Pup (Bratt)

Chapter Sixteen: The Fox and the Hound

Okay, it wasn't as bad as Matt thought it would be.

Zacky ordered pizza when he got back, and they played his Xbox for a while. Then Zacky asked, "So, um, you wanna get into headspace?"

Fuck, yes. It was fun getting into headspace with Brian, who trained him and pet him and was a good Master.

But getting into headspace with Zacky was a whole different story.

Matt went to the spare room, putting on his ears and his tail, and when he was in his headspace, he slipped out of the room as quiet as he could.

If he could twitch his ears he would. There was a fox somewhere in the apartment, and he was hell-bent on tracking it down. He crept through the living room, pausing when he heard rustling around the corner. He tore into the kitchen, startling the fox that hid under the table. Matt let out a flurry of barks, and Zacky skidded from his hiding place, tongue lolling as he ran, fluffy orange tail swishing behind him.

Matt would have thought there wasn't really much to being a fox. After that "What Does the Fox Say?" song, he would have assumed that foxes made no sound, and just sort of slunk around.

But Zacky did the research. He knew all about distress calls, chatters and barks during play times, how to use his body language and all sorts of things. He got along with Matt well because foxes are almost like dogs, and they played well together.

Matt crashed on top of Zacky in the living room, barking excitedly and pawing at his face, and Zacky chattered back at him, firing swats at Matt's cheek in rapid succession before darting out from under him.

They romped and played and chased each other around the apartment, knocking a chair on its side in the process, finally settling down when they were both too exhausted to move, cuddling before they fell asleep.

Matt flopped on his side, then, and Zacky curled up against him, pulling himself into a tight circle, back against Matt's chest. Matt panted, licking at Zacky's neck a few times, before letting his head drop.

There was always something strangely satisfying about falling asleep in your headspace. It's so much easier to wake up out of it than it is to force yourself out of it. Zacky yawned and padded into his bedroom, where he hopped onto the bed and curled up. Matt followed him into the bedroom, climbing on the bed and nipping at one of Zacky's soft ears and nuzzling at him softly, before letting himself drift to sleep.

~*~

The next afternoon, Matt went with Zacky to the bar where he worked. He intended to just hang around for his shift, and Zacky didn't mind, so long as he bought a few drinks. He made sure to text Brian and ask if it was okay, and Brian had replied that it was fine and encouraged, so long as he didn't take part in any activities with anyone.

He worked at a BDSM club. Zacky's shift started at 4:00, when the club opened, and lasted until midnight. It was a cool place, open to public themed play parties once a month, and catered to all sorts of different BDSM lifestyles. Pet play was something commonly seen at the club, whether it was just people dressed as their animal, or subs following their masters on all fours and leashed.

Matt went dressed the part, with some light brown dog ears Brian had bought for him and a matching tail. He desperately wished he had a collar. He wouldn't have to worry so much about people asking if he was a stray if he was collared by Brian. But Brian wanted it to be special, and Matt understood that, so he went without. He wore black boxers. He didn't have too many sexy things to wear even at Brian's house, and he left them all there when he came to Zacky's. But they should be fine. Besides, he wasn't trying to impress anyone.