People I Know
By Dirt Coyote
Dane blinked several times, coming slowly out of his headspace. The commercials were enough to pull him from his trance and he slowly took the world in around him. It was his day off and the border collie had spent his morning on the living room floor wrapped in a blanket. Only maple syrup remained on his plate of microwavable french toast. A jug of grape juice lay empty on its side.
The dog turned his head to a clock hung against the wall. It was almost 11:00 and he had spent the entire morning watching shows. Little trumpets announced the return of the cartoon coyotes. They danced around in a circle, almost luring him back into his headspace, but he forced himself not to get distracted. Dane jumped to his feet, the pacifier around his neck flinging upward, and felt the pull of his diaper sag underneath.
Now the pup was really panicking. He had chores he'd promised himself he’d finish before the day was over, and now he had to add changing his diaper to the list. Things had been so much easier when his parents were still around. Mom and Dad helped him pick out his cublike clothes, toys, diapers, and, most importantly, did all of his grocery shopping. They'd moved to the coast for better weather and Dane had to do all those things himself now.
It sucked, but that was what being a big boy was all about.
Just a few more minutes of TV.
He strained to reach for the remote, flicking off the screen before he'd be stuck all day. Dane undid the tapes of his padding as he walked into his room before tossing the diaper into a pail. An audible squish made heat rise up to his ears. Even if his parents were gone and he lived alone, he really shouldn’t allow his diaper to get that soaked. A shower cleaned him off (and cooled him off) before he hopped on his back atop his bed.
Dane waited a second, fantasizing about a man that might come in with fresh padding in his paws: Someone big, like a lion or bear that would tower over him. The man would smile down wide, making him feel so little and fragile like he wanted. Soft kisses would warm his neck as baby powder was sprinkled on his bare crotch. Grunting, he threw himself out of his daydream.
Chores. Chores, Chores, Chores! Focus.
And he did, getting off the bed and grabbing a fresh diaper from a rack. It was big, probably a size bigger than he needed, but that's the way he liked them. He sat it on the bed and opened it, sitting down on top before applying large amounts of baby powder over himself.
Dane taped himself up, giving a pat to the front just to watch the powder plume upward. A blue and yellow striped shirt and brown khaki shorts would be his clothes for the day. His bright orange ball cap completed his outfit, and then he was out the door. Quickly back inside, he raced to the bathroom to grab his pacifier and now he was out the door. One more time, he snatched a navy blue tote bag AND NOW he was out the door.
Summer was in full swing midday, the sun beating down anywhere the trees couldn't shade. An enjoyable warmth radiated all over his chest and arms. It felt nice, and he'd have to remind himself to open up his curtains more often instead of sitting in a dark room all morning. He was almost to the sidewalk when a friendly voice called to him.
"Morning Dane," a white wolfess greeted while tending to her flowers. One arm made slow slow passes with the watering can over her petunias and daisies. The other waved at Dane in a soft lazy greeting. "I see you got your bag. Chore day?"
He nodded his head up and down and agreed, "Chore day."
She raised her sunhat and brushed her brow. "You included lots of veggies in your grocery list?" Her tone had sternness to it, though her smile remained gentle.
"Uh huh," he said weakly, but peaked into his bag just to make sure. The list he’d written last night was at the bottom, and he could make out broccoli, spinach, and carrots jotted in ink.
She chuckled, "Alright, but if you need any more, I've got fresh tomatoes and red onions in my garden."
Dane’s tongue stuck out and his eyes crossed instinctively. Those were the two worst veggies and he’d definitely not want to be stuck with those! He’d be sure to not forget any on the list, knowing full well his parents asked her to make sure he was eating right. With a wave, he made his way down the street towards the grocery store. Not many cars passed through this sleepy mountain town, but the world could still feel a little big for him. People greeting him along the way eased his short walk, no one minding the diaper frills poking out his shorts.
He was walking by the park when shouting voices caught his attention. Out on the lawn were three men, calling out to one another as they tossed a football around. A lion yelled for a dalmatian and raccoon to go long before launching the ball into the air. Both ran side by side, nudging and nipping at the other until it sailed down straight into the dog's arms.
The raccoon tried to snatch it out of his paws, but was shoved before he could get ahold of the ball. He retaliated, tackling the other into the ground and wrestling him. Not a moment after had the big cat rushed down the field and dove in on the pair. All three were clawing, grappling, biting, and pulling tails for the ball, laughing as they did so. They sensed eyes on them, and before Dane could leave, the dalmatian called out.
"Dane! Hey Dane!" he said as he pushed himself up using the other two's heads.
Dane shuffled, looking to keep walking, but the other dog was already halfway to him. "Oh, um, hey Nick. Looks like you're all having fun."
The dalmatian bobbed his head up and down, panting as he slowed in front of him. "Yeah! You should join us. You still think your arm's got it?"
Zackary, the lion, bumped Nick hard as he caught up. "Hey, I'm not so bad. He only was the backup quarterback. Let him run with you guys. He made a better receiver anyways."
"Yeah, c'mon," the raccoon, Todd, chimed in. He hung off Zachary, his frame small enough to not even shift the big feline.
Dane held his paws up, trying his best to calm down the rowdy bunch. "I can't, it's chore day," he said in his meek voice. It'd been years since he'd played any football, retiring that along with all the other big boy things he once did. They persisted anyways.
"Just a few tosses? Please," Nicked pressed further. He wrapped an arm around Dane, pulling him down before giving him a noogie.
The border collie fought against it weakly, trying to push him off while the other two men wrestled each other similarly. He'd always hated how rough they played with each other and him. Not hated, but it could be intimidating at times. Twisting around, his old football training kicking in, he managed to free himself and take a few steps away for space.
"Not today, but maybe some other time," Dane said nervously. His eyes trailed about the park and he caught the sight of the jungle gym he'd much rather be playing in.
Nick followed his gaze, noticing what Dane did, before turning back with a sly smile. "Yeah, maybe. Or maybe we'll just play in the sand together," he teased, sticking his tongue out at him playfully.
They all laughed and he blushed hard enough to redden his cheeks. He turned about, ready to keep going until he felt a pat against his rear. Dane squeaked, taking several long strides forward with his paws on his butt protectively. The diaper gave a loud crinkle, getting some more snickers from the boys. When he turned, he saw Nick smiling wide at him. "Stay dry. Let me know if you change your mind."
With a wink, the other dog left him and the lion and raccoon followed. They ribbed at one another loudly and Dane wasn't sure if he was being picked on or flirted with. It felt like there were butterflies in his stomach and he had to push it out of his mind before continuing down the road. He didn’t want to be having any big boy thoughts like those while out and about. Especially not on a chore day!
Dane was more than halfway to the store when he’d come across his old dreaded rival: the streetlight without a crossing signal. While school was in, he’d at least have Mrs. Rashida to help him make his way to the other side. With all the kids out of class in the middle of summer though, she was inside enjoying her midday lemonade. And he was left frozen on the corner, steps stuttered in indecision as the cars flew by.
"Hey, little man. You having some trouble?" an approaching voice asked.
Dane whirled around and saw a tiger standing behind him. It was his former high school prom king, now Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos, beaming down brightly at him. He could see his own reflection in the aviators he wore, looking small and bashful. His words got caught in his throat, always getting flabbergasted around the big man.
"Looks like someone could use a lift," Carlos said, pushing past the little collie’s mumbles.
The large feline crouched and Dane wrapped his arms around his neck, clasping his fingers together against his back. His head rested on Carlos's shoulder as he was hoisted up with a paw cupping his padded bottom. Weightlessly, he was carried across the street without so much as a grunt. Every step he took made his diaper crumble noisily until he was safely on the other side.
Carlos brought him back down gently onto his feet, waiting until he released before pulling back. With a growl and a kneel, the tiger flexed the gunshow off for the little pup to admire. Dane just clapped giddily, bouncing on the heels of his feet.
"Thanks," 
"Anytime, little man," he replied as he kissed his own biceps. "Just doing my part."
A wave sent him off with a skip in his step. His pacifier found its way into his muzzle and he suckled on the bulb while he passed into downtown. The red brick buildings grew dense where foot traffic got more busy. Cars rolled by slower, some even waving for him to pass at the stop signs. Their familiar faces gave him the confidence to cross without worry.
He was feeling pretty good by the time he stepped inside the grocery store. A cool air-conditioned breeze hit his muzzle, blowing away the heat right off his fur. Before he could even begin to appreciate it, a jackal in a green apron caught his attention. The boy’s arms waved frantically as he bursted, "Dane! Oh thank God, Dane, you're here. I need you. I need your help so bad!"
The border collie recoiled, the pacifier leaving his lips with a pop. "W-what? Vic,  It's my day off," he murmured.
The jackal, a boy just a few years younger than Dane, revealed his immaturity by grabbing the collar of the dog’s shirt and pulling him close. Ears turned, but everyone politely kept to themselves as Victor grit his teeth. He turned his long slender muzzle around a few times, undoubtedly making sure their manager was nowhere in sight before starting his panic again.
"I know and I'm so sorry, but—but, " the jackal trailed off, his green apron flipping around as he twisted back and forth. "I just— my pre-order of Jetpack Jaden V! It came out today and I forgot and now Kolby won't let me leave and if I don't get there today they'll all be snatched up and it’ll be another week before—"
"Okay, okay, okay. Just settle down," Dane said, trying to calm the stammering canine. Now, some shoppers had turned to see the commotion and the eyes were too much for him to bear. “I can cover for a little bit.”
Victor undid his apron, practically tossing it to the dog. “I swear. I swear, I’ll be like, thirty minutes at most,” he said, already a footstep out of the sliding glass doors.
“Thirty minutes!?!?” Dane hissed, about ready to go back on his deal, but the jackal didn’t stop.
“I’ll make it up to you. I’ll double make it up to you,” and as he passed into the parking lot, he finished with, “I promise!” before disappearing entirely.
Dane huffed, stomping his foot onto the ground as hard as he could. The sneakers only gave off a squeak, but he felt it was enough to get his disappointment across. With a sigh, he looped the apron around his neck and wrapped the drawstrings around his waist. A customer was waiting for him to bag their groceries when he approached the register. He shook off his frown, knowing big boys were polite out in public.
Time went fast at first, five minutes passing in the blink of an eye as he settled into the menial routine easily. Cans on bottom, bread on top. Separate the cleaning supplies from the produce. Milk jugs don’t get a paper bag because they’ll tear right through. Admittingly, it was kind of nice to just zone out while helping out his friend. Then the grape juice hit.
Dane thought the diaper he woke up in got the worst of his morning, but apparently the little border collie was an absolute puddle monster. The white of his cheeks turned a shade pink, but he tried to keep his focus on the job. Every turn and shuffle weighed on his bladder, the dam holding valiantly against his urges. A seemingly endless stream of customers lined up, all needing bags for their cans of soda, bottles of water, packs of Capri-sun, and—
Oh!
Surprisingly, it went away all at once.
False alarm.
A wave of relief washed over him, and he let loose a long exhale. With no more potty on his mind, he focused on his job. He felt warm enough to put the pacifier back inside his muzzle. No one minded, just giving him thanks as he placed their groceries into the carts. Things were slowing down when he heard a squeak beside him.
“Dane? What’re you doing here? Where’s Victor?” a wired stoat flooded him with questions. 
The mustelid’s paws went straight to his hips, and Dane knew he was going to be in big trouble. Though he was a good foot taller than his manager, he couldn’t help but shrink as Kolby stormed his way up over to him. Sizing the collie up good, he thrust his paw forward and motioned harshly for an explanation.
“Oh hi, Kolby. He’s just, um. I, um, well— You see,” Dane sputtered along for a second until his boss cut him short.
“You’re not supposed to work on your days off!” Kolby chided, finger waggling just under the dog’s nose. As if it dawned on him right here, the stoat turned to face the entrance of the store. “Did he go get that stupid video game of his?”
Dane squirmed, half expecting Victor to show up right then. He’d walk through those automatic sliding doors and Kolby would yell and they’d both get written up or maybe even fired! The diaper between his crotch sloshed and crumpled as his knees buckled. He was about ready to confess everything when the jackal called from behind. “Thanks, Dane. I really needed to use the restroom,” Victor lied, trying his best to conceal his panting.
Kolby flinched, spinning around to face the jackal. His brow narrowed on Victor, then went to Dane. The dog quickly caught up, nodding his head as he agreed, “Sure thing! I’m glad I could help you with the restroom you needed to use.”
Smooth.
Dane gave a wobbling smile, knowing full well that he shouldn’t be telling fibs. Not just because he was awful at telling them, but because good boys never lie. Victor must have snuck in from the back, and now he’d owe him big time. A light hug to his side was all he got for now. The jackal retrieved the apron as he pulled back. Kolby eyed the two of them suspiciously, getting in close. Just when he thought that the short stoat had figured it all out, he sniffed into the air.
“Hmm,” Kolby said, muzzle wrinkled, nose and whiskers twitching. Without any warning, hiss paw jutted forward and cupped right at Dane’s crotch. The border collie almost leapt out of his padding altogether as his front was grabbed. “Oh gosh darn, Dane. You’re sagging.”
Victor’s snickers could be heard all the way along to the ferret’s office. Dane let himself be led by the paw, head lowered the entire way there. He'd been so focused on work, he'd allowed himself to completely soak his diaper. There was a waddle in his walk across the store, but thankfully no one was staring.
Kolby locked the door to his office, and pointed at the changing station against the wall. It wasn't so much a changing station as a cart repurposed for Dane's needs, but he didn't argue. He just propped himself up on the mat on top so his legs were dangling over and rested his head on a pillow at the other side.
The stoat was mumbling to himself as he rummaged around the room, collecting items and sitting them next to Dane. After half a minute, he came around holding onto a large diaper. "Alright. No fussies," Kolby said, grabbing hold of the border collie’s pacifier and placing it in his maw.
He didn't make a peep as he suckled on the bulb, staring up at the ceiling. Some days, Dane could be a little pouty, but he knew Kolby was taking extra time out of work for him. Today, he was going to be an extra good boy for his manager. Well, as good as he could be.
His shorts hung on his ankles and the diaper was opened in almost a single motion. The cool air rushing against his crotch got a little squirm from him. His muzzle grew hot as the cold moist wipe ran against his private bits. It made his tail tuck between his legs, but Kolby just brushed it off to the side.
The little mustelid just continued to wipe him down as normal, humming something for Dane like he always did. He grunted as he heaved the dog’s legs up to get at his tush. Little murmurs escaped from his lips as the used diaper went out from under him. A new one replaced it before the baby powder came pouring down liberally. He always liked that Kolby did that.
"Good, good," Kolby said before sticking the tapes tight. "All dry now."
Dane almost took the ferret with him as he was helped off the cart. He looked down to see the pattern of his front: flowers, rainbows, ribbons, and smiling suns. His ears folded back as he picked at the pink frills and muttered, "These are the girly ones." 
Kolby snorted and rolled his eyes. "Well, that's all I bought. You'll just have to remember your own next time."
Dane nodded and before he looked like too much of an ungrateful brat, he hugged his boss tightly. Kolby's arms fluttered a second before he gave in and returned the hug. "Alright, I'll do that. Thank you, Kolby."
With a swat at his rear, he was sent back into the store. Dane shouldered his orange bag, feeling a bit better now that he was fresh. He pulled his grocery list out and held it up to his muzzle. His mom had helped him write it over the phone, but he was sure to list the thing he wanted most right at the heckin’ top: chicken nuggies.
He beelined straight to the frozen section, stopping at the glass doors. There were rows and rows of different chicken nuggets lined out for him. Dane's tail flicked about rapidly as he stared wide-eyed. It was a little pup paradise.
At first, he grabbed hold of the dinosaur shaped ones and stuffed them into his bag. Then his eyes caught sight of the star-shaped brand and questioned if he wanted those instead. Not wanting to miss out, he grabbed it and placed it in his bag alongside the dino nuggies. Noticing the jumbo nuggets as well, he stuffed those inside too until his bag was almost full.
"That's not a whole lot of variety."
Dane's fur ruffled and he spun around to see a jaguar looking down at him through her spectacles. She had her arms folded, her long thin tail tapping on the tiles beneath her. Even though he had been out of high school for years, he was still intimidated by his former principal's stare. He shriveled and nodded his head up and down.
"I'm just getting dinner for the week, Mrs. Swanson," he answered, trying to shield the bag from her.
"Huh," she pondered, stepping to him and snatching the grocery list from his paw. She studied it back and forth before flipping it around at him. "It says one box of chicken nuggets. I assume your parents made you underline it on purpose."
He grumbled, wishing he hadn't done that. "But how am I supposed to know which one's the best?" he pouted, raising his voice slightly.
Mrs. Swanson leaned in, handing him back the note before saying, "How about this? Why don't you finish getting everything else on the list, and if you still have room" —she grabbed the jumbo pack from his sack and began to put it back into the freezer— "then you can come back and get it later."
Dane's ears folded, but she made a good point. He only had the one bag and it was supposed to hold everything he needed for the week; not just chicken nuggets. Reluctantly, he nodded his head up and down and put away the star shaped ones before closing the door. It wasn’t a complete loss if he still got to keep the dino nuggies in his bag.
"That's a big boy," she said, patting him on the head before continuing along with her own shopping.
Dane followed the rest of the list as it was written, and sure enough, his bag was full by the time he got to the bottom of the list. He specifically went for Victor's checkout register, making sure to remind the jackal that he did owe him big time for covering him. He was just waved off, Victor slyly poking the game case of Jetpack Jaden V from his apron to show off. Dane couldn’t help but giggle as he walked out backwards to wave goodbye.
He wasn't watching where he was going and ran straight into someone. Dane floundered, losing his footing as he tripped on his own feet before falling straight down onto his butt. His tail was pinched underneath him, and he instinctively let out a high pitched yelp. The bag went flying, contents spilling out in every which direction of the asphalt parking lot.
"Oh shit, I'm so sorry."
Dane looked up off the ground, but he couldn't see through the tears welling up in his eyes. It really hurt to fall on his tail like that! The person shuffled about in front of him, picking up things on all fours. He blinked out the tears, trying his best to tell himself big boys don't cry. At least not out in public in front of…a stranger!
The fox in front of him was new, he was sure about that. He was shorter than him, probably about the same age. His jeans scraped on the floor as he scrambled to grab the produce and put it back into the bag. Dane was caught perplexed, feeling a bit awestruck seeing a new face.
As he managed to scoop up the last item, the fox’s head rose. "I'm so sorry about that," he said as he grinned apologetically and held the bag out towards him. The ache in his tail didn't seem to hurt quite as much as he stared into those beautiful vulpine eyes. He almost got lost in them until they trailed downward.
The stranger’s face twisted and Dane followed to see what he was looking at. His shirt had ridden up and his shorts tugged down enough to reveal the frills outlining his diaper and then some. Before he could think to say anything, the stranger nervously coughed out, "Is that a diaper?"
Oh no. Dane had some self awareness to know that pups his age didn't wear diapers like he did. Sure, some people picked on him when he first started regressing, but everyone in town eventually warmed up to it. This stranger, this cute fox boy wasn't from here, and not only that: he had caught him wearing the girl diapers! It wasn’t even his brand!
"Hey!"
Dane's head went back, Mrs. Swanson coming out of the store with a cart in front of her. The fox straightened himself out, eyes wide and ears perked. She pointed at Dane's bag wrapped tightly in his paws. "Are you stealing his groceries?" The jaguar asked accusingly, fangs bared and claws out.
The fox looked down at the bag and sputtered something before another shout halted him.
"I saw! He knocked him over!" Nick said, running across the street with the lion and raccoon behind him.
The boys rushed to Dane, each taking a side and hoisting the border collie off the ground. Their paws ran over his shorts and shirt, knocking off dust as they glared at the newcomer. The fox was frazzled, shifting around for an escape. Dane was too caught up, the words not coming to mind just as Deputy Carlos caught the ruckus.
"Everything alright here?" The big tiger asked, his brow furrowed.
Dane fought to find his voice, muttering, "Everything is—"
"This guy's picking on Dane!" Nick interrupted.
"And I think he's stealing his stuff," Mrs. Swanson interjected.
"No, I—" the fox held the bag out, "I just—"
Carlos snatched the bag from him, his face dark underneath the deputy hat. "I think what you mean to say is you'll be leaving now."
The fox shriveled, looked around at the group surrounding him, and then nodded his head before skittering off back into the parking lot. Dane's ears folded against his head, embarrassed at what had just happened. Carlos handed him the bag and everyone took a turn asking him if he was alright. He tried his best to reassure them everything was fine before heading off.
On the way home, he thought about the town. Everyone was amazing and he was grateful for all their help, but now it felt a little coddling. Diapers and the cartoons were great, but not when it meant that his friends were going to be so overprotective that they scared off newcomers. Maybe he should do some things to prove he could take care of himself. He could start crossing the street without help, write his own grocery lists, or play some football with the  guys. Maybe even wear big boy underwear at least a couple times a week?
Okay, maybe nothing so drastic!
A sigh of relief escaped his muzzle as he opened the door to his house and slunk back against it. Today had been a busy day and he was glad to be back inside. He put his groceries away, leaving only the box of chicken nuggets out. They went into the microwave, warming up as he walked into his room. If there was one thing that was going to cheer him up, it was going to be din din.
The clothes went off onto the floor and he hurriedly put on his favorite kigurumi: a green t-rex with large red spikes crawling up the back. He stomped into the living room, giving a ferocious roar in hunger. His prey pleaded with him for mercy, panicking frantically around the plastic plate. One by one though, they were each dunked in ketchup before Dane gobbled them up.
He just finished the last chicken nugget when he heard the ring of his buzzer. His ears went up, and he felt a little embarrassed thinking someone had heard him playing pretend with his dinner. With some caution, he opened the door slowly and poked his muzzle out, careful to keep his kigu away from sight. A small gasp passed through his lips as he saw who was waiting for him.
"Oh, it's you," Dane said softly.
The fox from earlier was standing on his front porch with paws balled up in fists. His muzzle was ducked, and he struggled to keep eye contact as he spoke, "Hi. I'm sorry about earlier at the store. I, uh, didn't mean to cause so much excitement."
Now it was Dane's turn to feel sheepish, turning his muzzle down and scratching the back of his head. "No, I'm sorry. You didn't do anything wrong. The people I know...well, they can be a little protective sometimes. I’m actually surprised anyone told you where I lived."
He chuckled at that, nodding his head up and down, "Yeah, no one helped me out at first, but a jackal seemed nice enough. When I told him I just wanted to apologize, he pointed me in the right direction and mentioned something about owing you a favor." The fox let out a sigh and held out his paw. "I'm Brook. I'm new to town and I don't want to start things off on the wrong foot."
Dane bit his lip, looking at the extended paw. He hadn't thought to button up his kigurumi and his diaper was in clear view. It felt rude to leave him there waiting for a shake though. Being rude to strangers was something only bad boys did, and he never wanted to be a bad boy.
He opened the door, revealing his full self to the fox. As soon as he grabbed hold of his paw, his kigu opened to reveal the big pink diaper he was still wearing. The border collie went red and tried his best to close up his outfit. Brook's white fur on his muzzle went flush as well and it was pretty obvious he'd gotten a faceful of the dog's exposed chest and padding.
"Uh, sorry," Dane said, as he tried to awkwardly hold the kigu closed.
"No, I um, think that's a good brand," he blurted out at once.
"They're not my usual— Wait."
As he stared curiously at Brook, the words settled in. This fox, this complete stranger, had revealed to him something that he never thought he'd share with another person in town. He couldn't hold back a smile and as his lips rose, so did the vulpine's. They smiled goofily at each other until Dane managed to find the words he wanted to say.
"Do you want to come inside?"
The two sat for hours on the living room floor crosslegged, way beyond Dane’s beddy-bye, with the Junior channel playing in front of them. Though the cartoons streamed on endlessly, they talked over them like a couple overwhelming chatterboxes. Each shared their favorite toys, outfits, brands, shows, games, and pretty much everything. Dane had brought out a spare pacifier and while one spoke, the other would suckle and listen.
“So you’ve been doing this for years now?” Brook said before wrapping his lips around the bulb of his pacifier.
Dane nodded his head up and down gingerly, smiling wide behind the grip of his pacifier while responding with an, “Uh huh.”
“And no one seems to mind?” As he asked, turning over his shoulder to look in the direction of the front door.
Brook’s eyes lingered there cautiously, as if expecting the entire town to come bursting through to shovel him back to wherever he came from. Pulling him from his thoughts, Dane reached forward and grabbed hold of Brook’s pacifier. He tugged on the necklace that it was attached to, getting the fox to turn his head back before stuffing the pacifier past his lips. He didn’t protest; just suckled calmly.
“Not everyone at first,” Dane started truthfully with his pacifier in paw, waving it around aimlessly as he spoke, “but most of the bad people are gone and everyone that stuck around treats me well.”
A wobbly smile split behind the guard of Brook’s pacifier. He seemed to think a second before popping it out and saying, “That’s really cool. I hope that everyone isn’t gonna stay mad at me for long.”
Dane’s muzzle turned sour at that and he dipped his head down in shame. The events of today were still fresh in his mind, and though it was a simple misunderstanding, he felt responsible for all of it. Shaking off the frown, he gave Brook a reassuring smile and said, “They won’t stay mad. We’ll show them that you and I are best friends and everyone will want to be your friend too.”
Best friends?
Dane felt hot at that and he could tell Brook did too. Bashful, they turned their heads towards the TV for a second. The two sat in silence for a second, both retrieving their pacifiers and putting them back into their muzzles. A million things seemed to be running through their minds, while the shows played on neglected. Both had been scooching closer the entire time until they were almost side by side.
Brook was the first to speak again, leaning over and whispering, "When I came out here, I actually thought I wanted to be alone. I chose this mountain town because I just wanted to stay inside all day without worrying about privacy. I could never do what you do while I lived in the city, especially with my parents. They weren’t quite as happy when they found my cub stuff," Brook said, his ears folded back. "They said big boys don't wear diapers and tossed it all away in the trash."
The fox tried to keep a strong face, but he could see that Brook was on the verge of tears already. Heck, just the thought of someone throwing away all of his puppy toys and diapers made Dane want to cry himself. This poor kid didn’t have any of the support that Dane had just took for granted. The collie’s brow furrowed, a stern look forming on his muzzle before he gave a few self-assured nods.
“Well, I’m a big boy and I wear diapers, so there’s nothing wrong with that,” Dane started, thumb pressed deep into his own chestfur between the opening of the kigu. He beamed as he further added, “You won’t have to worry about anyone picking on you, or throwing your stuff away, or not letting you be who you are because I’ll—, I’ll—-, I’ll be like a big brother to you!”
Dane felt a little embarrassed with how fast he blurted that last part out. The fox's muzzle went instantly red as well, but his smile was wild and uncontrollable. Dane knew that with the way Brook tried to fight it so hard. Unable to, he just laughed off the collie’s silliness and nodded in agreement. "Alright! I’d like to be your little brother, though, do you really think you can take care of me?"
Dane blushed and ducked his muzzle, "Well, I'll try to. And if not, Mom and Dad will definitely have something to say about it."
“Oh really?” Brook said coyly, lashes fluttering in the fox’s smooth long blinks. “They sound really awesome.”
Dane smirked, rolling his eyes and saying, “Yeah, they’re alright now that I don’t have to eat veggies everyday. Mom’ll visit soon though, so just tell her I have been eating my greens and she’ll bake us her chocolate chip cookies."
There was another pause, this time they kept their attention on one another instead of folding to the TV. When the pressure became insurmountable, Brook leaned in and embraced the collie tightly. The hug was different than any he’d ever received before: not patronizing nor parental, but something shared between Dane and Brook alone. No matter if he could put words to it or not, it was the best hug he’d ever received in his entire life.
They kept close for a while, maybe a bit longer than necessary, until Dane shifted in slight discomfort. He hadn’t realized it until the diaper squished noisily underneath him. A squeak let out from his muzzle and he pulled back with a grimace. That grape juice really did a number on him. He wasn’t even sure how long he’d been sitting in the wet diaper, but it was already feeling cold and a little sticky against his fur.
"I guess it's time for a change," Dane chuckled, pawing at the back of his head.
Brook had heard the squishiness too, but he was far less repulsed. No, when he looked into the fox's face, he only had a toothy grin waiting for him. He said slyly, just above a whisper, “I can come with.”
The fox’s paw lingered on top of the collie’s, etching little circles against him. He looked up into his eyes, catching him again like he had when they first met. That vulpine stare held him, just as dangerous as the tip of his claw tracing through his fur into his skin. Brook waggled his brow, and as much as Dane was excited to act like a little cub with him, he was much more excited to see what big boy games he could play with his new friend.

It's past noon, and Dane has spent the day sitting on his butt watching cartoons. What would his parents think? Well, now that they're living far away, it's up to the little border collie pup to pull it together and go grocery shopping all by his big boy self...And MAYBE with the help of some friends. You can do it, Dane!

*****

Huzzah! Another Saturday, another story. This one was a reject that I felt deserved the respect it was warranted, so I'm giving it to all of you. FOR FREE! I guess I'm just nice like that. Artwork is done by the incredibly talented FA:Pukaa . I'm really grateful that he drew this on relatively short notice. Please go give him a watch, fave, holler, and some love.

Male Male/Male Gay Gay_Relationships Diapers Babyfur Cubbing_Out Wetting Public Embarrassing Accident Border_Collie Fox Stoat ABDL Canine Dog