Wishfull-star - Thank you very much! Good communication is always important, even more with Ace's situation! But they a good couple! getting through hardships together!
Zoysite - hahhaha everyone, i mean no one is crying! He really doesn't deserve it, yet so is fate! But he has Marco by his side!
It was nearing the later afternoon and Marco was getting ready to go out. Ace and him had decided to go for a walk after Ace was done working today. It had been raining the past weeks and it was finaly a clear day so they were making use of it.
Marco had already put Brownie's guiding harness ready at the side to take with him and was now getting the normal leash. He clicked it to the collar and picked up the harness to just carry it himself while going out. He never used the harness, that was for Ace to use on Brownie when the dog was working. Now it was just a normal walk and Brownie could act like any dog. Just wagging his tail and sniffing around, stopping wherever he wanted to sniff more and pee.
Even if Brownie was free now, he was still a very well behaved dog, never pulling at the leash on purpose. However, not far from the house, Marco didn't realise Brownie stopped at a pile of leaves to sniff it and the leash pulled a bit. Even though Brownie was instantly following again, closing the distance, the leash suddenly dangled at Marco's side uselesly.
"huh?"
Lifting the leash, without a dog attached, he blinked at it, reaching for the end of it.
"It broke?"
Inspecting the item and noticed the clip wasn't working. The little iron part that you pulled down to hook it into the collar wasn't working. It usually sprung close if you let go but... it didn't. He could open it and manually close it, but it just fell back open when he let go. Did the spring break?
A little nudge to his leg made him look down, seeing Brownie sitting down next to him, wagging his tail as he saw Marco look at him.
With a smile Marco reached to pet the dog's fur, the tail wagging even more, "Good boy-yoi. What a good thing you're trained so well. This was your chance to just run." he chuckled lightly. He knew Brownie wouldn't run away, would at least return the moment he called for him. But they did need to cross some busy roads and he would just feel safer having the dog on a leash to keep him close... and let's not forget the law that he needs a leash.
He was in a little debate with himself on what to do, the normal leash was broken, he couldn't fix it in the middle of the street. The pet shop was out of his way right now and going back home for another would take a while, and Ace was done working soon, he didn't want to be late. He did have the harness... but that wasn't his to use... But... the safety of Brownie...
In the end he decided to put it on, he knew how it worked, having put it on plenty of times while Ace was getting his jacket on. It just felt safer. He could make sure Brownie didn't run into traffic and they wouldn't get into trouble with the law.
The dogs demeaner however instantly changed, he looked a lot more professional, concentrated.
Crouching before the dog he grabbed his face, so fluffy! "you're free Brownie, no working, free" He tried to tell the dog, laughing when his face was licked. "Welp, let's try this."
And started to walk, the dog staying close to his side. Marco was really impressed, he never really walked with Brownie like this, but he felt the guiding aspect clearly. Whenever someone was nearing from the opposite directing, Brownie would avoid them by moving to the side as they walked, OfCourse tugging Marco follow with him. It wasn't anything abrupt like the dog thought of it at the last second, no, it was really thought out, it was just a gently change of path over time.
The same would also be done with lightpoles and signs, "You're a really smart dog Brownie" Marco awed, giving some pets with his free hand.
Everything was going okay, the only little struggle having been crossing the street. It wasn't really a designated place to cross the street, there were no crossings nearby so he had to. But Brownie didn't want to just let him cross. Or specifically... didn't want to let him cross without enough time.
Marco usualy ran over, able to judge the cars that were coming and how fast he could run, but well.. Brownie didn't do that, or he was used to Ace's speed maybe. Only when there was a very long clearing and time enough to walk across at a slow pace, did Brownie cross with him. "Good boy" he did compliment the dog, even if he would have crossed 5 times and back by now, this was for Ace's safety.
That had been the only struggle and it couldn't really be called it a struggle actually, he just needed patience. It was NOW that he was struggling. Brownie just stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and he didn't want to move.
"C'mon Brownie-yoi. Ace's work is right there." he pointed to the place ahead, it was directly in sight!
…
But the dog stayed still, even sat down after a while, confidence that he was right clear in his puppy's face!
"Brownie, please. Why aren't you going?" he was so confused, there was nothing stopping them?
"Go Brownie... forward-yoi? forward?" he knew Ace said that sometimes to make Brownie walk but... nothing!? Why?!
…
They had been stuck for a solid 5 minutes now... Does he really need to call Ace right now?
Left with no choice he took out his phone, waiting another minute since then Ace would be done with work, and he called.
"Hi Mar! You here? I'm just coming down."
"I am … kind of there."
"Kind off?"
"Yea... Brownie's leash broke on the way here, so I put on his harness instead, everything went well almost the whole way but... but now he just stopped. I'm literally 5 buildings away from your place, but he does not want to go."
Ace hummed, "did you tell him to go forward? Maybe he stopped you at the alleyway? He sometimes thinks it's a street... or I think that he thinks it's a street... like a crossing."
"No, we just passed that, we're literally in the middle of the path, there's nothing here. And I did ask to go forward, a lot of times actually and now he sat down-yoi."
"He sat down? By himself, you didn't tell him to?"
"I said nothing to sit, he just did it when I said forward again."
"Then there must be something there that's stopping him, Marco. He's trying to point something out, warn you of something." There was a small pause, "You're not pulling at the harness, right? He could think you want him to stay still then."
Just to be sure Marco released the harness, making it rest without any pressure on it, "forward... Nope, not working. Maybe he's feeling sick? Does he need to pee if he does this?" Marco questioned, he was at his wits end as he spoke to the dog next. "Do you need to pee Brownie? You can pee Brownie. Go pee. Or poo. Whatever business."
Ace was laughing a little on the inside at Marco being stuck in place with Brownie, he did wonder what was going on. By now he had put down the phone and was walking towards their area.
"Here Ace!"
Ace smiled hearing Marco, now knowing he was practically there.
He was on his way to speak, say hello back, when his cane went through something.
Blinking he stopped moving, moving his cane a few more times from side to side, he had to supress a smile on his face as he was quickly figuring out why Brownie wasn't moving. To be sure he felt the whole pathway, knocking a few things over. Yea, yea he knew why Brownie wasn't going around.
Marcos's mind was going highwire, now Ace stopped too?! Were there ghosts or something only the blind could see? An invisible wall?
"Mar."
He looked up hearing himself being called, meeting eyes with a grinning Ace.
"You said there was nothing here."
"There isn't-yoi."
"Then what's this?"
Marco watched Ace swish his cane a bit faster than needed, making it splash in the water.
"It's a little puddle. You know that it rained a lot in the night." Marco said without even thinking about it. It was obvious there would be puddles after it rained.
Ace giggled, "I know, I know. And what's this." the cane was moved to the sides where Ace had felt a different resistance and where he knocked things over.
"Leaves, and some trash-yoi." Marco was so confused right now, why was Ace asking all of this.
"Then there's your answer."
"What?"
Ace actually laughed out loud, "Brownie's doing his job wonderfully! Aren't you Brownie!" he giggled hearing a bark from the dog, but no dog coming to him, of course not, that would put Marco into danger! And with the blond holding the harness, he was the one needing the guidance now. "He's protecting you from tripping."
"There's nothing to trip over Ace."
"Oh Marco, silly Marco. Everything is a tripping hazard when you're blind!" he laughed loudly. Before calming himself to explain the situation to the poor confused blond. "This puddle feels a little deeper, and we're in a city, the water is probably murky so you, or better Brownie, can't see the pavers underneath well. Thus, the puddle is dangerous. He wants to avoid it to protect you from slipping in it."
"Then why isn't he just walking around it-yoi? He did it plenty with light poles and signs, people and- and I'm sure we passed some other puddles too!"
"Because of the leaves and trash." Ace said as he tapped the items. "It's both laying into the puddle and besides it, right? Blocking the whole path?"
Slowly Marco nodded, "Yea..."
Ace nodded, "Brownie wants to avoid that too, I could slip over the leaves. But going through the puddle is no option and going around is also no option because of the leaves and trash. Going around the whole thing is also impossible because at one side of the sidewalk are obviously buildings, and at the other side is the road."
Marco was staring to get the picture at Ace's explanation, but... If they had nowhere to go "... we're stuck-yoi? Forever?"
"Pfffff Marco! Don't cry!" Ace held his stomach as he laughed, the man sounded so defeated! "let me save you from this whole situation ahhaha. Brownie." he called for the dog's attention, "Other way. Find another way, Brownie."
A surprised sound came from Marco as Brownie suddenly stood up and turned them, pulling Marco to the road.
"He's going into the road!" Marco yelled in panick while he let himself be pulled. Acting like he couldn't pull the dog back.
"He's not hahahaha"
And just like Ace predicted, Brownie stopped at the edge of the pavement, looking up at Marco for another command.
The blond just looked at Ace confused who chuckled and helped. "Brownie, find a way, find another way, forward."
With the instructions, the dog walked into the road when it was clear, pulling Marco along and around the puddle and leaves.
Marco almost stumbled when they were about to go up the sidewalk again, but Brownie stopped when he put his paws on the step! He was confused once more until he remembered that Brownie always did this, to warn Ace of steps. He just never paid a lot of attention to it since Ace was quick in telling Brownie to continue on, "Thanks Brownie" and patted the dog as he took the step up. The dog following quickly.
"You made it!" Ace cheered hearing the steps next to him, carefully he crouched down, holding out his hand for Brownie. The dog came nuzzling and Ace took his chance to find his dog properly, patting him all over and leaning in to kiss him. "Such a good doggy! Goodjob Brownie! Goodjob!" he pulled a treat from his jacket pocket and gave it to the dog who happily munched on it. "You guided papa so well! Made sure he wouldn't trip even if he was confused ahha" He was really proud. This is exactly what Brownie had been taught to do. Protect him from obstacles he couldn't see, even if to seeing people said obstacle wasn't even an obstacle at all.
Marco was a tiny bit embarrassed at the whole thing. He didn't even think the puddle was stopping the dog. But once more he was happy the dog took his job so seriously and protected Ace from everything. Even these things that he usually never even batted an eye to when he was walking by himself.
When he felt a hand stroking over his arm, he looked down and saw Ace having used Brownie's harness to find his way up, feeling his way to him, all the way up to his face, hand now resting on his cheek as Ace leaned in to give him a kiss.
"Hi Mar, thank you for picking me up." Ace greeted with a smile.
Marco smiled back, putting his hand over Ace's, nuzzling into it before he took it and moved it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the fingers. "Thank you for picking us up-yoi" he laughed.
"My pleasure" Ace laughed too, manoeuvring around to keep holding Marco's hand whilst taking over Brownie in his other. "Ready for a walk?"
"If you promise we won't get stuck."
With a laugh and an 'I promise!' Ace squeezed his hand, giving a command to Brownie to go to the park and they were off. Going on a nice walk together with their little family, never getting stuck again.