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A-Xu braces himself.
Three, two, one…
WHOOMP! His entire field of vision whites out. A-Xu takes a deep breath to voice his displeasure and inhales a mouthful of thick fur. It tickles his nose, and he sneezes.
Backing up frees him momentarily from the dog that has collided with him, but then a cold, wet nose is pressed directly against his face.
Jumping slightly at the sensation, A-Xu lets out a short bark, sending a warning to the Samoyed practically vibrating with excitement in front of him.
The large, white dog whines back. Flattening his ears, he throws himself to the ground in front of A-Xu so that he is looking up at the Shiba. His dark eyes are glistening, and he opens them wide for maximum effect.
Luckily, A-Xu is impervious to A-Xing’s pouting. Mostly.
When Chengling had first brought him to this park, he had been overwhelmed by the other dog’s enthusiastic friendliness. It was also obvious that the Samoyed led the largest pack in the park, so it was probably in A-Xu’s best interests to stay on good terms with him.
Big mistake.
Now he knows better. When given an inch, A-Xing will take a mile.
From then on, he has stuck to A-Xu like a stubborn burr in his coat. No matter how many times A-Xu growls or tries to ignore him, A-Xing refuses to leave his side. At this point, he has given up and just goes about his business while the Samoyed trots happily next to him.
It looks like today won’t be any different. A-Xing stops his pretend groveling and rolls onto his back, all four paws sticking straight up into the air. His vulnerable belly is an open invitation to pounce, but A-Xu resists the temptation. From the toothy grin A-Xing is giving him, it’s exactly what the other dog wants.
Instead, A-Xu looks over his shoulder at Chengling, who is daydreaming again and has forgotten to remove his leash.
Silly pup, A-Xu thinks with gruff fondness. He walks over to his owner’s side and rubs his head against Chengling’s knee. The boy looks down at him, blinking slowly until he realizes his mistake and unclips the leash.
After scratching behind A-Xu’s ears, Chengling goes over to the bench where A-Xing’s owner, Gu Xiang, is sitting. She glances up from her phone when he sits next to her and pinches his cheek before going back to her texting.
Satisfied that his pup is safe with the fierce A-Xiang, A-Xu decides to head over to his favorite sunbathing spot.
A-Xing rolls back over and surges to his paws when he sees A-Xu leaving. After shaking his thick fur free of dirt, he follows closely behind.
They pass by several members of A-Xing’s pack on the way there, and they all move quickly out of the way, their heads dropping low. A-Xing barely acknowledges them, his attention entirely focused on the Shiba beside him.
Glancing at the smiling Samoyed, A-Xu wonders again what A-Xing has done to win the respect of so many dogs in the park. It does not really matter to him as he usually tries to stay out of pack politics. He just can’t imagine how anyone takes this giant ball of fluff seriously.
The matter is forgotten when A-Xu sees that his favorite spot is unoccupied. He lets out a sigh of content.
Suddenly, A-Xing runs ahead, generating a gust of wind that ruffles through A-Xu’s fur. When he reaches the spot, he starts pawing at the ground, pushing aside the leaves and pebbles scattered there.
Sitting back on his haunches once he has finished, A-Xing looks proudly at A-Xu, his tail swishing wildly over the dirt. A-Xu advances slowly, taking a look at his work.
Although he hates to admit it, it will be nice not to have little rocks poking at his body while he sleeps. He places a paw on A-Xing’s front leg in thanks, and the other dog’s eyes crinkle, his smile widening and his tail moving even faster.
After turning around a few times, A-Xu folds himself down, resting his head on his front paws. The warmth of the sun quickly lulls him into a doze.
A-Xing lays down nearby, but the other dog cannot stay still or quiet. His constant fidgeting and snuffling keep making A-Xu’s ears twitch unconsciously towards him, preventing him from falling asleep.
Eventually, the Samoyed gets up and leaves. Finally, A-Xu thinks, settling himself in for a long overdue nap.
Before a minute passes, A-Xing comes back. He drops something next to A-Xu, and then he runs off again. He does this several more times before flopping to the ground and panting loudly.
Despite his curiosity, A-Xu keeps his eyes closed, not wanting to give in to A-Xing’s demands for his attention. He waits a few moments longer before yawning and pushing his hips up, stretching out his back.
A-Xing whines softly, and A-Xu opens his eyes to see the other dog’s gaze fixated on his curly tail.
A-Xu has enough experience with A-Xing’s fascination with his tail to know to give a warning growl that makes A-Xing’s expression turn apologetic. Sheepishly, the other dog uses his nose to push several objects towards him.
They are toys, A-Xu sees. A frankly ridiculous amount. Gu Xiang really does spoil A-Xing way too much. Well, his nap has already been ruined so he might as well have some fun.
Standing up, he gives himself a good shake before smelling each of the toys as A-Xing watches him make his selection. Ultimately, A-Xu settles on a classic, a length of sturdy knotted rope with tassels on both ends.
The Shiba fits his jaw around the toy, and, without warning, he sprints away from A-Xing. Even though his knees aren’t what they used to be, A-Xu still runs very fast, so it takes some time before the other dog can catch up to him.
When he finally does, A-Xu turns around, dropping into a crouch with the toy still clenched in his mouth. He snarls playfully when A-Xing mimics his stance. The Samoyed’s tail curls over his back and whips around in circles as he barks excitedly at A-Xu.
A-Xing makes a few half-hearted attempts to steal the toy, but A-Xu dodges his snapping jaws each time. He eventually lets A-Xing grab onto one tasseled end, and they tug the rope between them.
With his teeth sunk deep into the sturdy fabric, A-Xu jerks his head back, but he can’t get the larger dog to let go of the toy. He does it again, and surprisingly, this time, A-Xing gives in.
Before he can run away with it, A-Xing bites at a piece of the rope that is much closer to A-Xu. Now, their muzzles are almost touching, and all A-Xu can see is the other dog’s wet, black nose.
As soon as he realizes A-Xing’s intention, A-Xu releases the toy. Even so, he can’t turn his head fast enough to avoid the large tongue that licks a long stripe up his cheek.
Letting himself fall to his side, A-Xu closes his eyes, playing dead to deter any more licking.
His front paws are held rigidly against his chest. He lets his tongue flop out of his mouth and keeps himself as still as possible. It’s hard to avoid squirming with A-Xing’s fur tickling him as the Samoyed investigates. He sniffs at A-Xu, trying to figure out this new game.
Suddenly, A-Xing steps back, and the peace of the park is broken by a loud, mournful HOWL.
A-Xu shoots up at the unexpected sound, his fur standing on end. Every single dog and human in the park stares at the two of them. Embarrassed, he barks at A-Xing to stop, but the other dog continues keening, his snout pointed straight up at the sky.
When his howl finally starts to fade out, A-Xing sends a sideways glance at A-Xu, who is utterly unimpressed by these dramatics.
Apparently, A-Xing takes this to mean he should try again. Just as he takes a deep breath, A-Xu pounces, clamping his jaws down onto the other dog’s snout.
Shut up, A-Xu thinks. He glares into A-Xing’s deceptively innocent eyes and increases the pressure of his teeth slightly before releasing the snout. His jaw aches a little from the stretch, but at least the Samoyed is finally quiet.
A-Xing’s tongue sweeps out, licking his lips and wetting his button of a nose. He blinks dazedly a few times before crumpling to the ground.
Well, if A-Xu had known that was all it took to subdue A-Xing, he would have done it a long time ago.
Once again, the Samoyed’s soft belly is exposed, and this time, A-Xu doesn’t hold back. He buries his head into the white fluff, nipping as A-Xing’s large paws descend on him. He expects to be shoved aside, but instead, A-Xing brings him in closer.
They wrestle for a while until A-Xu feels a deep vibration go through A-Xing’s body. When he realizes the other dog is growling, he detangles himself from the thick fur surrounding him.
They both push themselves up to their paws, but for once, A-Xing isn’t looking at A-Xu.
He continues growling, the low rumble wrinkling his snout and exposing his teeth. Long, sharp canines flash menacingly, and for the first time, A-Xu sees a true pack leader.
Without thinking, he places himself in front of the Samoyed, searching for whatever is making the large dog so uncharacteristically upset. He follows A-Xing’s line of sight, and his gaze lands on the bench where Chengling and A-Xiang are sitting.
In the next moment, A-Xu is sprinting over to them, his heart pounding with worry for his pup.
He skids to a stop when he reaches the bench. Rearing up onto his hind legs, he places his paws on Chengling’s knees and checks him over. The boy looks surprised at A-Xu’s sudden appearance, but he doesn’t seem to be in any danger.
There is an angry bark as A-Xing stalks towards the bench.
His black eyes glint dangerously at the human who, A-Xu now realizes, is sitting next to A-Xiang. He looks familiar, A-Xu thinks, his head tilting in confusion. Nervously, the young man lets go of A-Xiang’s hands, rises from his seat, and backs up slowly.
A-Xiang slides off the bench and throws her arms around A-Xing’s scruff. “Master!” she whines, “Leave poor Cao Weining alone. He hasn’t done anything wrong!”
Ah right, this is the little idiot who always follows A-Xiang around like a lovesick puppy. Apparently, A-Xing does not approve although A-Xu isn’t too sure why. He looks harmless enough.
The Samoyed ignores his owner, his lips curled aggressively over his teeth. He barks again, and Cao Weining looks ready to cry from fright.
A-Xiang sends a pleading look towards the Shiba. “A-Xu! Help me calm your husband. Work your lao po magic.”
Although A-Xu doesn’t quite understand, he hears the request and recognizes the situation.
Dropping down from Chengling’s legs, he walks over to the agitated Samoyed. By crouching slightly, he can tuck himself under A-Xing’s belly. He wiggles until he is centered between A-Xing’s front paws and butts his head against the chest behind him.
The rumbles vibrating through the larger dog’s body stop. His front legs still framing A-Xu, A-Xing sits on his haunches and lowers his head to press his cheek to A-Xu’s face.
A-Xu allows it for a few moments, long enough for Cao Weining to kiss A-Xiang’s cheek and flee from the park with his tail between his legs. When it becomes apparent that A-Xing would be happy to stay intertwined like this forever, he begins to squirm out from under the other dog.
He scampers back towards where they had abandoned the toy. This time, he allows A-Xing to grab it first. Catching the rope in his mouth, A-Xing runs away from A-Xu although he throws several glances behind him to make sure the Shiba is following him.
When they get bored, they switch back to wrestling until a high-pitched whistle makes them both turn their heads automatically.
A-Xu is in mid-leap, about to shove his paws into A-Xing, who had jumped into the air at the same time. With both of them distracted, they land in a crumpled heap.
Before A-Xing can take advantage of their situation, A-Xu scrambles to his paws and rushes over to where Chengling and A-Xiang are standing. A-Xiang is on her tiptoes and waving both her arms over her head to catch their attention.
“Time to go home, lovebirds!” A-Xiang says as she hands a bone-shaped treat to A-Xing.
Immediately, A-Xing offers it to A-Xu, who takes it delicately into his mouth and crunches down with his teeth. His tail starts to flick back-and-forth at the meaty flavor, sending a wiggle into his hips.
A-Xiang already has another treat in her hand for the Samoyed, used by now to this behavior. After the first couple times it happened, she had attempted to give the treat directly to A-Xu, but A-Xing had made such a fuss about it that she hadn’t tried again.
Breaking his treat apart, A-Xing nudges the larger half towards A-Xu. His smile is wide, his tongue flopping over the side of his mouth, as he watches A-Xu eat.
Chengling is clipping the leash to the Shiba’s collar when A-Xing’s silly expression gives A-Xu a strange impulse. Tilting his head up a little, he sticks his snout into A-Xing’s cheek. The other dog freezes.
Teasingly, A-Xu sticks out the tip of his tongue and gently laps at the Samoyed’s soft fur. Before the other dog can react, A-Xu turns and quickly darts into a sprint, dragging his pup behind him by his leash.
They are halfway down the street before A-Xu dares to slow down and look back at the park.
He chuffs in amusement when he sees that A-Xing is in the exact same place, his eyes wide and his ears flattened in shock. A-Xiang is beside him, waving a hand over his unblinking eyes, but there is no reaction from the Samoyed.
Smug, A-Xu continues down the street with an out-of-breath Chengling beside him. He can’t wait to curl up in his bed and laze away the rest of the day. And if he is secretly hoping to see a certain fluffy, white dog at the park again soon, that is his business.