AUTHOR'S NOTE: There was a request from Sakura for a RodxRio fic so here it is. I had the idea to add Rod to Neil and Rio's fun instead of creating an entirely different character dynamic for Rio. So, this and Control connected. Same characters, timeline etc.

I've noticed that in the Harvest Moon A New Beginning fandom a lot of Neil fans tend to also like Rod so I decided this would be an interesting experiment. Feedback is appreciated!

(Sakura, if by any chance you're not satisfied with this, just let me know. I'll write a RodxRio story that is strictly RodxRio) As always, thank you to my faithful readers!

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Neil stood behind the counter of his animal stand anticipating the end of his shift. Rod, whose stand was right beside his, rambled on cheerfully about the new shipment of pet supplies he had received. Being that Rod was his close friend, Neil tried his best not to show his growing irritation. The day was dragging on and all he could think about was getting home to his wife. Rod's insistent chatter was making it difficult for him to just zone out and pass the time.

"Hey, how's Rio's dog? " Rod suddenly asked.

Neil momentarily reflected on the pet his wife brought home about a week prior. The brown dog was relatively small and completely infatuated with Rio. Due to the fact that she usually ran her livestock purchases by him, Neil initially had been confused as to why she randomly appeared with a dog. Apparently, Rod gave it to her as a friendly gift.

"Oh, the dog? He's fine. Loves Rio to pieces." Neil drawled, shrugging indifferently.

"I bet. What's there not to like about Rio?" he remarked almost impulsively.

Neil shifted his eyes over to Rod, who in return swallowed nervously and chuckled. Rod had been friends with Neil before either of them had even met the blonde farmer. When she came along, unknowing to each other, they both developed feelings for her. Rod was an outwardly sweet friendly guy but incredibly shy and unassertive.

Neil, on the other hand, was outwardly aggressive and rough around the edges... but, incredibly sweet inside. Ultimately, Neil's assertiveness won him Rio, but he now had suspicions his best friend was infatuated with her. The suspicion was not new.

"Yeah, my wife's nice." Was Neil blunt response.

The thought didn't bother him as much as it probably should have. Being that Neil was a very dominant and assertive type, the idea of someone fawning after his wife just boosted his ego. He had something valuable and worth envying. So, Neil let Rod's suggestive remark slide.

"Hey, uh...Rio never bought a collar. Is it alright if I swing by your house after work to bring her one?" Rod questioned. "I mean, I suppose you could just bring her one...b-but I want her to choose what color she wants."

Rod rambled, sweating slightly Neil held back the impulse to roll his eyes.

"That's fine, I guess." Neil retorted indifferently, internally cringing. "She's been meaning to get the dog a collar. It's scampering around the farm untagged."

In all honesty Neil didn't want Rod coming by. And, not because of his suspicions. But, because he had plans. He was hoping to get home before Rio was finished with her farm chores in order to ambush and ravish her. Married life was good...really good.

"Awesome, thanks"

Time passed slowly as the workday neared it's end. Eventually, six o' clock came around and they packed their shops up. Trekking down the hill path, they navigated towards Rio's ranch. Neil stretched his arms up, and his chest forward, until he heard a satisfying crack from his back. Reaching in go his pockets, Rod retrieved two dog collars, colors black and pink.

"Those the only colors you got?" Neil asked, nodding at the collars he held.

"Yeah, the pink is new though. Used to only have black..."

"Ah."

Silence overtook them as they made their way through the outskirts of town. The evening air was beginning to cool slightly, blowing against them softly. Neil's mind began to drift to more exciting thoughts, images of his wife kneeling before him. Shaking the thoughts away he focused on not getting an erection. Rod really had to pick today for a visit?

"Hey, guys!"

Rio's farm came in to view and Niel led Rod to their modest home. Opening the door, he invited him inside but was interrupted by a familiar soft feminine voice. Barely catching the stunned look on his friend's face, he whipped his head around to greet Rio.

He expected to see his wife wearing her usual dirty overalls with her long golden hair pulled back in an oily bun, but was greeted by something totally different. Rio was wearing cut off denim shorts that barely reached the curve of her backside.

Flip flops adorned her feet and a simple white T-shirt was worn over black sports bra...the only reason he knew that was because said shirt was wet and sticking to her. Rio's hair was pulled up in a high ponytail as she held her fishing rod in one hand and a basket of bounty in the other. Neil's mouth gaped slightly before he came back to reality.

"Hey, Hun-." he started, his wife interrupting him with her excitement.

"I didn't know we were having company over! This is perfect, I'll make dinner. Come in, I'll prep this fish" she gushed girlishly, hurrying to the kitchen. "Come right in, Rod."

Setting the basket aside, she placed the fish in the sink and prepared to begin scaling them.

"Do you like red or white wine with your dinner?" she asked. "Personally, I prefer white, but you're the guest-"

"He's not here for that, Rio." Neil clarified.

As much as he loved his wife's good nature, she didn't realize she was cockblocking her own husband. Rod came to give her a collar, then he would leave. Unfortunately for Neil, his wife was extremely loving and nice, always wanting to do things for others.

After being told Rod was not in fact visiting for dinner Rio's face fell and she looked up from her place at the sink, oblivious to the awkwardness or sexual tension emmiting from both males.

"Oh, do you have somewhere to be Rod?" she asked disappointed.

"Well n-no-" he stammered, avoiding Neil's face and Rio's chest.

"Well, great! You can stay then! I spent this afternoon by the river fishing and caught so much! The game this season is huge, I got pulled in earlier. It was a riot." she laughed to herself, happily prepping the fish.

Neil grit his teeth in frustration but kept his cool. Stalking to the dining table he took his seat and gestured for Rod to follow suit. The home was pleasantly quiet as the sound of Rio's knife clanking against the metal sink echoed slightly. The white shirt she wore was still damp and sticking to her, a detail that neither man missed. Neil kept politely conversing with Rod, noticing his periodic eye shifts.

Glancing over subtly Neil caught where his attention was repeatedly being drawn to. His wife was currently bent over in the low wine rack on the kitchen floor searching for a bottle. When glancing back at his friend, he noticed the immediate startle response he displayed upon being caught staring. Once again, Neil just ignored it.

Rio set the bottle of wine aside and began setting rice to cook on the stove. The fish was sliced in to sashimi and arranged on a plate before being placed in the fridge to cool. Washing her hands, she grabbed three wine glasses and settled in at the table with her husband and guest.

"Got this wine from a couple towns over, it's supposed to be amazing. I was warned it's strong but we're all adults!" Rio laughed playfully, pouring the liquor in to the awaiting glasses. "The rice will take a bit to cook so we could use some entertainment."

Neil took his glass appreciatively. Hopefully the alcohol would help loosen him up enough to not kick Rod out. Literally. His presence was intruding on his personal time. Friend or not, he had needs. Had Rio not been against it, the blonde may have possibly literally kicked Rod out with a boot to his ass.

"Thanks, Rio...the wine looks good." Rod raised his glass and took a sip, probably trying to calm himself down. "I could use a glass."

They all downed their first round of drinks before continuing on to their second. Rio chatted happily like the social being she was, Neil and Rod listened contently. The alcohol was beginning to take effect and Neil's face began to develop a light flush of color. Rod's walls fell and he looked at Rio with adorning eyes as she talked animatedly. Under the table, Rio's foot trailed up her husband's pant leg teasingly as she continued her joyful conversation.

"So, I'm sitting on the pier and this huge tug pulled me in the river!" Rio explained, arms movingly hyperly. "I retrieve my fishing pole and the giant fish is still hooked! Ha!"

Rod's tipsy gaze was drawn to the bouncing momentum of her breasts as she actively animated her story while seated. Neil's hand crept on to his wife's thigh, lightly circling the skin just below the hem of her small shorts...beginning to creep up further. She silently brushed his hand away and proceeded to pour more drinks.

"Um, I think fishing all day left me a little grungy...I'm going to go shower for Dinner. I can't eat like this." Rio stood from her seat, excusing herself.

"Don't take long."

Neil boldy swatted her ass as a parting.

"Niel!"

Said man just smirked lazily. The girlish squeal that escaped Rio's mouth soon erupted in to giggles. She smacked his shoulder half-heartedly before wandering off to retrieve a towel.

Rio retreated to the bathroom, tipsy and chipper. Neil and Rod were left to drunkenly keep each other company. The shower could be heard and Neil's attention snapped to his gingery-haired friend who unknowingly watched the bathroom door longingly.

"You like checking out my wife?" Neil asked, rhetorically.

Rod looked like he had seen a ghost, face going pale.

"Uh, I-"

The expression bordered on terror. Neil's face held no aggression though, just a steady alcohol flush. Not knowing what to say, Rod said nothing. That did not deter Neil, however.

"I was planning to come home after work and have her bent over the bed... but here we are having a dinner date, instead." Neil drawled sounding bored, the wine clearly removing any filter he possessed. "Thanks a lot, for that."

Rod sat uncomfortably, growing nervous. Neil leaned forward over the table towards him, rested on his forearms.

"I don't know what angle you're playing at but she's my wife. Doesn't matter that you're here, I'm still going to get what I want." Neil stated, simple and to the point.

"..."

The shower could be heard shutting off and Rod internally panicked. He did not know what to expect from this peculiar situation. Neil was on to him. Neil's intoxication was either his saving grace, or oncoming doom because the blonde was far too composed.

"So, what's with those collars or whatever? " Neil pried, suspiciously nonchalant as Rod seemed to have lost his voice.

Rod pulled said objects from his pockets and set them on the table, sliding them to Neil. Hadn't he already explained?

"I thought she'd like one for her dog-" he began before Neil cut him off.

"This pink one would look nice around her neck."

Suddenly, Rio's voice carried from the bathroom.

"Neil, could you check the rice for me?"

Neil wandered in to the kitchen and peeked in to the small pot on top of the stove. The rice was steamed and fully cooked so he placed a cover on the pot and turned off the burner. Taking his seat back at the table, Neil prepared to continue his sexually frustrated drunken banter but Rio emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel.

Rod's eyes widened and Rio's hazy mind took a moment to register the problem. Looking down at herself she profusely apologized and attempted to excuse herself to dress but Neil's voice picked up a familiarly firm tone.

"Come here."

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