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“It’s been months since the incident…here I am…cold…hungry…alone.”
The snow was gently falling from the sky over the junkyard as a lone Doberman had taken shelter in a large barrel. His face was sullen as he looked out at the yard, covered in a blanket of white. This was Buster.
“Where did I go wrong…and how did I lose it all…the only thing keeping me from the cutters is hiding from humanity…”
Buster lowered his head and closed his eyes, before slowly turning to the right as if he could just make out a building in the distance.
“...Even now, I can still hear the cries…the wails of dogs begging for mercy as they’re locked behind bars, waiting for the needle…or to have their freedom taken away…”
The dark canine hissed as he clenched his paws at the visual, he looked up at the sky with an expression of hopelessness.
“I chose survival…and yet, this is my fate…left all on my own with nothing but my thoughts for company…have I been living a lie this entire time…I thought I knew what was best for everyone…for myself…alas, this is the reward I got…”
Buster lowered his head in a defeated manner, shivering slightly as the raggedy blanket covering him did little to warm him up.
“...Why couldn’t you see the world the way I did…why did they have to take you away from me…?”
Buster clenched his eyes shut as if he were about to cry, but tried to compose himself regardless…he just stared back out at the junkyard…there was no one around but him.
“...Was it something I did…or were you always so two-faced…? I…trusted you, looked to you for guidance, held you near and dear to me…and yet, I wasn’t good enough…I was a mere fling while you went off and left me behind…”
The Doberman smacked his paw down on the barrel with pent-up frustration, a growl escaping from his throat, he was about to go further when he stopped…he couldn’t.
“...I was never important to you…I was never important to anyone…not even when I tried to act like you…all it gave me was a set of broken legs…even now, I can still feel the pain…”
Buster looked back to his hind legs, the remnants of the pile still scarred them…it almost felt like a reminder of how far he had fallen from grace.
“Really…what am I doing…I have no one…no one wants me…am I just prolonging what I can’t escape…I can only run for so long before they catch me…would accepting my fate rid me of this burden…?”
Buster slowly stood up and walked out of the barrel, turning to face the entrance of the junkyard. Beyond that signpost, he would be exposed to the outside world…the Doberman turned the other way, this time facing the fence, where the road led to the suburbs on the other side…
“...Either route I take, I’m going down a path of pain…so…between slow, agonizing rejection…and swift, inevitable death…what do I choose…?”
Buster stared up at the fence…on the other side, he could almost picture his old partner/menter/flame running past, the look in his eyes as he symbolized everything Buster wanted; spirit, freedom, and someone who understood him.
“I know it’s fruitless…but still, I can’t get you out of my head…I know I hurt you, as you did me…but…I don’t want to forget…I need to see you…at least one more time, even if we part ways forever…I want some part of this life to be fulfilled…I want to live…and…”
Buster closed his eyes, as if resigned to his fate as he began to turn away…before he whipped around, crouched his legs and leapt over the fence. There, he began to run, even with the pain in his legs still present. Buster didn’t care as he locked his eyes on his destination, the snow swirling around his face.
“I will live…I will live!”
Meanwhile, the mood was more lively within a quaint home of a beautiful suburban neighborhood, within the Dear residence was a family of dogs, along with a recent addition from a few months prior. A Cocker Spaniel; Lady, and a Schnauzer mix; Tramp, were watching their children doing their own little activities around the Christmas tree. Annette was having her fur brushed by Collette while Danielle was playing with an ornament that had fallen off a branch. Scamp on the other hand was busy playing tug-of-war with Angel, a red ribbon in between each other as they tugged back and forth.
“Angel’s settled in quite nicely”, Lady smiled, “even better, Scamp now has someone to play with.”
“Heh, reminds me of someone”, Tramp replied coyly, “at least now she’s off the streets and somewhere safe.”
“Now that sounds familiar…why, they’re right in front of me”, teased Lady.
“Heeeeeey, you know I could survive bein’ out there, I did it before ages ago”, said Tramp.
“Yes…but I’d prefer you stay where I can see you…and plus, where you’re safe, with me, and the children…”, Lady cooed as she rested her head against the grey canine’s shoulder.
“Awww, c’mon, Pidge, you know I ain’t goin’ anywhere, not when I’ve got all of you…”, Tramp replied softly before he blinked, watching Scamp roll back in a present, “Easy there, whirlwind!”
“Sorry, pop! The ribbon just slipped outta my mouth!”, said Scamp as he pulled himself up.
“I think that means I win”, smirked Angel as she came up alongside the younger Schnauzer.
“Pfft, amateurs…”, sneered Annette with a roll of her eyes.
“I’ll get you on the next one”, Scamp challenged.
“Now, children, settle down”, said Lady, “we don’t wanna cause a mess now.”
“Awwww, moooooom”, whined Scamp.
“Scaaaaaamp”, replied Tramp, and this caused his offspring to subside.
“Best do as they say”, cooed Angel, giving Scamp a nudge.
“Heh, she’s a keeper”, smiled Tramp, causing Scamp to put one face over his paw.
“Daaaaad…you
might
be right on that…I wish you’d join in sometime”, said Scamp, “You’re always staying behind these days.”
“Well, I’m not gettin’ any younger here, sport, gotta pace myself, ya’ know”, chuckled Tramp, “Of course, this ole dog’s still got in h-!”
It was at that moment that a bark could be heard from outside. Everyone perked their ears at this, but Tramp looked as if he recognized the sound…his expression turned serious and almost into one of…bewilderment. The low bark continued to echo, as if it were a cry for attention.
“What’s that…Tramp?”, Lady asked as she noticed Tramp beginning to walk towards the kitchen. He remained silent, leaving everyone in suspense, although Angel seemed to understand, although she looked more concern than anything.
“It can’t be…”, the Pomerian murmured under her breath.
Tramp walked out under the dog door and onto the porch. He stopped before the stairs as it was rather quiet outside, but he knew otherwise. The small opening in the fence creaked open and Tramp’s eyes widened at the visitor…there, standing on the other side of the yard, was Buster. Neither canine exchanged a greeting, they just stared at each other even from a distance.
“...It’s you”, Tramp finally whispered.
“Long time no see…”, replied Buster. Tramp’s face hardened as he lowered his brows.
“...What are you doing here?”, He asked. He wasn’t shouting, but Buster could sense the hostility in the other dog’s voice.
“Isn’t it obvious…I came for you”, Buster said.
“Whatever you’ve got in mind, I am not taking it”, Tramp replied firmly, “and you’d better not get the others involved in it, you hear me?”
“This doesn’t concern them”, scowled Buster, “it revolves around us…we need to talk.”
Tramp didn’t want to humor the Doberman’s conversation, yet for some reason, Buster’s tone gave the air of necessity…Tramp sighed as he slowly made his way down the steps and onto the snow.
“...What do you want?”, He asked, unamused. Tramp then saw Buster coming towards him, the mutt moved his back legs into a defensive position, his eyes locking with the darker canine’s.
“I’m not here to fight”, said Buster, “I just want to talk…”
Tramp got back into a normal position, but he still couldn’t help but feel that Buster had some sort of ulterior motive. He eyed the Doberman suspiciously.
“Alright…what is it?”, Tramp asked.
“I…I needed to see you again…I know it’s been months and you’d rather not have anything to do with me, but the truth is…”, Buster began to explain, but then choked on his words…he honestly didn’t know how to project what he was saying…he looked down, and Tramp took notice.
“The truth…?”, He asked before assuming a more broad tone, “Oh yeah…you mean the incident…the one where you jeopardized my family’s safety, I haven’t forgotten.”
“That’s part of the issue, but…really, this is more about us…and what happened…”, said Buster, “I just wanna know…why…why did you do it?”
“I’m sorry, what?”, Tramp raised an eyebrow/
“Don’t do that…you know what I mean”, Buster scowled, “I just wanna know what I did to make you leave…or did I just not matter to you?”
“Buster, I…”, Tramp paused before speaking once more, “...it’s more…complicated than you think.”
“Yeah…you took a risk and paid for it…”, muttered Buster.
“Hey, do not speak of her like that”, snorted Tramp.
“You know I’m right”, sneered Buster, but then dropped it, “either way…was it my doing…because if so, you could have just told me…”
“It’s not…that’s not…entirely the reason…”, Tramp murmured, “...you knew I was a free spirit…I could never stay in one place.”
“And yet, here you are…”, replied Buster, “tied to a permanent chain with no sense of freedom.”
“Well, that’s what happens when you take on responsibility…”, said Tramp, “I have to make sacrifices somewhere.”
“But this ?!”, Buster shouted, taking Tramp aback, “Why this? What was wrong with the old life, the one we used to live in?!”
At this point, the door flapped open and Lady stepped out onto the porch, she gasped when she saw Buster standing in the yard. The Doberman looked up at her, hiding exactly what he wanted to say.
“...Oh look…speak of ‘em and they’ll appear”, He muttered darkly.
“Tramp…what’s he doing in our yard?”, Lady asked.
“Nothin’...go back inside, I’ll deal with this…”, replied Tramp.
“Are you sure?”, Lady rallied once more. Tramp gave her a look that told the Cocker Spaniel this was a matter only he could deal with. Giving a reluctant sigh, Lady turned to go back into the house, upon arrival, she saw the other pups and Angel sitting right by the kitchen.
“There’s nothing to see, dears…please, let’s not disturb your father…”, Lady said with gentle firmness. The triplets glanced at each other, Angel dipped her head down, while Scamp tilted his own. He wanted to investigate for himself, but one step closer to the door earned him a look from his mother, so Scamp relented, turning away in disappointment.
“I just don’t get it…why…why did you have to leave everything we worked on, why did you abandon me like everyone else?!”, Buster scorned with fury.
“I never meant to abandon you!”, Tramp shouted back, “I just didn’t think you would have gone that far to spite me!”
“That’s what happens when you’re hurt…you wanna let others know how it feels…”, Buster murmured, his voice cracking, “and you know what’s ironic…even after all that…you’ve never left my mind…heh, suppose I became too attached who never shared the same sentiment…”
“Wait…Buster…are you…?”, Tramp trailed off from his question.
“...I had to keep it under wraps…you were always off with some new tag-a-long, how could I have said anything…you’d think me crazy…”, Buster put his head down, “...and now…what’s even the point of trying…?”
“Buster…I…I never knew…”, Tramp replied carefully.
“Perhaps it’s best you didn’t…and perhaps I was a fool to begin with…”, Buster lamented, “I could never live up to your standards…even when I tried to compensate, it wasn’t the same…I just ran myself into a corner…and while…she’s got a new home…I’m left all on my own…”
There was a pause, for almost a minute, the two canines said nothing, with the only sound being the wind in the background…neither of them seemed to hear the door flap open as Scamp popped his head out, he blinked in shock at who was outside.
“Buster…”, He murmured, and tried to keep himself hidden from the adults’ view as Tramp spoke up.
“...Buster…you know I can’t leave…not when I’ve got all this…”, The Schnauzer said softly.
“I just…I don’t want to lose you…not after I’ve already lost everyone else…you’re the one thing that actually matters to me…”, Buster croaked, his head down in depression, “...I know I’ve hurt you…I hurt him…and I can’t take back what I did…but…I don’t want to go without making things right…I don’t want to lose you…”
For once, Tramp looked at Buster with what appeared to be sympathy, he had never seen his old friend so broken before…then again, given all that had happened, it wasn’t surprising…the grey canine couldn’t help but feel some level of guilt over the affair.
He had made his choice, but at the same time…it was clear just how much he meant to Buster…perhaps in a way, Tramp had been selfish. He had never sought out long-term relationships, even those he had been close with, right up until he had taken a risk with Lady. Seeing the effects first-hand, it made Tramp realize…he had hurt someone and it stung him like nothing before.
Buster’s eyes were closed as he couldn’t bear to look at Tramp in his current state. It was then that he felt something rubbing against his right side…he opened one eye gingerly and saw Tramp’s fur pressed against his own.
“Wh…what are you doing…?”, Buster asked in astonishment.
“I just…feel like this needs to be done…”, replied Tramp.
Buster paused, truth be told, Tramp was rather comfortable and he wanted to savor this moment for as long as possible. “This…this doesn’t change anything between us, does it…?”, He asked.
“Buster…”, whispered Tramp, “...I would like to still be close, but…I can’t leave the life I already have…”
“Then…if you can’t be part of my life…I wanna be part of yours…”, murmured Buster.
“What do you mean…?”, asked Tramp.
“I’d do it…I would…I’d give up everything I have just so we don’t have to be separated…I’ll even wear one of those stupid collars if I have to…”, croaked Buster.
“You…you would actually do that…?”, Tramp replied, whirling back to face Buster.
“What else have I got to lose? I would go through hell and back just for you, understand that?”, Buster affirmed, “I’d only do that for the people I lo…lo…love…”
Tramp paused. Buster froze, expecting to receive some form of rejection, to be cast aside once more, or at the very least be told ‘no’...to his surprise, without a word, Tramp brought his muzzle to the side of the Doberman’s face and Buster thought he felt a small smooch on it. He couldn’t believe it was happening, he felt like he could cry.
“...The feeling is mutual”, Tramp said as he gave a soft rub to the other canine’s neck.
“I…I don’t…I don’t know what to say…”, Buster managed to fluster out, truly, he was speechless, yet also couldn’t help a broad grin of relief spreading across his face.
“This’ll be…hard to explain, but…I wanna make things work…if not for the fact that I…missed you too…”, murmured Tramp as he gave Buster a small nuzzle on his nose.
“...Thank you”, came the reply. Buster pressed his own muzzle against Tramp’s cheek, and the Schnauzer couldn’t hold back a wag of his tail, “This…isn’t gonna complicate things with the folks, is it?”
“Oh no, it will, but you forgot, this one’s got a silver tongue”, cooed Tramp.
“Heh, I’m sure you could use it on-”, Buster began to tease before Tramp put a paw to his mouth.
“Shhhhhh…we’re not there yet, Romeo”, replied the Schnauzer, “now…how’s about we get indoors, it’s freezing out here.”
“Haaaa…read my mind”, Buster sighed in relief. The two began to make their way up to the porch before Tramp stopped.
“This…might be a bit for the others to process, so…I’ll signal you in, if you don’t mind”, Tramp advised.
“Only if ya’ don’t leave me out to freeze”, replied Buster, “now…how’s about you make out with the theatrics, eh?”
Tramp gave a coy smile at this before he slipped through the dog door. The others were in the living room as the Schnauzer arrived, shaking his fur with a shiver.
“Oh thank goodness, you’re alright”, Lady said with relief.
“What’s he doing here, and what did he want?”, Angel asked.
“Well, we spoke, and…let’s just say, there is a change in his demeanor…”, Tramp said carefully, “BUT, don’t think I’m not keeping a close eye on him, just…I think I’d better show you…”
Tramp gave two barks which gave Buster the cue to enter the house. His lips curled at seeing the interior, and he saw the faces of Tramp’s family as he came through the kitchen. Lady gaped, Scamp blinked in surprise, Angel’s face dropped, Annette ruffled her nose in disdain, Collette dipped her head down in fear, and Danielle looked up with curiosity.
“Who’s the street dog?”, Annette said rather pointedly.
“ Annette ”, chided Lady before turning to Buster, “Whatever you’ve got to say, I’d suggest not making a scene.”
“Trust me, that’s the last thing I wanna do”, Buster muttered. He noticed Angel giving him a look, turning to face her, “I see you’ve settled in.”
“You had better not have come to drag me back to the dump”, spat Angel, “I’m not interested in being your puppet.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not interested in you”, snorted Buster, “besides, I didn’t come here to fight…and I kinda have something to say to you as well.”
Angel froze, she didn’t trust a word Buster was saying, even if he seemed less domineering than before. Regardless, the Doberman looked right at the Pomeranian as he added, “I…I hope you’re happy here…”
Without another word, Buster turned away and headed behind the kitchen counter out of sight. Angel didn’t know what to say, it hadn’t been the response she was expecting, but she didn’t know how to process it.
“I…I don’t know…”, She murmured.
“I think he’s trouble”, snorted Annette.
“Um yeah, what she said”, repeated Collette.
“Maybe…he’s not so bad?”, Danielle suggested. Her sisters gave her a look and she subsided. Scamp, however, decided to be bold and headed over to where Buster was sitting. The Rotterman was right in front of the stove, sprawled on his legs and his muzzle dipped into his arm. Scamp cautiously approached Buster as quietly as he could.
“I…I didn’t think I’d ever see you again…”, The pup whispered.
“Well, life’s full of surprises, wouldn’t ya’ know…”, murmured Buster, “hey, kid…I’m sorry about…ya’ know, gettin’ you wrapped up in that mess…”
“I mean…that wasn’t a nice experience at all…”, Scamp murmured, “and I probably should still be mad at you…but…for some reason, I never could. You just looked like…everything I wanted out of a street dog’s life…I know I sound crazy by saying this, but…are you staying?”
“Well…I’m here, aren’t I? Might as well try and make amends with the whirlwind and his old man, eh?”, Buster replied with a wink. Scamp gave a rather giddy chuckle as he tried to control himself.
“Oh, please show me more of those tricks you and Pop did, I wanna be a real top dog!”, tittered Scamp. Buster couldn’t help giving a grin at the pup as he patted him on the head.
“Easy now, sport, right now, I just wanna relax for a bit…”, Buster sighed, closing his eyes as he settled on the floor. Scamp made himself comfortable by pressing against the Rotterman’s side, giving a little stretch of legs as the pup sighed contentedly.
Watching from behind the counter, Tramp smiled at the display as he came up alongside Buster from the other end. “Room for one more?”, He asked coyly.
“Heh, get over here”, cooed Buster. Tramp did just that as he laid down next to his old friend. Lady peered through the corner herself and gave a sigh.
“Why do I always bring trouble into this house…?”, She murmured, shaking her head, “Jim Dear and Darling are going to have a fit…then again, I did convince them to let Tramp stay…hmmmm…”
Lady turned away as she headed back into the living room, she didn’t know what to think about Tramp and Buster rebuilding their relationship, and having another dog in the house was bound to cause a stir. However, she just HAD to pick the most charismatic dog in New Haven…a blessing and a curse with their new addition, she figured.