Warning list:
Strong Cursing
Violence
Rocky stood up eventually, after getting the last hug, and the last lick, and walked back over to Zuma. Chase stuck his paw out and tripped him, and he fell flat on his snout.
"Ahhh!" he exclaimed.
"Wocky? What's happened?" Zuma asked, helping him up and licking the blood away from his nose.
"Chase tripped me!" Rocky accused.
"I did no such thing." Chase lied. "Don't blame me for having four left paws. Rocky's hackles went straight up. Zuma murmured something to him and shook his head, and Rocky's fur fell flat again.
"Just spit it out, Chase. Why can't we move on past this?" Rocky asked him. "Why do you refuse to forgive me?"
"Why would I? I've had enough of you, Rocky! Everyone is just so ready to forgive, but I'm not! I never will! You've don't nothing to make up for what you've done, and you want me to just forgive you?!" Chase menacingly came closer to Rocky, and he kept backing away until Chase had pinned him against the wall.
"I'm sorry!" he squeaked. "But there's nothing i can do! I can't take you pain away, or your trauma! I can't do anything! I'm sorry!"
"You're sorry?! That's the best you can do?!" Chase drew his claws sharply down Rocky's face,and three red lines showed on his cheek. "What type of pup does that make you? Then, you lied to me. You lied to the police, Rocky! That is a federal offense! I'd throw you in jail right now! You're worse than Jason!" Rocky whimpered softly. "I just don't know what to do with you. I thought you were my friends, but you're just a backstabbing traitor!"
"Hey, Chase. Back off. Rocky is in no way like Jason." Marcus said. Chase ignored him.
"You know how it feels to be locked away for no reason, yet you still…" Chase punched him in the mouth this time. "...did it anyway! Why would you do that?" Rocky spat out blood, and it dribbled out of his mouth and onto his chest.
"I...know it was wrong! I'll make it up to him, I promise! I'll figure something out! Please...just don't hurt me…"
"What the same way you hurt me, and everyone else? If you and Zuma hadn't gone running off by yourselves, none of this would've happened!" Chase hit Rocky in the chest the next time. Rocky crumpled to the floor.
"Why are you doing this to me?" Rocky asked. "You are not giving me any reason for your behavior! What have I done to you!" he cried
"You, Rocky, haven't suffered enough. You've never suffered enough! You should've never come here! You should've died!"
Chase punched him in the shoulder. Rocky clenched his teeth together, refusing to cry out.
"Fight back, Wocky!" Zuma shouted.
"I...I won't...I won't fight you...Chase…" Rocky wheezed. "Violence...is never...the answer…"
"Then don't move." Chase replied. He hit Rocky again, in the forearm.
"Stop it, Chase! I know you are upset, but hurting others isn't the way to vent your feelings!" Skye shouted.
"Leave him alone!" Zuma shouted, grabbing him by the tail and pulling him back. Chase suddenly straightened up and punched Zuma into the wall as well.
"And you knew! This entire time, you knew, and kept it from us! This is as much your fault and it is his! I get really sick of your mouth Zuma. Always defending Rocky, like it's your job!"
"If...I won't...who...will…" Zuma said, struggling to breathe.
"Rocky doesn't deserve to be defended! He did this to all of us! And you have the nerve to tell me to stop?!" He punched Zuma in the chest twice before lifting him with his paw and slamming him into the ground. Zuma cried out in pain.
"You need to be taught a lesson as well!" Chase declared. He shot a look at Rocky, who was still struggling to get to his paws."You don't have to fight. It makes it easier for me. Zuma will just get beat up." The pups slowly got their paws, ready to stand up for their friends if they had to.
"Whaaa?!" Rocky exclaimed. "I'm not fighting you, Chase! And leave Zuma alone!"
"Yeah...stop huwting me!" Zuma moaned.
"I'm sowwy, Zuma. I can't understand you when you talk like a baby." Chase said.
"I don't...I'm...you…" Tears began to form in Zuma's eyes.
"Aww...is wittle baby Zuma gonna cwy?"
"Chase, that is enough!" Marshall shouted. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Chase ignored him.
"I'm not afwaid...afwa...af…" Zuma couldn't do it. "I'm twying, I twying! I have whotacism, okay! I can't help it! I twy to speak nowmall...but I can't! I'm sowwy…!"
"You can't even speak wight!" Chase taunted. "Sewiously, do you know how annoying you sound? I get sick of heaving youw voice! Go kill youwself or something!
Zuma began to cry immediately. Everypup was shocked. It was an unspoken rule to never tease Zuma about his voice. And Chase just broke it. Everything just happened so fast, they were shocked silent, not even processing the sudden switch in Chase.
"Wocky…." Zuma cried, unable to get anything else out. Tears ran down his cheeks and he hiccuped. He wiped the tears from his eyes just for them to fill up again. Rocky's eyes widened. Zuma's one vulnerable spot had taken a hard hit, and Zuma folded under the pressure. Chase shook his head and clicked his teeth. He jerked Zuma's head up and spat in his face. Zuma whimpered.
"Oh, well, Zuma. Your boyfwiend isn't coming to save you. Wocky's too afwaid!" Chase then proceeded to beat Zuma up. "You're gonna learn your place, and stop standing up for him all the time!" he said, mercilessly pummeling Zuma. "Don't you realize you are a victim of his actions as much as everyone else?!"
"Chase...stop…." Zuma groaned. "I can't take...anymore…"
"No! I want you to tell me that all of this is Rocky's fault."
"No!" Zuma replied. Chase responded by beating him even harder. The pups went to move to stop him but realized they couldn't.
"I knew you guys would try something," Chase said. "So I froze space and time around you. You'll never break free. You'll just have to watch."
Marshall looked at him and realized something was off. Tears were running down Chase's face, and he looked tortured to be doing this. It seemed like every time his bloody paws struck Zuma, he jerked back as if the motion hurt him. His ears were flat against his head as well. Then, as quickly as it started, it stopped, and he went right back to an abusive persona that the pups had never seen before. By the time he was done with Zuma, his paws were stained red, dripping with blood, and Zuma wasn't moving. He grabbed Zuma by the throat and slammed him into the wall.
"Please...no more…" Zuma cried weakly, softly, about to pass out from the pain.
"Then say it," he commanded.
"I...I can't…" Zuma replied. Chase punched him in the mouth again.
"Say it!"
"Wocky...did all of this..." Zuma said, finally snapping under the pressure. "It is his fault...for...everything…
Why do those words sound so familiar! Marshall asked himself. Think Marshall, think! Something going on here! You know what it is! You just can't place it! Come on, come on! Think for once!
Chase punched him again for good measure, and Zuma fell to the ground, limp, and barely breathing.
"Zuma!" Rocky shouted, finally able to get to his paws. Chase was suddenly lifted into the air and held there by unseen paws. The pups were shell-shocked. Rocky ran to Zuma's side. Chase had beat poor Zuma to a bloody mess. Blood ran off his pelt in thick bands. Multiple cuts decorated his body, and his forepaws were curled over his head in an effort to protect it. Zuma coughed and spat out a deep, dark red blood. His sides had been clawed to ribbons, and Rocky could hear the blood gurgling in his throat.
"No...nonononononono, Zuma...I'm sorry...this wasn't supposed to happen…" Rocky whined. He touched Zuma and he flinched.
"Please...stop huwting me…" he whined. "I tried...to stand up...for you...and...Zuma burst into tears.
"It's me, Zuma...I'm right here." Rocky said. Zuma laid his head on Rocky's chest and cried. Tears ran out of Rocky's eyes and well, and dripped onto Zuma's pelt.
"It huwts, Wocky…" he cried. Rocky let out a loud, long cry of dismay.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! You didn't deserve this!" he cried. "It should've been me...it should've been me!" Rocky felt his heart snapping, as he realized he had not protected Zuma the way he should've. The look of pure anguish on his face concerned Marshall.
"It looks like he...hurting...like….physically hurting. Did I miss something between those two?" he asked himself. And why would Chase do this! This isn't like him, he is normally very protective of all of us!
"I'm sowwy about my voice...I can't help it…" Zuma said tearfully. Rocky sat on his haunches and picked up his broken, bleeding friend. He held him close to his chest, crying as he felt Zuma's blood pour over him. Not again! Not again! He shouted in his mind. Zuma was just about unconscious, and Rocky felt broken ribs on his side. Rocky completely forgot about Chase, the urgency of helping Zuma was too great.
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up," Rocky said, sniffing. "It's okay, Zuma. I've got you now. It's okay to cry, you're safe now. I know it doesn't feel like that, but nothing's going to happen to you again." Rocky didn't see Chase coming, and got kicked in the back. Rocky flew forward, dropping Zuma, and hitting his head.
Chase suddenly grabbed Zuma and tossed him to the floor again, and Zuma slid across the floor in his own blood.
"What the fuck, Chase!" Rocky shouted. "Please! Leave him alone! He didn't do anything!"
"You aren't going anywhere. Zuma here was a good little bitch and took his medicine. I'm not through with you yet."
"You are not laying one. Fucking. Paw. On. Me." Rocky responded through gritted teeth. "I don't know what devil has possessed you, but I don't care! I've gotta get to Zuma!" He tried to get to his dying lover, but Chase always stood in the way.
"Fine! No more Mr. Nice Puppy!" he said. He cleared his mind, feeling his powers come back online. The next time he came to Chase, Rocky punched him into the air, and before he hit the ceiling, Rocky appeared ahead of him and kicked him into the ground so hard there was a large crater where Chase was. Chase was shell-shocked. But Rocky didn't care about him right now. He was looking at the pup on the ground with blood pooling rapidly around him. Zuma had managed to stay away, to keep himself from slipping into a coma.
"Zuma…" he said, nuzzling his neck. "Can you get up?" Zuma didn't reply, and Rocky realized that without supernatural aid, Zuma wasn't gonna survive. Water, water! I need water! And not the bay water, it has salt in it. While it will still technically work, I don't wanna hurt my beloved Zuma. I've got it! Marshall built that secret reserve, I'll take him there.
Suddenly, a lightning bolt flew their way. Rocky saw it, and his paws glowed as the bolt went in one paw and shot out the other, right back at Chase.
"You don't know when to quit, do you? Have you no heart? I just wanna help Zuma, he's hurt. Can you not wait?!"
"Hmph. The little cunt needed to learn a lesson." Chase replied. If Zuma had heard what Chase had called him, he surely would've broken down into tears again. Rocky snapped.
"You wanna fight, Chase?! Let's go then.! You will not curse Zuma out where I can hear it, or anywhere else for that matter!" Rocky said. His pelt burst into flame. "You wanna test my patience? And stop calling me Wocky! That is for Zuma and him alone! I swear, Chase, if you say one more thing about Zuma...:"
"What awe you gonna do, Wocky? Is the little bitch too weak to fight for himself?" Chase spat. Zuma cried even harder.
"THAT'S IT!" Rocky shouted. In a snap, Chase was hit in so many places, so hard, and so quickly, the pain signals didn't even get a chance to tell the brain what was going on. A giant wave of water rushed over him, then he got hit with lightning. Chase tried to get his bearings, but Rocky slammed his paw on the ground causing seismic tremors. The
"Okay, Rocky! Calm, calm!" Marshall shouted. "I know you are pissed, but you tear the entire building down!"
"No, Marshall! I am way beyond pissed! I am outright enraged! I've never felt angrier in my life!" he shouted. Sharp icicles formed in front of his, and they began pelting Chase, his blood spilling onto the floor. "Chase wanted to fight a demigod. Now, he's gonna get what's coming to him!" Chase could not get even one good blow in. Every lightning bolt he threw was redirected, and when he used his time-slowing ability, Rocky deflected it back on him. Elements flew left and right, pelting Chase with such fury he gave up trying to fight it, and when the dust settled, he was not moving. "Oh my god! Did you kill him?" Marcus asked. Rocky flicked an ear, looking at Zuma and coming out of his rage.
"I couldn't care less if I did." he spat angrily. The moment Chase lost concentration on the pups, Taja ran to Zuma's side.
"Zuma...it's gonna be okay. Rocky's fighting Chase. How are you feeling?"
"It huwts...a lot…." Zuma said, coming to for a few brief moments. Taja licked his ears comfortingly.
"It's gonna be okay," she said. She cradled his head in her paw and murmured to him softly. Rocky appeared right behind her.
"I've got it from here," he said shortly.
"I'll be back later, Zuma," Taja said, kissing his nose. Rocky had to fight really hard to resist the urge to slap Taja away from him. Taja brushed his chest lightly with her paw and backed away from him.
"Come on, Zuma. Let's go clean you up." Rocky said. "But before that…."
Rocky held Chase up in the sky with his telekinesis and squeezed. Hard. Chase lost the ability to breathe and tried to pry the invisible paw from around his throat.
"There's something you need to say." Rocky bared his teeth and showed his fangs. "No one name calls my Zuma, bitch. No one. Now what's gonna happen is that I'm going to let you down. You are going to apologize to Zuma. Right now."
"Or…" Chase didn't get to finish.
"...I will snap your neck in two." Rocky finished for him. "Your choice. You have two seconds to decide. One...tw…" Rocky jerked his paw, getting ready to snap Chase's neck.
"Okay, okay!" Chase gasped. Rocky threw him on the ground.
"I'm sorry, Zuma," he said.
"For what, specifically?" Rocky asked.
"That wasn't a part of the…" Chase felt the pressure increase on his throat.
"I'm sorry for beating you up!" Chase said quickly.
"And..." Rocky continued.
"...for mocking your voice."
"And…"
"...for calling you degrading names." Zuma opened one eye to look at him and shut it again, trembling.
"Now, you're gonna get your tail in the elevator in ten seconds or I'm still gonna snap your neck." "One..."
"You're not really going to…"
"Three…"
"Chase, you'd better go. Rocky is not playing with you." Marshall said, pointing to the elevator.
"Seven...eight…" Chase decided to keep his life and leave.
"Nine…" the elevator went up, and Rocky let his focus on Chase slip.
He turned back to Zuma, who was still crying. There was a bright flash, and he and Zuma appeared in the nature reserved Marshall affectionately called Heaven's Majesty. Rocky laid Zuma in the shallow waters near the bank.
"Sit up," he commanded. Zuma did so, very painfully, and sat on his bleeding hanches.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, cupping some water in his paws and washing off Zuma.
"Like I got hit by a car then wolled over by a semi," Zuma replied. "And I feel very lightheaded."
"You've been bleeding out for a while. It's probably from blood loss." Rocky said. "But you'll be fine now." Zuma shivered.
"The water's cold to you?" Rocky asked. Zuma nodded his head.
"I can fix that," Rocky replied. He placed his paw in the cold water, and it began to hum softly. Steam began rising from the water.
"Is that better?" Rocky asked, rubbing Zuma's paws.
"Yes...much better…" Zuma replied. He felt drowsy, and almost fell asleep and Rocky washed his pelt off. The water glowed at its master's touch, and slowly, the near-fatal wounds on Zuma began closing up.
"I'm sorry, Zuma," Rocky said sadly.
"Wha?" Zuma asked drowsily.
"This should never have happened to you. Chase was mad with me, and he...he hurt you…" Tears from Rocky's eyes mixed with the water he was using.
"Hey...it's okay," Zuma said.
"No, it's not okay. Chase had no right to hurt you. I tried to help you sooner, but I couldn't. I was in too much pain. I really tried though!" Rocky confessed.
"Hush, pup," Zuma replied. "You don't have to say anything. You did the best you could." Rocky poured water over his haunches and rubbed them tenderly.
"I'm weally sowwy about my voice. I sound like an idiot." Zuma said eventually. "Sometimes I wonder if you guys get tiwed of heawing me. I guess I know now."
"Zuma, we've been over this," Rocky said. "That was a low blow from Chase. He's trying to knock your self-esteem. Don't let him, okay? All of us love your voice. It's really unique!"
"But...do I weally sound like a baby?" Zuma asked sadly.
"No...not to me," Rocky said. "But who cares, anyway? Don't you know how much I love your voice?"
"You do?" Zuma asked. Rocky nodded.
"Your voice is beautiful. Sometimes I like talking with you just to hear it."
"Weally?" Rocky nodded.
"This just proves that Chase is weak. He could break your will, so he tried to break you." Rocky said, cleaning his soft inner hanches and splashing water on his chest. "But you're stronger than him. Don't forget that. You stood up for me, regardless of the cost to you."
"The names Chase called me weally hurt, Wocky. It huwts, even more than my injuwies!" Zuma whined, crying on his shoulder.
"No, Zuma! Chase was way out of line!" Rocky growled. "For the record, you are not a bitch. Oh, it just burned me up inside to hear that. You're mine, Zuma."
"Weally? Then I'll do my best to please you," Zuma said slyly. Rocky got the dirty reference.
"Oh, god no! No, I didn't mean it like that! I…"
"Hush, pup. I'm only playing with you." Zuma said.
"You were right, all of this is my fault…"
"I didn't mean it, Wocky. None of this is your fault. I was just in so much pain, I couldn't….I just wanted it to end!" Zuma began crying again, and Rocky hugged him close.
"Shhh…." Rocky whispered. I understand. I wanted you to say that so that you could be put out of your misery. You're safe now. You're with me." Zuma nuzzled Rocky's neck.
"What do we do now?" Zuma asked.
"I...I don't know. But I don't care either. What we are going to do tonight is snuggle up with each other and go to sleep" Rocky said. "Hold your arms up." Zuma put his paws up and Rocky washed the blood off his chest and arms.
"Hold still," Rocky said, licking Zuma's face.
"Hehehe...that tickles," Zuma said.
"That's why I don't let you do it often," Rocky replied. He huffed. "Stop squirming, Zuma."
"I'm twying!" Zuma replied. "It's so difficult."
"See what I mean, now?" Rocky said.
"It still feels good," Zuma replied. Rocky licked his lips upon finishing and yawned.
"There. All clean now." Rocky murmured. "I managed to heal you some as well. You don't have broken ribs anymore, but they aren't completely healed yet. I'm not as good as you though, so don't bite my nose off." Zuma turned and nipped his nose. "Hey!" Rocky cried, covering his nose with his paw while Zuma laughed at him. "It's not funny!"
"Not for you!" Zuma replied. He hugged Rocky gingerly, pain still shooting through his body. "Thank you," he said softly.
"You're welcome," Rocky said, looking into his eyes. Zuma nipped his nose again. "Oww! Zuma!" Zuma laughed at him again.
"You're so funny," he murmured. Rocky grabbed Zuma and dunked him under the water.
"Aye!" Zuma exclaimed, wiping water from his eyes. His floppy ears drooped in front of his face, and he wrung them out. Rocky swam back to shore and shook his pelt out. Zuma swam up beside him and did the same. He shivered and his teeth clicked, and he hugged himself tightly.
"C-Co-Cold!" he stuttered.
"We can make a fire," Rocky said. "You stay here, okay?" Zuma nodded, pelt dripping. "You'll be okay, right?" Rocky asked hesitantly.
"Y...ye...yeah!" Zuma replied. "I'll be f...fi...fine!"
"I'll be right back, I promise," Rocky said, turning and disappearing into the trees. Zuma sat down and absentmindedly made shapes with the water, letting his mind wander. When he came to himself, small ice crystals had formed on his pelt.
"Where are you?" Zuma asked himself. "Come...on W..Wo...Wocky!" A little later, Rocky reappeared, with dead leaves and dry bark floating above him.
"Sorry, Zuma. Marshall has everything so well kept up, I had to go really far before I found anything." Rocky said, arranging the kindling in a circle.
"Hurry up! I'm f..fwe...fwe...fweezing!" Zuma said, holding out an iced paw. Rocky snapped, and the wood spontaneously burst into flame. Zuma tread a circle and lay down. He looked at Rocky expectantly and held his arms out. Rocky needed no further invitation and wrapped his body around Zuma. Rocky felt Zuma's shivering decrease bit by bit until it stopped.
"Wocky...can I ask you something?" Zuma said.
"Anything. And I promise on my life that I will not be upset with you." Rocky said.
"What are we?" Zuma asked.
"What do you mean?" Rocky said.
"I mean...what I weally wanted to ask is...umm…" Rocky licked his nose, and his own began twitching.
"Yes?" he asked.
"I feel like 'best fwiends with benefits' doesn't work anymore, because we are so much more than that. Especially after today. I know for a fact that I feel very strongly towards you."
"So…?" Rocky replied. Zuma's snout gradually came closer and closer to Rocky's, until he could smell Rocky's sweet breath. If it was anypup else, Rocky would've felt uncomfortable at how close they were. But not with Zuma. Rocky's heart rate increased and he blushed tilting his head slightly so Zuma could kiss him better. Zuma's eyes closed and did Rocky's, and Zuma kissed him softly, as sweetly and gently as he could, without his usual heated passion.
"Do you wanna be my boyfwiend, Wocky?" Zuma whispered in his ear shyly. Rocky's breath hitched, and he kissed Zuma again, albeit with a little more passion.
"Yes, Zuma. 'Yes,' a million times! I'll be your boyfriend if you'll be mine." Rocky murmured.
"Deal," Zuma responded, snuggling deeper into his fur.
"My cute, hot, sexy wittle pup of a boyfriend. I could get used to this." Rocky fondling his ears.
"I'm not little! I'm just as tough as you, powers or no! And stop with the 'l's please…" Zuma replied.
"You bit my nose. Twice! Don't talk to me." Rocky retorted.
"Touche," Zuma said. Just as Zuma was about to fall asleep, Rocky kissed him softly, instantly revitalizing Zuma.
"What is it, pup?" Zuma asked.
"I know what I'm gonna call you," Rocky said. "It came to me just now, as I was fondling you ears and thinking about how much I love you."
"Aww…" Zuma said, flicking one of his ears. "So, what's my pet name? I'm dying to know."
"I'm gonna call you Zumi," Rocky said. "It works perfectly, doncha think?"
"I love it Wocky," Zuma said. "Absolutely love it!"
"And I love you, Zumi," Rocky said. Zuma growled softly hearing his pet name, and Rocky could tell by his scent that he was turned on...again.
"Goodnight, my love," Zuma said, closing his eyes to sleep.
"Goodnight, Zumi," Rocky replied.
Well, there you have it. Chase has made a sudden switch and seems determined to hurt Rocky, even if he has to use Zuma as bait. He gives no reason for his behavior, and has suddenly turned extremely violent. Chase beat up poor Zuma, causing Rocky to step in and protect his soon-to-be boyfriend. Rocky transports himself and Zuma to a hidden location known to only them and Marshall.
Rocky then proceeds to heal Zuma, and clean him up, while reassuring Zuma after his traumatic incident, Zuma doing the same for him. Zuma asks him formally to be his boyfriend, and Rocky gladly accepts, coming up with his pet name for Zuma the same night.
I think you can tell that this isn't gonna get drastically better for either of them (quite the opposite, but I'm getting ahead of myself.)
One thing that I hope you are able to see is a strong friendship Rocky and Zuma have, even outside of their romantic affairs. I always like to show them going through a problem together, because they are there for each other. No matter how big it is, they will always have each other's backs, and at the end of the day, as long as they are together, they will be okay. As long as they are together...hmm...(insert evil laugh here)
Yes, yes, I know! Even in Pups And The War For Puplantis, I seem to enjoy hurting Zuma. Well, the truth is, I don't. I just want to show Zuma showing pain and weakness to others. He's not invincible, no matter how much he wants to believe that. Since he's kinda checked out emotionally and mentally, no one can hurt him that way. So the only way to hurt him to...well...hurt him. So...sorry Zuma! We love you!
I hope you enjoyed this. Also, this night isn't over yet, so keep that in mind.
Also, Charisma, spicy and feisty describes their relations perfectly. And Zuma's only just getting started. Left to their own devices...well...
That's all, I'll let you go now. Peace out!