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Unjust Love

A Shepherd’s Love: Part Three

By Roofles

Tan Colt stood in a bathroom that clearly hadn’t been built for someone of his size in mind. He already had to stoop just to get through the door without running into the top of it. Something he’d done several times already in these early mornings, still waking up.

Bradley was sound asleep in the other room as Tan Colt made his way in to use the restroom that morning.

It had been roughly three months now since Tan Colt had picked his human, assigned to Bradley Nichols at the NYPD+ program. He’d been staying with the human every day since. The two were inseparable. Working together, hitting the showers together after, half the time going down to The Blues, the cop bar, to wind down from a particularly long shift from hauling in criminal scum off the street.

The act of doing so weighed heavily on his partner, Tan Colt knew. It was one reason why he tried so hard to be so friendly, upbeat, and overall, a happy guy around Bradley. He had read humans are far more emotional creatures than K-9’s could be and had trained in comforting humans when they were down. Just being there for them was enough, a lot of the time, and Tan Colt made it clear from the start he always would be there for Bradley.

Something that, at times, was difficult. Bradley went out often, alone, hooking up or hanging out with friends who didn’t want Tan Colt to come along. The German Shepherd usually hung back during these times, trying to give Bradley the space he assumed the human needed.

Even after Tan Colt got the call just the other night.

“I need a lift.” Bradley had said. It was a simple thing to ask, one of the few evenings the two hadn’t been together. Tan Colt thought little of it, even with it being three in the morning.

When he’d gone to pick up his partner, however, he instantly knew something was off.

Bradley was holding his arm, looking down the other side of the street with this blank, emotionless look cast over his face as if he’d just gotten horrible news. His shirt was inside out and there was a strong smell of another male on him that irked the K-9 to no end. It was the forming bruise on his cheek however that made the German Shepherd practically jump out of the vehicle as it came floating over towards the human.

“Bradley what happened?” Tan Colt was trying to keep from baring his teeth as his fur stood up along his neck.

“I’m okay. Just had a… tiff, is all.” Bradley waved it off and refused to elaborate most likely knowing Tan Colt would tear apart whoever had dared to hurt his partner limb from limb. “Please,” Bradley had asked of him, begged of him and Tan Colt’s heart had lurched at the soft sound coming from the usually strong man. “I just want to go home…”

“Right. Right. I’ll take you home.”

And so Tan Colt did.

He took Bradley home, let him wash off in the shower the man never used. That had been something in itself to indicate something was wrong. To want to shower at home. Bradley always complained about it, hating doing so. Preferring the open locker room showers instead. With people; something people usually tried to avoid instead of look for. Tan Colt never asked why that had been, but Bradley had left the door and shower curtain open as he did and Tan Colt stood there, in the hall, making sure he was okay.

Only after did the German Shepherd tuck him into bed.

“Here.” Tan Colt stopped Bradley, letting him lie down on the oversized futon he’d bought the K-9. “It’s warm already…” The German Shepherd lied, just getting the human tucked in under the covers Bradley had bought him with the pillows. “I hope you don’t mind it stinks of me.” Tan Colt had tried to joke.

He just got a soft smile in return before a hollow “good night.” It pained the German Shepherd’s heart who didn’t understand. But he would.

Once he was securely tucked away, lost to sleeps comforting embrace… Tan Colt left. He triple locked the apartment door after snagging his leather coat Bradley had gotten him from the rack and headed back to the very spot Bradley had called him from.

It didn’t take long to track the smell down from there. Even with the hour or so that had passed by Tan Colt easily did. Tracking it down to a seedy part of the city, which was half the city these days. Through a dirty alleyway, to the other side of the street where he located a run down, shabby looking bar that looked as if it were about to fall apart any second.

The bouncer at the door stopped him or tried too. Tan Colt was having none of it and the guy ended up in the dumpster and the K-9 was already heading inside before the lid rattled and fell shut over them.

The place stunk. There was smoke in the air, among other illegal substances, but Tan Colt put the badge behind him right now. He was off duty. And the one thing Bradley had taught him was, when he was off duty, he needed to keep that part of his life separate. Don’t let work and personal life cross.

Well, Tan Colt didn’t really care about that as he moved through the crowd. It would be best not to try and pick a fight with everyone in the bar. Only one smell, one person, mattered.

To his surprise, he noticed a couple of other K-9’s mixed into the crowd here this night. Sure, their numbers had grown over the past couple of months but to see him here took the German Shepherd by surprise. More had been introduced into society, as a whole. Fire fighters, construction workers, sanitation workers… all the jobs where safety was a primary concern or an issue. Able to replace unionized workers with their numbers who didn’t, or couldn’t, complain about unsafe working conditions.

“Need to take that edge off?” Someone asked as he stopped near the bar, sniffing to try and locate the source of the smell mixed into all these others. Tan Colt glanced down at the scrawny female. She had her hair up. Blonde with black stripes tied into small buns looking like a porcupine.

He snorted a reply and turned away.

“Come on, big guy like you? Drinks won’t cut it. I got something… else, that’ll make the whole world… brighten up.” She pressed, opening her studded leather jacket just enough to let a rainbow of lights show through. The neon colors were evident for what they were. Bright.

Tan Colt had to stop himself from bringing her in on the spot. Bradley was more important than this blatant display of illegal sales.

“You sell here often?” Tan Colt asked, changing up his tactic. Roughing her up would feel good but would get the whole place coming down on his head.

“What’s it to you?” She closed her jacket, turning away seeing he wasn’t up for it. Bright, in large quantity, could even affect a K-9’s system. Tan Colt noted several of the other K-9’s here were off center with unfocused, dilated eyes and talking, chatting… touching human companions.

Men or woman. Sometimes both. These K-9’s seemed to be having the time of their life while Tan Colt was left only worrying.

He did that a lot, these days. Bradley wasn’t around as much and he…

“Here,” Tan Colt slapped a large hand onto the counter, opening his fingers just enough for her to see the credits underneath his hand. Creds were the most common form of payment. At least in the states. Everything was credited these days anyways. It only seemed logical to turn the currency into credit too. You didn’t even own the money you were due, just credited it in your account.

She turned around, resting against the bar before snagging the payment with a casual touch as if flirting with the K-9. Her hand lingering, fingers moving between his own before sliding the money into her pocket the next second.

“Six-foot two guy. Brown hair. Scruffy on the face… these days,” Tan Colt said describing his partner. Bradley hadn’t been shaving as much as he used too. “Was he here today?”

“Maybe.” She just said, inspected her nails without looking. “Might’ve been looking for a good time. The party and play kind.”

Tan Colt’s ear twitched at that. Drugs? Bradley? No, that couldn’t be. He would’ve noticed by now. Smelled it. Bradley wouldn’t touch the stuff. No matter how bad the city got… how things became… even after Roberto broke it off with him. It was just a fling, after all. A hook up and nothing else.

He wouldn’t turn to drugs! Tan Colt refused to believe that.

Bradley had called out of work after that happened, taking a rare personal day for himself. He stayed in bed and did little else while Tan Colt stayed nearby. Bradley didn’t want to talk about it and the K-9 didn’t push further than that. He still managed to get Bradley to lie down on the floor there, with him. Snuggling up behind him as a big spoon, with his sweats on, and holding the smaller human in his arms.

“It’ll be okay… there are plenty of others out there…” Tan Colt had tried to comfort him. They didn’t train or prepare him for this though.

“I know…” Bradley just pet the fur on Tan Colt’s muscular arm. “There are always plenty of people out there. Just all the ones you want, aren’t interested…” Bradley’s fingers felt nice against his arm. Sliding between his thick coat of fur to touch the skin underneath without paw pad on his finger. It was a strange feeling but not bad, just… different. It was warm in their apartment, being in the middle of summer, and the two didn’t bother using a blanket that night.

Or the nights to follow.

Tan Colt could smell him. Taking slow breaths of the human lying there, against him… wishing those moments never came to an end.

“Life’s tough, these days.” The dealer just went on, bringing Tan Colt back to the moment. “Life’s a shitty place to live in. Not getting any better, either. Even with you boys showing up.” She noted looking Tan Colt over before shrugging it off, not seeming to mind who she dealt with. So long as they paid. “Bills got to be paid. People are more and more… disconnected from each other. Family values aren’t what they use to be. Religions a joke. World Wars going on overseas… knocking at our doors… just another shitty day. Shitty life. A lot of people like to take that… edge, off. See the world in a brighter way than it is.”

Tan Colt lip quivered, not liking where she was going with this.

“Symptoms don’t show. Not at first. That’s why people like it.” She hinted at, opening her jacket to show the product before closing it just as quickly. “So many easy marks. Quick, free samples. Give them a taste of it.”

“Bradley wouldn’t…” Tan Colt stopped himself about to throw something across the room at this point.

“It’s always the good ones… you got to watch out for, pupper.” She gave him one final look. “Watch that boy of yours. Otherwise, this big city? Well, it doesn’t treat the good ones good. It’d sooner eat him up and spit out whatever remains.” And with that, she was gone. Blending into the crowd.

Tan Colt could’ve easily tracked her down but didn’t waste the breath too. He had picked up the smell he’d come here for and was already moving towards one of the back rooms.

“I got an appointment.” He said to the large English bulldog guarding the door.

This other K-9 snorted in Tan Colt’s face. “Not likely.” They just growled in reply.

The German Shepherd didn’t recognize the dog and wondered what facility he was from. Wondering that as he grabbed a nearby chair and broke it over the dog’s face that is.

Taken by surprise, the other K-9 was easily shoved out of the way as Tan Colt kicked the door open and walked into the room.

A desk was off to the side with a man behind it. There were two couches facing each other with a small table between. Old style filing cabinets lined one wall with papers spilling out. Trying to keep from being tracked by still using paper. An old method of hiding one’s illegals activities, not that Tan Colt was here for that.

“Who the hell do you think you are.” A human got up. He came up to Tan Colt’s chest and was the perfect size to throw at his companion who tried to join them, reaching for something in his coat. They toppled over the other side of the couch together as Tan Colt turned on the last guy.

The K-9 quickly recognized him as one of the officers at The Blues bar. He didn’t understand why he was here but could figure it out after picking the man up and slamming him against the wall. His nose touched his chest and sniffed over his neck before growling low and deep.

“You’re Nichols dog. Bradley Nichols, right?” The man just lifted his arms with a soft chuckle as that snout pushed against his face now. “Not in uniform so I assume this is about his debt…?”

“Debt?” Tan Colt didn’t release him but set him back down slowly, glancing over at the two getting up and at the English bulldog K-9 coming from the door rubbing the side of their face.

“Easy. Easy. He’s a friend.” The officer, Jameson, that was his name, waved them off. He was African descent and had been on the force for over ten years now. What he was doing here, he wasn’t sure. Tan Colt snorted in his face before letting him go slowly.

“What debt?” Tan Colt voice was shaking, a growl filling his chest as he tried to keep his fangs from showing and failing to do so.

“Everyone has debt, Tanner Colton.” Jameson just shrugged it off as he fixed his suit, smoothing it out. The man sat back down, adjusting his seat. “Why do you think I run this place?” He motioned around them as his two bodyguards sat back down. The English bulldog came over to stand directly next to the man, glaring at Tan Colt the entire time. Just daring him to try anything again. “It’s just business.”

“…just like a criminal.” Tan Colt glared.

“Criminal? Is it criminal to try and feed your family, Mr. Colton?” Jameson slammed both hands on the desk standing back up, matching the much larger canines look with one of his own. “The police force doesn’t pay us fracking shit. The damn city hates us. People take pot shots at us on a daily basis! No one gives a damn anymore. About anyone. Let alone people trying to stop you from doing your own side business.” He adjusted his tie before taking another seat once more.

Tan Colt could care less though about any of this. He left his, metaphorical, badge outside for a reason. If he needed to punch or bite his way out of this, he would.

“What does this have to do with my… I mean, Bradley.” Tan Colt took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Jameson gave him a look.

“Your… Bradley,” he teased with a knowing smile. “Moved to the city, went to school, became a cop with no help from mommy and daddy. Most people try and move out of the big city, Mr. Colton. Not into it. It’s not… feasible, in this day and age. Financially speaking.”

“You’re a loan shark.” Tan Colt frowned, unsure what to do about that. As much as he wanted to punch the crooked cops face in, that wouldn’t exactly solve the issue. And it was most likely on board too. Even if it was done under the table, he’d need a search warrant to pull up that kind of evidence. And in doing so, if he even succeeded, would drag Bradley’s name through the dirt.

“I help. People. Mr. Colton.” Jameson gave him a look. “I don’t force anyone to sign up.” He tapped a finger on the desk. “I do help them though make it in this city. Mr. Nichols is paying off what he’s due, still. Country boy wanted to come to the city, and I helped that happen. For a price. But I’m not breathing down his neck or whatever you have in mind.” He rolled his eyes. “Leave the cop dramas for TV, Mr. Colton.”

Tan Colt looked over at the English bulldog. He was wondering why there was a K-9 here. Clearly working for the place. He was Jameson… dog. But he shouldn’t be able to go against the rules, the laws set in place. If they could then Tan Colt could’ve been with…

He gritted his teeth, tasting the iron of blood in his muzzle as his fist clenched painfully tight. The English bulldog took a half step forward at his aggression, though it hadn’t been directed at them despite Tan Colt wanting it to be.

“How much.” Tan Colt just spat out. “How much does he owe?”

“A couple grand…” Jameson didn’t elaborate, and Tan Colt knew it was far more than just a couple thousand creds.

“If you’re willing to take some odd jobs, maybe you can help speed up the process for our friendly neighborhood cop…” Jameson adjusted his tie needlessly. It was a ratty thing like his suit. Clearly unable to afford anything of real value. Jameson folded his hands on the desk to look over it at Tan Colt. “He’s a good guy. That’s why I haven’t pressed… further, into him paying things off. He pays on time. The amount due. No questions asked. He probably thinks this is all legit, but we both know otherwise.”

“I won’t do anything illegal.” Tan Colt growled low and deep.

The English bulldog snorted at that.

“Still stuck with that mindset, huh?” The other K-9 drooled profusely when he spoke, tapping the side of his head where the metal plate was. “No wonder that boy was sniffing ‘round here.” The bulldog motion down at himself. “Got plenty to offer. Without… restraint.”

The desk shook as Tan Colt nearly pounced on the other K-9 before Jameson got in the way.

“Adam Brooks. Down.” Jameson said and the bulldog pulled back, grumbling. “Now then, I’m assuming you want to be added to Mr. Nichols account in order to help expedite our friend’s debt? It’s usually reserved for… couples, but I’ll make an exception this time around… seeing as how he is your human.”

Tan Colt didn’t see any other means as he read over the contract slid over towards him, pulled out from the side drawer. A simple loan payment. The threat was implied, not written down. No wonder why Bradley had taken it.

Reading it over quickly, he snorted.

“This is far more… fair, than I thought it would be.” Tan Colt looked up at him.

“It’s all legal, I promise.” Jameson just gave him an award-winning smile. “Believe it or not, this.” He motioned around them. “Is the world you were born into, Mr. Colton. Bradley might want to see it all bright…” He frowned at the word. “But that’s not how life is. It’s nothing but a pipe dream out there. Here, us, in the real world see just how dull, bland, and ugly it really is. No matter what fruity colors people try to paint things with, it’s not bright. By any means…”

“What about the mark on his face.” Tan Colt’s lip quivered, not about to let that go.

“This is a rough crowd, Mr. Colton. Anyone from the club could’ve done it…” Jameson gave Adam Brook a look.

“He was hitting on the wrong biker.” The English bulldog just shrugged. “Clearly not getting any at home.” The bulldog just couldn’t let it go.

“You saw it happen and didn’t…” Tan Colt was about to get on him, again.

“He’s not my human.” Adam Brook just licked his jowls with a slobbery tongue. “I know how to protect mine.” He snorted out a breath and Tan Colt nearly socked him in the face for that.

“In a way, this is protecting him, Adam Brooks.” Jameson said looking down at the paper Tan Colt was rereading over. “Just in case… we have someone else to go too for payment.”

With the papers signed, Tan Colt left the run-down bar and headed back home to make sure Bradley hadn’t woken up during his absence. He never thought the human would end up at a place like… that. At least he wasn’t taking anything? Of that, Tan Colt was still sure of. Or hoped, anyways…

He just hadn’t realized how bad Bradley had it. The officer lived in a, somewhat, nice apartment. Though he didn’t really own anything. Just the most basic of things. He went to the cop bar and worked and… didn’t really do much else. Bradley hooked up from time to time, which still bothered the K-9 who wasn’t allowed to tag along; how awkward would that have been for his human partner.

For more than one reason.

Tan Colt made sure to lock the door again before checking in after he returned home. Bradley was still asleep and so Tan Colt decided to take a quick rinse and air dry before joining him.

Standing there, now, in front of the mirror the K-9 just looked himself over.

Standing at a six seven, Tan Colt weighed over three hundred pounds. He had been genetically altered, bioengineered and, well, created to be the perfect soldier. Though the scientists back at the lab didn’t like to use that word, soldier. It implied they were preparing for war… which they already were in supporting several of the nation’s overseas.

It was only a matter of time until they began sending K-9 trained soldiers to the front lines.

Tanner Colton was a German Shepherd model and breed. He had the dog blood running through his veins but that was about where the similarities ended, on paper that is. He looked like one. He’d seen pictures of the, now extinct, canines that used to walk on all fours and found the one he matched.

A flu had run across the world. A strange unknown biological illness that only infected canines and house cats. Dogs and cats of all breeds and sizes. Canines went extinct and, eventually, replaced by them. The K-9 unit Dr. Conwell had helped create. How? No one was sure and everyone was still trying to figure that out.

His fur was a mix of black and brown. He had black fur over the top part of his face, over his head and down his back and along the top of his tail. The rest of him was a mix of brown and tan with black threads of fur poking through here and there. Tan Colt loved how he had chest fuzz, like Bradley did. Even under his armpits were a lot thicker and different color than the rest of him. Just like his groin fuzz…

“Like a human…” Tan Colt muttered. Was that why he had, basically, co-signed Bradley’s loan? Because, that was something humans did? Could do? They took out loans to buy property or homes or, in Bradley’s case, to be able to move somewhere like the big apple and chase their dreams.

Here Tan Colt had gotten a free bill of health, a free bill to just move in with someone and schooling he didn’t have to pay back… how could humans do it? Get by. Everything costed so much. Inflation was only increasing things further. Everyone seemed to be struggling, just to get by. No wonder where, there was always so much poverty. War. Famine and disease running rampant across the world.

It was like the end days.

That didn’t matter, so much, to Tan Colt as the German Shepherd flicked the lights off before walking across the hall and into the bedroom where Bradley was asleep. There. On the futon. Walking over on paws instead of feet, on ankles that were bent instead of the human plantigrade ones. On large paws with paw pads that cushioned and absorbed the hefty weight of every step he took. On thick muscular legs covered in fur. With a body that was so much larger than Bradley’s was. With a muzzle and pointy ears and whiskers and…

Tan Colt was anything but human.

Tan Colt had to be careful around the human. Any human. But especially… his human, as he laid down next to him. Scooting over slowly, carefully to join Bradley in the bed they had begun sharing together.

Tan Colt’s fears weren’t founded, thankfully. Bradley wasn’t taking Bright or doing something, technically, illegal. He had taken a loan out. That was all. He, like everyone else, was just trying to get by in a world that couldn’t, didn’t care if they woke up the next morning. The sun would still rise and set even if they just stayed there, on that bed, together.

“Tanner?” Bradley muttered, trying to sit up when the weight of the futon sunk in and he slumped against the K-9 joining him in it. “What are you… what time is it?”

“Sh, it’s just me. Yeah. Sorry. Was using the restroom,” Tan Colt kept his deep voice low and soft as he spoke, brushing a finger over Bradley’s face sliding some of that long brown hair out of the human’s eyes so he could look into them. “It’s just me…”

“Oh. Okay.” Bradley yawned, stretched then snuggled up against Tan Colt’s bare chest. “Everything… alright?” Bradley asked sleepily as Tan Colt shifted at the touch of the smaller man in his arms.

“Yeah…” Tan Colt should’ve been the one asking that question but couldn’t in that moment as his arms, by their own volition, wrapped themselves around the human. “Everything is just perfect…”

“Good…” Bradley took a heavy breath, smelling the German Shepherd he was lying against before relaxing into his touch once more. “Good night, Tanner…”

“Good night, Brad…” Tan Colt nosed down at him, sniffing lightly. He was glad Bradley just smelled like himself now. No one else. It eased that growing fear inside as Tan Colt held him for the rest of the night, lost in his own thoughts on what to do.

He knew why Bradley had been struggling, if only in the past couple of months.

Tan Colt wasn’t the… easiest to live with.

Due to his size and… modifications, he needed to consume his own weight in food a day. Something he hadn’t exactly been helping Bradley with. The human had taken care of buying him pillows, blankets, bedding… bought him a toothbrush and toiletries… he’d fixed the damage done to the door when Tan Colt had closed it too hard on accident once.

Roll the food bill and extra utilities he was using into the mix and Bradley, of course, must be struggling financially. And never once had the human ever mentioned it to Tan Colt. Gotten on him for it. Even telling the German Shepherd to have second or thirds. For a brief second, he thought it might’ve been because he regretted knowing the German Shepherd…

Seeing him here now, snuggling against his furry chest, Tan Colt knew otherwise.

Bradley hadn’t wanted to worry him about expenses such as food and going out as much as they were. Before Tan Colt, Bradley didn’t bother going out as it was. Didn’t bother spending money. Didn’t get dinner out… go bowling… nothing.

And now Tan Colt knew why. It was because of the expenses.

Even with the sales, Tan Colt knew the things Bradley had been buying for him, such as the brush, had been made and used for the previous canines before they went… extinct. He hadn’t mentioned either of these to Bradley, focusing on the bigger issue right now.

Buying him so much stuff and welcoming him with open arms into his home, not asking anything in return.

Was that why Bradley hated showering at home? To reduce the water bill…? No, the way he had done it in the shower with the curtain and door open… there was something more, Tan Colt just didn’t know what that was. He planned to find out though.

There was so much that Bradley was still keeping from him. Did the human not trust the K-9? It would be a valid concern. They did sort of just up and appear out of nowhere but Tan Colt was sure that wasn’t the case. Where other humans seemed to dismiss them, to be suspicious of their very existence, Bradley hadn’t. The only concern he had was to make sure he could pay the bills, so that Tan Colt could continue to live with him.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped… I told you I get paid too.” Tan Colt cursed at his own negligence. He thought, as a K-9, he just needed to be there for his human… but no. There was so much more to just living, getting by, that Tan Colt was still learning. He had so much to learn about the human, from him.

Humans had so many wants and needs, he wanted to fulfill the ones… he could.

There would always be certain things he couldn’t give Bradley and so Tan Colt promised himself there and then he would do everything else he could to help his friend, his partner, and his human get by in this world…