FSE

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Languages of Love

By Roofles

“Must be one of the exchange students?” It was the first, natural, thought to have after seeing one of them so deep in the city.

On the third floor of Park Place apartments, near the public restrooms, were two apartments with their doors wide open. Peter had stepped out momentarily to take the trash out. The shoot was in the nearby utility room that served as this floor's laundry unit.

It only took a minute. On his return, he found that the vacant apartment next to his door was wide open and the lights had been turned on.

Curious to see who his new neighbor might be, Peter poked his head inside.

“Hello?” He called out, knocking on the open door before stepping inside.

The room was bare but was a mirror reflection of his unit. It had the same ugly beige walls and bland colorless carpet that stained far too easily. There was a side room for the bedroom and bath, and the kitchen had been fused between the two. An open wall facing the living room with a countertop divider. There weren’t any pictures hanging up or electronics plugged in yet.

However, there were plenty of boxes.

Taped and securely marked in a language Peter didn’t understand, the human went over to inspect the closest one feeling curious. He’d only seen the written script online and didn’t bother to spend the time translating the Caninese, as most just called it.

The Canine-Republic bordered their country in the West. Only after years of war and an uncomfortable peace treaty had been in the talks were the people of The Canine-Republic allowed over the bordering wall that had been built between their two nations during the times of strife. It was in the hopes of peace to familiarize the foreign nations people with the other to allow exchange students over in. Others, diplomats, and certain traders were allowed to cross the border but not any citizen could.

“Huh.” Peter just mumbled, thinking about it. He wasn’t aware Park Place apartments were on the list for transfers. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it, having never met one of the canine’s before. Only seeing them on TV or online and needing subtitles to understanding their strange language.

Peter had been so focus on the script he didn’t even notice someone coming up behind him.

A box bumped into his back, and the human stumbled forward, quickly getting out of their way. Turning, Peter saw a rather robust-looking canine standing there before him and quickly put it together who this was.

Seeing things online and reading about the war had been a surreal experience. Peter had never been drafted; such things weren’t needed with the peace talks successfully going through. He had safely been able to read about them while not being involved in the matter. The war might as well have happened to another country than the one he was living in. Seeing a canine in person was jarring and he fumbled with his words, trying to say something.

“Hi! Sorry, sorry about breaking in. Not breaking in!” Peter stammered, trying to apologize for his blunder. “I mean, the door was wide open. And I just… walked inside… without asking.” Peter wanted to cry. He’d never been great at a first impression and was bombing this one. “I’m Peter!” He blurted out, offering a hand. “I live next door, I mean!” He stammered. “I live next door to you… on the right.” He pointed at the wall, trying to offer a meek smile in apology. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you finally. Well, I mean, I just found out. Just now. That you were moving in but like…”

The canine was a large Shiba Inu. He was wearing a tight-fitting brightly colored polo shirt that clung to his forearms and around the rolls of his neck. He had a large chest and, standing back up as he set the box down, towered over the human who wished he’d kept his nose out of things.

The sesame-red-furred Shiba Inu regarded the human just as Peter did him. The two took the other in before Peter stammered out another awkwardly said hello.

The Shiba took a moment at that, looking Peter over. It was hard to tell what he was thinking. Peter couldn’t read his facial expression as he could a human and wasn’t sure if the twitch of a nose with perked ears was a good or bad thing. With a flick of an ear, the Shiba snorted. His black lips pulling up at the corner of his muzzle as he said something.

“Arf.” It only sounded like. “Bark, woof bow.” The canine continued to say as Peter’s face fell at the realization that there weren’t subtitles in real life. “Arf bow woof.” The canine nodded at the end.

Peter was clueless.

All the human heard was a mixture of grunting growls and barks that turned into a rolling growling laugh as the Shiba held his side with a hand the size of Peter’s face as he looked down on the human.

“…What?” Peter asked, uncertain how to address the language barrier between the two.

The Shiba stopped at that, looking Peter over. He snorted again, shaking his head.

“Grr, bark, boof, woof, bow?” The Shiba tried several different words and dialects as the human stared at him as clueless as before. “Bow, wow, wow. Wow?” The Shiba said, and Peter offered a very fake smile in return.

“Uh. Sure?” Peter pointed past the canine towards the open door. “May I?”

The canine turned to see what he was trying to say and then gave a single nod, stepping out of the way. Peter was uncomfortably aware that the canine hadn’t taken his hand in a formal greeting. Feeling as if he had intruded even more than he already had, Peter quickly exited the apartment. Making a hasty retreat from the situation he was sure to only make worse.

“Thanks. See you around. Bye.” Peter just quickly said as he gave a half-wave as he picked up speed.

Heading straight for his apartment, Peter dove inside. Shutting and locking the door behind him as he rested his forehead against it.

“That could’ve gone better?” Peter wasn’t even sure as he spent the rest of the day trying to forget the canine next door.

Days passed before Peter bumped into his neighbor again.

There weren’t many residents on the third floor, and they only had each other. It was only a matter of time before the neighbors saw each other again. Where others would break off on the first or second floor, Peter made his way up to the third. He was used to the emptiness of the third floor. As such, he wasn’t even paying attention as he watched his step, walking down the same cement walkway he used every day.

The very same as the one his neighbor used to leave.

“Oh.” Peter stopped, holding a bag of groceries in each arm, almost running into the canine resting against the safety railing. “Hi.” He tried to sound friendly, even if the two couldn’t converse normally. He hoped his tone at least would translate the meaning behind the words.

The Shiba Inu looked over from the metal railing. He had been looking into the center courtyard of the apartments. While shaped like a giant square, the middle of the apartments had been removed to set up a communal garden. A large tree was in the middle, rising tall enough to block out the sun. It offered some much-needed life to the otherwise concrete, lifeless structure.

“Just. Getting some groceries!” Peter tried to keep a friendly tone as he headed for his apartment. He struggled with the bag in one arm, the one in the other, and the six-pack in hand. Peter had foolishly tried to get everything in one run with disastrous results. The cheap cardboard handle of the sick pack was threatening to rip off. One of the bags in hand were tilting dangerously to the left and the other, Peter could feel, bottom was threatening to burst open.

Peter hugged the wall, giving his new canine neighbor plenty of space as he moved past, keeping his head down as he hurried along. The cans grew heavy as his arm began to strain. Carrying groceries was an easy task until you got to that final flight of stairs. Peter had pushed through the pain, reaching the final stretch before facing a new obstacle.

The Shiba watched him with a seemingly bored expression on his furry face. The canine didn’t return his greeting as the human-headed by. He didn’t even lift a finger as one of the bags began to rip or offer a word of caution as several cans spilled out the bottom. Watching as Peter stepped on one and, slipping, dropping the other bag and cans of beer in the process.

Landing hard on his ass, Peter let out a sharp curse.

His words were lost, however, as a deep growling bark sounded from the Shiba, who had watched the show with great amusement.

“Bar, Grr, woof bow.” The Shiba said, standing up and taking a step over. It was hard to tell, Peter was not used to canine facial expressions, but the human felt the Shiba was laughing at him.

“Hey!” Peter just snapped back. “That was kind of funny.” He ended up sighing, rubbing his ass as he stood up. “Ow, that’s smart.” He winced. He got a confused look from the canine. “It just means it stings,” Peter rolled his eyes.

A large hand was offered, and Peter took it as a much-needed olive branch between the two. The canine easily pulled him to his feet. It wasn’t the handshake Peter had been going for the other day, but it was one he was grateful to get.

“Just glad the only person that saw me was a guy who couldn’t tell anyone else.” Peter laughed, shaking his head as he unlocked his door. The Shiba watched him go; ears perked up. “Just opening the door,” Peter needed to explain as he headed back over to clean up the mess. “Was embarrassing enough dropping everything. I just hope the eggs didn’t break.”

“Woof.” The Shiba man just said as he offered Peter a can of beer.

“I do need one after that,” Peter admitted. He took it and felt the Shiba’s fingers brush against his own. Feeling flustered, Peter didn’t even think about it before opening the can and promptly got sprayed in the face for his efforts.

The Shiba just laughed. That deep barking sound filled their otherwise empty floor.

Peter snagged another can, shook it several times, then aimed it at the Shiba. Threatening to pull the pin on the beer grenade. The canine’s ears perked up as he lifted both arms up in mercy. His tail was wagging though and the Shiba looked ready for the retaliation for what he had done.

Peter didn’t have the courage, already feeling like an idiot as he lowered the can back down. Unable to even look at the canine as he quickly began to clean up the mess.

“Sorry. Sorry…” Peter ended up just saying, feeling the embarrassment spread to his face. He quickly gathered what he could. “I got it.” He said harshly as the Shiba tried to offer him a helping paw. “Sorry.” Peter just said as he made his way to his apartment and slammed the door shut again in sheer embarrassment.

Their second meeting had ended much as the first time had. Abruptly with an uncomfortable air between the two that Peter blamed for his own cowardice.

Peter couldn’t exchange a friendly hello the third and fourth times as he pushed past the canine and headed for his apartment.

The single wall between their two apartments felt like an impenetrable wall between two nations, dividing them from each other as the human tried to go back to his normal days.

The fifth time, there was no meeting.

Just a case of beer out front of Peter’s apartment door with a note written on it. It was the same brand Peter had bought previously. Peter couldn’t read the language but recognized it as his neighbors handwriting. It was enough of a bridge between the two that Peter greeted the canine the next time they bumped into each other, if only in passing.

Peter heading out while the Shiba was heading in. It was their sixth encounter.

It was their seventh encounter, a couple of months after the Shiba had moved into the neighboring apartment, that Peter had been invited inside. Though, he wasn’t sure if that was the intent or not.

Getting off the bus from work, Peter had thankfully brought an umbrella along with him. Using it, he headed towards the side stairwell, where he discovered a sobbing wet canine. At first, he wasn’t even sure what it was as the waterlogged Shiba was dripping from head to tail just standing there; most likely not wanting to trail water up into the apartment.

“Sudden storms, huh? Welcome to the West.” Peter just laughed, pulling his phone out to show the soaking wet Shiba the weather app. He had meant it as an encouraging heads-up for what was in store for the week ahead. The Shiba took it as a jab at his expense and would pay the human back in kind.

Stretching out, the Shiba lowered his head down. It took Peter to register what that gesture meant, and the startled human didn’t have time to react quick enough to defend himself.

“No. NO! Don’t you dare-” Peter tried to shield himself with the umbrella but was too late as the dog shook himself off dry. The canine shook his body from head to toe, sending water everywhere. His ears slapped against his face, his neck rolls twisted, and his body spun in place as he stood on only one foot. “You son of a bitch!” Peter had been too slow and had gotten almost as soaked as his neighbor had been.

Peter laughed though. It was summertime and the weather was nice enough that even a sudden storm felt nice, almost welcome against the heat.

The Shiba brushed a large hand over his furry face, wiping the fur out of his eyes as he looked at Peter with butternut squash-colored eyes. And then he laughed. That deep sound rumbling in his large chest shook his body, his teeth goofily showing as he laughed at the human’s blight.

“Woof.” He just said at the harsh glare he got in return for what he had done.

“I hate you.” Peter just said, shaking the umbrella off at the Shiba, who shielded himself with an arm.

Folding it up, Peter tucked the umbrella under one arm as he moved past the canine who followed behind him, still snickering.

“It wasn’t that funny!” Peter stopped on the third floor, turning towards the canine who joined him. Peter found himself looking at the Shiba’s chest. The white shirt the canine had worn was practically see-through and had formed around his large chest. Outlining his pecs nicely and making the pink nipples stand out, nearly poking through the thin fabric.

Peter was at a loss for words. He wasn’t familiar with canine physiology but was finding such large, perked nipples to be unexpectedly arousing. They were bright pink like the Shiba’s paw pads and tongue. Peter swallowed heavily, feeling a renewed warmth to his face and a tightening of his pants.

“Arf woof boof.” The Shiba just gestured to his door, stepping past Peter, brushing the side of his large chest against the human’s face as he passed by. Peter could smell the wet dog as he followed after, unsure what to say. “Woof woof woof.”

Peter stopped at the deep tone and finally looked up at the Shiba. The canine just motioned for him to come inside his apartment and Peter did. At least, enough to cross the threshold. Peter didn’t want to drip water in his apartment and just stood there, waiting as the canine walked ahead.

A sofa had been brought up. There was a large flat screen TV on the wall playing the news in a language Peter knew was Caninese. Two shelves had been placed on the sides of the sofa and a small footrest had been shoved in front of the well-worn seat that Peter assumed the Shiba sat on every day.

Everything looked brand new, putting his own place to shame. The cabinet next to the computer set up still had a price tag stuck to the side of it. Peter wasn’t sure but he remembered hearing that exchange students got all their expenses covered in an act of goodwill.

The Shiba returned quickly enough carrying two large fuzzy white towels that looked fluffier than the canine himself was. That wasn’t what had caught Peter’s attention. It was the large shirtless male in front of him. The Shiba was busily drying off his head with a spare towel, offering the other over to Peter who took it robotically.

“Thank. You.” Peter blushed as he quickly dried himself off, glancing over at his neighbor.

It had been hard to tell before, but soaking wet it was clear how muscular the Shiba was. His neighbor was large, fit, and healthy. His usual fluffy fur helped hide the Shiba’s hard work. Peter could only wonder if he went to a local gym or if all canine’s were just built like this?

His eyes continued to wander over the Shiba before trailing back up to see the canine watching him. With a tilt of a head and a flick of an ear, the wagging Shiba spoke.

“Bork?” The Shiba asked as Peter spun around and quickly headed for his apartment, blushing worse than he’d ever done before with the canine. “Bow, wow?” The canine called after him from the doorway as Peter just hid inside his apartment and took a cold shower after.

He still had the towel the Shiba had given him to dry off with. He used it, wondering if it was clean or not before calling it an early night.

Peter had lost track of how often he’d bumped into his neighbor over the following months.

The two were on friendly terms and would greet each other with an open palm wave that Peter had learned was the neutral form of greeting between the two nations. It was such a complicated matter. Hand shaking was seen as offensive to canine’s. And humans found it discomforting to be sniffed, as was formal greeting for those of The Canine-Republic. Peter, desperate to try and connect with his neighbor, had once tried to mimic the canine speech, and got a heavy on the head pat in a “no.” While the major forms of communication weren’t possible, the two had figured out a “yes” and “no,” at least.

Though Peter wished it wasn’t so physical.

The more he got to know the Shiba, the more the canine began to physically express things with him. Unable to communicate, Peter figured it was his neighbors way of trying to connect with him. That, or he was growing more accustomed to having the human around.

Everyone else in the apartment complex ignored the canine, keeping a distance from their once enemy. It explained why the canine had ended up on the third floor. Just no one had given Peter the notice.

“Ah, summer storms,” Peter said from the common laundry room to which each floor had access to. Being the only two on the floor, Peter had never had the misfortune of running into anyone else while using it.

It was both nice and lonely.

Peter never had the chance to know the other neighbors. Each floor kept to themselves. At the end of the month, each floor had its apartment gatherings and, though Peter had been invited to the second floor one, he still felt like a third wheel. He’d been the only person left on the third floor during its remodel.

That was until the Shiba, who he’d learned was named Koda by the apartment manager, moved in.

Koda was a nice change of pace. Peter didn’t see the Shiba often, but the two were on good terms, and it was nice to exchange a friendly hello with someone else on the floor. Any floor. Peter would complain to Koda about the management rules for the apartment and the ridiculous standards they had to put up with even being the only two on the floor.

“Why would anyone get a white carpet? Who does that?” Peter had complained as the two had come up the stairs together last week. “You understand me! Well, I mean, you don’t. But like, still! I bet you can’t even drag your butt around without leaving a mark.”

“Bow, wow.” Koda had just barked back. Even if he couldn’t understand him, Koda always was one for a good laugh and seemed to pick up the context quickly enough.

Peter appreciated the moments he had with the Shiba, whose schedule seemed to match his more and more as time passed. They even had a night watching the International games together on TV. They had done rock paper scissor to see what language it was in and Peter had lost. Koda just gave that barking laugh as he set up the TV, putting subtitles on for Peter. It had been a fun night together, the two cheering for one team and against the other together.

Strangely, Peter was rooting for the canine team playing against a human one. Something Koda seemed to appreciate, even hugging the human at the end as he jumped in the air, woofing happily as they won.

Several pizzas had been ordered, and a twelve-pack had been drunk by the end of that night. Koda could put it away and didn’t seem drunk by the end as he saw Peter out and to his apartment.

The Shiba had rested against the open door, talking to the human in that strange dog language Peter couldn’t make heads or tails of. It wasn’t that it was complex. It was a simple fact that the human mouth couldn’t form the same sounds a canine could. Each inflection of the words were off or different and Peter couldn’t begin to understand with the buzz he was feeling.

The two had stopped trying to figure out the words by now as they just talked to the other. The other would be polite enough not to interrupt before answering with whatever they had to say. Just talking back and forth in a respectful manner, teasing now and then, and getting plenty of laughs shared despite not fully knowing what it was about.

Despite that, Peter found it easier to talk to Koda than he had his parents.

“Things have been rough, but it’s nice. Having nights like this. With you.” Maybe the fact that Koda couldn’t understand him made Peter feel at ease. “I have more in common with you than my brother! I mean, what the hell is up with that!” Peter had rambled on, walking into his apartment that night.

Feeling like it was an invitation, the tipsy canine followed him in with a wag to his step.

“Woof bark bow.” Koda just agreed, nodding along before taking a seat on the sofa. The Shiba’s nose twitched as he looked around the place, checking everything out. It had been the first time Koda had been allowed into the apartment.

Even though the Shiba had asked, Peter hadn’t gotten it into his thick dumb skull, yet that Koda had wanted to come over. The Shiba was patient if nothing else.

“Right!” Peter would agree with Koda, finding it easy even if he didn’t know the meaning behind those words. “I heard him, and my dad went out on a fishing trip. A fishing trip! The two camping over the weekend together. I heard from my mom….” Peter grumbled. “She was complaining that I hadn’t gone. I didn’t even know! Not that I like fishing, but at least offer me a chance to go!” He sighed, sitting beside Koda, and covered his eyes with both hands. “I don’t even feel part of the same family ever since I came out! Oh, no. Gay son. Can’t have that around our friends.”

The Shiba’s ears perked at that as he watched the human sitting next to him.

“I mean. I get it. Kind of? A gay son comes out in a pastor's home? Not exactly something you want to tell your church friends.” Peter shook his head. “I just… he’s, my dad? My family? To just cut me off the second I moved out? I thought they were being generous, finally helping me find a place! Instead, it was just a way to get the family embarrassment away….”

Peter rubbed his eyes as a friendly paw was placed on his shoulder.

“Arf, woof, bow. Wow, arf, bark.” Koda said, and Peter just nodded along politely.

“I don’t know what you said. I hope you don’t hate me for being myself, too?” Peter shook his head, trying to rub his face. “Dammit. I blame the alcohol. I always get all freaking emotional when I get drunk.” The paw just rubbed his shoulder reassuringly. “Would you cut me off if you knew I was gay?”

“Arf, arf, boof.” Koda shook his head.

“Heh, I like to believe whatever you said.” Peter sighed as he rested back. The paw never left his shoulder, and he closed his eyes, feeling guilty about enjoying the feel of those strong fingers touch him like this. “I brought my boyfriend home once. Fuck. Was that a mistake!” Peter almost laughed. “They didn’t yell or shout or kick him out. It was just this stony silence. They were so open and friendly until I told them who it was. It was… hell. I’ve never felt more uncomfortable in my life. Even when I met you, it wasn’t nearly as bad.”

“Boof, wow, bork.” Koda bumped his nose against Peter’s cheek, making him look over.

“Could you imagine the look on their face if I brought you over? Hey mom. Hey dad! This is Koda. Not only is he my neighbor, but he is also not human! Also! I have a massive crush on him and hope he never finds out.” Peter giggled at the end as the Shiba’s ears perked up again, his butternut squash eyes widening. “Man, that would’ve been the worse. Fuck… Thanks for being my friend Koda, even if you can’t understand me.” Peter said placing a hand on Koda’s and resting slightly against the canine. “I promise not to let my crush ruin our friendship…”

“Boof.” Koda let go of his shoulder, scratching his cheek with a dull nail. “Bork? Arf, woof, bork?” Koda tried to say.

“I’m glad you’re my friend, even if you don’t know who I am. What I am? Urgh, the things I could tell you. Sadly, it’s easier for me to talk to someone who can’t understand me than it is for me to open up to someone who can. Maybe that’s why I’m still freaking single.” Peter groaned as he sat up, slapping his cheeks to try and snap out of this funk. “I’m going to get some water; want any?” He asked, looking over at the Shiba.

Koda sighed, shaking his head in a no, and Peter got up, never even putting it together as Koda answered him.

And now here he was, a week later, doing laundry after Koda had visited that night.

Peter was in nothing but his steak pattern boxers as he looked out the window. The summer rains were falling, but the humidity in the air made wearing clothes unbearable. Peter could only imagine what Koda was doing.

It was hard not to think of Koda. It was such a warm thought. An innocent crush Peter had just convinced himself of. It wasn’t like he’d act on these feelings or impulses. He wasn’t even sure how canine’s treated relationships, let alone homosexual ones. Were they more conservative than humans? Were they more liberal? It was impossible to know for Peter who had only begun to grasp their written language enough to understand that handshaking was offensive.

He had apologized to Koda who had just licked his cheek in reply. Peter took that as an apology accepted.

Peter smiled at the thought. He usually smiled thinking of the Shiba.

Thinking of the Shiba right now? In the storm? Maybe Koda had gotten caught in the rain again. The idea made Peter laugh. That thick coat of sesame-red fur clinging to his strong, able body? It was eye candy; Peter couldn’t lie. It had been too long since he had connected with anyone as he had done Koda, at least emotionally.

While he craved some physical intimacy with the Shiba, despite being so different, Peter respected the canine too much to try anything that would risk their already strange friendship. The canine initially had been a major tease, laughing at Peter’s suffering. And now there was this guy coming over at ten at night with an order of pizza to watch something on TV with.

And that was the norm!

Koda always seemed to appreciate Peter's choice of watching in the human language, never arguing over it at his place. As long as it was a dumb action flick, or the news, the Shiba enjoyed himself. Koda would sit on the couch Peter had found cheap on the marketplace and just watch it with him. Right there by his side, close enough Peter could feel the warmth radiating off Koda’s body. The Shiba didn’t seem to notice, just focusing on the TV. He reacted to what was happening on the screen though Peter was sure he was just faking it like Peter did when he watched the channels at Koda’s place.

It was hard to get engaged with something that you couldn’t understand.

“Or someone…” Peter groaned, covering his face with an old shirt, and cursing into it. “Why do I always get a crush on the guys I can’t have?”

Still, it hadn’t stopped Peter from thinking of the Shiba. Even now, in the laundry room by himself. Watching the rain fall. All he could think of was what Koda was doing. Peter had the mind to text the canine but thought against it.

The two didn’t text much. Just the simple “coming over” or “yes” and “no.” It was all Peter could get his head around.

Their relationship was already strange. Not just with the language barrier, the two weren’t even of the same species. His parents already hated who he was. He doubted society would just accept a human and canine dating. If Peter ended up showing up with a guy like Koda to Thanksgiving, he was sure his parents would finally disown him.

“Not the kind of situation I want to put Koda in.” Peter frowned, even now thinking of the Shiba’s concerns. He didn’t want to expose Koda to his unhealthy relationship with his family. Peter never talked about that kind of thing, ever.

Yet, he had with Koda.

Even with his friends or his ex, Peter never delved into his past. His personal life and problems weren’t on the table. It was a miracle Peter had even opened up to Koda as he had. It was mostly thanks to Peter being sure Koda couldn’t understand him. It was nice to vent and share these things he hadn’t even with someone he’d been sleeping with.

Such a thing had created rifts in his past relationship. Never talking about his personal life with them was an issue that grew into several problems that Peter hadn’t been comfortable with facing. He’d broken off more dates than he cared to share and hadn’t even told Koda that.

“Awkward loser can only talk to a dog man that doesn’t understand him.” Peter groaned at how lame that sounded. He blamed his parents. They were the zip-it and shut-it types. If there was an issue? You just didn’t talk about it. Ever. No matter how big or bad it was, you ignored it and prayed for it to magically go away. “Yeah. Great advice.”

Peter just shook his head, going to put in another load of laundry. He reached down, grabbing the first shirt on top. It was wet to the touch and was larger than the rest of the clothing. Picking it up, Peter turned it around to see that it wasn’t even his.

“Oh!” Peter realized after a moment. “This is Koda’s. How the hell did you get mixed into my clothes?” The human thought that over as he held the shirt close. He could smell the canine’s scent on it.

Koda had been hanging out more almost daily, these past couple of weeks. The Shiba had been showing up at his door, unannounced and always invited inside after. Knocking or waiting for the human to get home as if knowing his schedule. He’d usually come over with some sort of peace offering, mostly food items that Koda would later eat that night.

The two would hang out the rest of the day. They didn’t exactly do anything of note. The two friends just chilling, relaxing after a long day of work together or on their day off. Peter would talk to Koda non-stop the entire time. The Shiba never seemed to mind anything he had to say.

“Only because he doesn’t know what you’re saying, idiot,” Peter muttered as he looked down at the shirt. “He must’ve forgotten it…” He said, but Peter couldn’t figure out any time that Koda had slept over or even taken his shirt off at his place.

The canine was a very reserved person that kept to himself. No one else in the apartment seemed to know anything about the guy. Only his name was Koda, and he lived on the third floor. He didn’t share anything about himself and just worked a manual labor job while doing school online.

He really did just seem like anyone else in the West. He just happened to be covered in fur.

Peter had asked a lot about Koda, but the language barrier prevented the Shiba from sharing anything of note with him. Listening to those deep, growling words roll out of his muzzle was still nice. They were comforting if nothing else. And Peter had even fallen asleep listening to them once.

Rested up against the Shiba, Peter had closed his eyes, listening to Koda talk about something. He assumed it was the show they were watching. Just listening to him like that, resting against him? It felt safe and secure, and Peter hadn’t known that with another person.

“I can’t understand a thing you’re saying.” Peter had interrupted him, keeping his eyes closed. Koda had stopped at that, looking at the human. It wasn’t often they interrupted each other and whatever Peter had to say must’ve been important. “But I’m so very thankful for having you with me here in my life. I wish I could be a better friend to you. I hope you know how much I care for you and what you mean to me.” Peter had snuggled closer, mumbling the words out at the end. “The best thing that happened to me in a long time was you moving in next door…”

And Peter had fallen asleep like that, resting against the Shiba’s side, who didn’t say anything more that night and had left early in the morning.

“Man. I’m lucky he doesn’t understand me.” Peter buried his face in the shirt out of shame. “I’m such a loser. I can’t believe I said that to him. Fuck. I haven’t even said that to my family or friends… but he’s different?” Peter couldn’t figure out why that was as he smelled the wet fabric.

It smelled like Koda. It was so comforting. Just thinking of him during these summer rains eased any tension there was in his body.

“Oh, Koda. Fuck. What are you doing to me?” Peter groaned as he forced the fabric away, stuffing it into the laundry with the rest of his clothes. He was getting a stiffy, which showed easily in his boxers as he rested against the machine afterward. “Dammit. I need to hit up the bars again. Or try one of those new dating apps… Or get a toy. Do they make them like canine’s…?” Peter wondered, blushing at the idea.

The idea of seeing anyone else hadn’t crossed is mind. He did need to find something to help relieve these cravings he’d been having. Just a release as to not risk hurting his friendship.

Peter thought it over, turning around to rest against the machine as he picked up his phone. His stiffy hadn’t gone down as his mind wandered, thinking of the Shiba next door. How big he was. Of his face when he got that goofy smile when he laughed, showing the tips of his teeth. Or the way Koda was just always there for him when he needed someone.

And those hands.

“Oh, fuck. Those hands. So large and strong. Fucking touch me, Koda. Touch me, and don’t stop.” Peter groaned out, feeling himself. He reached into his boxer, stroking his length. His cold fingers made him shiver. “I want to feel your hands all over my body. Those thick paw pads, always so warm. Smooth. I want to touch them, hold your hand, and just…”

Peter had to stop as he heard the door to the laundry room open. The heavy steel door always made a loud sound as the human quickly tried to cover himself, turning away from the door. It slammed shut as heavy steps entered the room, and from around the corner popped a familiar face.

“Arf?” Koda asked as he stepped around the corner to join him. The canine had a case of hard cider in hand, clearly planning on visiting him tonight.

“Oh, Koda. Hey! Just doing some late-night laundry.” Peter explained, facing away from the canine, and trying to will his hard dick to soften back up. “Just wrapping up, then I’ll go… put something on.” Peter was uncomfortably aware of how naked and exposed he was before his friend.

Even when Koda’s shirt was soaking wet, the Shiba had worn it until he had gotten home. The two hadn’t undressed in front of each other, and Peter was uncomfortable knowing why he at least didn’t want to. The idea of stripping in front of the guy he had a crush on would trigger some rather male responses from his body, and Peter didn’t want to walk around with a boner, half-naked, in front of the friend that had caused it.

Peter had never tried to figure out why Koda didn’t like undressing. He figured the Shiba, covered in fur, would want to wear less. Maybe Koda just respected the conservative view of human’s wearing clothing in society? Peter wished he could ask.

He wished he could ask his friend so many things. Peter wanted more than that and, as he looked at Koda, he felt that familiar warmth in his face whenever the canine was around.

“Bork?” Koda asked as he came over to join him. He set the case of hard cider down and rested against the dryer, looking things over. His nose twitched as he sniffed the air, before turning back to Peter with a raised eyebrow.

“Sorry. I don’t understand you.” Peter blushed, wishing the canine would give him space for a change. The two had gotten close these past several weeks. Ever since that night, Peter had opened up to Koda. Even if Koda didn’t understand, an emotional connection had formed, and the two had begun to hang out nearly every night since.

Peter had expected the canine to come over tonight, he just wished it wasn’t while he was in one of his horny moods.

“Bow, wow, wow.” Koda just said.

“I wish I could know what you’re thinking! Or feeling. Or if I’m just the only one….” Peter grumbled. At least his frustrations were killing his boner enough for him to turn away from the washer. Koda’s eyes drifted down to look at his boxers. “I want to say so much to you and I just… can’t?”

“Arf?” Koda said as he looked the human over. “Bork, bark, bow, wow.” Koda said as he took a step back and, in one clean motion, stripped his shirt off. Peter’s face burned hotly as the canine took his shirt off in front of him. “Boof.” He pushed the shirt against Peter’s chest.

“What? Do you want me to start wearing your clothes? Not even going to buy me dinner first?” Peter laughed as the Shiba looked at him. “Damn. I do love how big your clothes are. I thought about wearing them. I even had one of your old shirts in my laundry. If I had known, I’d have kept it to sleep in at night.” The human laughed as the Shiba’s ear flicked.

“Bork, arf, bark.” The Shiba motioned, and Peter relented and put the shirt on.

“It’s still warm…” Peter muttered, trying to sneak a sniff from it. “And used. Was this your shirt from today?”

“Bork.” The Shiba chuckled, showing the tip of his teeth as his eyes squinted and his curly tail wagged. Koda’s large hands rubbed over Peter’s arms, warming them up as he looked the human over.

“How am I not supposed to fap to you tonight when you give me something like this to wear?” Peter groaned out, making the Shiba stop. Koda’s ears perked up as he looked at the person still checking the shirt out. “Fuck. I was about to rub one out, thinking of you, and you do something so… nice, for me. I’m a real sick pervert, huh?” Peter laughed as tears stung his eyes. “You’re too wonderful for words.”

“Boof.” Koda just said with a frown, ears splaying out.

“I wanted to feel you on me. Over me. Rub your hands all over me….” Peter sighed, shaking his head. “And here you are, just being this big sweet, handsome gentleman as always. I need to get laid. Bad. Maybe try one of those apps again.” Peter repeated, reaching for his phone. “Just find a quick hook up. Get all this frustration out of me.”

Peter was stopped, however, as he felt one large hand placed over his own. Peter’s hand looked so small compared to the Shiba’s. Koda’s fingers were strong, and the pink paw pads were warm against his skin. Koda continued to rub them over Peter’s cold fingers, warming them up as Peter closed his eyes.

“There were days I wanted nothing more than to come to your place. Knock on your door and beg you to just… cuddle me.” Peter sighed; glad he could share this without fear of resentment. “You’re so big and furry. I wanted just to get hugged up by you like a pillow and use your chest as my pillow.” Peter looked down at the hand, now resting on his own. “All the things I’ve thought of doing have been with you. I just need to get myself a man and eliminate these urges, is all.” Peter almost sounded disappointed at the idea.

“Woof,” Koda said in a deep, low voice, having Peter look up at him. “Bark, bow, wow, wow, wow.” The Shiba chuckled as he glanced down at himself. Peter followed his gaze and was reminded that the Shiba was wearing just as little as the human was.

Peter stared longer than he should’ve at the tight-fitting pants Koda had on. He could see the Shiba’s bulge struggling to be contained and more lewd thoughts came to mind. How big was Koda? What would he smell like? Taste like? Peter had looked up videos and wondered if Koda was a mix of canine and human down there as well? Did he have a knot?

“Arf bark, arf?” Koda growled, and Peter blushed at the tone. He quickly looked up.

“Sorry. It’s just… I’m curious?” Peter offered as if Koda could understand him.

“Arf?” Koda smirked, tilting his head slightly as he reached past Peter. Placing a hand against the wall, the Shiba looked down at the human. “Bark, woof, bow, wow, wow.” The Shiba chuckled but didn’t show the tip of his teeth this time as if it hadn’t been for amusement.

“Holy hell…” Peter swallowed, leaning back against the wall as he looked up at the Shiba who loomed over him. “I kind of want to kiss you.” The human stammered, licking his suddenly dry lips as if preparing for the kiss. Koda smirked at that. “I wish I could just… feel you. Have you feel me? Feel those strong hands over my body.”

“Arf?” Koda growled, reaching up with his other hand to touch the side of Peter’s face with his knuckle.

“Just… suck on your nipples and have you fuck me until morning,” Peter admitted, unsure why he was.

Koda’s ears perked, tail wagging at his words. The more Peter said, the more the look in Koda’s eyes changed. Not of one of amusement or that friendly exchange the two friends had watching a show. It was one filled with lust and want. Peter recognized that look, even in this canine. It was the same look Peter had when he thought of Koda.

“I want you to just… take me. Rub your hands over my body. I want you to just…” Peter swallowed, afraid of the words on the tip of his tongue. “Be your plaything and forget everything else in the world.” It was so hard to speak, and only thanks to this language barrier could he admit the feelings he had always been forced to suppress. “I just. I want to suck you off and feel your fat nuts on my face while you cover me with your smell. This strong, manly scent of yours.”

Peter shuddered at his words, blushing as he covered his mouth with a hand. He placed his other on Koda’s bare chest as if to push the canine away. He could feeling that fur against his fingers. The musk clung to his hand and Peter wanted to bury his face in it.

“Arf?” Koda pressed the human as if asking if there was anything else the Shiba should know.

“I kind of just. Want to kiss you. Like really bad. All the time. All over your body. Just kiss and lick and suck on and…” Peter couldn’t even finish the words as the Shiba chuckled, licking the tips of his teeth with a wide hot pink tongue. “And damn, you have a big tongue.”

Koda paused at that. He pulled back slightly, sticking out his tongue a bit more. Panting into Peter’s face now. Hot, humid air wafted over Peter’s nose as the Shiba smiled down at him.

“I just never noticed. How big it is, your tongue. I mean.” Peter blushed, smelling the stale pizza on Koda’s breath. “You don’t… you’re usually clothed. And you don’t lick things. And… you’re always so reserved. I sometimes just wish you would go wild.”

Koda paused at that as if thinking it over. His ears were perked, his eyes turning upwards as he thought it all over before leaning closer. He began to pant again in controlled breaths that blew over Peter’s face as his tongue curled outside the front of his muzzle. It was hard to tell if he was showing off or teasing the human. That hot pink tongue had engorged as drool trickled from its side.

“Do you not like licking things? You’d seem good at… licking.” Peter wondered aloud, wanting to reach up and poke Koda’s tongue with a finger. “I kind of want to touch it.”

Koda chuckled as he opened his muzzle wider, sticking his tongue out. Peter didn’t dare pass up the opportunity and reached up with two fingers to give it a pinch. It was covered in drool, and the human felt Koda curl it around the top finger before Peter pulled them back.

“Wow. It’s like… a sponge.” Peter laughed as Koda frowned. “A thick, full wet sponge. It’s kind of… rough? Like, you got grooves on your tongue.” Peter stammered a bit, his nerves coming back to him. “I just… noticed you appear a lot more human than I thought you would….”

Koda gave him a look, closing his muzzle.

“In a good way! Sorry. I’m just. This is. I’m terrible with this.” Peter tried to explain quickly. “I just. I was curious if you are more… canine in places. Or human?”

Koda quirked an eyebrow, looking at the human for a long-drawn-out moment. Just like the time the two had first met. As if regarding Peter and trying to figure out if he was insulting the canine or not.

“Bork, arf, woof.” Koda just said, easing up. Peter was disappointed to see him go until he noticed what Koda was doing.

The Shiba had taken a step back to give Peter the full view as he trailed a hand down his chest seductively before reaching the top of his pants. With large, clawed fingers Koda undid the front of it as if to answer Peter’s question. The canine took his time, savoring the look on Peter’s face as he slowly pulled his bulge out. His pants slipped around his ankles, that Koda kicked aside showing off the jockstrap he on. Koda didn’t stop there as he felt himself up with both hands, teasing the human further as he groped and played with his hefty bulge in the mesh of the jock strap. Lifting and bouncing it before dipping his fingers down underneath the jock and cupping it in one of his large hands to present to Peter. Koda made his bulge bounce with the motion several times as he spoke again. His voice a deep growling sound as it had been before.

“Arf arf.” Koda smiled, and Peter felt that warmth on his face.

“Koda…” Peter said his name, and the canine’s fur stood on end as he shivered finally being understood. “I don’t want to ruin our friendship by doing something stupid or misunderstanding you.” Peter felt conflicted and confused over it.

Until Koda just pulled it out.

The Shiba rolled his eyes before thumbing a clawed finger into the front of the jockstrap and pulled it down underneath his hefty orbs. The sheath sagged forward. It was filled with the tip of his doghood poking free from the tip. Hot pink flesh matching his paw pads and tongue glistened before the human. The tip drizzled a musky clear fluid in the canine’s excitement. The band of the jockstrap underneath them scrunched up his orbs. Making them look full and round, outlined in the sweaty musky flesh of his furry sack as Koda just offered his junk to the human.

“Woof.” Peter couldn’t help himself seeing Koda in his full glory.

“Woof,” Koda chuckled, laying it all out on the table now. “Arf boof bark bark.” Koda pointed the finger at Peter’s face, then down at his junk. He repeated this several times until the human couldn’t possibly mistake what he was going for.

And still, Peter hesitated.

Koda rolled his eyes at this, taking a step forward, Koda shoved the human up against the wall with his chest. Using a hand, Koda made sure to protect the back of Peter’s hand. Rubbing his fingers through his hair as he growled into the human’s face.

“Grr, boof. Arf, bark.” Koda growled into Peter’s ear. The words lost on the human but the lustful tone still coming through clear. His chest was pushed against Peter’s face as the canine grinned down at him, rubbing his thumb over Peter’s bottom lip.

Peter could feel the musky fingers from Koda’s junk on his lip and taste it on his lips.

The Shiba placed a large hand on Peter’s shoulder and with a shove, pushed the human down his front. Peter’s face rubbed over Koda’s sweaty chest and belly before those fingers tightened on his shoulder, stopping him right in front of the canine’s groin. With a panting maw, Koda growled down at him.

“Arf, arf, bork.” Koda growled lustfully. “Woof.” Koda repeated as he pushed Peter’s face against his groin and lifted his muzzle in silent thanks.

The smell was the first thing that hit Peter in the face. The strong musk of the male canine was overpowering. It was quickly followed by a fat sheath, slapping Peter in the face as the canine above him just chuckled showing the tips of his teeth in an aroused amusement.

“You want this so bad.” Koda had said. Even if the words didn’t translate and Peter didn’t understand them, there on his knees before the Shiba’s groin, it was impossible to mistake what those growls and barks meant. “Kiss it.” He growled.

And Peter understood the words as he did.

Scooting a half-inch closer, Peter rubbed his nose on that musky sweaty sheath. He could tell Koda had a long day of work. The smell told him that much. The sweat was just further proof as his mouth opened and he took a timid, meek lick of the side of that loose furry flesh of the Shiba’s sheath.

Koda groaned above him. It was a low, deeper growl that rumbled in his chest and throat.

Getting such a positive response was all the further encouragement Peter needed to continue.

Peter tilted his head slightly so his lips could meet that creamy opening. The lips of the sheath squished together as Koda sucked in his gut, waiting for the moment to feel those warm velvety lips of the human on his opening. He wasn’t disappointed by what he got.

It started off slow, sweet almost. Tender and loving until Peter reached up to grope the canine’s sack. Koda jumped slightly at that as Peter’s eyes closed, mouth opened, and his drool covered tongue began French kissing the Shiba’s sheath deeply. Deeply enough that a clear indentation of the tongue could be seen moving and swirling around the inside as Peter teased and licked and tasted Koda’s tapered dog tip.

A bitter saltiness met his tongue. It was musky and yet tangy as Koda grunted above him, covering his muzzle with one of those large hands trying to keep it down. A low whine escaped him. It was slow as if the Shiba was trying to control himself, but Peter could feel his friend humping forward.

Koda needed this as badly as Peter did and the taste filling Peter’s mouth told him that. How much the Shiba had been struggling to restrain himself. To hold back, for the sake of their friendship. Peter wanted to reassure Koda, right now, to tell him that this was what he wanted and that he was happy to be here on his knees before him.

Without the words, Peter had to use his action to speak for him.

Scooting close enough that Peter’s nose pushed against the Shiba’s curly pubic fur, Peter began sucking his friend off. Slow sensual sucking motion as he applied ample pressure with his tongue, letting it do the talking for him as Peter teased Koda’s tip and length. Each spurt of that tip was followed by a resounding swallow. Peter wanted Koda to hear it. Hear how wet and noisy and loud he could be as he took care of his friends needs.

Saying everything he needed without words.

Koda was panting above him, trying to keep cool as he rocked his strong, muscular thighs forward and pressed his furry groin against Peter’s face with each motion. The sweaty fur coated Peter’s face in the Shiba’s musk. All Peter could smell was the canine before him as he stayed there, on his knees sucking him off in the laundry room.

There was no chance for anyone stumbling in on the two. But the idea of it, in the public like this only fueled Peter’s lust for the Shiba as his fingers wiggled between Koda’s thighs and teased his furry taint. It was hot to the touch and the musky sweat coated Peter’s fingers as he pulled back and off the Shiba who looked down at him in confusion.

Peter just licked his fingers, one by one. Savoring the moment.

“I knew you’d be tasty. But fuck, Koda. Just, fuck.” Peter licked his lips, scooting closer and took hold of the Shiba’s fat, full sheath. He could feel the canine’s meat inside twitch and react to his touch. Koda grunted once more, growling in that deeper tone.

His tip was beautifully glistening with pre. It smelled. It tasted like Koda. Peter knew it as he licked up the exposed length to tease the tip. It sputtered over his face. Pre landing on his cheek. Peter never bothered to wipe it off as he closed his lips around him, going down on his friend and taking his expanding length into his mouth as he bobbed down his length until he could feel the tip tickling the back of his throat.

Then Koda spilled out over Peter’s tongue.

His mass was thick and veiny, and Peter traced them with his tongue. His jaw was already struggling as he tried to pull back, only for the Shiba to catch his head with one of those large hands. Koda braced himself against the wall, panting as he held Peter’s head as he humped against his entire face. His sagging balls slapped against Peter’s chin as he picked up speed; his groin fuzz pushed against his nose as his throbbing fat cock was shoved down the human’s throat.

Teary eyed, Peter loved it. The size of Koda. His smell. The feel of being held by one of his large hands. Just being used like this, tasting his friend on his lips as the canine spurted more pre down his throat, coating and slickening it up for his swelling mass to slide down.

Peter gagged. And he wanted more.

The size of Koda was something else. Feeling that fat length throb in his mouth, feel it before tasting the fluid leaking from the tip filled him with warmth. Peter gripped Koda’s thighs tightly. Digging his fingers through the fur. He pulled the canine closer, moaning around his length as he began rocking back and forth over it as Koda met his return with lust filled force.

The fur of Koda’s sack tickled Peter’s chin. The warmth emitting from his groin washed over his face, making him sweat from the excursion. The Shiba’s groans were increasing, the heat between the two building up as Koda played with his nipples with two large fingers.

Peter placed a hand on Koda’s belly, rubbing it in guilty delight. He’d wanted to do it since the two of them had become friends but never had the chance. It was the perfect opportunity to cop a feel of his friend. With his other hand, Peter continued to fondle and massage Koda’s orbs. Teasing the Shiba to climax.

Koda reached down to take hold of his swelling knot, adding the last needed touch to get him to finish.

It was a rush. Koda picked up his speed. Face fucking the human by the end as he growled and snarled words Peter didn’t need to understand out. The message was clear, and they both were enjoying it as Koda tilted his muzzle back and howled his release.

That pink shaft twitched in warning as Koda’s nuts tightened, his body tense, his muscles flexed, his teeth gritted and the Shiba blew. Hot splooge erupted from the tip like thick white magma. Globs of the mess pumped from his length. A thick mass that ran down the back of Peter’s throat and felt heavy in his belly.

Peter struggled to swallow it all and Koda had to shove his length back down the human’s throat to get him to. Taking hold of Peter’s head with both hands, Koda humped to the finish as the howling turned to moans that ended with whimpers as the Shiba pulled his sensitive length out of the human’s mouth minutes later.

Drool and Shiba spunk dripped from Peter’s lips as he gasped for breath. Every breath he took smelled of the Shiba, and he couldn’t help but laugh, smiling as he wiped his lips off with the back of his arm.

“Holy. Fuck. Koda, that was-,” Peter tried to say as he got back up on wobbly legs. The human didn’t have time to process everything that had just happened as he was hoisted off the ground and sat on the dryer the next second. “Koda?” Peter just asked as the Shiba, panting before him, spread his legs open hungrily.

Koda didn’t waste a second, pulling Peter’s underwear off and took a deep breath of them. His muzzle snapped around the fabric, holding and savoring them before shaking his head and toss the underwear to the side. Peter watched, somewhat shocked at the very animalistic display the canine had just shown him.

Koda just licked over his nose, smirking at the human before eying him just like how he’d eyed his underwear.

At first Peter worried what the canine had in mind but soon enough, a gust of hot breath blew over his groin, followed by a deep sniff that filled the laundry room.

Koda sniffed him.

His bumpy black nose pressed against the crook of Peter’s leg, and he inhaled. Breathing deeply in the human’s body as he held his legs up, spread apart so he could have full access to Peter’s groin. Drool trickled from Koda’s lips as his teeth parted and his engorged tongue licked out.

And Peter had been right, Koda was very good at licking.

That thick grooved tongue slapped against his taint making Peter squirm in the canine’s strong grasp.

“Fuck, Koda!” Peter gasped, covering his mouth with both hands as the canine licked again. Koda’s wide tongue covered Peter’s taint in drool as Koda dragged it up from his tail hole, up over his balls to curl back into his muzzle for the canine to savor and taste.

“Arrrrf,” Koda groaned as he looked at the human. One ear twitched as their eyes met and Peter just nodded.

“Please.” Peter begged. “Please, Koda. I want this. I need this.”

“Woof.” Koda just grinned, tail wagging as he went back to work. Licking and lapping the human’s groin up. Sniffing and nuzzling Peter’s sack before licking up and over the human’s dick before going down on him.

Koda’s muzzle was the perfect size and, though the teeth brushed against his sensitive skin, the canine was skilled with giving head. Koda didn’t need to bob up and down as Peter had. His tongue did all the work for him. Slapping the sides of Peter’s dick, Koda easily coated it in drool as he savored the delicious piece of meat in his muzzle.

He let out a throaty murr as he tasted the human’s pre on the back of his tongue. Using the thick width of it, Koda pushed it against Peter’s sensitive tip and began rolling it back and forth against it. Using the length of his tongue to curl and cup Peter’s length and, only then, did Koda bob his head. Just enough for his tongue to drag and pull on the human’s length.

Peter groaned loudly, unable to hold back as his friend gave him the best head of his life.

“Oh, Koda.” Peter just moaned. “You’re incredible. You’re so wonderful. Holy fuck, Koda. Don’t stop. Don’t stop!”

Koda’s tail wagged as he watched Peter’s face as he teased the human’s hole with one of his large fingers. Tracing the dull nail over the tender flesh and around, up and back down. Poking the tip of his claw in to feel the human tense and squeeze around it.

“Ah, ah, ahhh…” Peter groaned, his body tensing as Koda could smell it.

Smell the build up of his release. The smell of the human increased in that moment before the warmth hit Koda’s tongue.

The Shiba bent his knees, bending the dick down so the fluid cool pool and roll down the back of his tongue. The canine just murred low and deep as he drank his friend in, letting Peter’s warmth roll down the back of his throat with sensual gulps of pleasure…

Peter wasn’t sure how he had gotten there. All he knew was that his underwear was missing, and he was wearing Koda’s shirt as he sat on the canine’s sofa in Koda’s apartment. His legs felt like jelly and Peter was still catching his breath as Koda walked around the room, butt naked before him.

There was a pep in his step, his tail never stopped wagging as Koda got things ready. He brought the hard cider with them but hadn’t bothered with the laundry. They could get it the next day. Or, as Koda had told Peter, he could just wear the canine’s clothes tomorrow.

The doorbell rang and Peter covered himself with one of the pillows Koda had brought out for them.

“Should you put some pants on?” Peter asked as Koda opened the door for the pizza he’d ordered. The guy didn’t seemed to be surprised to see the Shiba standing there in the buff.

“Twenty-five.” The man said, offering a hand for the bills.

“Arf.” Koda just nodded, reaching over to the side table to grab his wallet. He pulled out some cash and gave it to the man.

“You’re five short, woofer.” The pizza guy said, and Koda just chuckled at that. His entire body bouncing with the sound as he pulled out another ten and handed it to the guy. “Thanks. Have a good one.” The guy didn’t even look at Peter before heading back to his job.

“Wait…” Peter said as the gears in his head slowly turned as Koda walked on over with the box of pizza in hand. He dropped it on the footrest and was already helping himself to a slice as Peter jumped to his feet. “You understand human!” Peter pointed an accusing finger at the Shiba who just wagged his tail.

“Arf.” Koda said in return and didn’t hear the end of it for the rest of their night as the two neighbors broke down the walls between their lives to come together as one.

The End.