Far From Home

Chapter One.

By Roofles

This story was turned into a book and is available for purchase. Currently the entire book is on my patreon. Thank you for understanding.

Jared's life had been perfectly normal, average and well going. A grad student that had finally managed to move away from home; was working on his student loans and was planning to get a new job starting next week after a wonderful online interview he had nailed. He had a date set up, good friends and an overall wonderful American dream coming true…

That was until he was abducted by aliens.  

It was supposed to be the beginning of things, in a way it was… Just not how he ever expected or planned for. His entire life on earth as he knew it was about to change. Literally, forever.

And all those hopes and dreams and future plans went out the window he himself had been kidnapped from. Watching them all slip away as a bright beam of light whisked him away into the night sky from his apartment building and the city he had grown up in.

Everything had finally begun to make sense. Only for it all to be turned on its head in a single night.  In the middle of June, at the stroke of midnight, a Frisbee shaped vessel breached our atmosphere over a city along the East coast.

Jared had been sound asleep as the light flicked on above his apartment complex. A bright, blindingly white light shined down from above like a pillar encompassing the apartment complex the human was sleeping in. Jared didn't even feel himself being lifted from his bed as he drifted towards the open window of his upper flat as the tractor beam whisked him away gently into the cool summer night air.

Lifted slowly ever upwards, unaware what was even happening until the doors snapped shut underneath him and he landed hard on the metal floor of the spacecraft.

Jared didn't even get a chance to berate his would be captors as he was promptly knocked out for hollering up a storm after the doors closed underneath in the dark room. Kicking and flailing as he tried to fight his would be captors, until he was finally sedated…

Shot in the neck with a tranquilizer dart.  

“This one will sell nice." The poacher laughed along with his companion, stashing Jared in a box cell along the wall with several other humans from across the globe. “Such small, soft things they are."

“That's worth a pretty good penny to boot!" The other barked a laugh rubbing two paw padded fingers together greedily.

After reaching their quota, they quickly high tailed it out of there without looking back. Jared unaware as all the others were, knocked out and helpless in his pajamas bottoms as the spacecraft jumped numerous galaxies away from our own.  

The would be poachers had been quickly apprehended once they had reached their home planet. Planning to sell the humans to the highest bidders until the authorities had gotten involved. Just as quickly as Jared had been kidnapped, so did the poachers end up behind bars. Cuffed, muzzled and locked away.

Their plan hadn't exactly been thorough, trying to make a quick buck from the rising popularity of illegal human poaching, trafficking the strange exotic animals into their system. Such things were heavily monitored and watched over.

The main issue was it was illegal to enter the Milky Way galaxy and the “underdeveloped systems" due to galactic law. Even the authorities weren't allowed to disturb the young planets evolution. Unable to return the strange creatures back home after the raid on the complex they were being held in. Most were put up for adoption and soon enough…

Jared found himself in a new home.

Or least, he would soon enough.

The blinding white light didn't help his headache as Jared awoke in a small room without a ceiling among several other humans. Men and woman, black and white, young and old there was no discrimination on who had been taken. Whoever had been unlucky enough to come across the aliens that night had been abducted and put up for auction like the prized exotic animals they seemingly were.

That was until the federal dog bureau came barking. Rescuing the lot of them while arresting the poachers in the process.  

The other human “cargo" was as scared and confused as Jared was. Jared unable to understand half of them, knowing only the English language. Most didn't speak English and even fewer were coherent enough to give him a straight answer as it was. Shock and dread written all over their faces. He could barely get two words out of the other man who spoke English. It just left him as confused and frightened as they were in the end.

The heavy thumping steps approaching them made everyone grow deathly silent as the light above was finally blocked and a smiling muzzle drooled down at the lot of them. No one dared to move in front of the massive, giant of a creature before them.

“Puppy!" A child spoke near Jared making him give a double take to the alien above them.

Sure enough it was a dog head looking down at them, though with the body of a man and dressed as such. Walking on their hind legs, fully dressed and smiling down at the lot of them as if they were they were the stray puppies up for grab here.

The irony wasn't lost on Jared as he quickly realize this turnabout.

The officer looked just like a canine but nearly twice their size standing on their hind legs; and thus twice Jared's size.  Making him, and every other human, feel particularly small.

The large canine faced pulled up in a smile as its maw opened wide, panting a down at them happily. It spoke and no one understood the strange growling, bark of a language it used. The growls and barks were lost on the humans as the canine officer spoke with one of the others nearby.

“Come over here!" He waved after finishing his report, taking his ten minute break to come over to investigate the strange creatures they had rescued.

The other officer, a rather beefy Rottweiler, adjusted his blue officer cap before walking over with a scowl as if annoyed by all this.

“Aren't they adorable?" Jasper wagged his tail looking over at his coworker. The alien Bernese mountain dog was all smiles and wags, unaware he'd terrified the smaller creatures in the open crate they had stored them in. The officers figured they'd feel far safer grouped together than split apart at least.

It had been a heated discussion in the precinct to keep them together or split them up. Something every officer seemed to have two cents on. Each insisting their idea would be best until the chief finally put his paw down and it was put to a vote. It was finally decided to keep them in one spot as to not lose any of the strange, illegally gotten cargo.

“Yes. Very adorable… And also very illegal." Rodney grumbled with a frown, not wanting to deal with the mountain of paperwork that would stack up because of another case of abductions. “How these guys think they can get away with this?" The Rottweiler only shook his head sadly, lapping at the mug of coffee in his hand.

Every ship that left and entered the Alpha Canis galaxy were recorded and logged. Just as they would be in the other galaxies. Leaving it without a permit was bound to get them flagged in the first place. Only for the “idiots" to return with the illegal goods in their ship! To be flagged again and for the authorities to be alerted instantly.

“I don't know." Jasper just wagged though glancing back at the humans. “Can you blame them? They are just so dang small and cute!" The Bernese cooed loudly pressing his jowls up in a seemingly cute fashion as he looked them all over; the action only scary the human's even more than they already were.

“And more paperwork." Rodney continued to grumble walking over to join his partner now by his side. The Rottweiler couldn't resist looking over at the lot of them. His nose twitched, smelling the strange alien animals they had brought inside the police department. 

As well as himself. Rodney needed a bath. Or three.

More trafficking from the unmarked planet B152. It was supposed to be off limits to let the natural wildlife flourish. Others however thought the strange creatures of the planet were cute and thus the poaching started. Capturing the strange, much smaller, furless monkey like creatures and selling them to the highest bidder.

“Just glad we caught 'em in time. Unlike that last shipment." Jasper shook his head at that. Information on humans was very limited as it was. The conscientious between the “developed galaxies" was to keep such information tightly guarded in order to protect the developing world.

However, such things can never truly be hidden and amongst the images attained of them circulated the net and social media like wildfire. Something the government was trying to delete as quickly as it appeared. With it one strange desire blossomed from a single celebrity on a popular social media app.

“I want one as a pet!" The pop star had declared, using her connections and money to obtain one shortly after. Broadcasting and showcasing them online for the entire planet to see and witness “just how cute they are!"

She made bank. Her channel exploded in popularity and soon enough, everyone wanted one. And not always for the right reasons, either.  

And from there the craze had hit and many left to try and get as much profit as possible from it. Some wanted their own pets, some wanted to make videos and others realized how much they could make selling them to the ever increasing demands.

Regulations were set, the planet B152, also known as Earth, deemed off limits and the ownership of a human's illegal… Which left all those already on the planet, and those who kept showing up, with little homes to go too.

Legally, that was.

“What are we going to do with these ones?" Jasper ended up just asking after snagging a donut and twirling it around one finger. The Bernese mountain dog thoughts were along the lines of most the others at the precinct. “I'd hate to have them just rot in the evidence locker…" He joked, though his thoughts were elsewhere.

What if… they just adopted one?

That single thought floated around the entire multistoried department. No one said it out loud but everyone was thinking the same thing. Or at least almost everyone; there were always at least one or two dogs out there that didn't like the norm.

It wasn't like they could just put them away somewhere. In the end, they were still living creatures after all. There were too many of them as it was, let alone the need to take care of them. It was clear while they seemed to be wild they also could be tamable after Puppy Galore had gotten her own. Teaching it numerous tricks and recording each one to showcase online. This only increased the demand.

The prospect however had hit the international galactic police precinct just as hard as it had been for most others.

“They are damn cute." The Rottweiler nodded in agreement through his gruff exterior hiding his excitement on the idea. Rodney's stubby tail was wagging a mile a minute at the idea and the two dogs took a moment to think that over.

Rodney had an image to keep up in the department but Jasper had known Rodney for years now and knew how excited he was over the matter.

“I'd have to double check at home to make sure…" Jasper muttered aloud. Thinking about his wife and pups. Would it be safe to have one of these strange human pets around the pups? Would they acclimate well? “I'll defiantly have to ask the misses first, heh." The dog conceded realizing if he brought home a pet without even asking, it would be his butt that slept outside that night and not the human.

Jasper played with his tie, munching on the donut as he wiped crumbs off his suit with his other hand his mind lost in thought over the matter.

“I already got a few things for one… I mean, they were on sale. It was hard to say no at those prices... So, I figured why not…" Rodney just muttered under his breath, not looking at his partner or the human's in the crate they had set up for them.

“Yeah, I saw that a lot of the outfits and toys were super cheap once they were made illegal to own…" Jasper just nodded along, thinking it over still. “I got a few stashed away out in the garage… you know, just in case."

“Yeah… they were super cheap. And it's fun to think about. Like, what if they become legal to own one day…?" Rodney just nodded along. The two taking a moment to think over all the random nick nacks they had gotten with this very idea in mind.

A passing fancy turning into somewhat of an obsession. Much as it had done with the rest of the planet. The Canine's of Alpha Canis didn't own pets and only in recent years had the idea of it became a popular concept. With these new, tamable animals introduced into their ecosystem it seemed only naturally and fitting for a canine to want to own and protect one.

It was in a dog's nature too after all.

The two officers took a good minute or two to finish their coffees and donuts before giving each other a sidelong look.

“I mean what if…" Rodney ears lay back as he eyed the other officers in the room. Everyone seemed to be having similar thoughts.

“I'm sure the misses won't mind. The pups would love one!" Jasper nodded as if coming to a conclusion to an age old question. “I'd be the best dad! Best dad of the year! Be the best dad ever if I brought one of them home!" His eyes nearly sparkled at the thought of his pups thanking him for the gift and present. “I wouldn't have to buy birthday present for years…"

“We already got the stuff to own one…" Rodney just muttered to himself with a grimace of a frown that made his already disgruntled face appear somewhat vicious even. Jasper knew better. While his partner came off as something of a bully, Rodney was a good dog at heart underneath his frightening exterior.

It was one reason why Rodney had such a hard time ending up with anyone. No one seeming to give him a chance to see what was underneath. Jasper had even proposed the idea of to the Rottweiler getting a human, as a joke. A pet that would need and rely on him above everything else.  

“Something that can't leave you." Jasper teased, yet assuring that the companionship would help the Rottweiler who had been struggling in the recent years. “I hear some of the other galaxies keep pets to help with depression… just saying." The Bernese mountain dog had said offhandedly over lunch one evening.

Rodney hadn't gotten the idea out of his head since. Even going so far as to use a VPN to search about humans and pets in other galaxies.

And with that the two large canines quickly scampering over to look at the selection available within the crate of humans they had obtained. Each wanting the “Best" one available before they were scooped up and taken.

Their heavy steps shook the crate as the two very large, imposing canines peered over the box at the humans within. The two officers talking amongst each other as they pointed them out, talking about the looks, their age and how hard it would be to own each one in particular.

“Fuck, they're so damn cute." Jasper cooed pressing up his jowls with both hands once more as his eyes sparkled looking over the lot of them. “I just know Philly and Kent would love them!" The Bernese mountain dog said thinking of his two boys.

“Just make sure you get a lively one for those two rowdy… rascals." Rodney chuckled at the thought and a shake of his head. The rottweiler actually feeling bad for whatever human had to put up with them. It took great effort not to call the two boys what they were, hellspawn demons that were graying Jasper's muzzle further than it already was.

And that was in the past year alone!

“Oh, they're good boys!" Jasper just grinned as a father would, proud of his pups. “This'll change everything…" Jasper said, talking about his straining relationship with his boys that were going through those teenage years.

Rodney was thinking of something else though.

It would be nice to have something to cuddle up too on those lonely nights. Another warm, living, breathing thing that needed him and would surely come to love him like any pet would, right? That's what the cats from the Cattus galaxy always said about their pets. Though, Rodney was sure that was more of a control thing with the felines than the compansionship.

“I know." Rodney couldn't lie. His heart was beating so fast, his tail wagging a mile a minute as he spied the one he had personally carried in after the raid that had taken down the smuggling ring. “I always wanted one!" He didn't even try to hide it anymore in front of his lifelong partner and friend.

“Did you see Puppy Galore's video of hers?" Jasper wiggled his butt as he leaned over to scratch a finger at the closest human who quickly retreated from the clawed digit angling directly at their face. “Oh, they are just so cute." The Bernese mountain dog continued to squirm like an overgrown child wanting to open their first present on Christmas morning.

The two canines's continued talking about the Pomeranian who had become an internet star overnight after getting her very own human. Dressing hers up, teaching them tricks and bringing the dolled up human everywhere with her in a purse just large enough to store the human in.

“I've seen it like a hundred times." Rodney nodded along, his large muzzle bobbing up and down with the motion as his dull brown eyes looked around the crate for one he favored. The heavy browed Rottweiler spied one human tucked into the corner and his tail began wagging instantly.

Their eyes met, locking for a split second. One of the two smiled. The other frowned as sweat beads built up on the nape of Jared's neck as the giant of a canine saw the one he wanted. The very one he had personally saved from the gang of thieves. The human could only pray he could just disappear right there and then at that playful, mischievous look he got in return.  

“I'll let the others know! Grab the one you want before they're taken." Jasper clapped a paw over Rodney's shoulder before moving out of the side room to let the others know what they had in mind. There wasn't much else they'd be able to do with a bunch of humans and this way at least they'd be taken care of instead of left at the pound.

Jasper also was doing it for a few personal reasons. Rodney was having a hard time in the recent year and he worried for his friend who had begun drinking far more than one dog ever should. Jasper had read an article online about how a “pet" could help with depression and coping with loneliness and it was then Jasper swore he'd do whatever he could to get Rodney one of these humans. Sure that it would help the canine out.

This also, in a way, would also help these humans out Jasper figured. They'd just be sent to some facility to be taken care of on the government dime. A cramped, hot place with metal cages and no room to run around. Separated from each other. And when it got overcrowded, they had to put down the old and weak ones no one wanted to buy or take care of anymore…

Something several of the canine citizens had begun to protest against.

It was more of a prison than anything else and Rodney didn't want to see such a cute human like his end up in such a depressing place. The Rottweiler long since knowing which one he'd get.

It had been by chance that Rodney was on the team that would bust down the side door. Storming the warehouse near the space docks. The gang instantly reacted to the flashbang that had gone off as the officers stormed the building. In all the chaos, several human's were nearly trampled and it was only thanks to the Rottweiler shielding the smaller human with his body that Jared hadn't been trampled to death.

Tucking the human into his coat, Rodney had aided the others in rescuing the rest. Keeping this human with him until he had been forced to part with them. Only now to learn he could have him as his own, forever.

“We're doing them a kindness." Jasper said with a gruff bark startling several humans in the process, though the larger canine seemed to miss it as he talked with the others about it out front. The group already forming a small commission to appeal to the chief of staff over the matter.

The entire police force would storm the chief's office and demand that the human's be released into their custody. It was a police officer's duty after all to protect others; or that was the flimsy case they had come up with.

Jared wasn't sure what was happening. No one seemed too. Someone was crying, others were saying their prayers. All Jared could do was duck into a corner and hope beyond hope that he would somehow be overlooked. The human pinching his cheeks trying to wake up from this nightmare.

Tucked away as he was, Jared never even saw the hand reaching for him from behind.

Strong, black fur fingers wrapped around his torso as rough paw pads rubbed against his back and sides over his bare skin as Rodney grabbed the human he wanted to take home. It might've been Jared's messy hair or his pudgy belly, whatever the reason was the Rottweiler had instantly taken an interest in him. Skipping the younger and older humans for one that seemed just old enough to not need potty training and just young enough not to worry about accidents or health problems within the near future. Whatever the case, Rodney knew exactly which of these human he wanted to take home to his loft from the very start of their raid.  

Jared was turned around roughly and soon was held with both hands with a rather large snoot shoved painfully close into his personal space. The fingers gripped his body tightly, that warm humid breath washed over his face and upper body as the black nose twitched with a sniff and shook in an exhale over him as Rodney sniffed and inspected the human in enthused curiosity.

Rodney's tongue lulled out the front of his parting muzzle and Jared soon found himself licked in a kiss. That broad, grooved, saliva coated tongue lapped over Jared's face making him gag from the strong coffee smell of dog breath that accompanied it. The rottweiler's face was all smiles as he nosed the human half his size unable to contain his excitement over the matter.

“Don't worry, little guy. I'll take care of you." He growled reassuringly; the language barrier made it impossible for the human to feel anything but discomfort and fear as the other canine officers began to fill the small side room.

Rodney quickly put up a good front as the other officer's began to come in; the Rottweiler quickly stepping out of the way as he securely held the one he had wanted ever since the raid had taken place.

Gagging, Jared tried to push that whiskered muzzled face away as Rodney just continued to wag happily, letting his guard down in front of the harmless human and easing up from the long day of work he had. The feel of another body in his hands was in itself the serotonin release the canine needed. The Rottweiler nuzzling against the helpless human, completely unaware of Jared's disdain for the oversized canine.

“I'm going to take you home, yes I am." Rodney nosed against Jared's torso with that bumpy black nose a canine possessed. It rubbed against Jared skin making the human shiver at the cold contrast of the wet nose to the warmth of the fingers holding him. “Yes I am. I'm going to take you home and keep you nice and safe and warm with daddy Rodney, ok?"

One of the other officer's gave Rodney a look and the Rottweiler quickly stood back up tall, shooting them a vicious glare accompanied by a low growl as he pulled his human away from them. As if daring them to try and take him from the canine. They just rolled their eyes going back to the pick.

“Didn't want that one anyways," the Afghan hound said snapping her fingers with a curse after having her eyes set on Jared.

Jared was utterly confused by the strange, alien growls and gruff barks Rodney used as he squirmed in the canine overpowering grip trying to escape. Rodney was having none of it and it appeared as if the canine barely even registered Jared's efforts to begin with. Twice his size also meant twice the muscle mass and Jared already needed to hit the gym to begin with.

“It's ok, it's going to be ok." Rodney tried to ease the squirming human's fear by crushing Jared's body against his muscular torso, hugging him close and rocking him back and forth as if he were a newborn pup.  

It had the opposite effect on the struggling human who could only smell the musky canine's scent at this point. That sweaty exposed brown fur rubbing over the human's cheek, smearing Rodney's hard day on the smaller creature. The canine clueless that he was.

“Isn't that cute." Jasper spoke up making Rodney frown at his friend.

“Tell anyone about this and I will cut your balls off." Rodney growled back, tucking Jared closer to his chest as he walked away from the crate and ignoring the rest of the strange alien animals they had gotten from the raid.

Jasper just grinned widely as he walked back over towards the pick. He already had one in mind that he wanted; sure his boys couldn't tear it apart… unlike what happened with the last thing he had brought home to the two little devils.

 “Aw, it's cute the way you fawn over them like this. You weren't even like this when I had the pups." Jasper just teased his partner as he walked over to look over the group. “I need one that can handle the boys… they do play really rough…"

Rodney just frowned at that. His partner getting on him about how he'd raise a human these past weeks only for Jasper to neglect the fact his two hellspawn would most likely bury the poor human alive in the backyard for kicks and giggles.  

Jasper just gave the Rottweiler a look before down at the human who was trying to catch his breath against Rodney's musky scent.

“I swear if you tell anyone…" The Rottweiler growled, still holding the human tightly in his grip. Jared at this point had given up trying to escape and was just trying to get a fresh breath of air away from the musky Rottweiler holding him tightly.

Rodney had been working all night and early into the morning after helping with the raid on the warehouse that had stored the abducted humans. It had been a long morning and even longer night as the hour ticked past midnight. Though the canine was none the wiser as he pet the human in his arms with a hand, stroking Jared's hair.

Rodney using great restraint and control not to hurt the poor, small, fragile thing.

“You're secret safe with me. You big softie…" Jasper couldn't help but tease with a muzzle splitting smirk. Jasper just truly happy his friend seemed to be in better spirits; ever since Jasper had offered the idea, Rodney had been in a far better mood. He still got a good punch in the arm for that as Rodney ended up shoulder checking him out of the way, walking past and to his own office.

“It's ok, little guy. Mean ol' Jasper's evil hellspawn won't lay a single finger on you. No they won't." Rodney kept using his baby voice with Jared as he talked alone with him. The Rottweiler shutting the door behind them as he locked the office door to keep his partner out of his fur for a little while.

Rodney knew he would hear no end to this but it was worth it, to have his very own pet human.

Even Jared understood what the sound of a locking door meant for him and the human began shivering in fear as Rodney flipped the light switch on. The canine noticed Jared shivering at this point and tried to reassure him.

“It's far warmer at my place. I promise." Rodney cooed down against Jared's head; nuzzle his muzzle against it before setting the human gently down on the desk.

The desk took up most of the room. Leaving only enough space for the Rottweiler to squeeze by the filing cabinets and over to the moth eaten chair behind it. Jasper and him shared the same desk the department being severely overstaffed due to all the human trafficking in the past couple years. Rodney turned the old computer on, emptied the rest of the left over coffee from the pot into the mug on the desk and promptly took his seat facing towards the computer screen.

Jared just sort of sat on the desk unsure what else to do at this point. He didn't understand the canine's foreign language or the writings on the screen. He understood that Rodney was some kind of law enforcement, his outfit matching something from back home. Or he could only presume as much.

“Just got to finish this paperwork then we can get out of here, ok?" Rodney spoke again not even looking at the frightened human on his desk as he went over the rest of the work he'd been putting off all day. Charting and reporting the numbers of human's captured and fudging some of the results so the precinct wouldn't get into too much trouble for what the officers were currently doing.

Rodney didn't send the report yet, planning to get the A OK from the boss first when he noticed the human shuddered on his desk still.

“You poor thing…" Rodney sighed as he pushed back from the desk. Jared wasn't sure what he was doing until the canine began undoing the front of his jacket making the human face pale in turn.

The rottweiler was already stripping off his oversized coat, hanging it up and over the human before promptly dropping it over Jared's head. The human was soon bundled up inside the jacket and the front was even buttoned back up to keep it from slipping off; leaving Jared surrounded by Rodney's natural warmth and musk clinging to the inner parts of the garment. 

Jared wanted to protest but he was already feeling sleep coming to take him once more. He had been kidnapped from bed and had gotten little, proper sleep and the surrounding warmth of the soft, smooth fabric of the coat's lining. The human struggling to make a retort let alone keep his eyes open.

“There we go." Rodney smiled down at the human, giving the top of his head a kiss before going back to work.

It was warm and the smell of the larger male was strong. Jared had been asleep when he'd been abducted and despite his best efforts was finding the lull of slumber taking him once more. He could feel Rodney's heartbeat. Listening to the heavy sounds of his voice, there was little hope for Jared to stay awake as he finally conceded and rested against the large canine with closed eyes.

Hoping, this had all been a strange Chinese food induced nightmare…

…

The medium sized kennel swung back and forth as Rodney finally clocked out of the shift with the human tucked into the crate. It was a short drive back to his place and an even shorter walk up the stairs to the Rottweiler's flat. Jared slept through it all bundled up in the officer's jacket as Rodney unlocked his front door to his studio apartment.

Rodney groaned out, flipping on the switch for the lights and triple bolting the door before kicking his boots off. He wiggled his toes on the carpeted floor as he walked over towards the small living room he used mostly as well… everything. Living room, bedroom, dining room and office.

The Rottweiler lived alone in the single room apartment. It was far nicer than one might think a studio to be. The front door opened up to a small hallway that split off into a kitchenette on one side and the bathroom on the other. The hallway only opened out further from there into the main living space that was plenty enough for Rodney, and his new friend, to stay in. Off to the side was a small staircase that led up to a bunk that served as Rodney's bedroom; even if the Rottweiler just openly changed in the larger room which explained why half his clothes were laying around it.

Some clothes were old, some new. Some were from previous workdays and others from after the gym. Rodney just shrugged it off. It wasn't like he was going to invite anyone else over; Jasper being one of his few friends after his college days. And the two of them usually met at the small bar down the street on the corner when Jasper's wife was being a real bitch.

Besides, this was clearly a bachelors pad and Rodney would have it no other way. Some dates didn't seem to like the idea of it but that's what Rodney wanted in the end. Having a pet was perfect for the canine; a pet wouldn't mind or complain about dirty clothes laying around after all.

Rodney smirked at that, his stubby tail wagging as he set the kennel gently on the tabletop; the canine not seeming aware he'd been swinging the thing back and forth the entire time. Pinching the latch, he opened the door of it to peek inside.

Jared was not amused.

The trip had been hell and he'd been bounced from one side of the plastic cage to the other as his canine overlord hummed happily to himself practically skipping in the underground parking lot. Jared was regretting everything he'd ever had done with his old dog Trixie during their family road trips. Understanding exactly why so many had argued against putting dogs in kennels.

The plastic floor hurt to sit on for so long. The crate rocked back and forth like a ship over turbulent waters. It was hard to breathe and the coat Rodney had so kindly lent him made the whole thing stink of the Rottweiler. Then there was the fact the latch was so tight the human couldn't pry them open when Rodney wasn't watching back in the car.

At least the Rottweiler's coat provided some cushion during the uncomfortable ordeal… It stunk of the large canine making Jared want a shower more than he had ever wanted in his life. The human not even fighting when the canine reached in to grab him.

“I'm coming, I'm coming. Stop it." Jared tried to swat the large hand away as he crawled out of the cramp kennel to stand on the table before the Rottweiler who had seated himself on the sofa. Jared stretched his back off muttering a crude “I'll feel that in the morning" as the human just frowned at his kidnapper.

The canine face noticeably perked up as Jared stretched him front of him, the human feeling particularly stiff in the back and rear end from the trip.

“I feel like a sardine…" Jared groaned out looking at the massive alien canine before him. It was clear this dog officer… wasn't going to like eat him or kill him; at least the human hoped that wasn't why he was brought back here spying the kitchen off to the side.

Reaching down, Jared felt his flubby stomach and frowned a bit. He really needed to lay off the midnight snacks it seemed. He might be filling for a canine Rodney's size but that wasn't the case, right?

And Jared was sure that defiantly was not the case when a rather fluffy looking cat bell was jingled in front of his face. Jared just frowned at it and then looked past it at the Rottweiler, his face clearly saying “you got to be kidding me."

Rodney had gotten out the box with all the various things he'd bought for a human in mind. From toys to collars even to outfits that he had seen Puppy Galore use on her own human. Admittedly some of them were far more girly than the Rottweiler had realized until he had opened the packages.

The Rottweiler he knew he was rushing things; originally planning on letting the human adjust to his new home before pulling out these toys for him. But seeing as how Jared had been such a good pet on the way home, and with the canine's enthusiasm, Rodney couldn't resist.

“Uh…" Rodney faltered for a second as he pushed the bell against Jared's face. The human just frowned further at that. “Apparently he does not like the bell…" The canine just shrugged tossing the bell back into the box before pulling out a rather long fluffy rod with a string attached to the end. “How about this…?"

Jared was not amused.

The canine was seriously trying to get Jared's attention and favor as he brought one toy out after another. The human was having very little of any of this.

Jared kept trying to sneak peeks around the place, hoping to see some way out of this hell. The windows were higher up than he'd have liked… the door looked well secured… maybe something on the second floor would help? Jared could only hope as he snagged the fuzzy mouse at the end of the string.

Rodney's ears perked up at that, mouth agape as he began to pant happily, tail wagging that the human had taken some interest in something he'd bought. Afraid he'd wasted a good couple hundred dollars on this junk…

Only for Jared to pull the string back before letting it go. It sprung back up, the mouse hitting the Rottweiler in the face. Jared snorted at that, trying to hold back a laugh at the look on his kidnappers face. It might not be wise to upset his captor but the human was convinced that this? All this had to be some sort of fever dream.

“Ok. Clearly not into this." Rodney grumbled angrily, more at himself for wasting money on all these things than at his new pet. He'd try again tomorrow when the human was more comfortable with his surroundings, realizing he might be pushing things for the smaller creature.

There was very little information on the matter of humans. More rumors and speculations than anything on how humans reacted to being pets. Some said it was a blessing for them, saving them from their remedial lives. Others protested it wasn't civilized or fair to these creatures to keep them captive. Others argued the whole thing was stupid and that their mom's were overweight… the internet had all kinds of people on it.  

Rodney frankly gave two shits about either side. The canine just needed to know how to make this human love and appreciate him. The sooner the better! He wanted, needed a snuggle buddy and if even half the things he'd read about humans were true, he knew this one he'd gotten would fit the bill perfectly.

“Ok, let me check again." Rodney let out a breath as he pulled his phone out; looking over the information he had saved on the matter. Nothing was concrete and most the blogs and posts were just random canine thoughts about the matter or how they thought one should raise a human.

Jared in the meantime took the chance to get some distance from the canine to explore both the apartment and look for an escape; hoping down from the table and frankly just ignoring the large canine behind him. The human made sure to give himself a good pinch on the arm for the fifteenth time but was still clearly awake.

“Not a dream… it has to be a dream… this can't be happening…" Jared just muttered as he walked around the small studio apartment. Everything was twice the size they normally were, making the human feel particularly small as he looked back at the canine still fussing with his phone on the couch.

Jared peaked into the large bathroom and then into the kitchen. Spying a window in the latter, he headed inside. Now, he just needed to figure a way to navigate up to the counter top, over the sink and pry open the latch to get out of this hell… His thoughts failed him and he only ended up hearing those loud thumping footsteps behind him.

“I swear to Christ if he says fee fi fo fum…" Jared just frowned as Rodney peaked around the corner to see where his human had wandered off too.

“Are you hungry little guy?" Rodney instantly perked up at the thought as he bent down behind Jared wanting to just reach out and pet the smaller creature as if he were, ironically, a pet dog. Rodney thought it best to get the food first before trying to try his luck with petting the human.

Food was a perfect motivator for good behavior as the online forums had mentioned.

Jared didn't move as the large canine carefully stepped over him before swinging the deluxe size fridge open. It was filled with various fast food containers, a sick pack of beer cans and little else. Fishing around inside it, Rodney pulled out a platter of a sliced meats and cheeses from the market Jasper had gotten for him; his friend constantly trying to watch out for the rottweiler's health. Jared was somewhat relieved by this, unsure if he could stomach more Chinese food.

Only for the canine to put that tray on the counter and pull out a can of what looked like dog food behind it all. The Rottweiler tail wagged as he opened the can up, dropping a good scoop of it into a bowl from the cupboards before setting it down on the ground for the human.

Jared's whole face frowned at that as he just looked at it, mouth slightly agape as Rodney's had been earlier.

“Oh, right!" Rodney said with a bark of a laugh as he got another bowl out, filling it with tap water before setting it next to the first. On the floor. In front of Jared.

As if he were really a pet dog…

Jared wanted to point out that this canine was in fact the dog here, not him! It was hard to get that across when there was a clear language barrier between the two. Let alone the difference in their size, Jared having to look up at the Rottweiler crouching down in front of him.

Rodney was about to put the tray of cheese and meats away when he heard a sharp whistle, startling the large canine. Rodney nearly dropped the tray all together. Looking down he saw the human frowning up at him. Jared pointed towards the tray, then whistle again by sticking two fingers in his mouth.

“This always worked on Trixie…" Jared thought aloud about his old golden retreiver as the Rottweiler jaw dropped slightly. Jared wasn't sure if he had gotten the reaction he had wanted or not as Rodney set the tray down on the counter and quickly bounded off towards the living room with loud thumping footsteps.

Only for the rottweiler to show back up the next second, nearly laying on his belly next to Jared with his phone in his hand. The light was on, making Jared wince as he glared at both the device and the canine holding it.

“Ok, do it again." Rodney wagged his butt as he had the phone recording.

It wasn't like he was going to post the video online or anything… or dress his human up and take pictures with him and have them on pawgram or anything… Rodney just wanted to make as many memories as he could with the human; unsure how long they lived compared to canines.

If Jared could tell, Rodney was blushing underneath his rich black and brown fur as thus dull brown eyes looked at him.

The human just frowned in return.

“Oh, right!" Rodney quickly scampered to his feet, moving past the human to grab the tray of food again. He held it up as if about to put it away, holding the phone in his other hand… “Ok… he's going to do it any second now…"

Jared just looked at him.

Rodney in turned frowned back as he lowered his recording phone down. An idea came to mind and the Rottweiler put the tray back on the counter, peeling back the saran wrap on it to snag a piece of meat inside. Pinched between two fingers, the rottweiler held it up. Wiggling it in front of the human as he held up his phone.

“Do it, little guy. Do the thing again…" Rodney just smiled, both his ears perking up as his stubby nub tail wagged.

It took Jared a second to realize this alien canine wanted him to perform a trick for food.

“I'm so sorry Trixie for everything I made you do." Jared could only apologize in prayer for his departed dog as he stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled again.

Rodney barked out at that, this time startling the human.

“He did it!" Rodney just smiled ear to ear as he recorded the exchange. “Here you go, little guy."

The Rottweiler tossed the piece of meat to Jared, who promptly stepped out of the way and watched it land where he had been standing with a loud SPLAT on the floor. The two took a second on that. Jared clenching a hand into a tight fist; it shook a bit as he tried to keep his voice in check.

“The hell, man?" Jared just said looking back at the canine watching him. “I'm not going to catch it with my mouth!" And the human turned and walked away. “Not your fucking dog, dog…"

Rodney was confused what had happened but didn't give up.

Rodney wasn't finished yet as he ignored the two bowls on the ground, grabbed the tray of meats and cheese and followed after the human back into the living room. He had several other things in mind. His spirits rising high at the fact he discovered a way to motivate the human only to deflate instantly as he watched Jared bend down and crawl underneath the sofa.

“Uh… we'll be back." The Rottweiler said, turning his phone off and pocketing it.

Rodney walked over carefully, putting the tray on the table before pushing it aside as he bent down to look at his human laying there on his chest his head buried in his arms under the raised couch. The sound of sniffling met the canine's ears. They quickly laid back.

Those of the Alpha Canis couldn't exactly cry as a human did. Their whimpers not resembling that of a crying human; it was only through extensive research that Rodney knew what the human was doing and what that meant.

It meant Rodney had fucked up and now his human was upset and sad… they might even hate them, if a human could feel such a thing.

“Was it the trick?" Rodney asked as he lay there next to the sofa, looking underneath it at the human. Asking Jared, wondering what he had done wrong this time… Jared just turned away from him making the canine face fall. “I don't have to record you…" Rodney practically pleaded as he reached out a hand.

Jared scooted several inches away making the Rottweiler stop. Rodney laid there looking at the smaller male creature, practically half his size both in height and mass. The thing was probably scared… like a lost child, Rodney concluded.

He'd been an officer long enough to come across a stray, lost animal and understood what the human must being going for. Rodney beating himself up inside for not noticing sooner. He had pushed him, had tried to rush his human into doing tricks without even making him feel safe or welcome here…

“I really screwed up this time, huh?" Rodney sighing heavily, the Rottweiler pushed himself up. Planning to give the human some space while he thought about what else to do to make it up to them.

This was supposed to be simple. It was supposed to be great!  A way to help him relax after a long day of work. Not this. Not more work. The Rottweiler feeling even more like shit than he normally did after coming home to an empty apartment.

Heavy thumping steps told Jared he had gotten some much needed space from the canine and hoped that him crawling under the couch wasn't going to be an everyday occurrence.  

Rodney sat down in the far corner, able to keep an eye on the human but also giving them plenty of space as he pulled out his phone. He replayed one of the videos on the device he had saved.

“This is my baby, Sissie." Puppy Galore was all smiles and wags. She was as fake as they came but somehow people loved that even more about her as the Pomeranian swatted her fur out of her face with her fake nails. “She's my baby. I know I don't like got one but she IS one to me, you know?"

Her voice was high pitched and Rodney was already muting the video as he watched her pull the human out, snuggling up with it. They seemed happy to be there. Rodney didn't understand why he was having such a hard time with his human compared to this one?

Did he get a bad human or… was he just a bad dog?

Rodney pulled his knees, letting out a gruff sigh as he rested his forehead on them.

“It's not his fault… it's mine." Rodney just stated flatly. “I'm a bad human owner…"

Jared lay under the couch for a good half hour before he dared to move again. It wasn't exactly comfortable and he hoped he could find a better place to curl up on instead. He looked out the side, not seeing the canine he got out to stretch. Rubbing his back a bit, the human looked around before spying the canine in the far corner. They weren't looking at him, now was his chance to get away!

Jared took a single step before faltering. The canine's ear perked up but he didn't move or face towards the human as it settled back down on the side of his head. It, this creature, this dog let out another gruff groan and turned to look away from the human just a Jared had done to it.

It wasn't like the canine had hurt him or anything. There was just a massive misunderstanding about all this… Jared wasn't sure why he was feeling guilty as he brushed his messy light brown hair out of his face and cursed under his breath.

“This better not be a trap…" Jared sighed, feeling guilty now. It wasn't like this canine had done anything particularly wrong from Jared's understanding. The situation on the other hand was just… unfavorable.

Unsure what else to do, Jared lifted the saran wrap up off the tray and grabbed a hunk of meat and a slice of cheese. The oversized foods were almost like a prop from a Hollywood set as he walked over towards the canine.

“Please don't bite me, please don't bite me…" Jared muttered to himself as he stopped next to the larger canine who finally turned to look at him.

Those dull brown eyes were moist with tears but the canine didn't say anything as Jared offered him a slice of meat, taking a bite of the cheese himself. It was fresh and other than having to use his whole hand to hold the damn thing, it was good.

Rodney wiped his snout against the back of his arm as he used two fingers to pluck the meat from the human and bite it in half. Chewing on it, Rodney offered the other half back to Jared. The human frowned but not wanting to ruin the good will, took it and exchanged the slice of cheese in turn.

Jared took a seat next to Rodney on the floor, half the size of the canine as the two ate in silence. Rodney quickly finished his piece but politely waited for Jared to finish his. The human in turn had to give up half way through and Rodney finished it for him.

The Rottweiler licked his fingers clean as he rested his head on both his knees, looking at the human.

“This is going to be tough…" Jared rested his head back against the wall looking up at the high ceiling.

“You're far smarter than the reports say…" Rodney frowned a bit; unsure if he should text Jasper about this. It might be wise to give him some heads up on the human the Bernese mountain dog had gotten before tossing the thing to the hounds. The Rottweiler decided to do just that before setting his phone down between the two of them.

It vibrated after a second, the screen lighting up with a picture of Jasper's face. Jared looked over at it and then up at the canine who in turn was watching him.

“See, you can just swipe…" Rodney said unlocking the phone in front of the human slowly. “Then you can text your friends…" The canine frowned. Only for the human to reach out a hand and touch the enter button, finishing the text he had been writing.

They had gotten a text from Jasper who was anything but pleased about the situation.

“The little brats love the human! They absolutely adore the thing! But they don't want ME, their own father, anywhere near him at all though!" Jasper had written back. “The three of them teamed up against their old man! How do I reach these kids?"

“That sucks." Rodney had just replied and Jared sent it. The Rottweiler wagged his tail as he set the phone aside.

“Welp, this is far more complicated than I had wanted or needed in my life." Rodney grumbled as he pushed himself back up to his feet and gave a stretch. It was an impressive sight and Jared watched with some envy seeing the muscular canine flexing like this in front of him.

Crouching down, so they were somewhat on an even level, Rodney offered his hand to the human. Jared took it, misconstruing what Rodney intended. The Rottweiler only taking that as an “go ahead" on picking the human up and carry him up the short steps to the upper loft where his bedroom was.

Rodney pulled the screen back revealing the massive flat bed that he had. There was an equally massive TV in front of it and the Rottweiler was already turning it on by the time he set Jared down on the side of it. The human landing in a bundle of covers Rodney had bought specifically for this kind of situation.

It was in a smaller bed, on Rodney's bed and Jared instantly recognized it as a dog bed.

“I'm not a freaking-“ Jared had begun but caught himself off mid rant.

Rodney was zipping down his pants making the human feeling very uncomfortable as the Rottweiler stripped off his clothes, down to his underwear and kicked the rest to the side. For a fearful second Jared worried where this was going, only for the canine to flop onto the bed next to Jared's.

“Today has been way to long." Rodney grumbled to himself, looking over at the human. The Rottweiler rolled onto his back, opened his leg without a second thought behind the gesture as he rested both hands on his firm belly looking between his legs at the screen Jared was next too.

The canine man-spreading in his own apartment without thinking that his pet, Jared, would mind it. Jared had stripped practically naked several times in front of his own dog without a second thought and realized that must be what Rodney was doing now.  

“He was just relaxing…" Jared thanked the heavens for that as he lay back in his own bed trying not to let his mind go THERE.

Rodney scratched himself as he changed the channel, resting his foot slightly to the side so he could see his 132 inch TV better. The canine had turned on some sort of cop drama Jared defiantly did not recognize. It was in an older style and the quality wasn't the best making the human think it must be an older program.

It was somewhat captivating; like watching a telenovela without any subtitles. Jared got what most the situations meant and was even somewhat enjoying himself, given the situation. That was until he felt a very large hind paw rub at his back. The human froze as Rodney pet him with his foot.

“We'll figure this all out, little guy. I promise… you won't regret this." Rodney was confident. Sure, today had been a mixed bag. Tomorrow was a new day and he was sure to win his new pet over with everything he had in mind.

The officer having a couple of days off after the big raid on the warehouse. Rodney planned to spend each and every day with Jared; he'd figure out what was the magic touch needed to get his human as close and loving as Puppy Galore's human was with them.

Jared could only frown at that, resting back against the paw with a frown. It stunk. This bed stunk. Everything stunk about this situation and the human could literally not think of a single thing to do about it as he was beginning to pass out from sheer exhaustion now that his adrenaline was beginning to die down.

“Now then… what should I call you?" Rodney thought it over; he had a list of several names he wanted to use. “How about…. Twinklebottom?"

And if the human could've understood him, Jared would of surely tried to strange the alien canine, his new owner, to death in his sleep…