"Hey," Chase nudged the mix, "don't zone out on me,"
Rocky suddenly snapped back to reality, blinking multiple times.
"You invite me up here to share treats, then you go braindead for a full fifteen seconds?" he laughed, "are you alright?"
"Sorry, sorry," the mixed breed shook his head,
It was nightfall, and most of the other dogs were out doing their own things, not that Rocky was complaining. They all hated him, simple as that, and Rocky enjoyed every brief moment they got away from the rest of the team. Skye was toxic, Zuma was hostile, Marshall brushed him off, and Rubble just pushed him out of the way when he could. That was daily life in the Paw Patrol, and Rocky would never have survived if he hadn't found kindness in only one other dog.
"But really though, are you alright?" Chase frowned, "I saw what Rubble did,"
"I was in his way,"
The Shepherd shook his head, "well he should've asked you to move, not shove you into the wall,"
"Hey it's fine," Rocky giggled the pain away, "it was fun laughing with Skye over that,"
"She was laughing at you..."
The mix shrugged and lowered his head to grab a treat, "Chase, I know I'm only kept around for the team's entertainment. That's my job and I'll do it with pride,"
Chase nearly recoiled, "Rocky, you're not some clown, you're our Eco Dog."
"Hey, as long as I can make people laugh it's alright with me,"
"Didn't Zuma attack you yesterday?"
"He needed exercise,"
In the several months Rocky had been aligned with the Paw Patrol, he found heavy backlash at his mutt-related species. At first they didn't even want him around, barely even acknowledging his existence. When Rocky didn't give up, Zuma decided to have fun with him, and that was the day he became the team's punching bag. He took the abuse with tears in his eyes, knowing if he defended himself it would only get worse, but after months of it his mind seemed to break. It was all in and out for him now, and he barely minded getting pushed around anymore.
Ryder never helped. It was pretty clear that even he disliked having a mix within the ranks, really made the mutt wonder what the point of even being alive was.
The police dog sighed, gazing at Rocky with his amber-colored eyes, "you can't just give up your self-worth like that,"
"Who says I can't?"
"I do!" the Shepherd pressed, "you're still a dog like the rest of us, and-"
"Mutt," Rocky corrected,
"A dog nonetheless. I'm sorry how the other see you, I just wish..." Chase shook his head for a moment, trying to find the words, "I just wish things weren't this way,"
The mix gave a long sigh, pawing at a beef-flavored pup treat. He didn't see the use in his own worth anymore, and rarely ever tried to uphold it. In truth, there was only one thing that kept him going, a single factor that pulled him away from jumping to his death.
The German Shepherd before him.
Chase wasn't like the others. He was kind, empathetic, caring, and most importantly: didn't hate every piece of Rocky's existence. It was him who defended the mix when he was brought into the team, it was Chase who stood in front of Rocky when Zuma was in one of his moods. No one dared challenge the German Shepherd, the dogs of strength and speed. Marshall and Skye would instantly back off, and Rubble would usually take a moment before stepping back, but Zuma was tenacious. At some points, it almost seemed like Zuma and Chase would erupt into a vicious dogfight, their feral instincts kicking in.
Marshall would've bet his treats on Chase, but no one had ever seen Zuma fight, so there was reasonable doubt. Rocky perfectly remembered a heated argument the two dogs lashed into, and Ryder did nothing but watch.
Chase protected him, and now Rocky was cursed with something he wished never existed. With all the times he was defended by the Shepherd, feelings began to grow inside. Rocky soon found himself withing Chase never left his side, and he would give anything to have him all for one night. Just the two of them together, never to be hurt again.
"So what were you thinking about?" Chase smiled, something that always made Rocky melt,
The mix shrugged uncomfortably, "just... old memories."
"Anything worth talking about?" Chase tilted his head,
No. Rocky wasn't ready. What would the love of his life think if he knew the mix was once a filthy alleyway scavenger?
"Nope,"
The two dogs sat in silence, muching on the pile of treats before them, occasionally sneaking looks at each other. There was an aching stab in Rocky's heart, he had to tell Chase, and it had to be soon. He wouldn't get anywhere within his own thoughts, but maybe that was what a mutt deserved? Mutts weren't supposed to be happy, mutts couldn't have anything. He already mentally prepared himself for a cold rejection.
But maybe there was some merit in never telling Chase his feelings at all? Then everything would stay normal, sure Chase would never hold him in the way that made him feel protected, but at least their friendship wouldn't be broken. Rocky already knew immediately that shattered bonds and friendships come exactly from revelations like that.
He had to tell him, or should he not?
"So how was that old radio I gave you?" Chased inquired, "found that thing in the street." The Shepherd liked coming across old things and handing them over to his favorite tinkerer dog.
Rocky merely shurgged in response, "little hard to break open, but there were some good wires inside. I added those to my stash,"
"So what do you plan to build with all that you've collected?"
The mix looked to the side, "I never know, I just grab things under this aspiration that I'll make some... I don't know, a fuckin' time machine or something?"
Chase frowned at his friend's wording, "you could probably build a whole robot or something,"
"I don't think I'm good enough for that,"
"You never know," the Shepherd tried to uplift his partner, "you have a lot back there,"
"Can I make anything without Zuma tearing it down?"
The police dog sighed, discouraged at his failed attempts to bring optimism to the mutt. Rocky was quite the pessimist, and rather passive in his interactions. It almost seemed like he never expected himself to do anything, he spent hours in his kennel blandly staring at his collection of scrap metal. Staring away at an amazing creation he never had the confidence to build.
After a long sigh, Chase reached his paw forward and placed atop of Rocky's, leaning forward a tad in the process. The gesture sent off fireworks in the mix, and he had to mentally restrain himself from falling into Chase's arms.
"I'm sorry, Rocky,"
He the mutt looked up into the Shepherd's eyes, and spoke without realizing it, "do you think I'm disgusting?"
Chase was appalled at the question, "what? Why would I think that?"
"Do you?"
"No, not even a little!"
"Congrats, you're the only one," the mutt laughed dryly, "I'll slip my suicide note under your kennel door,"
The Shepherd instantly leaned forward with a stern look, "Rocky, no. Don't even say things like that,"
"Oh don't act like you even care for a moment," he said, turning away, "I'm gone, this team loses nothing!"
"No!" Chase snarled, "quit saying that! You matter to me, why do you think I'm even here?"
Rocky lowered his head and tears came to his eyes, then quickly turned to sobbing. It was an uncontrollable mess of a broken dog, and Chase's anger died away as he quickly closed the distance between them.
"Rocky-" he tried to say, visibly hurt by his friend's state, "please,"
The Shepherd placed both paws on his friend, cupping the mix's face on both sides, "Rocky you're loved, please believe me! There are dogs out here who love you and want you here, please don't think you don't belong."
Rocky merely stared ahead at Chase's words, unphased. All he could see was the beautiful amber color of the Shepherd's eyes, and in that moment he completely lost control. Against every restraining scream in his head, Rocky seized what he wanted.
He leaned in and softly kissed Chase, gently connecting their mouths.
The Shepherd almost instantly reared backward with widened eyes, completely dumbfounded. His mouth moved like he was about to say something, but no words left his muzzle. All Rocky could do was give a shy smile, the feeling of the kiss now firing off a blasting ray of sunshine within him. Chase gave a small step back, and Rocky frowned, waiting for the Shepherd's reaction.