I've been walking some dogs before class at the MSPCA this summer, and while walking them, this came to mind. Ambrose taking in a dog and their relationship. I don't know how much interest there will be in this, since I tend to write smut and this of course will be smut free. The chapters will be shorter than I usually write. I hope anyone who reads this enjoys it. Thank you!
The first time I met you, it was raining. I almost didn't notice you as I left the Arena. I seriously thought you were a discarded pile of rags. I was about to walk by and catch a cab back to my place, but then I saw that pile of rags move. I paused and pulled out a cigarette. We stared at each other while I lit up and took the first drag. You were pretty pathetic looking back then, you know that? I admit that I felt pity for you, but I kept on walking that day. Just another stray. None of my business.
That night I couldn't sleep. That wasn't so uncommon, but that time it was because I couldn't stop thinking about you. I couldn't get the image of you out of my head. You don't know this, but after two hours of tossing and turning, I dragged my ass out of bed, threw on some pants and a dirty tee and went all the way back to where I had seen you. You weren't there. Maybe you finally wandered home. Maybe you got hit by a car. Maybe someone came to put you out of your misery. I had no fucking clue. All I knew was that you were gone and there was nothing more that I could do.
It was about two weeks later, I think...I don't have a great memory or sense of time, you know that...when I was shocked to see you again. In the same exact place. It was like it was fucking Groundhog's Day or something. I stood there longer this time, staring at you. Were you dead? You weren't moving and fuck knows that you looked and smelled like you could be. I decided to crouch down to check, just for my own sake.
Thank god you had a pulse. I'm not really sure what I would've done if you had been dead. Carry you into an alley? Toss you in the dumpster? I don't even want to think about it. Knowing how I was back then, it probably would've been something fucking stupid. I stood up and sighed. I could feel your ribs through those mats of fur when I touched you. I groaned loudly and threw my hands up. The least I could do was buy you some meat or something, right? I couldn't just go home this time. Not when I was certain that I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight knowing you were out here.
"Stay here, dude, okay? I'm gonna go get you something to eat."
It was kinda late since it was after a show, but I found a cheesesteak place that was still open. I shouldn't have stopped to eat one for myself. I should've just ordered two and eaten it next to you, but how was I supposed to know then? I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, but you know what? I don't really think of this as one because it brought us together for good.
I hadn't been gone for, what, fifteen minutes? But apparently that was enough time for some fucking teenage asshole pieces of shit to find you. You should've seen my face the moment it dawned on me that they were hurting you. I dropped that cheesesteak and sprinted the block or so to where you were and dove at them. It's kinda funny. If Roman had been able to see what I had looked like, he probably would say "Not a bad spear, man".
I was pumped so full of anger and adrenaline that I don't remember too much about exactly what I did. All I can remember is the feeling of their bones cracking under my fist and the warm wetness of their blood staining my shirt. Don't worry, I didn't kill them. That would make me no better than them because if I had taken longer, that's exactly what they would've done to you. Once they couldn't get back up, I called 911. They really didn't deserve it, but I had a feeling you wouldn't forgive me if I didn't try to make sure they got to a hospital.
I picked you up and realized I didn't have a lot of time to figure out what to do. I could feel the breaks in your leg and the blood in your matted fur. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. There was a 24-hour emergency vet a couple miles away. I called a cab and when it arrived, the driver shook his head. Said you'd get blood all over his cab. I tried to explain the situation as calmly as I could, but he sped off. Stupid motherfucker. I groaned loudly and realized what I'd have to do. So I started running.