Chapter Text
Chapter One
Quiet Mornings
It’s a ridiculously sunny and hot Sunday morning, the alarm blares at 4:45am, same as every morning. Josh stirs in bed and rolls over. Pulling the duvet from his face and letting out a blissful sigh.
He’s dragged from his sleepy haze, not even two minutes later, as Jim pounces on the bed. Panting and drooling all over Josh’s face, giddy to start the day “morning boy, you ready to get up im guessing?” Josh giggles as he sits himself up on the bed, patting Jim’s golden fur and nuzzling their foreheads together.
Josh stands and stretches his arms high above his head, fluffy bouncing curls almost completely perfect despite the hot humid nightly air. Wiping a palm across his sleepy face and running his fingers through his dark brown locks, motioning for him to follow to the kitchen. They walk side by side out of the room into the open living/dining space, Jim’s bed (not that he ever uses it) placed next to the corner couch. The bright Ohio sun climbed across the soft pine coloured floors, catching against the vast plants and along the gleaming kitchen surfaces.
Josh loves his mornings, they’re quiet and calm, calculated to the dot. He wakes every morning at 4:45am, mostly to the sound of the alarm but fully awoken by the Jim ambush.
The routine is as follows
Alarm 4:45am
Jim pounce 4:47am - 4:50am
Out of bed, coffee on and Jim fed by 4:55am
While Jim eats Josh quickly showers and dresses, pops in his contacts and styles his hair. waters the plants and by 5:15am coffee is ready
Catch up on social media and cook something quick
Eat and out the door by 5:45am
It’s simple, it's calm, it’s practised. That’s exactly how Josh likes to do everything. Josh grabs his keys, his wallet and his laptop bag as he leashes up a bouncing Jim and they head out of the door. They run every morning to the dog park. It's the best in town, a 30 minute run there, an hour in the park, a 30 minute run back. Leaving Josh a good 15minutes to change, grab his car keys and drive the 6 minutes to work on a weekday.
Josh likes the early mornings at the park. There’s only two or three other walkers at that time, especially on a Sunday. It’s quiet, it’s practised, it’s calm. Exactly how Josh likes it.
••૮ ˆﻌˆ ა••
Across town Tyler is grouching and moaning in his bed, looking over at his phone on the nightstand and seeing the beaming 5:55am staring up at him, much to his utter dismay, he rolls over and sits up. He truly hates mornings. He hates waking up from his cosy cocoon of thick, fluffy blankets and weighted duvet. He swears some mornings he’s furious how much he loves his dog, but how can he really complain when this giant goofball of fluff is bouncing all over the bed, barking and licking his face. He gives him a little nudge with his elbow to shift his weight so he can climb up out of the bed.
“Cmon Ace, let’s get you some breakfast huh pal?” He laughs as his 90lbs of muscle German shepherd bounds from the bed and jumps up at him with excitement. As he walks by the mirror against the wall near the bedroom door he catches a glimpse of himself, sighing loudly.
His hair is a tousled mess, sticking out in every way, deep chocolate brown waves stuck to his forehead from the summer heat seeping through the windows in the night. “Great, hat day in this heat, no time to wash it Ace, barely got time to shower pal. We’ll be late for your morning walk otherwise” he glances down at Ace, sitting patiently at the open door waiting for his command to leave the room. “Okay ace, come” and he bounds over to Tyler eagerly awaiting his head pat while his breakfast is made.
The curtains are still closed, and will probably stay that way for the day, as the summer light just bugs Tyler some days. The kitchen is dark and a little messy with last night's takeout containers.
Tyler sets down the dog bowl, grabs an ice cold redbull from the fridge and heads back to the bedroom to grab a quick shower while Ace eats. He doesn’t mind showering this early, it helps to wake him up that little bit more. Once he’s showered, he strolls back into the bedroom, one hand clenching the towel, the other freezing against the redbull can as he chugs it down and throws the empty can in his trash can. He throws some joggers he wore yesterday on, picks up a band shirt from the floor.. he’s not sure when this was last washed “better give it a quick sniff” he says to himself, deciding there’s nothing wrong with it he throws it over his head, sprays himself with his favourite, sweet, caramel heavy fragrance and slides on his favourite orange hat.
He stalks out the room, grabbing an extra redbull for the car journey from the fridge and spotting Ace sitting by the door leash in mouth, ready to go. Tyler chuckles to himself and pats Ace's head, “Found us a brand new dog park Ace, looks lots of fun and loads of space for you to run wild buddy, sounds good huh? And it’s only a 4 minute drive, what a bonus” He fastens the leash as Ace barks in agreement. He grabs his checkered jacket from the hook, his keys from the side table glancing down at his phone to check the time, 6:35am “record time today pal, we’re smashing it” and they head out the door.
••૮ ˆﻌˆ ა••
Josh has been at the park for 30 minutes, drills and training with Jim going smoothly, as always, a few kind warm hellos to the local walkers. Nothing out of the ordinary. He’s about to start their lap around the park with intermediate commands when Josh hears it, this loud blaring guitar solo coming from the car park. He glances to his right and sees a beaming, shiny black Mercedes. Every single window all the way down, and a giant German shepherd’s head hanging out the passenger window. “Oh god, please only be someone visiting and not a new resident” Josh mutters to himself.
Tyler quietens the music, rolls all the windows up and clambers out the driver's side. He stalks around the front of the car to let Ace out, not bothering to reattach his leash and letting him run wild “don’t go too far buddy, lots to do today” he laughs as Ace sniffs at the ground and barks back as if to say yes. He’s looking down at his phone, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, not paying much attention to his surroundings. He sits himself down on a slightly rusted, and wooden bench, one leg crossed atop the other.
Across the park Ace has bounded, very excitedly to Jim. Sniffing at him and lowly howls in Jim’s face, right in the middle of a set of commands. Josh runs a hand down his face, firms up his form and with a simple, yet assertive voice he begins “Jim, to the right… good boy.” He pats Jim’s head. “You, random dog, off.” Ace sits, eyes beaming up at Josh, light pants escaping his mouth. “No, off you go now. Jim is training, no space for you here” he says firmer. Ace still doesn’t respond. Great…Josh thinks to himself, untrained and causing a mess of my day he follows up.
He looks up, and around for this new dog's owner. He spots him almost immediately, he must be that guy in the obnoxious orange hat, sitting on the bench completely zoned out and almost falling asleep. Josh must admit he does look cute, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to engage. He decides doesn’t want to get into it with the obviously unbothered looking owner. He commands for Jim to follow and starts striding off, way across the park to a vast open area.
Ace follows.
“Hey now, dog, you're not with us, go away to your owner now” he commands, and Ace lets out a sad yelp and lays on his tummy looking over to Tyler. The second Tyler hears that yelp his head snaps up. He’s in full attention mode as he stands and almost jogs over to Ace.
“Hey buddy, what’s going on? What’s wrong huh?” He kneels beside Ace. Giving him some gentle soft strokes he looks Josh up and down. Taking in his strong stance and locked jaw. His dark mocha eyes and his bouncy curly hair take Tyler a little by surprise “What? You’re not letting him play with you guys? Ace is wonderful, what's your issue man?” He almost growls at Josh.
“Hey look man, im training here and your dog can’t follow a simple command to leave us alone, Jim has a solid routine. He does this every morning and your dog is messing that up” he snarls back at Tyler.
“Woah dude, chill out yeah? He’s just trying to say hello. I’ll have you know he’s incredibly well trained. Don’t ever assume something about Ace.” He almost raises his voice maybe a little too at Josh.
“Well, ‘Ace’ can’t follow a simple no, so I don’t quite believe that dude. Just take him to another side of the park okay? We come this early because nobody's here. And then you show up, lack of regard towards the rules” Josh huffs out in a pained, almost tired of the situation already, kind of breath.
“Whatever man, take your dog further into the park. Me and Ace are done here anyway, wouldn’t want him seeing that stick up your ass and try retrieving it” he laughs, turns on his heels and stalks off, giving two pats to the side of his thigh, Ace quickly stands and follows after him.
“Can you even believe that guy, Jim?” Josh grumbles.
“Can you even believe the attitude of him, Ace?” Tyler whines as they leave the park.
••૮ ˆﻌˆ ა••
It’s late Sunday evening, Tyler is still a little wound up from the dark park earlier today. He’s completed all his errands, bought the essentials for the new apartment. Cleaning stuff, basic food items, couch ordered and arriving later in the week. He feels calmer but still wound up, deciding he’s too aggravated to cook he orders some Taco Bell, settles in bed and puts on one of his and Ace's favourite movies.
“First day tomorrow boy, are you excited to come to the kennel with me? Got some new bits to try out with you, show you off to the untrained little puppies” he whispered tentatively down to a sleepy Ace.
He pats Ace on the head and slides the laptop off him, getting nestled in his nest of blankets he starts to drift off. Still thinking about the uptight dog trainer in the park.
••૮ ˆﻌˆ ა••
Josh has spent most the day at home, filling out graduation papers for some of the summer dogs. Checking the schedule for the coming week to see what dogs he’s got in. It's late evening and he’s just finished cooking up dinner. A simple version of Thai curry, chopsticks in hand he plops onto the couch, Jim by his side as they watch Friends on tv.
“I can’t get over that guy earlier Jim” he ponders out loud. “And that ridiculous dog name ‘Ace’ , what even is that buddy, sounds like a fighter pilot.” He brushes it off and he laughs to himself
“Back at it again tomorrow dude, we’ve no new dogs this week but we need to finish up the graduation ceremony for the ones leaving us, lots to plan. I won’t be in training tomorrow, just more office stuff okay bud? I’ll be around though don’t worry” he strokes along Jim’s fluffy back.
••૮ ˆﻌˆ ა••
Morning comes around again, Josh’s routine gets into full swing. Nothing out of the ordinary.
They finish up at the park right on time, make it back home with around 3 extra minutes to spare. Josh quickly dresses. Fitted black tshirt, hugging him in all the right places. His black cargo shorts, and his back and white checkered vans. He plops on his baseball cap backwards and he and Jim head out the door to set off for work.
With a few extra minutes to spare this morning, he decides to stop off at the local coffee shop first, grabbing himself a steaming hot 4 shot, but small latte, and a large caramel and vanilla latte for Mark. Arriving at work just in time. Pulling into the car park he notices a new car, oh god, is that the Mercedes from the dog park yesterday?
Josh and Jim climb get out of the car, Jim awaiting for his command to bounce off into the kennels. “Okay Jim, GO” Josh giggles as he watches Jim pant and sprint into the kennels, hearing the howls and hellos all the other dogs are barking at Jim.
He walks over to the office and pushes his back against the door to enter. He’s full of a wide smile, hands holding hot coffees as he shouts over to Mark, “morning dude, got your horrible sickly coffee right here pal” he gestures before looking over at Mark's desk. “Oh perfect, pass it here then, im just going through the new starter paperwork with Tyler, then we can start planning out the graduation event” and that’s when Josh finally looks up, noticing the same tall dark haired guy from the dog park. Eyes gleaming at him and he smirks in a way that almost makes Josh black out for a second.
“Oh.. it’s you” Josh says in a low growl.
“Oh.. yeah.. it’s me.” Tyler answers back with a smug, almost giggle.
“Oh you guys have met, that’s wonderful. You’ll be working the same kennel together.. so that’s.. uh that’s perfect” Mark smiles at them both, clearly oblivious to the tension.
“Perfect” they both say in unison.
Josh storms over to his desk, swipes up his coffee and storms out the room towards the training field right outside, without so much as a second glance at Mark or Tyler.
After Mark is done giving Tyler a brief tour of the premises he shows Tyler to the training field. Once there he really notices Josh for the first time. Doing his routine with Jim just a few feet away.
Tylers gleams at him, grinning with mischief and maybe a little desire. He takes this moment to look Josh up and down, he didn’t get a chance to really take him in at the park.
Not after he basically yelled at him and Ace. He’s hot Tyler decides, he’s got cute deep brown curls flopping over his forehead. His shirt is just tight enough to see he really works out, and loves doing so. But when Tyler really looks at Josh’s face, he sees the little freckles sprinkled across his nose, the way his mouth is almost a downward smile, and his little silver nose rings adoring each side. The black gauges in both ears, and his thick large hands. Oh boy, he looks like he’d make Tyler squirm and whine. Tyler nods slightly to himself yeah… he’s fucking hot. Josh catches Tyler’s glances and lets out a little annoyed huff. He calls Jim to his side, he gives Mark a stern nod and doesn’t acknowledge Tyler’s presence.
Tyler’s head is throbbing. Not in a painful way, in a confused, why is this guy so hot to me, what’s this guy's problem with me already, way.
“Uhm…Mark.. what’s his deal?” He lets out as he rubs the back of his neck.
“Oh he’s just uhhh…. Very methodical, doesn’t like change much. Strict to his routine and his training style, I actually brought you in for this position because I think you’ll help him loosen up a little. You’ve always been the carefree but structured one. Ever since elementary” Mark says, a little too matter of factly.
“Ahh… one of those.. im sure I can shake that out of him a little” Tyler states, giving Mark a little nudge and giggling, smoothing the hair from his forehead and looking back over his shoulder to see Josh entering the office again. Catching the quick glimpse he’s shooting Tyler's way before quickly looking down and slamming the door behind him.