Romancing a little angel
#2 of Through all Hardships
Through all Hardships
Chapter two
Romancing a little Angel
The bar was deserted in the mornings. No-one wandered in for alcohol, unless they were desperate. People didn't even visit the bar for snacks or food at this time; mostly it was a time for the staff to set the bar for a long day. But it was always a slow time - everything that got done was done slowly and properly, a relaxing, calm environment for laid back people. The bulky Panda was busy at the bar, a rag in one paw being used to dry-clean thickly glassed mugs, one at a time, slowly. He knew Dustin was taking awhile to make coffee in the back; strange, he never did take that long - must be that pup he had with him. A sly little grin crossed over his dark-black lip lines, as mischief filled as the old male was, the grin was eerily and suited him perfectly.
He shifted his mass bulk from the poor stool he was sat on, the mug set lightly on the bar top, the rag crumbled up inside of it. Turning on the spot, he snuck with as much stealth as his huge body would muster through the door into the smaller, four door hallway. He crept; each footstep was nurtured to silence. Only four small cautious strides were needed to reach the faithful white chipped door of the coffee room. His thick paw rose to dwarf the handle between his digits, then turn it a full half a circle anti-clockwise till the door was usefully loose and could be opened... and waited, listened...
Within the small room, Dustin was sat comfortably on one of several bare chairs, the little puppy snuggled and curled up within his arms; that small head of his resting against Dustin's thick chest. It was thanks to the wolf strong arm wrapped around his middle he was snuggles so warmly and close. The eyes of the wolf rested down upon Sledge, every little fine detail, his whiskers, the shine of his moist little nose, the way his fur curved from his cheeks and fluffed outwards into a messy pattern. All aspects of Sledge, Dustin examined; his other paw, with a touch as tender as a dove's feather cupped the young one's cheek.
However someone was not patient, with no respect for Dustin the Panda just burst into the room, scanning it and seeking the sight of Dustin and the pup in some kind of twisted sexual position; yet all he saw was cuddling; the pup asleep and Dustin staring down to him, "'ey up! Makin' c-"he was silenced by a glare shot over to him by the wolf. However the little defeat was backed down with a smirk, "I definitely see." The grin grew wider; the eerie way in which it suited his features was all too strong. He caught a confused look being tossed at him by Dustin: denial?
The grin switched to soft chuckle from deep within the large chest; but as he walked out the room and closed the door behind him the laughing got louder, then suddenly stopped, as the faint thud of the back bar door was closed. He'd held his breath right until that point and finally let it all go in a sigh. His attention switched back to the puppy. He watched him for another moment. He started to whisper his musings... "What is it about you... your scent... your fur... your eyes... y-...?" He sighed deeply; the puppy was asleep and could not hear him. It was hopeless.
He had to resist the urges he got, those perverted thoughts that made him want to grope the puppy right now, not caring if it woke him; to throw him on his back and just pou- no! He couldn't think like that, not with the pup in such a tender spot - if he woke up because of something poking him it maybe good bye possible friendship! What was he thinking? He'd never thought decently like this before...
It was at that moment his heart skipped a beat, all due to a soft little grumble coming from the pup. Dustin watched him as he did for the whole time he was in that room. Sledge woke slowly, at first just some groans and flickers of his ears as he became aware of noises again. A good couple of seconds pass and he took a deep breath, held it, and then breathed it out in a long sigh. His smaller paws lifted, gently sliding over Dustin's warm, bare chest, in the moments of waking he was really just stretching and found something nice and cuddly to snuggle against. This brought out a murr deep from within the wolf's chest as those digits slid through the soft, always clean fur.
Peace, for a moment as Sledge just rested. Dustin looked down on him, seeming calm. When the pup's eyes opened, peering sleepily up at Dustin's face, the wolf smiled as kindly and as softly as he could ever manage. "Mornin' sleepy head..." he said equally as softly as the smile. Sledge froze. Stiff. That made Dustin worry somewhat; but that smile was not going anywhere. "I found you when I came into the bar this mornin'... you were having a bad dream so I...," he paused, thought about the situation from Sledge's point of view, then grinned, "this looks kinda bad to you, eh?" He asked with a small laugh. Sledge's ear tips flushed crimson, "Uh...mm...." the senseless attempts to speak made Dustin feel as if he was doing something to frighten the puppy.
"Sshush puppy," he spoke in the gentlest voice he could manage. Sure enough Sledge did so; now just staring up to the wolf, eyes so deep and sweet. It was a start, "Now... pup. Jus' take a deep breath; I won't do anything to hurt you. I promise... and promises are forever, right?" He spoke with his head tilted to the side, ear lifted to encourage an answer from the pup. From quivering lips, one did come, "Y-yeah..."
The little scene was rudely broken up by the door creaking open and of course the head of the Panda annoyingly poked through, "Dustin! Coffee break's over! Work time!" that grin the Panda held next triggered a growl from Dustin. As soon as the Panda was there he was gone.
"Sorry, pu- uhh... I never got you name... I'm Dustin," the wolf smiled, and questioningly tilted his head. Sledge perked an ear, "S..Sledge..." was the reply.
"Okay... well... ya'know those flat places on the side of town?" the pup nodded, "Well I live at number five... come visit... tonight... if you wanted... okay?" Dustin smiled softly, it seemed to work, Sledge slowly nodded his head again now actually smiling back, "O-okay!" So it was set...
Dustin waited eagerly at his home. His flat wasn't anything big or grand, just a place to live and only that. It held three rooms; the biggest being a mixture of a small functional kitchen in one half, separated by a divider to the other part, which contained one couch and two smaller armchairs, all of which faced inwards to a rectangular table made of wood and a decent sized television against the wall on it's own stand. Besides that there was indeed racks containing DVDs and CD's; of course a CD player had its own table to stand on in the corner. Not much, but it was home.
Though tonight it was cleaned up and sparkled to perfection, a little too much? No never. It was perfect; it was all he could think about while sitting on his couch. If the pup would really come and visit him, if he could even find the place; and if he did, what could happen? What could he... He rapidly shook his head, "Don't think like that... you don't want to be just like everyone else..." Sighing heavily, he rested his head back, gazing up to his ceiling, "Why do I feel like this?"
Number one... two... three... Sledge counted down the doors in his head till he found the right door; just to be sure he scented the air. Lifting his cold little nose into the air and inhaling; he tasted what was most defiantly the wolf's scent. But he froze; suddenly he listened closely to everything; every little clicking a clock or the wind outside. His eyes fixed on the door, it was odd that all he had to do was knock and he'd be back into those safe arms he woke up in; back with the scent; back with the wolf, but shyness and memories spoke to him, more like screamed and ordered him to leave - to run away... So, he did...
Time passed slowly and with each second went Dustin's hope. The later it got, the more the wolf knew Sledge wasn't coming; he was stupid to think he would. But maybe he was just out in the hall? Fuelled by this he leapt up and over the couch in one swift movement; literally running towards the door. He stopped just before he ran into it and opened it widely, stepping out into the lonely hallway and glancing both ways. Each way had nothing but an empty hallway and more doors. But there was a scent in the air; a scent he knew; a scent that made him smile to himself. The pup came... he knew it...
That night in bed he couldn't sleep, no matter what position he curled himself into he was not able to drift off as normal. But it wasn't because he was sad, or worried; but because he was exceedingly happy. Even though the pup didn't knock the door, at least he came, it was a start; and a very good one at that...