Chapter Text
Freedom is good, but not as much as Stede had hoped.
It's just strange, being out in the world by himself. He had expected to be wholeheartedly accepted once he was freed from the show compound. Instead, now that he is out he faces prejudice at every corner. Part of him wants to believe that it's because he got out so late—most people exit in their twenties, early thirties at the latest, not their forties like Stede. Still, he passed the training. He is a success. Yet no one treats him like one. He's still just an old show dog to all of them.
It's lonely and depressing and Stede would almost sooner go back to the show compound than deal with this. At least there he had friends, a community, a pack . Out here in society there is nothing.
Desperate to do something about it, Stede goes back to the compound to ask about having one of his brethren released into his custody. He doesn't know what else to do, even though the thought of owning another person makes him ill.
He thinks maybe he'll be able to get Lucius out, or Oluwande, but he is told that people have to adopt a show dog older than them. Evidently there were issues with sexual misconduct with younger show dogs, and making a requirement for people's custodied pets to be older than them lowers the likelihood of that to some extent. It also keeps the young dogs at the compound, ensuring they still have to perform, but Stede suspects that none of the higher ups would address that fact.
Since all of his friends were younger, Stede can't pull any of them out. Instead, he asks if he can meet the show dogs older than him. There won't be many considering how late Stede got out, but there must be someone he can help by giving them some semblance of freedom.
To Stede’s delight there is one older dog, but just one, who the employee says is named Izzy. His kennel is far off from the others, slanted at an angle so he can't see any other dogs with a large yellow ‘ aggressive ’ sign plastered to the front. A muzzle hangs on a hook just outside of it, halfway torn to shreds. Stede narrows his eyes as he approaches, shaggy blonde ears pulled back into his curls. Of course the only dog in the place older than him would be an aggressive one, un-muzzle trained and likely out of breed standard. Stede himself had just managed to slip through the breed requirements as a pup—Bonnet Borzois were a very regulated breed after all.
Despite his reservations about the sign and the potential implications, Stede doesn’t care. The dog behind that door is his last chance at feeling like he isn't completely alone in the world. He opens the door carefully and steps inside, ears flicking up immediately at the sound of a growl from the corner of the room.
The anthro is pressed into the corner, covering himself with a tattered baby blanket. His ears are pinned back and he's baring his teeth, but he freezes as he sees Stede…as if he had been expecting a human.
"Hello" Stede says slowly, trying to stop his tail from wagging.
"What the fuck," is all he gets in response from the other canine.
"Um. What is it?" Stede looks the beagle mix up and down, curious as to why he remains huddled in the corner. He could come sniff Stede, if he wanted. That might make him more comfortable.
"What are you here for? They get tired enough of me that I'm supposed to be a fighting dog or some shit? I won't put on a show for them. You might as well kill me." He bares his teeth, growling.
"Kill you?!" Stede takes a step back, shocked. He doesn't quite understand what is happening, how what was meant to be a peaceful adoption turned into this. "That's not what is happening here!"
Izzy stops growling. His ears and tail wilt and he looks lost. "Then what are you doing in my kennel?”
Stede looks at him quietly, falters for a moment before he speaks "I'm here to get you out"
Izzy stares hard at him, his eyes narrowing and suspicion overtakes his face. "Why?" He growls, but it's tired and heatless.
"Old dogs like us…we don't have any chance of getting out of these places alone" Stede slowly moves to sit on the ground as he speaks, careful of his long tail, "I was freed a few months back, and…it's lonely. I was hoping that I could bring one of my friends to live with me but…there's laws in place to protect younger dogs now. So I was hoping that I could at least help someone like you, someone who's been here for a while. You can come live with me! And maybe we can work towards your freedom together."
Stede explains himself carefully, fiddling with his lacquered claws as he does. His fur is well kept and his clothes are surprisingly nice. His good breeding and rare breed obviously bought him a decent place in society, though that didn't mean anything for the prejudice he still faces. Though he of course faces prejudice from humans, that is expected. What Stede never expected was the hate he would face from members of his own species. The younger dogs in his apartment often gave him the cold shoulder due to his age and only being freed recently. Most of them had already packed up with their fellow young dogs. He's hopeful that Izzy will agree, that he won't have to be left there. Even if part of the reason is a little selfish, he wants to help Izzy leave the compound as well.
Izzy stays in the corner, but it's clear that he's thinking about Stede's offer. His tail wags, making it clear that he likes the idea, no matter what his face might be trying to convey with its seemingly ever present scowl.
"Okay, I'll come. But don't expect me to act like I'm subservient to you just because you'd own me. We're fucking equals or nothing." Stede nods immediately, and he knows that his tail must be going crazy behind him as Izzy stands.
"That sounds like a deal." He holds a hand out, which Izzy takes, shaking it hesitantly before starting to gather up his few toys and belongings.
Stede calls for the employee and asks for the necessary paperwork, which he fills out as quickly as possible. Luckily, since he is also an anthro, the worker doesn't condescend to explain Izzy's needs to him, though he starts before another employee smacks him on the shoulder and cuts him off.
"Well sir, we need to muzzle your companion since he hasn't passed all of his training for freedom papers, and then the two of you will be free to go!" Stede gulps, looking at the muzzle by the door. He still remembers how uncomfortable the muzzles at the compound were, and Izzy's looks absolutely horrid. Stede would have brought one with him if he had thought about it, but he forgot it would be required until they got home. Now that he's free, Stede only has to wear a muzzle when in busy public places where he might be startled, like concert halls or amusement parks.
"Ah, can I put it on him?" Stede asks, as he sees the employee going to grab the muzzle. Sometimes it's better if someone who's experienced the same pain of being muzzled helps put it on.
The employee seems surprised but nods, and Stede picks the muzzle up instead. He turns to Izzy. "Just for a bit, yeah? We can get you a better one later on, bear with it."
Izzy's lips twitch involuntary, his eyes going wide as Stede approaches with the muzzle. A short whine leaves his throat and he clutches his blanket and toys close. He lets Stede muzzle him though, Stede adjusts the straps and makes sure Izzy has enough room to pant or speak.
"There we go" Stede says, reaching up to scratch Izzy behind the ear in a way he likes himself. Izzy's whole body shivers and he presses into Stede's hand before he remembers himself and pulls away.
"We'll be going then." Stede nods. He lets Izzy carry his things out to the car. He waves to a few of his friends who are still working towards their freedom, they eye Izzy as he trails behind Stede but only call their goodbyes.
Stede hates that he can't take them with him, but he can always see them later. They're all on the path to be freed eventually, whereas Izzy might have spent the few remaining human years of his life in the compound if Stede hadn't come for him.
Time for anthros is a strange concept. They look like humans, and often when stating their age they will give the human equivalent, but in actuality they age more like normal dogs. Stede is only seven human years old, and Izzy's papers indicated that he is somewhere between eight and ten, but since he is a mutt and wasn't born in a compound like most show anthros, they can't say with certainty. They both look like middle-aged human men, however, aside from the ears and tail.
Stede and Izzy might both be older, but his friends will have plenty of time to live happy lives when they get out, all only being three to four human years old. Considering their limited time, Stede is even more determined to make living with him as comfortable as possible for Izzy.
As soon as they're in the car, Stede wants to remove Izzy's muzzle, but he knows that they have to wait. If he took it off and someone saw Izzy in the car and reported it, they could both be sent back to the compound for the rest of their lives. It isn't worth it. They can both endure the discomfort of being unable to talk properly as they make their way home.
Stede fills the air with as much sound as he can, talking about what his daily routine is like, what Izzy can expect from their apartment, his favorite foods, what kinds of toys he has to share, and more.
Izzy sits silently in the passenger seat, one ear trained on Stede to listen as he stares out the window. He hasn't been outside of the compound in what feels like years. His last show had been a complete disaster when he bit a handler, and since then he hasn't been brought out for more than grooming or solo yard time.
Stede pulls up to his apartment. It's tucked away In a large building, a place designed for anthros such as themselves who pull the lucky ticket once they are freed. Most of the dogs walking about are the top three breeds: Poodles, Goldens, German Shepards. He and Izzy stick out, but Stede doesn't seem to care.
Stede waves at his neighbors as they step out of the car and start to his apartment. They don't wave back.
"There's a yard on the top floor of the building, fenced in, so we can go up there whenever we like." It's still new to Stede, his tail wagging with the excitement at time outside whenever he wants it. "And like I said, you have your own room. And I can have any of your favorite foods brought up, and I'll let you order a new muzzle for yourself and some clothes." They step out of the elevator and up to Stede's door. "Ready to go in?”
Izzy doesn't feel sure about it, but he nods. Better to be inside, at least, where he doesn't have to wear the accursed muzzle.
As soon as they walk through the door to Stede's—their—apartment, Stede sets to work removing the muzzle.
"These things are so awful. I think they're the worst part of that training and still the worst part of society, though it is nice not to have to worry about biting anyone if it gets too loud in busy spaces." Stede only wears the muzzle when he has to, but for a while he wore it all of the time, afraid that he might bite someone and get sent back to the compound if given the opportunity. He can only hope that with time, they'll be able to work on Izzy's aggressive tendencies as well, though Stede has only seen a little evidence of them.
Izzy nods as Stede takes away the busted up metal contraption. He flexes his jaw lightly before muttering a soft "thanks"
He looks around the apartment, Stede had gone through a bit of a collecting spell since getting out of the compound. There were books everywhere and at least six toy boxes against every other wall. There was a large, plush couch in the sitting room across from a TV and a small kitchen.
"Kitchens stocked if you're hungry, watch whatever you like on tv, sniff around if you want!" He chirps as he steps back. Neither of them move for a moment, Stede's tail wagging behind him as he watches Izzy.
"Can…can you show me my room…so I can put my stuff away?" Izzy asks after a moment, speaking slow and careful as if afraid Stede would say no to his simple wish
"Of course! Apologies. I've never had guests over, nevermind a roommate, so I am not very well informed of the etiquette. Of course you would want to scent your space and put away your things first. Right this way." Stede leads Izzy down the hall to the second bedroom, opening the door and standing back. He doesn't want the room to smell too much like himself, knowing that anthros value their space.
He has left the space very plain–light green walls and forest themed sheets, with very basic art on the walls and a handful of books and knickknacks on the shelves. The closet is empty aside from a couple of robes, boxers, and some brand new towels. Stede had thought he would bring Lucius back and they would go shopping as soon as he picked him up, so he hadn't planned to need to dress his new companion immediately.
"Apologies for the sparse decor. You can update things however you like! If you tell me your sizes I can run by the store for some more clothes for you, as well. And you can come out and pick some for yourself later, once you have a new muzzle. If you don't want to wait for one to come in the mail, I can select a temporary one while I'm out and you can replace it later. I just want you to be comfortable." Stede knows that he is rambling as Izzy looks around the room, but he can't help it. He's ridiculously nervous and afraid of both overstepping and not doing enough.
Izzy steps carefully into the room as if a trap will go off once he's inside. His nose twitches as he sniffs around, completely ignoring Stede. He drops his toys and blanket off on the bed, touching the soft sheets and pressing onto one of the pillows. Both are nicer than anything he's ever seen before.
He turns to Stede after a moment, who shuts up as their eyes meet.
"…thank you." Izzy's ears flick and he looks off as he thanks Stede.
Stede fiddles with his claws before he shrugs lightly. "For what? I'm just giving you what you deserve, what we all deserve, really. A decent home, a bed, clothes… My only wish is that I could've gotten us out sooner." Stede truly means it. If he could, if he was brave enough, he'd join the anthro rights activist groups that have been popping up all round. But he's nowhere near brave enough for that.
Izzy just nods quietly, knowing that in reality Stede is being humble. It's a big expense, taking on another anthro as one yourself…especially one that isn't free. And Izzy truly does appreciate it, only because he can tell Stede has no ulterior motives.
"Will you get me a new muzzle? While you're out." He rasps, he hates the muzzle…but he really does want to go out in the garden later and he knows his best bet at being able to go out there without being a risk is with one. He'll get used to it. He will.
"Of course! No trouble at all!" Stede's stipend will stretch far enough to cover most things Izzy could need, luckily. Being in the show ring for so many years means that he has earned many awards. Though he rarely earned first, otherwise he would have passed his tests and made it out of the compound much sooner. But still, any sort of victory comes with a cash prize, and those stack up over time. As far as anthros go, Stede is a relatively wealthy man.
"I'll leave you to it… Feel free to explore the rest of the flat while I'm gone! Even my bedroom is fair game. Just familiarize yourself as much as you'd like. I left a phone in the dresser with my number programmed as the only contact, so you can just text me your sizes."
With that Stede retreats, wanting to give Izzy space. He remembers how overwhelming it is, exiting the compound for the first time, and he doesn't want to hover while Izzy deals with that.
His trip to the store doesn't take long. Izzy doesn’t text him any requests outside of the muzzle and his clothing sizes, so Stede keeps things basic with a pair of dark wash jeans, sweatpants, pajamas, some white shirts, black shirts, and a leather vest in Izzy's size that he finds in the clearance section. It has lots of pockets to keep toys in, and it looks badass, which Stede hopes that Izzy will like. The muzzle that he selects is the most plush one available, subtle with dark metal accents. Hopefully Izzy will be as comfortable in it as possible as he acclimates.
Stede also can't help himself from doing just a bit of toy shopping for Izzy. He's sure Izzy hasn't had much to call his own thanks to his failure in the rings. So he gets Izzy a few of his favorites in hope that he'll also like them. Stede was always more of a physical exerciser than a toy person, but he's sure Izzy will appreciate the plush squeaky rabbits and balls he got.
He returns home, dragging the bags into the apartment. He sniffs around as he steps inside, curious about where Izzy will have found himself while he was gone. The kitchen has been gone through, a few washed dishes sat out to dry, so Izzy must have eaten while he was gone. The blankets on the couch have been moved and the curtains on one of the apartment's main windows are open, so Izzy surely got around.
"Izzy?" Stede calls after a moment of taking in the house "I'm back! I got a few things I think you'll like!" His tail wags hard behind him, eager for Izzy's approval.
He doesn't want to overstep, though, so maybe he should drop the bags off and retreat to his room.
Before he can commit to that, however, Izzy pokes his head into the living room, ears perked with excitement. "You didn't have to get anything except the muzzle, you know."
"Oh, I know. But I wanted to! I have enough money for both of us to live comfortably since I was in so many shows. You probably will too, once we get you your freedom papers!"
"You think we'll actually get them?" Izzy slumps, clearly hopeless about it after so many attempts.
"Of course! I did it, so I can help you do it. Now come, come, see what I got!" Stede nudges the bags closer to Izzy, hoping to give him a distraction from his sudden melancholy.
Izzy eyes the bags before he approaches with a new excitement. His tail wags behind him as he kneels to start going through them.
His tail beats the ground as he pulls out the jeans and the shirt. Stede's worried for a moment that he'll injure it. When he pulls out the vest his eyes light up.
"Woah," he says softly as he runs his hands over it. "This is for me?" He looks up at Stede from where he is sitting on the ground with all the bags.
Stede nods. "Yeah, all for you." He chirps as he sits across from him, holding his tail in his lap. "The vest should fit, and you can carry a decent amount of toys in there. Keeping something to chew on whenever we go out…helps with the muzzle training." He shrugs softly.
Izzy eagerly pulls the vest on before he goes to look through the rest of the bags. He pushes the muzzle away after pulling it out, focused in on one of the stuffed rabbits. He almost jumps out of his skin when it squeaks and looks at Stede quickly.
The response is dramatic enough to make Stede chuckle. Izzy is really cute when he's more relaxed.
"It's a chew toy. Maybe not the best one to keep in your vest as you'll get a lot of attention from other anthros if you make it squeak, but I thought you might like it. Lots of canines really like those kinds of toys. I've heard that this brand in particular is very popular, though if you hate it we can return it and get something else."
"No." Izzy clutches the rabbit tightly to his chest as if Stede might try and take it away if he doesn't cling like his life depends on it.
Stede smiles and holds his hands up to placate him. "It's okay, it's yours. I won't take it." He reassures Izzy who eyes him for a long moment before he returns to looking at all of his new things.
Stede smiles as he watches, glad that he made the right call with everything and that Izzy is clearly liking his stuff. Once Izzy is done looking at all of it Stede helps him bring it to his room.
He lingers in the doorway so as not to encroach on Izzy's territory. The room’s already starting to smell like him. Izzy accepts the clothes from his arms one by one to hang up and put in his closet. Stede just stands there patiently until his arms are empty.
"We'll get you some decor you like better on our first outing." Stede offers as he leans on the door frame.
Izzy grimaces at Stede's words, clearly nervous at the thought of having to go out, but Stede thinks Izzy will handle it better than he is giving himself credit for. His aggression is obviously based on protection—he doesn't want people touching things that are his—and since he won't have anything to protect outside of their apartment aside from the clothes on his back, Stede thinks he'll be okay.
"It'll be alright. I won't let anything happen, I promise."
"If you say so." Izzy hovers awkwardly in the middle of the room, clearly not sure what he wants to do.
Stede retreats from the doorway, standing in the hallways instead so he isn't encroaching on Izzy's territory. "How about we both turn in early? I can see you tomorrow if you'd like some more alone time. I know the kennel seemed pretty loud, so quiet like this must be a novelty for you."
"Fucking ridiculously loud," Izzy adds, rolling his eyes. But he's smiling, so Stede thinks the near agreement is a win.
Stede nods gently. "I'll be in my room if you need me then." He nods to the rest of the apartment down the hall. "Feel free to roam. You've got free reign."
He turns, giving one last wave good night before he slips into his own room nearby. Izzy lingers in the quiet of his own room for a moment. It's been years since he's had a proper bedroom, if he ever had one at all. The queen bed all to himself Is like heaven and being able to leave his room and lock it whenever he wants is something he'll probably never get used to. Now though, he's tired. It's been a day and a half and his new bed and blanket calls to him. He barely remembers to change into his pajamas before he buries himself completely under his pillows and blankets and falls asleep.