still stinking up his uniform he already felt dirty anyway.

Eventually, the parades and protests were all over. The squad was pulled off the line and Thor and Dalton returned to the station. It felt great to get out of his riot gear and to wash to beer off his shield. His fur felt matted with sweat and he just wanted a good shower. The floor to the changing room was already flooded thanks to those who had already showered. So Dalton decided it could do little extra harm to actually shower in the station.

He was halfway through his shower when he heard the dulcet tones of Sergeant Ames, at a decibel level that would blow out the eardrums of anyone in twenty paces. That, unfortunately, included Dalton. What was worse than the volume was the thing he was shouting, “Officer Fowley!" Dalton winced, as his first name was missing. This was not going to be a nice chat with his commanding officer.

“Yes, Sir?" He asked sticking his head out of the shower.

“What the hell do you think you were doing? Have you seen the evening dirt rags?" The human was red in the face as he held up a copy of the Herald paper. On the front cover was a picture of the parade, or more accurately a picture of him with his shield lowered and the human cameraman mid crumple as a bottle could just be seen mid-flight. It was a beautifully timed photo, a million to one. The headline was less than flattering 'Morphic cop prefers to use human shields' and it was clear the paper believed he had deliberately let the human get hit.

“Sir, it was just a fluke shot. The guy was taking our photos and he actually asked me to move my shield…" the horse started to explain.

“Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that you broke the line between two opposing protest marches because some guy asked you to take a fucking picture. That totally changes everything," ranted the human, his face getting redder, he had past beetroot colour and was heading towards violet. “I'm sure when I gave instructions to maintain a fucking wall between these two groups of crackpots I really meant; maintain a wall, unless one of them asks you to put your shield down so he can take a fucking picture. Jesus H Christ, do you have any fucking idea how bad this looks? I have already had my ass chewed out by the captain. Do you see my ass? No, you don't cause it's not there anymore because he chewed it the fuck off!"

“Calm down Sarge. It wasn't Dalton's fault if people want to blame anyone they should blame the human punk we busted for throwing the bottle." Dalton felt a great swell of gratitude for Thor sticking his two cents worth in. Thor may have been a bit of a loudmouth, but his friend definitely had his back.

“The guy's already out and pressing police brutality, for letting a morphic cop manhandle him," snapped Ames.

“Oh come on sarge, I saw him throw it. Dalton was just closer. He didn't use any more force than he had to," Thor jumped in before Dalton could reply. The black stallion flexed an arm, the light reflecting off his glossy fur just right to show the powerful set of muscles that put both him and Dalton on the riot squad. “You'll know when one of us takes it too far." There was just a hint of threat in his tone.

Stepping slightly between them Dalton added, “plus there were others there. Plenty of guys on the line and I bet we could maybe get a couple of people from the parade to back us up."

The officer's eyes stayed fixed on the black stallion's. An old fashioned staredown. Thor might have the muscle, but Ames had years of walking the beat. This wasn't the first morphic to flex and threaten him, not even the first one in uniform to do it. Breaking eye contact first, Thor tossed his mane and gave a slight chuckle to cover his embarrassment. “Dalton's right. Just ask the guys. Us boys in blue, all in it together and all that."

“Aye, I'm pretty sure the guys would stick up for a fellow officer, even one of you." The last part stung. Not because it was said, but because it was true. The others would stand by the boys in blue, it was part of the code after all. “Though with who ended up in the hospital, it'll be hard to find any 'impartial witnesses'. Still, his word against ours. Case closed."

It wasn't an unfamiliar outcome. Dalton had seen it more than a few times on the beat. Guys who denied all sorts of crimes and the only witness was their accuser. Most of them walked free. Dalton felt strangely sick to be on the receiving end. More so when he knew there were a good few officers who would think he would owe them one, for telling the truth. Or maybe even lying to say they saw what they didn't see.

“I can speak to the guy who got hit. He seemed friendly enough and if he can confirm it… well then that's something," Dalton ended lamely.

Ames frowned, “you want to go see that guy?"

“Yeah, I found his camera, I was going to return it anyway," Dalton said and then added. “He had the best view of the whole thing."

“Yeah, and a few great pictures of yours truly," Thor replied giving another little flex and tail-flick.

The human burst into a grin and shook his head, “you damned morphics and your egos. Fine, I'll go talk to the guys and get a few of them on the record." He winked at Dalton," we're all blue over skin or fur." Dalton nodded, but he couldn't find it in him to smile. It didn't feel right, somehow. It felt oddly dirty and he wondered what his father would have said in the same situation. Maybe something about not having the guys lie, just getting the ones who must have seen it, say it. Real honest witnesses, regardless of their job.

Dalton escaped the conversation and the station as soon as he could. He didn't speak to anyone on the way out, just made a straight line to the nearest exit. Inside him he could feel the need to run, ancient animal instincts kicking in. Leaving his car behind he broke into a trot the second he was out of the door.

His speed picked up as the station vanished behind him. The noise of the streets faded to the wind in his ears. The feel of his cropped mane bouncing on his neck. People were walking, some of them started a little at the sight of a running morphic. In some parts of the city running was a crime any morphic could be pulled up for. Luckily for Dalton, he had his badge, so the times he'd been questioned were brief and only slightly unpleasant encounters. A friendly warning from fellow human officers to be careful where he ran.

The hospital was just a few miles away and he ate those miles up. All the while, his brain was running too, along different tracks. Questions with no answers, problems with no solutions. In the end, all there could be was acceptance, the world was what it was and one horse was unlikely to change it.

By the time he arrived at the hospital he was a bit of a mess, his t-shirt and jeans soaked and stinking of pony sweat. Even with his mane cropped short, it was a complete mussed up mess. The human nurse on the reception desk slipped a hand under the desk as he approached. Dalton noticed it and hated his eyes for doing so. Just a slight motion, maybe her leg was itchy. However, he knew the truth a slightly ragged-looking morphic had just walked into a hospital in the more human part of the city. Her finger was hovering beside a panic button.

Flipping out his police badge he saw her hand reappear and her harsh expression softened. “How can I help you… officer," Dalton noticed the slight pause, human officers never got that pause. Even generations after they were granted rights some humans had trouble treating him as equal, even in tone.

“I need the room number of Keith O'Reighly," he replied quickly and curtly. His patience had been worn as thin as a rubber band stretched out over a mile. It was the thickness of an atom and all he wanted to do was get home, shut his door and close the world out. It could rotate on its own for a few hours.

“Floor five, room five-twenty-one," the nurse replied. She tutted as Dalton left without thanking her. The elevator was full of humans and Dalton couldn't help but notice the extra respect they had for his personal space. In a crowded lift, he seemed to be the only person not being jostled. Although that may have simply been because of the stink of a sweaty horse.

As the door opened to floor five he stepped forward and shook his head a little. Trying to clear it of unpleasant thoughts, dwelling on them would do no good and he knew it. He paused outside the room, trying to figure out what he would say. “Hi, here's your camera back, please file a statement exonerating me of all the crap I have been accused of. It's been a long day, I just want to go home and forget everything that happened." Honest, but unlikely to work.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a security officer staring at him, hand on his holster. Guns in hospitals, that always felt wrong. Dalton had left his gun at the station. He knew that standing around would likely lead to a confrontation, so he knocked lightly on the door and opened it. “Hello, Mr O'Reighly? May I come in?" Dalton pushed the door open a little and he spotted the human he had the brief encounter with earlier.

His head had a bandage around it, messing up his formerly well-styled brown hair. There was a renewed pinkness to his cheeks as the human's green eyes spotted and recognised the horse. “Of course, officer."

“Please, call me Dalton," Dalton stepped inside, feeling slightly relieved that he'd been remembered. “I… sorry about what happened."

With a shrug of his shoulders, Keith replied, “it wasn't your fault. You didn't throw the bottle and it was my bright idea for you to lower your shield."

“Great, could you put that in a public statement and tell my boss to stop him chewing my ass off", Dalton thought the words hard, but all that he could say was. “I.. found your camera, I thought you'd..."

“Oh! You are my absolute hero!" The human exploded with a squeal of joy, as Dalton pulled the camera out of his small bag. Keith's hands shot out, as if desperate to grasp his possession. Dalton offered it to him, as it was exchanged warm fingertips brushed his. For a moment he felt something, or maybe he just thought he did. However, the human's slight blush grew deeper red on his cheeks. “This is my baby, top of the line. My parents bought it for me a few years ago. I'd never be able to afford to replace her."

“Her?" Dalton asked a little amused at how important the object was to the human.

“Heh! It's silly, but you know us boys and our toys." Keith replied as he looked over his prized possession. “Looks like she didn't take any damage, just a bit of a superficial scratch. I bet the film in her is still good too. This is totally rad. I have so many pictures from the parade. I can't wait to get out of here and develop them."

“You… going to be in long?" Dalton asked, his eyes flicking to the bandage.

“Naw, a bruise and risk of a mild concussion. They just want me to stay in tonight for observation." Keith replied and then he suddenly looked up put the camera to his face. “Still got one left on the roll. How about a picture of my hero officer returning my property." Dalton's heart skipped a little at the description of himself as 'my hero officer'.

“I… am a mess," Dalton replied, suddenly his scraggly mane and sweaty fur bothering him. It wasn't an image he wanted immortalising.

Lowering the camera, Keith gave him a reassuring smile, “you look good to me."

Shifting on his hooves Dalton's ears flicked a sure sign of equine nerves. Most humans didn't have an eye for such things. Keith proved that he wasn't most humans, “it's ok. How about you get one of me, with my 'battle scar'?" He said with another warm smile, offering the camera up to Dalton.

Nervously he took it, “I've never…"

“It's easy, just look through the little lens and get me in the frame, and then press the button on the top," the human reassured him. Dalton lifted the camera, turning his head slightly as the device pressed against his muzzle. Then he lined up a shot. Keith pulled a serious face and then just as Dalton pressed the button he stuck out his tongue.

“Oh!" Dalton started a little. “I took that… I hope I didn't…"

Keith smiled and laughed," that was the idea. I know war wound and all. However, I'm not letting a bruise and a ringing in my ears stop me from being me."

Handing the human his camera back, Dalton smiled a little. “That… that sounds like a good philosophy."

“It works for me. What's yours?" Keith replied, the question catching Dalton off balance.

“I… I dunno," he admitted honestly. “I guess I just want to do a good job."

“That's not a bad philosophy. I think a good few people should consider adopting it," the human replied and Dalton felt himself relaxing slightly. “So, I need to thank you for returning my property. What are you doing tomorrow night? I know a place that makes the very best burger in the city. Can I buy you dinner?"

“I don't eat…"

“Meat," Keith finished for him. “I know, but this place makes great horse burgers too. It's like some apple, nutty, oaty thing. They smell so good, I tried one myself. Not bad, but all my equine friends swear by them. Well, my one equine friend swears they are awesome and there's this bull guy I'm sort of friends with too. He says, and I quote 'they are not bad for the money'." Dalton couldn't help but chuckle at the enthusiastic human. “Just, let me buy you a meal and a beer to say thank you. What's the worst that can happen?"

“You should never ask that of a cop," Dalton said with a little dark chuckle. “I could tell you some stories."

“Great, tell me them over dinner tomorrow night," the human replied instantly with a charming smile. Dalton couldn't help but smile in return and he felt a little light-headed. His heart seemed to be racing, despite the fact he was standing still.

“Ok, just tell me where to meet you," he conceded.

“Seven o'clock at MacCafferties on seventh," Dalton knew the area well from walking the beat. A little grey area of town where the morphic area and human areas met and merged. Hardly a surprise from this particular human. It was the best place for a human and morphic to have a meal together without everyone staring.

“Visiting hours just ended," the voice barking from behind him held more than a hint of a threat. Dalton turned and gave the human security guard a withering stare. He knew a flash of his badge would get the guy to back off. However, he didn't want to do it. Why should he have to? There was a significant doubt in Dalton's mind that security was chasing human visitors away with the same zeal.

“Ok, I'll just say goodbye and head out," he replied calmly but firmly.

“See you don't dawdle, cub." The guard growled and then shut the door. While in his ears Dalton's blood boiled.

“Sorry about that," Keith cut in quickly. “Some people are just dicks."

“I'm used to it, no need to apologise," Dalton replied taking a few deep breaths. “However, if you could go down to the station after you are released and make a statement about what happened I'd appreciate it."

“Ah, yes. I already spoke to a reporter or two," the human's expression got a little sheepish. “I did say that it wasn't your fault. I know what some of the other papers have reported. I'm happy to go to the station and put the official record straight too."

Dalton breathed out a heavy breath of relief, “that would make things much easier for me. Thanks."

Holding up his camera the human gave him a wink, “no thank you. Besides, it was my dumb idea for you to move your shield. If I hadn't that guy would have never gotten a clear shot."

The shadow of the security guard outside the door caught Dalton's eye again. “I should go."

“See you tomorrow. Seven, MacCafferties on Seventh," the human replied with a smile and a wave.

Nodding his head, Dalton confirmed he would be there and then he left. He made sure not to notice the security guard on his way out. It wasn't until he stepped outside that he realised two important things. First, his car was still at the station, the second was that since he had arrived the heavens had opened and the torrential rain was threatening to stay for a while.

His home was closer than the station, so Dalton turned and started to run once more. The noise of the world drowning in the sound of raindrops. Laughing he pulled his hood down, the thin fabric having soaked through in seconds anyway. Dalton's hooves clopped through puddles splashing muddy water up onto his jeans. The sounds and smells of the city were washed away, his eyes could barely make out the streets more than a few meters in front of him.

By the time he reached home his clothes were utterly drenched, as was his wallet and everything he had. His small bag of hard candies that he kept to suck on while standing in the line at the parade was a sticky mess. Dalton stood in his entrance hall and peeled his soaked clothing off, feeling cleaner afterwards than he had all day.

He had another shower anyway, but in a lighter spirit than he thought he would be in. Then whipped up something warm to eat, a simple swede, carrot and potato mash with a sweet gravy sauce. The equine equivalent of meat and two veg, veg and two veg. As he cooked and ate he listened to music on the radio, keeping it tuned to a channel that never bothered with the news. His small T.V. was left off and outside the world got on with its business while Dalton got on with his. Selecting a book from his shelf, he lay on his sofa and read, until he nodded off to sleep.

Waking to the distant sound of his alarm clock ringing Dalton rose with a stretch. The warm morning sunlight pouring through his living room windows, orange and glorious. His golden fur seemed to compliment those rays as he stretched out his sore muscles. Sleeping on his sofa after a long day standing, and a couple of runs. His back was letting him know what a bad idea that had been. Coffee was brewed to combat it, along with some toast and peanut butter. A good start to the day.

The morning papers had a couple of stories about the parade. Keith had indeed stuck up for him. So it was just one half of the city that hated him. That side containing the sort of bigots who would hate him for his fur anyway, it mattered less. Combined with Keith putting in a report to confirm he was innocent, things were looking up. Although, his breakfast was ruined, a little bit, by seeing that the guy who threw the bottle had been released.

If it had been the other way then Dalton was sure that they would have been prosecuted to the full extent of the law. However, it wasn't a decision for him. At least now things would get back to normal. Dalton did his usual preparation for work, uniform and back-up uniform all neatly ironed and stored in his bag. On the way out the door, his eyes caught on the picture of his father in full uniform. The pony knew he looked a lot like his dad, his mother told him that all the time. “See you tonight, dad." He said to the picture and then left.

The day was much smoother than the previous one. There was nothing big planned in the city, which meant the riot squad was unlikely to be busy. A day of desk duty, processing criminals the beat officers had collared. Not pleasant but easy enough and certainly controllable. Thor had been given a beat to walk. That was a little unusual, and Dalton suspected it was Ames trying to remind the morphic just who was in charge.

At lunch the sergeant approached Dalton, “Dalton, that hippy from the parade popped by and left a report. He also handed in this," as he spoke the human dropped a photo on his desk. It was of Dalton, or mostly of Dalton. In the background, a human could clearly be seen frozen in the act of throwing a bottle.

“Hey, that's…"

“Oh yeah, that's the guy you busted. Given this new evidence and that our victim has said he wants to push charges, we are going to pull him back in for processing." Ames confirmed.

“The system works," Dalton muttered more to himself than to Ames.

“It does, sometimes. When we get lucky," the reply for the human was a surprise. “It ain't perfect, lord knows I ain't perfect, just ask my wife." Dalton had never heard his commanding officer talk like this. Was it regret, and guilt in his tone for having yelled at him for nothing? “Either way it saves your sorry ass, mostly." With that, the human walked away. No apology, but Dalton guessed that was as close as he would ever get to an apology from Ames.

The rest of the day was uneventful, well by police officer standards. To many people being spat at by a drugged up whore was a novel event worthy of note or possibly something they pay extra for. Sadly to Dalton and his co-workers it was a weekly, sometimes daily event. Drunks, druggies, petty thieves and spouse beaters they were the bread and butter of Dalton and his co-workers. The bread was mouldy and the butter was rancid. Still, there was some feeling of pride knowing that because you'd taken the hit a lot fewer people would have the taste of bread mould and rotten dairy products to deal with. At least on the good days.

Dalton wished he could talk to his father about it. Find out what had kept the old man going. As a colt, he'd assumed that it was just his father being a hero. Fighting the good fight, because that's who his dad was. Now he suspected differently. His father had been the first morphic cop, a legend in his time. The snide comments and snarky remarks Dalton pretended not to hear, would they have been so veiled and behind his back? Or would they have been direct and right to his face?

Ames had mentioned he'd known his father back when Ames was a rookie. At least by known, they'd been on the force at the same time. Though when Dalton had asked the human had very little insight to share. There were other officers around who had known his father, but very few willing to say more than a few words or retell a story that Dalton's instincts told him wasn't quite the truth. Even after only a year on the force, Dalton had learned to spot a lie when it was being told, including the subtle ones.

At the end of his shift, Dalton exchanges a few pleasantries with Thor. The black stallion was in high spirits as usual. If Ames intention had been to put him in his place it had failed. Thor told a few joky stories about some of the day's encounters, laughing heavily. Dalton let him know about the photo and Ames close call with an apology.

“Ah, you'd have more chance of getting him to suck your dick, than of getting him to apologising to you," Thor replied with his usual low brow humour. “Seriously, Ames would rather literally eat a giant horse dick than admit the owner of said dick was right. Though, I get the feeling he'd no sooner apologise to the other smoothies either. What's that saying 'never apologise, it's a sign of weakness'. I think he took that to heart."

“Very John Wayne," Dalton nodded softly, recognising the quote from some of his father's movies.

“Yeah, John Wayne exactly. That's who he thinks he is. Big good old American hero type. Now, as things go that ain't a bad guy. I mean sure he's not going to win awards for multiculturalism, but I don't think he actively spends his time thinking of ways to be a dick." Thor replied, and Dalton had to admit he had a point.

The pony opened his mouth to reply when the door opened and a couple of canine officers joined them. Both of the equines switched to the topic of sports. The dogs joined in and Dalton shut up, partly because he was aware it was already closing in on six and he had places to be soon. However, also because he still couldn't get his dick up enough to give even one single fuck about sports.

Dalton left and drove home. A quick shower got the sweat of the shift off his fur. Then he dressed. Pausing only briefly to wonder what he should wear. However, it was a burger joint, after all, surely shirt and tie would make him stand out even more than being a huge equine normally did. So simple jeans and a flannel shirt, nothing fancy. This wasn't a date, this was some guy buying him dinner to say thank you. Definitely not a date.

Finding a place to park near the restaurant wasn't easy, but he managed. Arriving at the place at the literal stroke of seven. A great relief to Dalton as he hated to be late, to him it felt rude. Inside, MacCafferties was actually nice. The lighting wasn't too bright, the walls were nicely papered with a floral pattern, making the place feel a little older for some reason. More like a place his mother might enjoy. This probably dated back to the history of the place, before certain lifestyles were legalised places like this were more of a speakeasy. The wallpaper made it out to be a smoothy place, but there would have been a backroom for both kinds to mix.

Each table had a small floral arrangement and a lit candle. Yet there was also a bar to the side, with stools and bowls of peanuts, and salted oats as well. Something placed out at morphic bars for herbivores to nibble on.

“You made it!" A happy and familiar voice erupted from his behind him. Dalton turned to find Keith still holding the door opened.

“Yes, I did," Dalton replied, wondering why his stomach suddenly was feeling slightly uneasy. He put it down to the cloud of smoke from the patrons of the bar. Who, he had noted, were all manner of shapes, sizes and species. Not just sharing a restaurant, but often a table.

Any further discussion was killed by a waitress approaching them. She was a morphic, feline. “Table for two?" she asked politely.

“Yes please, Patty," Keith replied giving a wink to the waitress.

“Oh Keith, sorry I didn't see you behind tall, and golden delicious." She responded, her tone immediately changing as she recognised what was clearly a very frequent patron. He also felt a flush to his cheeks and ears at her description of him. His ears twitched nervously.

“This is Dalton, be nice he hasn't been here before. I told him you guys made the best burger in the city. So don't go making a liar out of me," the human replied as Patty led them through to a small subsection of the place that had a non-smoker sign. Apparently, Keith also didn't smoke, which was good news to the equine, cigarette smoke played havoc with sinuses.

“Well, if you two want to give me your drinks orders, I'll go let the chef know he needs to be on his game tonight," Patty replied as the two sat at their table.

“Just a beer, for me," Keith replied.

“Err… a light beer," Dalton stammered a little as he replied. He wasn't sure why he was nervous, he had faced hordes of screaming humans who wanted to beat him. Why should he be nervous sitting down to dinner with one human who simply wanted to buy him food? “I'm driving." He added to answer the question Keith had not asked. “How's your head?"

Keith no longer had a bandage, but there was a very clear black and purple bruise on his temple. “Back to normal, I think. Though some might say that was not a good thing." It was a little joke, it did get a nervous chuckle from Dalton, more out of politeness than mirth. “I stopped by the station today, gave them my statement and a print of a photo I took."

“Yes, I saw it really great. Just the sort of evidence we can use to prosecute that whack job," Dalton enthused, happy to be on the more familiar territory of law enforcement.

“I hope so," Agreed the human and then he pulled an envelope out of his jacket. “I thought you might like to see these, they're what I took yesterday. I developed them myself. I'm actually a photographer by trade. Do some weddings and stuff to keep the money coming in. Though I have also had some pictures published in newspapers and magazines."

Dalton took the envelope and carefully slid out the glossy photos, “was that why you were there yesterday?"

“Well, yes and no. I wanted to take some photos, but I also do believe in what we were marching for," Keith replied earnestly. Dalton noted the use of we in the sentence. Keith considered himself part of the parade, not someone outside it taking photos.

Glancing through the pictures a few of the images were rather sweet. He recognised the chubby equine and his girlfriend kissing again. Then suddenly he spotted himself, in full riot gear, standing in the centre of the line with shields up. It was a far from friendly or welcoming sight. He'd never thought about what they looked like from the other side before. Moreover, he found himself wondering why they were facing that way and not towards the other parade. It hadn't been his choice and in all honesty, he knew what he'd prefer to look at, but then he was there to protect he'd never really thought of who he was protecting.

Then he found a couple more pictures of himself and Thor. These were clearly the images he'd taken when they'd gotten up close. Thor did cut a handsome figure of a horse, Dalton had to admit, there was no bad side showing in the photos. Next, it was himself, looking far more nervous and uncomfortable, also slightly embarrassed. “These are good, well save the last couple."

“Nonsense, those are my favourites. Two dashing officers, all geared up to protect the innocent," the human replied instantly. “Though I won't be selling them on. I am grateful that you guys were there though. Things could have gotten nasty…" Keith reached up to his bruise and corrected himself “.. nastier, anyway, if you weren't."

“Just doing my job," Dalton replied, feeling a little uncomfortable. “If I'd done it better you wouldn't have that bruise on your noggin."

“True, but if not for that bottle all I'd have would be a couple of photos and no idea who you were. So if a bottle to my noggin gets me a chance to learn about someone so interesting, then I'd count that as a good, if somewhat painful, win." The human flashed a warm smile as he replied, and Dalton flushed again. He had the distinct impression Keith was flirting with him, and the real strange realisation he was actually enjoying it.

“So, when you say what we were marching for, you were… part of the march as in you're…"

“Gay? Yes, mostly… it gets complicated." the human stumbled over his words as he tried to respond.

“Complicated?"

Keith gave a little shrug of his shoulders and a smile," let's just say that romantically I like to keep my options open. I'm more interested in the person. If I like a person then I will enjoy whatever they have in their pants."

Dalton frowned a little as he tried to wrap his mind around that concept, “I suppose that makes sense. To me at least."

“What about you?" The question should have been expected and yet Dalton was completely unprepared for it to be fired.

“I… I don't know, it's…"

“Complicated," Keith finished for him with an understanding smile.

Gulping and feeling strangely inadequate next to this smoothy half his size, Dalton shrugged. “I've never really had any time for romance. I was so focused on getting into the force, and it's not easy you know."

“Oh, I'll bet it's twice as hard for a morphic," the human replied quickly.

“It is, and it isn't. I mean the physical side you could say I have a natural advantage. My grades were always good, so mostly… it's just convincing people I'm more than a wall of muscle," Dalton admitted and he knew that on that front he had a ton more people to convince.

“Well, there's only like a couple hundred morphic officers. I bet that can be isolating," Keith muttered softly.

“It has its good days and its bad days. Like any job," the equine replied, feeling a bit defensive about his career choice. “The guys can be… “ Dalton didn't get to say what the guys were, because Patty returned with a couple of beers, breaking the unsettling line of conversation.

“Here you go sweety," Patty said as she placed a light beer in front of him. “Burgers will be out soon. I'll leave you two alone till then." She gave Keith a wink that for some reason made Dalton blush even more.

“It's ok you know. This isn't a date," the human said suddenly, as if he could see the panic behind Dalton's eyes and was trying to calm him. “It's just two guys having a burger. It doesn't have to get more complicated than that."

The horse immediately picked up on the subtle hint in the second half. It didn't have to be complicated, implied it could be if he wanted it to. As reassuring as the words were, the hidden offer within them still left Dalton asking what he wanted. Was he in any way attracted to the human?

“So why did you join up?" the human asked and that gave Dalton an excuse not to gallop down a street he was clearly not ready to be down.

“My father, he was a police officer," he replied quickly. “I always wanted to follow in his hoofprints."

“Wow, he must have been one of the first-ever morphic cops," the human replied, his tone definitely conveyed that he was actually impressed.

“The first actually, yes," there was more than a hint of pride in his tone as he corrected the human. “My dad, he was a good guy."

“He must have faced… like so much just to get that job and keep it," there was a definite look of awe on Keith's face. It warmed Dalton's heart more than a little. “So you want to carry on, blazing the trail your father started?"

“I… want to help people. I know it sounds kinda lame and a bit like the recruitment posters. However, I want to protect and serve my community," the words were coming easier now. This was more familiar territory, he'd had this conversation with most of his school friends and even his mother. She had not been fully supportive of her son following her late husband into the job that got him killed.

“That's totally…. Rad," the human enthused. “Of course, this just reaffirms my original assessment of you, as a hero. A dashing pony in blue."

“You think I'm dashing?" It wasn't a compliment he'd ever heard, definitely not for a guy.

“Hell yes. You got the looks, the build and the uniform that shows off both," there was no doubt the human was flirting with him. Yet, Dalton found himself both blushing and enjoying it.

“T.. thanks, you look nice too," it was a lame response, though from the look on Keith's face the equine might have just said he was a sexy Adonis.

Fortunately, Patty arrived once more to break up their discussion. A burger with fries was placed in front of both of them. Dalton immediately noticed he had sweet potato fries, the preferred choice of most equines."Best herbivore burger in the city." The feline said as she placed a small dish holding the condiments and some cutlery onto the table.

Dalton thanked her as she left and picked up the burger. The bun was hard, not soft like human bread buns. It was the chewier tack bread that equines preferred. Chewier and saltier. A promising start. Glancing at Keith he knew he had an audience so he took a small bite. Nutty, sweet and salty flavours burst onto his tongue. The chewy bread was matched with a soft patty. He could taste apples, walnuts and carrots mixed with swede and potato. Dalton swallowed and before Keith could ask what he thought of it, he took a second much bigger bite.

“See, I told you. Best horse burger in the city… well, that's made for horses, not of horses… not that anywhere I know of actually serves non-morphic equines…" Dalton had paused mid-chew to give the human a quizzical look. “Not that I've gone looking for one… I'm just going to shut up and eat my beef burger. If I can get it passed the foot that's in my mouth." The human had turned pink and Dalton suddenly thought how cute the flustered creature looked.

Swallowing his second mouthful he gave Keith a nod, “that is a damn good burger." He confirmed, not mentioning anything about the human's stumbling. The burger itself, damned good and all was demolished in a matter of minutes along with the sweet potato fries. Still hungry for a long day Dalton had ordered a second before he even though that it might be considered rude. Unless eating takeout food in a patrol car with another cop counted, he'd never dined with a human before.

Keith didn't mention it, instead, he signalled for another beer. Dalton asked for a second light beer, mentally noting that would be his last. Equines have a much higher limit for alcohol than humans. However, after in a year on the force, he'd seen enough DUI related accidents and injuries to even drink one half the equine limit before getting behind the wheel of his car.

“So, do you have any good cop stories?" Asked Keith as he picked at the leftover fries on his plate. “It must be an interesting job or eye-opening at least."

“I've only been on the force less than two years," Dalton replied and then as he saw a slightly disappointed look on the human's face he added. “So yeah, I have a few." The equine paused as he ran his mind back and tried to pick out something more non-cop friendly and not too disgusting for the dinner table. That filtered out a good portion of the best ones. Eventually, his mind churned out a good one.

“Alright, I have one for you. It starts on my first month on the job. I'm an excited young colt, fresh out of the academy. A total rookie; or, as my commanding officer described me 'green as the grass I eat'." Dalton noticed a slight twist on Keith's face at that joke. “Now, I was working a beat and we had a warning about this one guy. Bit of a known guy, career criminal, not that bright. However, nobody had managed to put him away. Nothing too serious, some muggings, some not so subtle burglaries and lots of drug possession, almost certainly with the intent to supply.

So, I'm on the watch as we patrol past his known haunts. Sure enough, I spot him. Burst in to catch him red-handed with several kilos of weed." As he spoke his second burger arrived, pushing it to one side he nibbled on some of the sweet potato fries as he continued to tell his story. “I had him absolutely dead to rights. Only… you see I didn't have a warrant and seeing a person near their own home isn't probable cause. So when the case got to court and I was sworn in, his lawyer tore the whole thing to shreds."

“This doesn't seem like a really funny story," observed Keith as he took a swig of his beer.

“Bear with me, it gets better. So, Collins, that was the criminal's name I should have mentioned it sooner. He was crowing and laughing in the court as the judge dismissed the case. He said some rather unpleasant things about the thoroughbred nature of my ancestry and how 'no stupid fucking furball was gonna send him down'." Once more the human's face twisted at the slur. “Next day, of course, my Sargeant reams me out for not following due process, not warning them that we hadn't got probable cause and all that. Like you'd expect, dumb rookie, making a dumb rookie mistake.

Just as he finished and I limped out with my ass sore as hell and my tail firmly tucked between my legs. Only to see Collins standing in the station. He charges over to me and demands that we return the property we wrongfully stole from him." Dalton smiled to think back on this. “Now, you see apart from the weed we picked up a couple of things that we thought were stolen. We weren't able to prove any of it anyway, and even if we had lack of due process meant he'd walk free.

Now, this is where I got a little idea. So I take Collin's to the evidence locker, where he can pick up his possessions and I tell the officer manning the desk what he wants and that I'm going to get it for him. All the time Collin's is calling me a dumb pig, a stinking traitor to my kind and disgusting failure. Saying how us morphics are so dumb any half-brained smoothie can outthink us." Once more a twitch from Keith."I just ask if he wants all of his possessions back. He says “yes, of course, I want all my stuff back you stupid pig.

So I nod and go into the evidence locker and select the box. Make him out a receipt and on it, I put all the stuff we confiscated from him. I take it to the front and make sure he can see every single item and that the other officer can see it all too. Then I get out a form, see when you pick up your stuff you got to sign a form confirming what you are picking up and that it is your legal property. On that form, I very carefully and meticulously list every single item. Right down to the title of the pornographic video that was in his video player. ' Barely legal girls crazy for farmyard morphics'. I will never forget that title.

Then I hand him the form, and ask him to read it and if he was happy to confirm that he did indeed own every single item on the list to sign the form to confirm it. Collin's gives the list half a glance and then signs and dates. Then I packed every item neatly into the evidence box and pass it over to him. He picks it up and walks to the door."

Dalton paused and smiled broadly thinking back on the moment, “before he could open the door I vaulted the desk, grabbed him and before he even knew what was happening I had him face-first on the floor with his arms handcuffed behind his back. I am sitting on top of him, with the biggest fucking smile on my face ever reading him his rights as slowly and precisely as I have ever or will ever read them. I savour every single syllable as I the guy behind the desk is looking on in shock and confusion.

Then I open the box I gave Collin's and I pull out two and a half kilos of marijuana and the desk guy looks down at the form. The form Collin's had just signed to confirm that he owned the weed. Collin's is kicking up so much commotion half the station has joined us by then and I'm just laughing my ass off. He went down for five years for possession with intent to supply." As he finished talking he saw the slightly shocked expression on Keith's face.

“Wow, that guy… was so dumb!" The human exclaimed as he drained his drink. “Sounds like he deserved it."

“Pretty dumb, I gave him every chance to say it wasn't his," the equine replied. “If I hadn't I think it would have been entrapment." He lowered his voice and leaned closer. “It also would not have felt so good when I arrested him." Dalton grabbed his burger and took a huge mouthful, swallowing he glanced at Keith. “So what about you, any fun photographer stories?"

Keith paused and then smiled warmly," yeah actually. This one time I was taking pictures in a parade and I spot this cute guy. He's a cop and I ask to take his picture, as I try to work out how to slip him my card. Then some jackass throws a bottle at my head. Anyway, the same cute cop comes to my hotel room and agrees to go out for a meal with me. Not as good as your story, but I am hoping it'll have a happy ending."

Dalton paused in his eating of the burger. He could feel his face and ears burning as he blushed. Fortunately, the human wouldn't see that through his fur. “I… thought you said you weren't going to make things complicated?"

Giving him a wink Keith replied, “it doesn't have to be complicated." He leant forward a little, his hand sliding across the table. A little bolt of electricity ran up Dalton's arm as he felt the human's fingers on his hand. “Things like this can be real simple."

“I…" Dalton's response died on his lips. Keith was leaning closer and on instinct he found himself leaning into him. Keith's fingers lace with his own and he realised he was grasping back. For a moment their lips met and his heart galloped out of control. The sound of glasses clinking at a nearby table startled him out of the kiss. His hand was snatched clear of Keith's and placed on the human's chest pushing him back down to his seat. “I… I… people might SEE!" he whispered desperately.

“I'm sorry," the human replied responded sitting back down in his chair. “I've been here a lot, I know nobody would care if they saw us kissing here. However, I know it's not easy, especially your first time. I should have respected that."

Glancing around Dalton could see that nobody was staring at them, it did indeed seem like nobody in the place cared. Except him. “I can't do this here, I… I never even thought about being with a guy before yesterday."

“So… you thought about being with me yesterday?" Once more a question shot out of the blue, caught Dalton completely off-guard. It was slightly embarrassing given he was a trained police officer, it was his questioning that was supposed to catch his suspect off-guard.

The equine's ears twitched nervously as he tried to form an answer, “I… may have." He finally admitted and felt the heat of his embarrassment burning on his cheeks. Though as hard as those words were to say, the moment he said them he felt his mood lighten and the pressure lifted.

Keith gave a warm slime, and his cheeks flushed red with what Dalton assumed was a mixture of excitement and embarrassment. “So… I live like five minutes walk from here… I mean, if you wanted to go someplace more private. Where there won't be anyone to see or make you feel uncomfortable. Except me, though I'd hope that I wouldn't make you too uncomfortable."

Dalton paused, he knew what was on offer. It wasn't just going back to the human's home for a chat over a cup of joe. There would be kissing and Keith probably would expect more. He swallowed as he realised his heart was racing, he could feel the fur on his palms getting damp with sweat. Lower down there was a definite tingle of excitement, he knew at least one part of him wanted to say yes. “Ok." He replied simply, not trusting his voice to say anything more.

Keith was on his feet a second later, he tossed down a bunch of bills to cover the cost of their meal. As they left, Dalton spotted Patty giving Keith a wink. The horse suspected that was not a thank you for a tip. However, a second later he was out on the street. Walking with a smoothie was a little unusual. All his friends and family had been morphics. Human's had always been fellow students, co-workers and sometimes bullies. So he couldn't help but glance around nervously as he followed Keith. Checking out every passer-by to see if they were staring.

There was more than a couple of people on the street who looked in their direction. Even in the mixed neighbourhood, it was clear morphics and smoothies didn't mix often. Fortunately, Keith had not been lying about how far away his place was. It was a flat above a small shop. The human gestured at it as he fumbled with the keys. “My photography studio," Keith said as the door opened.

A narrow set of stairs led up to a tiny apartment. A combined living room and kitchen, was revealed as the door opened. Keith's place was nicely painted, and very neat. The walls were full of pictures, clearly Keith's work. The cop in Dalton couldn't help but note there were photographs of all sorts of parties and crowd scenes. However, not a single one that could be Keith with his family.

A small sofa was facing a small and old T.V. It was definitely a black and white set and there was no VCR or Betamax. “Please have a seat," Keith said gesturing for him to step fully inside.

The nerves in his stomach grew by the second and yet so did his excitement. Dalton could feel his cock straining a little against his briefs. As he stepped inside his head clipped the top of the doorframe and he gave out a pained “ohhfp."

“Oh, damn, I'm so sorry I should have warned you to duck," Keith said with a gasp. The human's hands reaching out instinctively to the bending equine. The warm pals stroked up his muzzle, “does it hurt? You want me to get some ice?" He asked, only the pain and shock had evaporated for Dalton. The touch of Keith's hands had been so soft. He paused, and his eyes looked into Keith's. At that moment he was sure of what he wanted, who he wanted.

Their lips met moment's later, this time with privacy Dalton didn't pull away. He leant into the kiss, moaning as feelings and sensations he had never felt filled him. The soft tingle of human lips on his velvet muzzle, the gentle strokes of Keith's palms which were cupping his face, sending a wonderful mixture of excitement and arousal down his spine. His heart began to race, as his lips parted and he tasted Kieth's sweetness.

Keith gave soft moans of pleasure, their sounds making Dalton's ears twitch. Closing his eyes Dalton just basked in the moment, his hands hung limply by his side, trembling. He wanted to touch Keith, but he couldn't think where or how. It was the human who took the lead, stepping closer pressing his chest to Daltons. Keith's hands stroking down the equine's broad neck. Dalton had to bite back the desire to neigh out in pleasure.

A moment later, his hands were on Keith's lower back, holding him. While, Keith's fingers traced over his pecs slowly, running around the outline of his impressive pecs. It was the human who broke the kiss, letting out a soft moan. His fingers started to unbutton Dalton's shirt, the equine stood there frozen unable to stop him and actually willing him on. A few seconds later it fell to the floor, it was followed by Keith's T-shirt and then the human was in his arms once more.

This time the passion was far greater. Keith was kissing him with what felt like a burning hunger. It burned inside Dalton too, he returned the kiss with equal fever, his tongue no longer timid in its exploration of his lover's mouth. His hands stroked over Keith's naked torso, the sensation of skin on his paw pads sending wonderful tingles, or maybe it was just the person and not the species.

A few moment's later Dalton jumped, as a human hand slipped below the waistline. Their kiss was broken as he couldn't hold back the neigh as his maleness was caressed through his jeans. His rod was straining to be free, he'd never felt it get so hard so fast. There was no resistance offered as Keith's fingers unfastened his flies, one button at a time. Until his jeans were pulled down, slightly roughly. The human was clearly as excited as he was.

As Keith bent down, pulling Dalton's jeans down, the horse saw his eyes locked on the barely contained bulge. In those eyes, he could see the lust and hunger the human had for him. Just seeing that, knowing it was him that Keith was lusting after, it sent a thrill right down his spine to his flared cocktip.

“Very nice," the human whispered and Dalton blushed. He was grateful the human had made no comments on the size. His cock was average for his species. Dalton knew that was double the human average. He'd heard all through school and the academy comments about how lucky he was to be born a horse, to be gifted. The way they spoke it was as if being born with a big cock was somehow an achievement in itself. Or worse, like that's all he was, all equines were. Dumb guys with big cocks and they should be happy about that.

Unable to speak or move, he just stood there while Keith admired the marquee that had become his briefs. The blue fabric was much darker at his cocktip, as he drooled pre into them. A thrill of excitement ran up and down his spine, as Keith's fingers slide into his brief's waistband. Their touch tickling him, he had never been ticklish before and yet this wasn't just ticklish. It was the thrill, the excitement and the burning need for someone to touch him.

Standing up the human grabbed Dalton's hand and moved. “Please, sit down," Keith instructed as he led Dalton to the sofa. Feeling like a useless lump Dalton did as he was told. He wished he knew what he was supposed to do. He was vaguely aware of the physical acts that were possible. His school had given a rather slim version of sexual education, which could be summed up as don't have sex. Then as brief an explanation of what sex was, just enough to get pupils interested, followed by hours of being told that sex was for after marriage only.

There had been no mention of sex with guys. He had been aware that homosexual's existed, but… he didn't know what they did. Which meant that, as he sat there, he had no idea what he should do. Was he supposed to bend over, or was Keith? Did he want that? What was Keith wanting and what would he expect of him? Would he be good? Would it hurt? Would….

The questions suddenly evaporated, as Keith took away his doubts, at least for the moment. Two soft hands, grasped his maleness, stroking and then soft human lips and tongue kissed and licked over his flared tip. No pain, but pleasurable sensations so strong he neighed again and louder. “You like that, huh? “ Keith whispered and then kissed Dalton's flare again. There was no answer the equine could give but more cries of pure bliss.

Keith's lips opened wide, Dalton couldn't take his eyes off the scene of the human kneeling between his legs. Human hands grasping his mottled pink cock, one below the flare, the other below the medial ring. While his flared tip was guided into the most wonderful warm place it had ever been taken. Neighing with uncontrollable bliss the equine felt someone sucking on his flare. His heart began to race and he felt his huge leathery orbs starting to dance.

It wasn't possible to stop himself. Keith had pulled him beyond the point of no return before he was even aware it was near. His cries of bliss echoed around the room, as Keith's eyes went wide. A second later the human pulled his mouth off the flared and erupting shaft, coughing a little. However, his hands never stopped, they kept stroked the huge equine shaft, as rivers of pent up spunk shot out, landing on Dalton's stomach, soaking his fur. The room filled with the stench of equine cum, musky, with a hint of soap and grass.

Dalton just lay back on the sofa. His breath coming in pants and then he felt something else. Embarrassment, he'd shot so soon, “I'm sorry… I...I can do better."

Keith smiled from his place nestled between two thick meaty equine thighs, “you have nothing to be sorry for." He replied and his eyes gazed confidently up into Dalton's. There was no hint of a lie, no hint of amusement and not a single sign that Keith was laughing at him. “My first time I shot before the guy even got my pants down. Just right into my undies. It's natural, to be a little extra excited."

“So everyone's like this?" Dalton asked, feeling slightly strange for asking such intimate questions. However, when you can see your own cum in a guys hair there really should be no limits on the conversation.

Keith shook his head, “well I've been about a little, but I ain't tried every one. Nor that many first-timers; but, of the few guys I have, one guy was so nervous it took him almost an hour to relax enough to blow. Some came quick, others slow. Everyone's different and that's a good thing. I'm just saying, there's nothing to be ashamed about and you don't have to worry. I'm having a good time."

Letting out a deep breath Dalton just nodded his acceptance of the answer. However, he was able to relax a little. Then suddenly he had a thought, “you want me… to return the favour?"

“Only if you want to," Keith replied and once more Dalton could hear nothing but sincerity in his tone.

“I… think I would like to," Dalton replied. He was actually a little unsure on the idea, he'd never thought of doing that to another man. However, he did want to return the pleasure he'd been given. To show Keith that he may have shot quickly, but he appreciated every millisecond. Keith didn't respond with words, instead, he stood up and gave Dalton the first glimpse of his own manhood.

For a human, it was a decent size, plump and covered in a soft sheath. Dalton reached out and his furry fingers wrapped around the thick shaft. Keith gave a soft pleasured moan. The equine let his paws slowly stroke over the pink maleness, slowly exploring it. His nose picked up the soft musk of the young male, sweet and subtle. Yet he had to admit he liked it. The warmth and firmness, he gulped to know he was causing this reaction in another guy.

The equine kept expecting Keith to ask him to suck or tell him to. Or maybe just try to push it to his mouth. Yet he just stayed still, moaning in pleasure as Dalton satisfied his curiosity. Keith's hands reached out suddenly and Dalton jumped a little to feel them stroking his cheeks. Keith didn't react to the jump, he just let his palms stroke slowly up and down Dalton's cheeks.

Regaining his composure, Dalton's attention turned once more to the warm length in his hands. His fingertips sliding down, the feel the slightly damp skin of Keith's sac. A deep groan of pleasure above him gave the equine confidence to touch more. Gently clasping his hand around the fruits. Compared to his own they were like kumquats beside a grapefruit. However, it wasn't their size that Dalton cared about, just the feelings within himself as he handled another man's parts.

It felt, right and yet also wrong in equal measure. A glance upwards and his eyes met Keith's. Once more he could see a burning need there. Yet the human had said nothing, nor moved. Keith's fingers were playing with his mane and doing nothing more. Not a word, no attempts to get him to hurry up, or to encourage him onwards to what the human clearly wanted. The patience of Keith was unbearable, each second that past Dalton felt the guilt and expectation growing inside him. He knew what he was expected to do, what he'd agreed to do.

Moving a little he brought his head closer. A soft sigh of expectation escaping the human's lips. This was it, it was time to pay the piper. Or suck the piper or rather his pipe. It was time to male up and then go down on this male. His nose picked up on more subtle notes of the human's musk, this close to his maleness. Earthy, with a sharp tang to it and strangely citrus. Maybe some soap? The lack of any cologne was noted. Human males trying to pull humans tended to make themselves stink with any of a wide range of scents. To many mophics, they had an unpleasant chemical edge to the smell that human noses couldn't pick up on. Keith had chosen to wear none, presumably because he knew Dalton would not enjoy it.

That small act of thoughtfulness stuck in his mind. It was the tiny grain of sand that tipped the scales in Dalton's head. His decision made, Dalton's mouth opened and he pressed his muzzle forward. Velvet lips kissed uncut human cocktip. The warmth surprised him, and then he pressed forward. Above him, he heard Keith's whimpers of pleasure. Then his tongue greeted the visitor to its domain. The taste of human cock splashed onto his tongue. The earthy tones far stronger, and yet welcome. Part of him knew this was what he'd always wanted. This was why things had never really worked with the fillies.

Being a horse meant he could easily accommodate Keith's maleness in full. Pressing his lips down that thickness until he was kissing Keith's crotch. Human balls tickled his chin as they danced with delight. His tongue squirmed against the invader, and the more it squirmed the louder Keith's moans became.

Dalton pulled back a little, trying a small bob on the human cock. The sensation was strange and yet pleasurable. He enjoyed the pull-on his lips as if the cock was trying to stay inside. The feel of the thickness pulsing against his tongue, the taste of musk and arousal. While the room filled with the sounds of pleasure, pleasure he was bringing to another. His eyes closed and he sank his muzzle back down that length, ignoring any of his questions.

Melting into the situation Dalton felt the world outside the door disappearing. All that mattered was the two of them and their passion. With questions banished from his mind, there was nothing left but burning desire. His mouth moved faster and faster, his tongue drinking up the bitter drops of precum as they rained down. Keith's non-stop cries of pleasure were music to his ears, giving a rapid beat to the passion of the moment.

Keith's hips started to buck into his muzzle. The movement surprised him a little. However, he welcomed it a moment later, enjoying the feel of the human's sac slapping off his furry chin. He sucked firmly, his tongue seemed ever eager to lap over the human's length. His heart was racing and between his legs, he knew his cock was back to full attention. Serving another man had given his spent cock more than a second wind.

His hands had grasped Keith's ass, without him even making a decision. Dalton's body had needed to hold him, to pull Keith forward into his hungry mouth and so he had. With a zeal that surprised him, he served the human desperate to taste Keith's seed. So when Keith suddenly pulled away, ripping that cock from his hungry lips he cried out in feral pain. He felt betrayed and for a moment angry to have been denied his prize.

That moment lasted the lifespan of a snowflake in a volcano. It was followed by feelings of shame and self-doubt. He looked up his eyes full of questions. Needing to know what he'd done wrong. Every part of him was asking one question, “why?"

“Sorry… I just. Damn, I was so close," Keith panted as Dalton looked up in pure confusion. “I just… I didn't want to cum just yet." The human explained, “that was… oh fuck, so good. I can't believe that was your first time." Those words helped ease the worry in Dalton's mind. It hadn't been him.

However, with why answered only one question remained in his mind, “what do we do next?" Keith smiled at him as he asked and for a second the human turned to jog across the room. Dalton wondered if he was supposed to follow, maybe they were going to the bedroom. That's the normal place to have sex. Not that anything he'd seen or done with Keith would be described as normal by his standards.

Instead, Keith stopped at a small side table with a lamp on it. He pulled open a small drawer and grabbed a white tube. Dalton's eyes went wide as his brain not only identified what it was, it leapt to the conclusion of what Keith wanted to happen next. “Next, it's time for me to mount a cop," Keith said and in his eyes, Dalton could see the human instantly wishing he had never said that joke, especially to a morphic horse cop.

Not that the joke made much impact on Dalton. His brain was far too busy panicking at the idea of what was being proposed to care about a faux pas like that. “You…" the question died on Dalton's lips, he wasn't sure how to phrase it. There was no acceptable way in the equines trained and disciplined brain to ask," mount my cock or my ass?"

Luckily, he didn't have to wait long for the answer. Keith bounded back over to him, a spring very much in his step. Or maybe he just wanted to enjoy moving without the soreness he was surely going to have to endure for the next few days. Into his hands, he squeezed a huge dollop of lubricant. The gel was clear and odourless. Dalton could see small bubbles in the glossy substance. Time seemed to slow down as the human's hands reached down. There was a flash of a chill as the cool substance touched his cock and then. Oh, so glorious a feeling he neighed like a feral animal once more.

Eager human hands spread thick lubricant all over his shaft. The pleasure making his cock rock hard, it twitched and he added his own precum to the copious amounts of lubricant. Dalton lay back, resting on the sofa, his body trembling a little knowing what was going to happen next. Keith was in control, Dalton knew that and he was grateful. If it had been the other way around, they would never have gotten half as far as they had and Dalton was happy to have travelled so far so fast.

Satisfied with the amount of slick gel covering the entire mottled length, Keith reached behind him. It took Dalton's brain a moment to realise what the human was doing. His eyes focussed on Keith's cock, the erect lump he'd sucked on so recently. It was swaying and bobbing in all directions, as the human fingered himself roughly. “Are… you sure it'll fit?" The equine asked, partly for concern for his lover and partly because he knew that if he had to take Keith to the hospital there was a risk people would find out how and who caused the injuries back there. Cops and paramedics gossip more than middle-aged housewives.

With a wink and a confident smile Keith stepped up onto the sofa, “I've had bigger. Trust me it'll fit and feel good. There's no need to worry." The human stood, feet either side of Dalton's thighs, he started to squat down slowly. Reaching down behind him with one hand. The other hand reached down to grab the sofa for support. His face drew level to Dalton's. Keith's confident eyes gazing into the pony's. “It'll be ok," he whispered softly. Then Dalton moaned softly as Keith kissed him. In two places at once. His lips caressing the pony's velvet muzzle, as his pucker pressed down onto Dalton's flared tip.

Dalton felt the pressure build second by second. For a moment he worried that he might not be able to fit. That Keith would just keep pressing down until his cock bent or broke, can a cock even break? However, after a few seconds of pressure, he felt something wonderful. Keith opened up and his flared tip slipped into the human's moist and tight depths. Almost immediately he felt the desire to rut, to cum. This time he fought it, breaking the kiss to bite down on his lip.

Keith's forehead pressed to his, the human's hot breath catching in his fur. As second by second, inch by inch, he was thrust into Keith's depths. A soft whinny escaped his lips as he felt his medial ring push inside his lover. Keith had not stopped or slowed and the human had not shown the slightest hint of pain. Their foreheads were still pressed together, they shared every moan and even the softest whispers of pleasure.

Eventually, Keith's buttocks came to a rest against Dalton's hips and the human gave a soft chuckle of triumph. “See, I told you. I could take it." Dalton jumped a little as Keith kissed him again, the human wriggled in his lap, and he moaned as every inch of his hard length was teased by the human impaled on it. “I wanted it, you're so hot. “ As he spoke, his hands caressed over Dalton's flanks, fingers tracing around every muscle. “So beautiful and so sweet."

Keith lifted up a little and Dalton gasped at the feel, the warmth around his member seemed to clench as if trying to hold him inside. Then he cried out as Keith slammed down. The sensations dancing along his cock ran up his spine right to his lips. There was a desperate need inside him building, to buck up into this warm and wonderful person. To be the stud he was born to be, to take this willing filly and breed her full of his seed. “So big too. Phew! I know I said I'd had bigger, but I might have been wrong."

“Is... am I too big?" Dalton asked nervously.

“Fuck no, you're perfect, just the way you are," Keith replied, suddenly thrusting himself down harder as if to emphasise his point. Then he kissed Dalton, passionately, their tongues dancing as his lover bounced more on his desperately hard pole. The sensations filling him were too much and too strong. He cried out, again and again, their kiss was broken and he bit his lip. Dalton's hands gripping the sofa for dear life, as the human in his lap rode him in such a wonderful and lewd way.

His orgasm was almost on him and he was doing his best to hold it back to prolong his pleasure. Keith slowed his motions suddenly, pausing with Dalton's maleness stuffed fully inside him. “I don't just mean cock size either, just you. The way you are, fucking perfect." Dalton flushed with a mixture of joy and embarrassment to hear that. His hips bucked a little and then he felt something hard pressing into his stomach. He knew exactly what that was.

Trembling a little, his paw lifted and slipped between them, grasping the human's cock tightly, eliciting moans of pleasure from Keith. “That's right, mmm don't be afraid to give it a little squeeze," Keith whispered, into his ears as he started to buck again, slowly this time using almost the entire of Dalton's length to impale himself on.

Dalton couldn't speak. The pleasure was too much and yet, too slow. It held him on the edge, dangling over just far enough to see the bliss that he would fall into. He bucked up again, fucking himself deep into the human. More moans of joy filled his ears.

“That's it… just like that," Keith moaned. Dalton took the encouragement, thrusting up again and again. His paw jerked the human's length fast, squeezing it often. With each squeeze, Keith cried out. However, with each thrust, he lost more of himself to his lusts. Soon Keith wasn't bouncing in his lap, he was holding still as Dalton fucked up into him. Every muscle of his body tensing and pulling as he used his natural talents to pound a smoothy's hole wide.

“Oh...oh FUCK!" Keith cried out as Dalton reamed his ass harder and faster. His fur was soaked in sweat, he felt like he'd run for miles. Yet at the same time, the pleasure was growing by the second. His body screamed at him to continue, it would not be denied again. In his paw, the human's cock throbbed and his sweaty body was soon dripping with other fluids. While the tight fuckhole got tighter, spasming around him.

Lifting his muzzle up to the heavens he cried out, neighing with everything he had. As inside the human, the first thick jets of pony seed were shot. He fucked desperately, stuffing his cock and cum as deep into Keith's lithe form as he could get, holding nothing back. His huge leathery orbs twitched and convulsed as the gave everything they had to fill this filly. Keith's arms clung around his neck, the human's body utterly spent riding him limply. Keith's face was pressed into Dalton's thickly muscled neck whimpering with joy.

Leaving himself hilt deep inside his lover's ass, Dalton finally came to a rest. The two lay there, unable to speak or move. Two bodies soaked in sweat and cum utterly spent and basking in the pure joy of such a shared moment. How long they sat there, Dalton never knew. His arms found their way around Keith's torso and he held the human tightly. There were no doubts left in his mind, no questions and no wrong feelings. Just a body pressed to him, a heartbeat echoing his own heart. The warmth of another and the joy of being with someone.

His cock softened and slipped free of Keith's ass, a flood of pony cum escaping it. The warm fluids tricking out of Keith and down onto Dalton's powerful thighs, then onto the sofa. Eventually, his eyes fell onto the clock on the wall and he hated them for doing that. It was a tiny window to the world outside, the world the door had shut out. “It's late, I should go. I have a full shift tomorrow."

Keith moaned and started a little as if woken from a trance. “I guess… if you wanted you could spend the night. My bed isn't huge, but…"

“I… my stuff is all at home, I need to go," Dalton hated himself as he lied. His car had his stuff in, even if it didn't he could have woken early to go get what he needed before work. Part of him wanted to stay, the rest wanted to run.

Getting to his hooves, Dalton grabbed his clothes. His fur was matted and stank of human and equine spunk. However, he pulled his clothes on anyway. A shower would only lead to more delay and probably more confusion.

“I understand," Keith said with a sigh, standing up. However, he made no move to dress, standing there comfortable in his nudity. “However… I would like it if this wasn't a one-time thing." As he spoke he grabbed something from the pocket of his jeans and pressed it into Dalton's paw, a card. “Please, call me."

Dalton clasped the card and put it in his pocket. His paws twitched, and his lips itched. He wanted to take Keith in his arms again, to kiss him and take him to bed. Instead, he nodded his head dumbly and replied, “I… I will." He wasn't sure if he meant it, he knew part of him wanted it. However, when the sun came up, he'd still be a cop with a job to do and with dreams of promotion. He knew that dream would be gone if anyone ever found out what he'd done that night.

Pausing in the doorway he glanced back at the human, Keith's eyes were glassy and the desire to go hold him came back stronger. “I… really enjoyed the burger and… everything." Dalton muttered, cursing himself for the lameness of his comment.

Then he left. As soon as he was on the street he began to run, it was a quick dash back to his car. Then a short drive home. A shower was had and he lay in bed, unable to sleep. Dalton just watched the sunrise begin through his bedroom window. His mind tried to think back on what had happened, what he'd done. Then he rose, pulled on some running shorts and a tank top. His police badge was secreted in his pocket, just in case.

Then he left, unable to hide from the world he took the stallions option, he ran. Putting all his focus into pumping his muscles, to the pound of his hooves on concrete and tried to force the feelings and confusion from him. There would be a time and place for them, but on the beat, they might get him killed. So he ran, just as far and as fast as he could. Out of the city and up a nearby hill.

He reached the peak just as the sun fully cleared the horizon. A new day was almost upon him, it would soon be time to put his uniform back on. Time to protect and serve. After that, maybe he would find some time to serve and feel protected.

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