Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Charlie Spring leaned against the armrest of the couch, his lean frame curled comfortably under a soft gray sweater that hung loosely on his slight shoulders. The fabric was a little worn but cozy, the perfect complement to his checkered shorts, which revealed his long, thin legs. A pair of striped socks adorned his feet—typical of Charlie’s fashion choices. He let out a long sigh, his dark curls falling slightly into his eyes as he glanced at Nick with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

“A relaxation app?” he asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

Nick Nelson, perched on the other end of the couch, looked effortlessly at ease, though not necessarily in need of relaxation. His broad shoulders were swathed in a soft navy jumper, the sleeves slightly pushed up to reveal his forearms. He had paired it with comfortable grey joggers and thick white socks, completing the picture of someone who could probably nap on command. He leaned back, the couch seeming to shrink under his solid, athletic build, and grinned at Charlie’s incredulous tone.

“Yeah. Tao shared it with me,” Nick replied, holding up his phone to show the app’s pastel-colored interface. The warmth in his hazel eyes softened his words, as always. “Said it might help me unwind after rugby.”

Charlie shook his head, letting out another sigh as he sat up straighter. “You don’t even look like someone who needs help relaxing, Nick. You’re practically a golden retriever in human form.”

Nick laughed, his grin widening. “Maybe, but rugby’s been a bit much lately. A little extra help couldn’t hurt.”

Charlie raised an eyebrow, still skeptical. “I dunno. Hypnosis always seemed so…” he trailed off, gesturing vaguely before locking eyes with Nick, “Fake.”

Nick shrugged, his grin turning playful as he draped a strong arm around his boyfriend’s shoulders. “I dunno, Char. I think it’s possible.”

Charlie looked at him as if Nick had just suggested the Earth was flat. “Seriously? You believe in that?”

Nick gasped theatrically, clutching his chest as though wounded, and then grinned one of his easy grins. The kind that always made Charlie melt. “Yeah, I do! I know people who quit smoking or stopped eating sweets because of hypnosis. So why not relaxing?” He sat up slightly, pulling the app back into view. “Anyway, I think it’s worth a try.”

Rolling his eyes, Charlie stood up, tugging at the hem of his sweater. “Nick, if you want to waste your time on that, be my guest. But I’ve got better things to do.”

Nick gave him a small shrug, already absorbed in the app. “Suit yourself, Char. I’ll go in the bedroom if you want the couch.”

Charlie smirked, shaking his head. “No, I’m gonna go drum for a bit. You can stay here.”

Nick nodded, adjusting his position on the couch to get comfortable. “Alright then,” he said absentmindedly, his thumb swiping across the screen.

Pausing by the doorway, Charlie bent down to kiss Nick lightly on the lips. “Just don’t stay on that thing too long, or it’ll have you clucking like a chicken,” he teased, his lips curving into a mischievous grin.

Nick let out a loud laugh, his deep chuckle filling the room. “Bawk bawk,” he replied, flapping his arms like wings, his jumper sleeves exaggerating the motion.

Charlie laughed, his dark eyes crinkling with amusement. “Idiot,” he muttered affectionately, shaking his head as he left the room.

The faint sound of Nick’s chuckles followed Charlie as he entered their small guest bedroom. The room was modest but bright, the centerpiece Charlie's drum set nestled in the corner. Charlie slid into the familiar seat, pulling on his noise-canceling headphones and adjusting them snugly over his dark curls. As he picked up the drumsticks, the world outside melted away, leaving only the rhythm of his heartbeat and the potential of the drums in front of him.

Back in the living room, Nick settled deeper into the couch, scrolling through his phone. He tapped on a video titled “Training Your Dog: The Basics,” the bright thumbnail of a golden retriever catching his attention. Henry had been a bit rowdy lately, and Nick figured it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on some tips before bringing him to live with him and Charlie in their new apartment. The cheerful voice of the trainer filled the room as he leaned back, grinning at the obedient golden retriever performing flawless commands.

“Sit… stay… roll over,” the trainer instructed, their voice brimming with encouragement. “Good boy!” The dog wagged its tail happily on screen, earning a treat.

Nick chuckled softly, imagining trying to get Henry to be this well-behaved. After a few minutes, he exited the video and opened the relaxation app Charlie had teased him about earlier.

The app’s pastel-colored interface glowed on his screen, and the soft, rhythmic voice of the narrator filled the room. “Take a deep breath,” it instructed. “Feel the tension leaving your body…”

Nick let out a slow exhale, rolling his shoulders as he sank deeper into the couch. For all of Charlie’s skepticism, Nick thought, this wasn’t half bad. The world around him faded slightly, his mind drifting in the narrator’s tranquil rhythm. “Imagine yourself becoming light, carefree…” the voice continued. Nick’s thoughts dimmed, the day’s stresses melting away as he allowed himself to relax.

But then, the app screen flickered. A faint crackle interrupted the audio, followed by a moment of silence. Nick’s brow furrowed slightly, his eyelids fluttering open. Before he could process what was happening, the cheery voice of a new dog training video appeared.

“Welcome back to Dog Obedience Training 101! Let’s begin with the basics. Sit, stay, and roll over!”

Nick blinked sluggishly, his mind still foggy from the app’s hypnosis. The two audio tracks—one from the relaxation app and the other from the training video—melded into a strange, commanding cadence.

“Feel yourself connecting with the instructions…” the app’s narrator intoned.

“Sit,” the trainer’s voice interjected.

Without thinking, Nick straightened up, moving to the edge of the couch and planting his knees on the cushion, his posture mirroring the obedient dog he’d earlier seen on the screen.

“Good boy,” the trainer praised, her voice bright and affirming.

A strange warmth bloomed in Nick’s chest at the words, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.

“Now, roll over,” the trainer commanded.

Nick slid off the couch and clumsily rolled onto the rug, sprawling onto his back. A faint “woof” escaped his lips, unbidden.

The video continued, feeding command after command into Nick’s deeply relaxed mind. The soothing tones of the app’s narrator wove through the trainer’s upbeat instructions, cementing each new behavior. “Embrace your true self… obedient… be free ... .stay,” the voices intoned in perfect harmony.

By the time the video ended, Nick was no longer Nick. He crouched on all fours in the middle of the living room, his hands planted firmly on the rug as he barked softly, his imaginary tail wagging furiously as his hips gyrated, simulating the tail wagging motion. His hazel eyes sparkled with playful energy as he padded around the living room, sniffing at the air, his large “paws” (hands) awkwardly thudding against the rug.

The rhythmic thud of Charlie’s drumsticks against the kit filled the air of the guest bedroom, the noise-canceling headphones blocking out any outside sounds. He was utterly lost in the music, his curls bouncing as he played with an energy that kept his mind far from Nick’s relaxation exercise.

A loud crash from the living room shattered the moment. Charlie stopped mid-beat, yanking off his headphones. He frowned, standing abruptly. “Nick?” he called, his voice tinged with concern as he set the drumsticks down and hurried toward the noise. “You alright?”

When he entered the living room, his jaw dropped. Nick was on the floor, pawing at the remains of the lamp he’d knocked over with his exuberant “tail wagging.” He turned toward Charlie and barked happily, bounding over to him on all fours.

“What the hell?” Charlie sputtered, his wide eyes darting between Nick and the mess. “Nick… what are you doing?”

Nick tilted his head, tongue slightly out, and let out another bark before attempting to nuzzle Charlie’s leg.

“Nick! This isn’t funny! You could have hurt yourself. Enough is enough.”

Nick looked at Charlie, puzzled. He jumped up at him, pawing at his chest and licking Charlie’s face with his tongue.

Charlie stumbled back, nearly tripping over the corner of the rug. “Oh my God… did you just lick me?! You’re….you’re actually hypnotized. You actually think you’re a dog.”

Nick wagged his “tail” again, his hips gyrating, clearly pleased with Charlie’s attention, and barked once more.

Charlie stared, slack-jawed, at his boyfriend-turned-golden-retriever. “Tao is never hearing the end of this,” he muttered to himself, already dreading the chaos this would bring.

Charlie hurried across the room, his socks slipping slightly as he stepped off the rug and on to the wooden floor as he crouched to grab Nick’s phone. The screen was still lit, and a chipper voice from the video rang out: “Great job, buddy! Now, let’s try fetch next!”

Charlie stared at the screen in disbelief, then back at Nick. “What the hell, Nick?” he muttered.

Nick remained perched on his knees, his hands resting on the rug as though they were front paws. His head tilted slightly to the side, his hazel eyes wide and inquisitive. His tongue lolled out of the corner of his mouth as he panted softly, his expression unnervingly dog-like.

“Nick,” Charlie said cautiously, lowering the phone to his side. “Are you... okay?”

Nick perked up at the sound of his name, his imaginary dog ears almost visibly twitching. He let out a sharp, enthusiastic bark, scrambling toward Charlie on all fours. His socks slid slightly on the area rug as he bounded forward, stopping just short of Charlie with an eager, expectant expression.

Charlie took a step back, his heart racing. “Whoa, whoa, Nick! Stop!” he said, holding his hands up.

Nick froze mid-motion, sitting back on his heels with his hands still planted firmly on the floor. He stared at Charlie, his head tilted in confusion, as if awaiting a command. His imaginary tail seemed to wag furiously behind him, though all Charlie could see was the hem of Nick’s jumper shifting slightly.

Charlie groaned, rubbing his temples. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered. He glanced back at the phone, where the dog trainer’s cheerful voice was now encouraging viewers to practice basic commands. “Positive reinforcement is key! Make sure to reward good behavior.”

Nick let out a soft bark, tilting his head again. Then, without warning, he scrambled over to the couch on all fours, sniffing at the cushions with exaggerated enthusiasm.

Charlie’s mouth fell open. “Nick! What are you—no! Stop that!” He darted forward, but Nick was already circling the coffee table, sniffing at the air and pawing gently at the small area rug as though searching for something.

“Oh my God,” Charlie muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with panic. “What am I supposed to do with you?”

Nick eventually stopped and plopped down in front of Charlie, his "paws" resting in front of him as he sat up straight. His tongue hung out as he let out a cheerful "ruff," looking up at Charlie with unmistakable pride.

Charlie stared down at him, completely at a loss. “Nick… you’re not a dog,” he said slowly, crouching to Nick’s level. “You’re my boyfriend. You’re human. Do you....remember that?”

Nick tilted his head again, clearly not understanding, before flopping onto his side with a playful "woof." He rolled onto his back, his legs kicking at the air as he pawed playfully with his hands, clearly begging for attention.

Charlie sighed deeply, running a hand through his curls. “Tao is never ever hearing the end of this,” he muttered before hesitantly reaching out to pat Nick’s head. “Good boy?” he said tentatively, his tone filled with confusion.

Nick barked happily, his hips moving as his imaginary tail wagged even harder as Charlie rubbed his head. Then Nick playfully nudged Charlie’s knee with his nose—well, his face—eliciting a startled yelp from Charlie.

“This is ridiculous,” Charlie muttered, standing up as Nick rolled back onto all fours and barked again, clearly ready for more attention.

Charlie backed away slowly, his gaze fixed on Nick, who was now crouched on all fours, hips gyrating, wagging his imaginary tail and looking up with wide, eager eyes. He was trying his best to process what was happening, but his brain was struggling to reconcile the image of his boyfriend with… this.

Nick let out another happy bark, bounding forward a few steps. His socks slid on the smooth floor, and he skidded to a clumsy stop, his hands—his "paws"—pressing firmly against the ground as if bracing himself. He tilted his head again, his tongue hanging out as he panted softly.

“Nick, no,” Charlie said firmly, holding up a hand as if scolding an actual dog. “Stop. Sit down. Or—wait, no, don’t sit like a dog! Just—stay still!”

Nick, seemingly delighted by the word "stay," sat back on his heels again, his "paws" resting in front of him. His entire posture radiated excitement, like he was waiting for Charlie to throw a tennis ball.

Charlie groaned, rubbing his face. “Okay. Let’s think this through,” he muttered to himself. He looked down at the phone in his hand, the dog obedience video still playing. The bright, cheerful trainer was now demonstrating how to teach a dog to fetch, tossing a rubber ball across the screen as the golden retriever bounded after it.

Charlie quickly swiped the video away, pausing the app entirely. “There. That should stop it,” he said with relief. He glanced back at Nick. “Now you can snap out of it, right?”

Nick didn’t move. Instead, he barked softly, his hazel eyes full of anticipation. He rose onto all fours and began padding around the living room again, sniffing at the floor and furniture like a dog exploring its territory.

Charlie threw his hands up in frustration. “Oh, come on! Nick, this isn’t funny anymore!”

Nick’s only response was another cheerful bark as he pawed at the corner of the rug, apparently fascinated by a stray thread.

Charlie racked his brain, pacing in a small circle as Nick continued his exploration. “Okay, okay. Hypnosis. It’s just hypnosis,” he muttered. “People snap out of it all the time. There’s gotta be a way to reverse it, right? I just need to… to…” He trailed off as Nick suddenly bounded toward him, circling him in a playful manner before nudging his leg with his shoulder.

“Nick, stop!” Charlie yelped, nearly losing his balance as Nick pressed against him.

Nick let out a soft whine, sitting back on his heels again and looking up at Charlie with an expression that could only be described as puppy-like disappointment.

Charlie sighed, crouching down again to meet Nick’s gaze. “Alright, listen. I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours right now, but we need to fix this. You’re not a dog, Nick. You’re my boyfriend. You’re human.”

Nick blinked at him, tilting his head again. Then, without warning, he lunged forward, licking Charlie’s cheek with a dramatic swipe of his tongue.

“Ugh! Nick!” Charlie cried, stumbling back and wiping his face with his sleeve. “Did you just—did you just lick me again?”

Nick barked happily, his “tail” wagging furiously as he panted, clearly proud of himself.

Charlie stared at him in disbelief, his face flushed with equal parts embarrassment and exasperation. “Okay. That’s it. I’m calling Tao. He’s the one who gave you this stupid app—he can help fix this.”

Nick perked up at the mention of Tao, letting out a loud bark and bouncing on his heels as if excited by the idea.

Charlie groaned again, pulling out his phone. “I can’t believe I’m about to tell Tao that you think you’re a dog,” he muttered, scrolling through his contacts.

As Charlie tapped Tao’s number, Nick padded over to the couch and flopped onto his side, rolling onto his back with his legs and arms splayed out. He let out a contented “woof,” looking as happy as could be.

Charlie glanced up, his phone pressed to his ear. “Nick,” he said flatly, “you’re lucky I love you.”

Nick let out a soft bark in response, his hips moving quickly, his imaginary tail wagging against the rug.

The phone rang and Tao Xu picked up. “Charlie?”

“Get over here now!” Charlie ordered.

“What? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“No! I’m not okay. You gave my dumb boyfriend that stupid relaxation app and now he thinks he’s a bloody golden retriever!”

“He- what? Charlie you’re not making any sense.”

“Just get over here Tao. Now.” Charlie demanded.

“Okay, Okay. I’m leaving now.” Tao replied.

Charlie ended the call with a frustrated jab at the screen, letting out a groan as he shoved the phone into his pocket. “Tao better get here fast,” he muttered, glancing over at Nick, who was still sprawled out on the floor, his limbs splayed like a satisfied puppy.

Nick’s head perked up at the sound of Charlie’s voice, and he let out a soft bark, his hips again wagging his imaginary tail. He rolled onto his stomach, paws pressing into the rug as he crawled toward Charlie with an eager look in his eyes.

“No, Nick. Stay,” Charlie said firmly, holding up a hand. He couldn’t believe he was using dog commands on his boyfriend, but to his surprise—and mild horror—it worked. Nick froze mid-crawl, sitting back on his heels again and staring up at Charlie, his tongue lolling out as he panted happily.

“Unbelievable,” Charlie muttered, pacing the room. “How am I supposed to fix this? Tao’s gonna laugh his head off, and then what? Offer to take you to the vet?”

Nick tilted his head, clearly enjoying the attention but blissfully unaware of Charlie’s growing frustration. He let out a playful “ruff,” his hands pawing at the air as if asking Charlie to play.

Charlie stopped pacing and glared at him. “This is not playtime, Nick! You’re a person. A human being. My boyfriend! Not a dog!”

Nick whimpered softly, lowering his head and looking up at Charlie with big, sad eyes. Charlie sighed, his anger melting into reluctant affection. “Oh, don’t give me that look,” he muttered, crouching down again. “I’m not mad at you. I’m just… frustrated.”

Nick perked up instantly, wagging his imaginary tail with his hips and leaning forward to nuzzle Charlie’s shoulder. Charlie froze as Nick’s face pressed against him, the warmth of his cheek startling but oddly comforting. “You’re so lucky you’re adorable,” Charlie muttered, patting Nick’s head gently.

A sharp knock at the door made Charlie jump, and he scrambled to his feet. “Finally,” he muttered, rushing to the door and yanking it open.

Tao Xu stood on the other side, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. “Alright, I’m here. What’s the big emergency?”

Charlie grabbed Tao by the arm and dragged him inside. “You,” he said, pointing accusingly, “gave Nick that stupid app. And now he’s hypnotized into thinking he’s a golden retriever.”

Tao blinked. “Wait, what? Hypnotized? Are you joking?”

“No, Tao, I’m not joking!” Charlie snapped, gesturing toward the living room. “Look!”

Tao turned and froze, his mouth dropping open as he took in the sight of Nick, who was now sitting obediently in the middle of the floor, panting softly with his hands pressed to the rug like paws. Nick barked once, wagging his invisible tail as his hips moved rhythmically.

Tao’s jaw worked soundlessly for a moment before he managed, “What the hell?”

“Exactly!” Charlie exclaimed, throwing his hands up. “This is your fault! Fix it!”

Tao took a hesitant step forward, squinting at Nick as if trying to make sense of what he was seeing. “Nick… mate? Are you okay?”

Nick barked happily in response, bounding forward on all fours to sniff at Tao’s shoes.

Tao yelped, stumbling back. “Okay, nope. What the actual—? This is insane!”

“You think?” Charlie shot back, arms crossed. “So? Any brilliant ideas?”

Tao shook his head, his face pale. “I… I don’t know! I didn’t think that app actually worked. It’s just a relaxation thing! This is—this is not normal!”

“No kidding,” Charlie muttered. “Now what are we supposed to do?”

Nick, oblivious to the conversation, pawed gently at Tao’s leg and let out a soft whine, clearly wanting attention.

Tao looked down at him, then back at Charlie. “We’re gonna need help,” he said weakly. “Like… professional help.”

“Great,” Charlie muttered. “And until then, what? I just keep my dog-boyfriend on a leash?”

Nick barked excitedly at the word "leash," his imaginary tail wagging furiously as his hips gyrated.

“Oh my God,” Tao said, covering his face. “This is a nightmare.”

Charlie threw his hands in the air. “Nightmare doesn’t even begin to cover it. He’s been crawling around, barking, and—ugh—he licked me, Tao. Like, full-on dog mode.”

Tao blinked, still staring at Nick, who was now perched on all fours, hips wagging his imaginary tail and looking at them expectantly. “He licked you? That’s… uh, definitely something.”

Charlie glared at him. “This isn’t funny!”

“Okay, okay, it’s not funny,” Tao said, his lips twitching as he tried to suppress a grin. He crouched down cautiously, peering at Nick like he was examining some rare species. “Nick? It’s me. Tao. Remember? Your friend?”

Nick barked happily, his imaginary tail wagging furiously as his hips moved from side to side. Before Tao could say another word, Nick lunged forward, nudging Tao’s chest with his head and nearly knocking him over. Tao stumbled back and sat down on the floor, his eyes wide.

“Whoa!” Tao yelped. “He’s really committed to this.”

“Committed?” Charlie snapped, crossing his arms. “He’s not committed —he’s hypnotized! You need to fix him!”

Tao scrambled back to his feet, brushing off his joggers. “Okay, okay! I get it. He thinks he’s a dog. This is… a lot.” He pointed at Nick, who had flopped onto his side and was rolling back and forth on the rug like an oversized puppy. “How exactly did this happen again?”

Charlie groaned, holding up Nick’s phone. “It’s this stupid app you gave him! He was using it, and somehow it switched to a dog obedience video. Now he’s stuck like this.”

Tao frowned, taking the phone from Charlie and glancing at the paused video. “You’re saying the hypnosis app and this video combined to… make him think he’s a golden retriever?”

“Obviously!” Charlie exclaimed. “And now we need to figure out how to undo it.”

Tao looked back at Nick, who was now sniffing at the edge of the coffee table. “Okay… uh… maybe we just try reversing the hypnosis? Like, remind him he’s human?”

“Great idea,” Charlie said sarcastically. “You do it.”

Tao rolled his eyes but crouched down to Nick’s level again. “Alright, Nick. Listen to me. You’re not a dog, okay? You’re Nick Nelson. Human. Big, rugby-playing Nick Nelson. Remember?”

Nick tilted his head, his expression blank, as if he were trying to process Tao’s words. For a fleeting moment, Charlie felt a flicker of hope—but then Nick barked loudly and pounced toward Tao, nuzzling his shoulder enthusiastically.

“Okay, nope. Nope, nope, nope!” Tao exclaimed, scrambling back and holding up his hands. “This is so far above my pay grade.”

Charlie sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Well, we can’t just leave him like this. Tao, you’ve got to think of something!”

Tao paced a few steps, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “Alright, alright. Hypnosis works by suggestion, right? Maybe we can trick him into snapping out of it. Like, make him remember he’s human by giving him human commands?”

Charlie gave him a flat look. “Commands. You want me to treat my boyfriend like a dog to remind him he’s not a dog.”

“Do you have a better idea?” Tao shot back.

Charlie groaned, throwing his hands up. “Fine. But this is all on you.”

Tao turned back to Nick, who had plopped down on his “haunches” again, panting happily. “Okay, Nick. Uh… stand up. You know, on two legs. Like a person.”

Nick blinked at him, tilting his head. For a moment, Tao seemed hopeful—but then Nick barked softly and stayed firmly on all fours.

Tao sighed, standing up and brushing off his knees. “Well, that didn’t work. New plan: we call Elle. She’s smart. She’ll know what to do.”

“Fantastic,” Charlie muttered, folding his arms. “I’ll just keep entertaining him while you call her.”

Nick barked again, wagging his imaginary tail with his hips and circling them playfully. Tao bit his lip, clearly trying not to laugh, but Charlie shot him a glare that shut him up.

As Tao pulled out his phone to call Elle, Nick bounded over to the couch, flopping onto his back with his limbs splayed out. He let out a contented “woof,” looking entirely too pleased with himself.

Nick padded around the living room on all fours, sniffing the air with exaggerated enthusiasm. Charlie and Tao stood nearby, still debating how to undo the hypnosis when Nick let out a low whine, his imaginary tail drooping with his hips. He turned to Charlie, his hazel eyes wide and pleading.

“What now?” Charlie muttered, watching as Nick crawled toward him and pawed gently at his leg. “Nick, what are you—”

Nick barked softly, then nudged Charlie’s knee with his head. He sat back on his heels, looking up at Charlie with an expectant expression and letting out another small whine.

Charlie frowned. “Is he… trying to tell me something?”

Tao squinted at Nick. “Maybe he needs something? Like, uh, food? Dogs eat all the time, right?”

“Brilliant observation, Tao,” Charlie said sarcastically. He crouched down, looking Nick in the eye. “Nick, are you hungry?”

Nick barked once, his hips wagging his invisible tail furiously. He crawled toward the kitchen, pausing at the doorway to look back at Charlie, as if waiting for him to follow.

“Oh my God,” Charlie groaned, standing up and rubbing his temples. “I’m actually going to feed him, aren’t I?”

“Well, you can’t just let him starve,” Tao said with a shrug. “What do dogs even eat? Do you have… dog food?”

“Do I look like I have dog food lying around?” Charlie snapped, stomping toward the kitchen with Nick happily crawling behind him.”Nellie and Henry are still with Nick’s mom. We were getting things ready for them but haven’t even bought pet supplies yet.”

“Well there may be no time like the present.” Tao replied with a grin that Charlie immediately wiped off his face with a death glare of his own.

Once in the kitchen, Nick sat obediently by the counter, wagging his imaginary tail as Charlie opened the fridge. “What do I even give him?” Charlie muttered, scanning the contents. He pulled out a sandwich he’d made earlier, cut it into smaller pieces, broke it up into just the meat and bread, and placed it on a plate. He set the plate on the floor. “Here. Eat this.”

Nick sniffed at the plate curiously, then barked and began eating—well, more like lapping at the food with his mouth, his hands planted firmly on the floor like paws.

“Unbelievable,” Charlie muttered, watching the scene unfold. “Tao, this is all your fault. You don’t even want to know the level of favor it’s going to take for us to be even.”

Before Tao could respond, there was a knock at the door. “Finally!” Tao said, rushing to answer it.

Elle and Isaac stood in the doorway, both looking mildly confused. “What’s the emergency?” Elle asked, stepping inside.

Tao gestured wildly toward the kitchen. “You’re not going to believe this.”

Elle followed him in, and her jaw dropped as she took in the sight of Nick on all fours, lapping at a plate of food on the floor. “Oh my God,” she said, her voice half-shocked and half-amused. “What is he doing?”

Isaac tilted his head, adjusting the book tucked under his arm. “Is he… pretending to be a dog?”

“No, Isaac,” Charlie said dryly, “he’s hypnotized into thinking he’s a dog. Thanks to that .” He jabbed a finger toward Nick’s phone, which Tao was still holding.

Elle blinked, looking from Charlie to Nick and back again. “Okay… you’re going to have to explain this.”

“It’s your idiot boyfriend's fault,” Charlie said quickly, pointing at Tao.

Tao threw his hands up defensively. “All I did was give him the relaxation app! How was I supposed to know this would happen?”

Elle folded her arms, suppressing a smile. “So let me get this straight. Nick tried some relaxation app, and now he thinks he’s a dog?”

“Exactly,” Charlie grumbled. 

Isaac crouched near Nick, observing him carefully. “He’s very committed,” he said thoughtfully. Nick paused his “meal” to bark softly at Isaac, wagging his imaginary tail. 

“Alright,” Elle said, clapping her hands together. “We’ve got to fix this. Does anyone know how hypnosis works?”

Everyone looked at each other in silence, and then all eyes turned to Isaac, who shrugged. “I read about it once,” he said calmly. “We just need to trigger his memory. Remind him of something that only Nick would know.”

Charlie nodded. “Fine. Let’s try it. ”

Nick barked happily, hips wagging his imaginary tail again as if thrilled by the idea.

Charlie paced back and forth in the living room, running a hand through his curls while Nick sat obediently near the couch, watching the group with wide, curious eyes. Tao, Elle, and Isaac huddled together, brainstorming ways to reverse the hypnosis.

“Okay,” Elle began, holding up a finger. “Maybe we can shock him out of it? Like, scare him back to normal?”

Charlie frowned. “You want to scare him? He already thinks he’s a dog. What if he starts barking at the neighbors?”

“Do you have a better idea?” Elle shot back.

“I do!” Tao interrupted, holding up Nick’s phone. “What if we play the original hypnosis app again and just… undo whatever it did?”

Charlie glared at him. “You’re the one who got us into this mess. Do you really think that’ll work?”

“It’s worth a try,” Tao muttered, scrolling through the phone. He pulled up the app and selected a calming track. “Alright, Nick, listen up.”

Nick tilted his head, his ears (imaginary, of course) twitching as Tao set the phone on the coffee table and pressed play. The soothing voice filled the room: “Relax. Let your mind return to its natural state…”

For a moment, Nick seemed to focus. His tongue stopped lolling, and his "tail" stilled as his hips stopped moving. The group leaned in, holding their breath.

But then, just as quickly, Nick barked loudly and rolled onto his back, paws in the air, waiting for belly rubs.

Elle groaned. “That didn’t work.”

Isaac knelt next to Nick, his book still tucked under his arm. “What if we remind him of something human? Like… rugby? Or food that isn’t… uh… on a plate on the floor?”

“Worth a shot,” Charlie said with a sigh. He crouched down beside Nick. “Nick, remember rugby? You love rugby. And snacks. You eat, like, an entire pizza by yourself. Does that sound familiar?”

Nick blinked at him, tilting his head again. For a moment, Charlie thought he saw a flicker of recognition—until Nick barked happily and nuzzled Charlie’s shoulder.

“I can’t believe this,” Charlie muttered, standing up and rubbing his temples. “At this rate we’re never getting him back to normal.”

As the group dove into another round of brainstorming, none of them noticed the door to the apartment was slightly ajar. Nick, however, perked up at the faint sound of rain outside. He sniffed the air, hips furiously wagging his imaginary tail, and crawled toward the door.

“Maybe we just wait it out,” Isaac suggested. “Hypnosis wears off eventually, right?”

“Not fast enough,” Charlie grumbled. “What if this is permanent? What if he thinks he’s a dog forever?”

Elle waved a hand. “Relax. We’ll figure it out.”

Meanwhile, Nick nosed the door open with his face and padded out into the hallway, his “paws” thudding softly against the carpeted hallway floor. The faint sound of rain grew louder as he reached the complex entrance, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

“Wait,” Tao said suddenly, looking around. “Where’s Nick?”

Charlie froze, his heart sinking. “Oh, no.”

The group spun toward the door just in time to see it wide open. “He’s gone!” Charlie shouted, bolting out into the hallway.

The others followed, and they all reached the building’s front door just in time to see Nick, on all fours, gleefully rolling around in a puddle of mud in the courtyard. Rain poured down, drenching him, but he didn’t seem to care. He barked happily, wagging his imaginary tail with his hips as he squirmed in the muck.

“Oh my God,” Elle muttered, pulling her hood over her head.

“Nick!” Charlie shouted angrily, running toward him, his socks instantly getting soaked. “What are you doing? Get out of there!”

Nick froze for a moment, looking up at Charlie with wide, innocent eyes. Then, with a loud bark, he rolled onto his back, legs kicking joyfully as he splashed in the mud.

Charlie stopped a few feet away, staring in disbelief. “Nick. You are covered in mud. Get up.”

Nick barked again, clearly having the time of his life.

“This is a disaster,” Tao muttered, joining Charlie. “We’re never getting him back inside without ruining the place.”

Charlie sighed deeply, turning to Isaac and Elle. “Ideas?”

Elle shrugged. “You’re the one dating him.”

Isaac, holding an umbrella he’d brought, calmly observed Nick’s antics. “Maybe for this moment, we need to treat him like a real dog just to get him back inside. Call him, Charlie.”

Charlie frowned. “Call him? What, like, ‘Here, boy’?”

Isaac nodded. “It’s worth a try.”

Charlie sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fine. Nick! Here, boy! Come here!” He patted his thighs, his mind racing as he realized that he was calling his boyfriend over.

Nick paused mid-roll, his ears perking up. He barked excitedly and crawled toward Charlie, splashing through the mud with wild enthusiasm.

“Oh, great,” Charlie muttered as Nick reached him and immediately began pawing at his legs, smearing mud all over his socks and shorts.

Elle bit her lip, suppressing a laugh. “This is the most chaotic thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Laugh it up,” Charlie said dryly. “You’re helping clean him up.”

Nick barked happily, wagging his imaginary tail as if he couldn’t be more pleased with himself.

Charlie stood frozen as Nick smeared mud up and down his legs, his “paws” leaving wet, dirty streaks on Charlie’s socks, shorts and sweater. Rain continued to pour, soaking both of them to the bone. Charlie’s curls stuck to his forehead as he let out a frustrated groan. “Nick, stop it! You’re making it worse!”

Nick barked excitedly in response, his imaginary tail wagging as his hips moved furiously while he circled Charlie, splashing through the puddles and mud.

Elle and Tao stood back under the overhang, laughing despite their best efforts to hold it in. 

Isaac, ever calm, approached with his umbrella, holding it over both Charlie and Nick until he ran to another puddle. “Let’s focus,” he said matter-of-factly. “Nick’s not going to come inside on his own unless we get creative.”

Charlie looked down at Nick, who had plopped himself into another puddle and was now rolling gleefully, his clothes completely caked in mud. “Creative?” Charlie muttered. “I’m not sure I can even get him to listen. ”

“Treats,” Isaac said simply, pointing at the door. “If he thinks he’s a dog, he’ll respond to dog-like motivations.”

Charlie stared at him for a moment. “You want me to bribe my boyfriend with treats?”

Isaac nodded. “It worked to get him to earlier, didn’t it?”

“Oh my God,” Tao scoffed, running a hand through his hair. “This is absolutely ridiculous.”

“Tao, stop laughing and make yourself useful!” Charlie snapped, his curls plastered to his forehead by the rain. “Get some treats from the kitchen. Now!”

“Treats?” Elle asked, her eyebrows raising as she joined the conversation. “You want Tao to feed him?”

“Yes!” Charlie shouted, frustrated. “He thinks he’s a dog, so we have to work with that. Hurry!”

“On it,” Tao said, shaking his head in disbelief as he dashed back inside.

Meanwhile, Nick barked happily and splashed in another puddle, the mud now caked on his jumper, joggers, socks, and face. He looked up at Charlie with wide, gleeful eyes, clearly having the time of his life.

“Nick,” Charlie said, trying to keep his voice calm, “Stay. Just… stay there.”

Nick tilted his head, his imaginary ears twitching, but remained in the puddle, his hips wagging furiously.

Tao reappeared moments later, holding a bag of crisps and a box of biscuits. “This was all I could find,” he said, panting slightly. “What now?”

Charlie grabbed the crisps, holding one up in the air. “Nick! Look! Treat!”

Nick’s head snapped toward the crisp, his hips wagging even harder. He barked once, loudly, and began crawling toward Charlie on all fours, splashing through the puddles.

“Good boy,” Charlie muttered, backing toward the building slowly. “Come on, Nick. Follow me.”

Nick barked again, his focus entirely on the crisp as he crawled after Charlie. Tao watched the scene unfold with wide eyes. “I can’t believe this is actually working.”

Isaac merely shrugged as he followed Elle and Charlie back inside. Tao sighed, following behind him.

The group slowly made their way back inside, with Charlie leading Nick into the apartment. As soon as they were in, Charlie shut the door behind them, breathing a sigh of relief. “Okay. Step one complete.”

Nick sat obediently in the middle of the living room, his hands—paws—resting on the rug as he wagged his imaginary tail. His jumper, socks and joggers were soaked and covered in mud, leaving a messy trail behind him.

“Oh no,” Elle said, looking around at the muddy footprints on the floor. “This place is trashed.”

Charlie sighed, running a hand through his curls. “We’ll deal with that later. Right now, we need to get him cleaned up.”

“Good luck with that,” Tao muttered. “Dogs hate baths.”

“Well, he can’t stay like this now can he?” Charlie replied, grabbing Nick by the arm and dragging him toward the bathroom despite Nick's whines of protest. He turned to the others. “Since Isaac seems to be the only one with good ideas, he can try to figure this out.” He pointed to Tao and Elle, his finger trembling. “You two are on clean up duty.”  he then looked at his boyfriend and sighed. “Come on, Nick. Bath time.”

Nick barked, wagging his hips as he crawled along as Charlie continued to pull him toward the bathroom, leaving more muddy streaks on the floor. Elle and Tao exchanged a look, then burst into laughter again as they moved into the kitchen for cleaning supplies.

Charlie stood in the cramped bathroom, water already running in the tub, steam fogging up the mirror. Nick sat stubbornly on all fours on the tile floor, dripping mud and hips wagging his imaginary tail.

“Nick,” Charlie groaned, crouching down to look him in the eye. “You need a bath. You’re covered in mud, and you’ve already trashed the whole apartment.”

Nick barked happily, completely unbothered by the mess or Charlie’s frustration.

“Come on,” Charlie muttered, grabbing Nick gently by the arm. “Into the tub.”

Nick resisted, his big strong frame making it difficult for Charlie to maneuver him. “Nick, don’t make me drag you,” Charlie said through gritted teeth as he tried to lift him. In truth, Charlie wasn't even sure he could lift his boyfriend. Nick responded by flopping onto his back, paws in the air, his shirt and joggers smearing mud on the floor.

Charlie let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re infuriating, you know?” He grabbed Nick under the arms and half-dragged, half-lifted him into the tub. Nick let out a playful bark, splashing a “paw” into the water and sending droplets flying.

Charlie groaned as water soaked his already muddy socks. “Great. Just great. Now we’re both going to be drenched.”

He turned his attention to peeling off Nick’s mud-covered jumper and joggers, which was easier said than done with Nick squirming like a puppy. “Nick, hold still! I’m trying to help you.”

Nick barked again, hips wagging his imaginary tail as Charlie finally managed to wrestle the clothes off and toss them into a soggy pile in the corner, leaving Nick in his boxers. “Alright,” Charlie muttered, grabbing a sponge and some soap. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Nick seemed to enjoy the bath, splashing enthusiastically and barking every so often. Charlie’s attempts to scrub him were met with flying water that further soaked his sweater and shorts. “Nick, stop splashing!” Charlie yelled, holding up an arm to shield his face.

Nick responded by wagging his imaginary tail even harder, moving his hips and sending more water over the edge of the tub and onto the floor. By the time Charlie was finished, his clothes were thoroughly soaked, and the bathroom looked like it had been hit by a monsoon.

“Alright, you’re clean,” Charlie grumbled, wringing out the sponge. “Now stay in there while I grab a towel.”

But Nick had other plans. As soon as Charlie turned his back, Nick shook himself vigorously, sending water droplets flying everywhere. Charlie froze mid-step, his entire back now drenched again.

“Are you kidding me?!” he shouted, spinning around to glare at Nick, who looked entirely too pleased with himself.

Nick barked happily, wagging his imaginary tail with his hips as he licked water from his arm.

In the living room, Elle and Tao were hard at work cleaning the mess Nick had left behind. Tao knelt on the rug, scrubbing at streaks of dried mud, while Elle picked up scattered cushions and wiped dirt off the coffee table. Isaac sat nearby at the dining table, flipping through a textbook.

“This is ridiculous,” Tao muttered, pausing to inspect the mud-stained rag in his hand. “We’re cleaning up after a guy who thinks he’s a dog.”

Elle rolled her eyes, tossing a damp paper towel into the trash. “We’re doing this for Charlie. He has enough to deal with right now without worrying about the state of his apartment.”

“Yeah, but come on,” Tao said, wringing out the rag. “Mud everywhere, constant barking—it’s like he’s babysitting an untrained puppy. How is Charlie not losing it?”

Elle glanced at the closed bathroom door, her expression softening. “He is. But he’s trying to hold it together because it’s Nick.”

Tao sighed, going back to scrubbing. “I get that he loves him and all, but even love has limits, right? At some point, you’ve got to draw a line.”

Isaac, seated at the table, didn’t look up from his book. “If Charlie were the type to draw lines, he wouldn’t be Charlie,” he said calmly, flipping a page.

Elle leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “What are you reading, Isaac?”

Isaac tapped the spine of the book. “It’s one of Nick’s psychology textbooks. I’m trying to see if there’s anything useful about hypnosis.”

Tao raised an eyebrow. “You think you’re going to fix his weird dog hypnosis with a college textbook?”

Isaac glanced at him, unfazed. “It’s worth a try.”

“And?” Elle prompted.

Isaac sighed, setting the book down. “Hypnosis works on suggestion. To break it, we need to override the current suggestion—the dog behavior—with something tied to Nick’s real identity.”

“Like a wake-up call,” Elle said, nodding thoughtfully.

“Exactly,” Isaac replied. “It has to be something personal and meaningful. Something that reminds him of who he really is.”

“Great,” Tao said sarcastically, throwing the rag into the bucket. “And how are we supposed to do that when he’s busy barking at anything that moves and rolling in mud?”

“I’m working on it,” Isaac said evenly, picking up the book and resuming his research.

Elle picked up a cushion, shaking it out before placing it back on the couch. “Honestly, I don’t know how Charlie’s doing this. I’d have lost my mind by now if it were you Tao. No offense.”

Slightly offended all the same, Tao sat back on his heels, letting out an exaggerated groan. “Yeah, well, if Nick decides to roll in mud again, I’m vetoing any further clean-up duty. I’ve already scrubbed more today than I have in my entire life.”

Elle smirked. “Tao, you’ve never scrubbed anything in your life.”

“Exactly,” Tao said, gesturing to the rug dramatically. “And now I’ve peaked. I’m never cleaning again.”

Isaac glanced up from his book. “If you want to be helpful, stop complaining and think of ways to help Charlie break the hypnosis.”

Tao frowned, pointing at the muddy streaks he’d been scrubbing. “I am helping.”

Elle rolled her eyes. “We’re all helping. But Isaac’s right. If we don’t fix this soon, Charlie’s absolutely going to snap.”

Isaac nodded, his tone calm but firm. “Which is why we need to give Charlie hope. Even if it’s just reminding him that Nick’s still in there somewhere.”

The three of them fell silent, glancing toward the bathroom door. From inside, faint splashing sounds and Charlie’s muffled voice could be heard.

“Poor Charlie,” Elle murmured, shaking her head. “He’s really trying.”

“Yeah,” Tao said softly, his earlier bravado fading. “Nick’s lucky to have him.”

Back in the bathroom, Charlie sat on the floor, his drenched sweater clinging to his skin as he glared at Nick, who now sat obediently in the empty tub, wagging his hips from side to side and looking far too satisfied.

“You’re so lucky I love you,” Charlie muttered, grabbing a towel and beginning the arduous task of drying Nick off. "Or else, I'd probably murder you."

Nick barked softly, leaning into Charlie’s touch.

Charlie sighed, exhausted, as he rubbed the towel over Nick’s damp hair. “Alright, you’re almost done. Just stay still, okay?”

Nick woofed softly, wagging his hips as Charlie worked. For a brief moment, Charlie thought he might finally be making progress—until Nick squirmed, slipped out of his grasp, and leaped out of the tub onto the wet bathroom floor.

“Nick! Get back here!” Charlie yelled, scrambling after him.

Nick, however, was on a mission. He padded across the slippery tiles on all fours, stopping in front of the open toilet. Charlie’s stomach dropped as Nick sniffed at the water curiously.

“No, no, no, no!” Charlie shouted, lunging forward just as Nick lowered his head to lap at the water.

“Nick, stop!” Charlie grabbed at him, but Nick had already taken a sip, hips wagging his imaginary tail in apparent satisfaction. “Oh my God, that’s disgusting!” Charlie groaned, pulling Nick back by the arm. “What is wrong with you?!”

Nick barked happily, completely oblivious to Charlie’s horror. Water dripped from his hair and hands, adding to the puddles already covering the floor. "Seriously?! How does that not snap you out of it!"

Charlie dragged Nick back toward the tub, his muddy socks squelching with every step. “You are officially the worst dog—and boyfriend—ever,” he muttered, grabbing the towel again. “Stay here, and don’t you dare move this time.”

Nick sat obediently, wagging his imaginary tail with his hips, as Charlie wiped him down with the towel. Despite his frustration, Charlie couldn’t help but let out a weary laugh. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?”

Nick barked softly, tilting his head in what could only be described as pride.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Elle paused mid-scrub as she heard Charlie’s shout echo from the bathroom. “What now?” she muttered, glancing at Tao.

“Probably more splashing,” Tao said, still scrubbing at the rug. “Or maybe Nick’s decided to chew on something.”

Isaac, still poring over his book at the dining table, looked up briefly. “If it involves water, it’s probably the toilet.”

Elle froze, her eyes widening. “Oh no. Do you think he’s actually—”

A muffled “NICK, STOP!” came from the bathroom, followed by a loud splash.

“Oh my God, he is,” Elle said, burying her face in her hands. “Poor Charlie.”

Tao snorted, shaking his head. “He’s gonna need more than a bath after this.”

Isaac calmly flipped another page. “Let’s hope we figure out a solution before he starts chewing the furniture.”

Back in the bathroom, Charlie finally managed to get Nick away from the toilet and wrapped in a towel, his own clothes completely soaked and his patience wearing thin. Charlie glanced at the pile of muddy clothes and tossed Nick’s wet boxers onto the pile with a sigh. He sat down on the edge of the tub, staring at Nick, who sat happily on the floor wrapped in the towel, wagging his hips from side to side and looking entirely too pleased with himself.

“You’re lucky you’re cute,” Charlie muttered, rubbing his temples. “Now, how am I going to keep you from destroying the rest of the apartment?”

Nick barked softly, tilting his head as if offering a suggestion. Charlie sighed, his wet curls sticking to his forehead. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I might actually need a leash.”

 Before Charlie could react, Nick scrambled past him on all fours, slipping slightly on the wet bathroom tiles before bursting out the door at top speed, the towel flying off.

“Nick!” Charlie shouted, scrambling to his feet. “Get back here!”

Nick paid no attention, bounding through the living room like an overexcited puppy. Tao and Elle froze mid-cleanup, staring as Nick zoomed past, still completely naked and dripping wet.

“Oh my God!” Elle exclaimed, dropping a muddy paper towel. “Where is he going?!”

“I don’t know, but stop him!” Charlie shouted, chasing after Nick.

Isaac calmly looked up from his book, watching Nick’s escape with mild interest. “Front door’s open.”

Charlie’s heart sank. “What?! Why is the door open?!”

Tao shrugged. “We were airing out the place. You’re welcome.”

Before Charlie could yell at him, Nick bounded out the door into the hallway, out the main door, and back onto the front lawn, the cool night air hitting his damp skin as the rain had stopped. He paused briefly, sniffing the grass with exaggerated enthusiasm, then padded forward.

“Nick! Stop!” Charlie yelled, running after him. He stumbled out onto the lawn, his face already burning with embarrassment as he realized what was about to happen.

Nick sniffed the ground, barked once, and then—much to Charlie’s utter horror—lifted his leg.

“Oh no,” Charlie muttered, covering his face with both hands. “Oh my God, Nick, stop. Please.”

Nick, however, looked immensely proud of himself. He barked again, wagging his hips as he turned to face Charlie, his grin wide and innocent.

Charlie froze, his mind racing as he realized the neighbors could be watching. He darted forward, grabbing Nick by the arm and trying to shield him as best he could. “Inside. Now. Before someone sees you!”

Nick barked happily, crawling alongside Charlie as he was ushered back into the apartment. Tao and Elle stood at the doorway, both clearly struggling to contain their horror and their laughter.

Charlie glared at them, dragging Nick back into the apartment. “Not a word. From either of you.”

Isaac finally closed his book, setting it on the coffee table. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re handling this remarkably well.”

“Thanks, Isaac,” Charlie muttered, grabbing Nick’s arm as he pulled him back into the bedroom.

Nick barked softly, looking up at Charlie with his big, innocent eyes, completely unaware of the chaos he’d just caused.

Elle and Isaac soon found themselves on “Nick-sitting” duty while Charlie and Tao left to get supplies. Nick sat on the floor, wearing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt Charlie had managed to get on him after much effort. His hazel eyes sparkled with excitement as he wagged his imaginary tail, woofing softly at random intervals. Every so often, he’d tilt his head, his expression animated as though he were responding to sounds only he could hear.

Elle paced back and forth, her arms crossed tightly as she kept a watchful eye on him. “Okay, this is manageable,” she said, glancing at Isaac. “As long as he doesn’t try to chew the furniture or... I don’t know, jump out a window.”

Isaac sat on the arm of the couch, a thick book open in his lap, though his eyes were more on Nick than the page. “Let’s hope Charlie and Tao get back soon. He’s going to need more than just ‘sitting duty’ if this keeps up.”

Nick barked again, suddenly dropping to all fours and crawling toward the coffee table. He sniffed at the air dramatically, his imaginary tail wagging as he nosed the leg of the table.

Elle froze mid-step, her eyes narrowing. “Is he... sniffing furniture now?”

Isaac didn’t look up from his book. “Seems like it.”

“Right. Totally normal,” Elle muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “This is fine. Everything’s fine.”

Nick barked again, nosing at the base of the coffee table before flopping onto his back. He began to wiggle enthusiastically, his large legs kicking in the air as though he were scratching an invisible itch.

Elle pinched the bridge of her nose. “This is getting ridiculous. How is he this much like a dog?”

Isaac finally looked up, observing Nick’s antics with a calm expression. “Hypnosis is a powerful tool. If the suggestion is strong enough, it can override normal behavior completely.”

Elle gave him a flat look. “Great. So, what you’re saying is, he’s stuck like this until Charlie figures out how to reverse it?”

Isaac shrugged, turning a page. “Possibly.”

“Fantastic,” Elle muttered, throwing her hands in the air. “And here I thought my day would involve, I don’t know, watching a bad movie with Tao, maybe some drawing, or doing literally anything else.”

Nick barked softly, rolling back onto his stomach and crawling toward Isaac. His hazel eyes were wide and hopeful as he nudged Isaac’s foot with his head.

Isaac raised an eyebrow. “What does he want now?”

Elle tilted her head. “I think he’s asking you to pet him.”

“That is not happening,” Isaac said flatly, shifting his foot away.

Nick whined softly, then barked again, more insistently this time. Elle stifled a laugh. “You’re really not going to humor him? Just once?”

Isaac closed his book and looked down at Nick, his voice calm but firm. “You’re not a dog, Nick. I’m not going to treat you like one. Snap out of it.”

Nick let out a huff—an honest-to-goodness huff—and flopped onto his side in an exaggerated display of defeat. Elle couldn’t help but laugh outright this time. “Wow. He’s really leaning into it.”

Isaac reopened his book, his voice even. “At least he’s not causing destruction. Yet.”

Nick barked again, crawling a few inches forward on the rug before flopping onto his back. He wiggled in place like a happy puppy, his hands pawing at the air.

Elle froze mid-pace, her eyes narrowing. “Is he… pretending to play dead?”

Isaac glanced up from his book, raising an eyebrow as he observed Nick’s antics. “I think he’s just entertaining himself. Like a dog would. Which he is not and we need to keep reminding him he is not. So don’t pet him. Don’t give in to his antics.”

Elle sighed. “Easier said than done.”

Charlie and Tao stepped out of the rain and into an adult novelty shop. The bright neon sign above the door cast a strange glow over the sidewalk, and Charlie crossed his arms tightly, glaring at Tao as the automatic door slid shut behind them.

The moment Charlie and Tao stepped into the store, the overwhelming neon lighting made Charlie’s already flushed face feel even hotter. Tao, by contrast, looked far too comfortable as he surveyed their surroundings, his hands shoved casually into his pockets.

“Remind me why we couldn’t just try a pet store,” Charlie grumbled, his arms crossed defensively as he stuck close to the door.

“Because,” Tao said, gesturing around them, “this place has everything you need, and a pet store doesn’t cater to, uh... unconventional situations like yours.” He gave Charlie a cheeky grin. “You should be thanking me.”

Charlie sighed, running a hand through his damp curls. “Right. Thank you for bringing me to a place where I’ll die of secondhand embarrassment.”

Tao shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. “Trust me, I’ve got this.”

Charlie groaned, running a hand through his still-damp curls. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. For Nick. Who thinks he’s a dog.”

“Hey,” Tao said with a grin, “love makes you do weird things.”

Charlie shot him a withering glare before looking around the store. Shelves lined with all manner of… unconventional items surrounded them. A display of collars and leashes caught Tao’s eye, and he grabbed Charlie by the arm, dragging him over.

“Here we go!” Tao said cheerfully, picking up a black leather collar and turning it over in his hands. “Perfect.”

Charlie looked horrified. “That’s for… people?”

“Yeah, but Nick thinks he’s a dog,” Tao said, holding it up. “What’s the difference?” Tao held up a sleek black collar with silver studs, wiggling his eyebrows. “What do you think? Classy, right?”

Charlie groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I hate you so much right now.”

Tao ignored him, picking up a matching leash. “This one looks sturdy. You wouldn’t want him breaking free again.”

Charlie groaned, covering his face with his hands. “I hate this. I hate everything about this.”

Tao glared at him “Ooh, this one’s retractable. Practical and stylish.”

“I don’t care about style,” Charlie snapped, reluctantly following Tao to the next aisle. “Just get what we need and let’s get out of here.”

“You’ll thank me later.” Tao said, tossing the leash into the basket.

Charlie nodded, eyeing the selection. “Fine. But we need something to put on him. Like… clothes. He can’t just run around naked thinking he’s a dog.”

“Ah! Here we go!” Tao stopped in front of a rack of novelty clothing, his eyes lighting up as he pulled out a large bright yellow dog onesie and a wagging tail attachment. “What about this? It’s his size. It even has built-in paw prints on the feet.”

Charlie grabbed it from him, holding it up with a look of pure horror. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m not putting him in this.”

“Why not? It’s adorable,” Tao said, clearly enjoying himself.

“It’s humiliating,” Charlie muttered, tossing the onesie into the cart in defeat and reaching for a plain gray jumper. “This is a bit better. He’s already lost his dignity. I’d prefer not making it worse.”

“Onesies allow for easy access and quick dressing which you sort of need right now.” Tao shrugged, now holding up a pair of novelty pajama pants with paw prints. “And these have a convenient flap for—”

Charlie snatched them from Tao’s hands before he could finish. “Don’t. Just don’t. Fine. You win.”

Tao smirked. “Alright, alright. What else do we need? ”

Charlie sighed, rubbing his temples, his face reddening as he thought about Nick’s increasing lack of boundaries. “...Maybe something to, uh, prevent future accidents.”

Tao looked at him, confused for a moment, before realization dawned. “Wait. Are you saying we need to get him a—” He burst out laughing, doubling over. “Oh my God, Charlie, this is priceless!”

“Keep your voice down!” Charlie hissed, his face burning. “You’re not helping.”

Tao wiped his eyes, still chuckling. “Fine, fine. Let’s find the diaper aisle. And don’t worry, Charlie, I’ll make sure to pick one with a ‘luxurious fit.’”

“Massive favor.” Charlie muttered as Tao led the way to another aisle. “Huge. We won’t be even until I’m 80!”

They stopped in front of a shelf stocked with colorful packages of adult diapers. Charlie stood frozen, his embarrassment reaching new heights as he scanned the options. “Why do there have to be so many choices?”

Tao grinned, looking at the various options.. “It is quite the selection” he observed.

Charlie sighed, muttering under his breath. “Kill me now.”

Tao picked up a package decorated with cartoon paw prints, holding it out proudly. “This one’s perfect. Functional and thematic.”

Charlie swiped it from him, shoving it into the basket without meeting his gaze. “Let’s just get out of here before someone sees us.”

Tao laughed, grabbing another package just to push Charlie’s buttons. “What about this one? Says ‘maximum absorbency.’ That sounds useful, right?”

“Tao,” Charlie growled, his voice low with warning.

“Okay, okay,” Tao said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “You’re no fun.”

"Tell you what: Let's turn Elle into a cat and see if you find it so amusing!"

Tao shrugged. "At least cats use a litter box."

"Shut. Up." Charlie replied through gritted teeth.

After a few more awkward minutes browsing, Charlie approached the counter, his face burning with embarrassment as he handed over the basket of supplies. The cashier—a cheerful older woman with bright purple hair—gave him a knowing smile.

“Big night planned?” she asked looking from Charlie to Tao and back at Charlie, winking.

Charlie’s face turned beet red. “It’s… not what it looks like.”

“Sure it’s not,” she said, ringing up the items. “You two have fun now.”

Tao bit his lip, clearly holding back laughter as Charlie paid and grabbed the bag, all but sprinting out of the store.

“I don’t know what’s worse.” Charlie muttered as they walked onto the sidewalk. “That I’m buying supplies for my boyfriend who thinks he’s a dog or that she thought you and I were a couple.”

“Rude!” Tao replied, clearly offended. 

Charlie looked at him and snorted, laughing for the first time since the whole absurd situation had begun.

Back at the apartment, Elle and Isaac were doing their best to keep Nick entertained. Despite Isaac’s urging to treat Nick as a human and not give in to his doglike antics, Elle had resorted to tossing one of Charlie’s socks back and forth across the room, which Nick gleefully chased down on all fours. He grabbed it with his teeth as he slobbered all over it before crawling back to drop it at Elle’s feet, panting happily.

“This is so gross,” Elle muttered, holding the damp sock between two fingers. She tossed it again, watching as Nick bounded after it like an overexcited puppy. “Do you think Charlie’s going to be mad that we let him play fetch with his socks?”

Isaac, sitting cross-legged on the couch with a book open in his lap, glanced at the slobbery sock as Nick dropped it at Elle’s feet again. “Not as mad as he’ll be when he sees the teeth marks,” he said, returning his gaze to the book.

Elle sighed, picking up the sock and tossing it one more time. “This is ridiculous. We've known Nick  for years, and I never thought I’d see him like... this.”

Nick barked happily as he retrieved the sock, rolling onto his back with it clamped between his teeth. Elle wrinkled her nose. “He’s really into this, isn’t he?”

Isaac turned a page, his tone as calm as ever. “Like I said before: Hypnosis works by reinforcing suggestions.”

Elle crouched down to pick up the sock, grimacing as Nick playfully tugged at it with his teeth. “So you’re saying this could go on indefinitely?”

Isaac closed his book, finally giving her his full attention. “Not indefinitely. This isn't like quitting smoking or going off sweets. This is different. It's a trance and he will snap out of it at some point. And hypnosis can be broken earlier, but it requires something deeply personal to override the suggestion. Something that reminds him of who he really is.”

Elle let go of the sock, letting Nick roll away with it. She stood up, rubbing her temples. “Great. Because we have so many ways to make that happen with him acting like this.”

Nick barked again, wagging his imaginary tail as he gnawed on the sock. Isaac tilted his head. “At least he’s easily entertained.”

The sound of the front door opening broke through the moment. Charlie stormed in, his hair still damp from the rain, clutching a shopping bag. Tao trailed behind him, looking far too amused.

“Finally!” Elle exclaimed, dropping the sock onto the couch. “Did you get what you needed?”

Charlie held up the bag, his face a mixture of exhaustion and frustration. “I got… some things. Let’s just hope they work.”

Nick barked happily at the sight of Charlie, crawling toward him on all fours with the sock still in his mouth. Charlie sighed, dropping the bag onto the coffee table. “Alright, Nick. Let’s see if this keeps you under control.”

Charlie knelt beside the bag, pulling out the black leather collar and leash. Nick sat obediently in front of him, his paws planted firmly on the floor as if awaiting instructions. Tao leaned over the back of the couch, smirking. “I think it suits him already.”

Charlie shot Tao a glare before fastening the collar around Nick’s neck. “There. Step one done.” He handed the leash to Elle, who accepted it with a raised eyebrow.

“What am I supposed to do with this?” she asked, holding it like it might bite her.

“Just hold it for a minute,” Charlie muttered, pulling out the pack of adult diapers. He glanced at Nick, who tilted his head curiously, and sighed. “Okay, Nick. This is just until you snap out of it, alright?”

Nick barked in agreement, wagging his imaginary tail as if he understood.

Charlie handed the diaper to Elle. “Help me with this.”

Elle took a step back, her hands raised. “Absolutely not. This one’s all you.”

Isaac, watching from the couch, leaned forward slightly. “You might want to hurry. He’s starting to look... restless.”

Charlie groaned, grabbing Nick’s arm and guiding him toward the bathroom with the supplies in hand. “You’re lucky I love you,” he muttered under his breath as Nick crawled along happily beside him.

Charlie guided Nick into the bathroom, gripping the pack of diapers in one hand and muttering under his breath. Nick crawled alongside him, wagging his imaginary tail and barking softly, completely oblivious to the growing tension radiating from Charlie.

Once inside, Charlie closed the door with a sigh, leaning against it for a moment. He glanced down at Nick, who was sitting obediently on all fours, his hazel eyes wide with curiosity.

“Alright,” Charlie said, tearing open the pack of diapers with more force than necessary. “No more running. No more surprises in the yard. You’re getting this thing on, and you’re staying inside. Got it?”

Nick tilted his head, letting out a happy bark.

Charlie knelt down, holding up one of the cartoonish paw-print diapers as he moved to remove Nick’s shorts. “Okay, Nick. Just sit still and let me—oh, for God’s sake.”

Nick had flopped onto his large back, his massive legs kicking playfully in the air as if he thought this was all part of the game. The crinkling of the diaper only seemed to encourage him, and Charlie let out an exasperated groan.

“Nick, I’m serious,” Charlie said, his tone stern. “Stay still.”

Nick woofed softly, rolling back onto his stomach and crawling a few steps away. Charlie lunged forward, grabbing him gently but firmly by the arm. “You’re not making this any easier.”

He managed to maneuver Nick into a seated position, grabbing the waistband of the diaper and awkwardly holding it open. “Okay, just let me—no! Don’t move!”

Nick wiggled enthusiastically, barking as Charlie tried to guide his legs into the diaper. It took three failed attempts and a lot of grumbling from Charlie before he finally got Nick positioned correctly.

“There,” Charlie muttered, fastening the tabs with a satisfying click. “Done. Accident-proof. Finally.”

Nick barked happily, rolling onto his back again and kicking his legs. The crinkling sound of the diaper echoed through the small bathroom, and Charlie dropped back onto his heels, burying his face in his hands.

“Oh my God,” Charlie muttered, his voice muffled. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

Nick sat up, wagging his imaginary tail as he crawled toward Charlie and nuzzled his shoulder affectionately. Charlie peeked out from between his fingers, his expression softening despite his exhaustion.

“You’re lucky it’s you,” Charlie said quietly, ruffling Nick’s hair. “Because if this were anyone else, I’d have locked them in here and thrown away the key. Especially Tao.”

Nick barked softly, wagging his imaginary tail harder.

Charlie opened the bathroom door and guided Nick back into the living room. Tao and Elle were still cleaning up the mess Nick had left earlier, though Tao was clearly slacking off.

Elle looked up first, her gaze landing on Nick in his t-shirt and cartoonish paw-print diaper. She blinked, then quickly covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. “Oh my God,” she said softly, turning away to avoid making eye contact with Charlie.

Tao, on the other hand, took one look at Nick and immediately burst out laughing. He doubled over, clutching the back of the couch for support. “Oh my God. Charlie, this is gold. Absolute gold. ”

Nick barked happily, crawling toward Tao with his diaper crinkling loudly. Tao stepped back, his hands raised in mock surrender. “Nope. Stay over there, mate. I’m not about to play with you.”

Nick let out a sad whine and Charlie groaned, dragging a hand down his face as he collapsed onto the couch. “Do any of you have a better solution? Because I’m open to suggestions.”

Tao straightened up, pulling his phone out of his pocket and grinning. “Actually, yeah. I do. This moment needs to be captured for posterity.”

Charlie sat bolt upright, his glare sharp enough to make Tao pause for a fraction of a second. “Put the phone away.”

“Oh, come on,” Tao said, his grin widening. “This is legendary. Just one picture. For the memories.”

Charlie pointed a finger at him, his tone deadly serious. “No.”

“But think about it,” Tao said, holding up his phone. “When Nick’s back to normal, he’ll laugh about this too!”

“No,” Charlie repeated, standing up and starting toward Tao. “I’m not kidding. Put the phone away.”

Tao smirked, holding the phone just out of reach. “You’re missing out on some prime blackmail material.”

Charlie crossed his arms, his glare intensifying. “If you take a single photo….”

Tao sighed dramatically, lowering his phone. “Fine. You’re no fun.”

“That’s because this isn’t fun for me,” Charlie muttered, sinking back onto the couch.

Nick barked again, crawling onto the rug and flopping onto his side. He pawed at the air playfully, the crinkling of the diaper echoing softly in the room. Charlie felt his patience hanging by a thread.

Isaac, who had been watching from his own spot on the couch, finally stood and surveyed the scene with his usual calm demeanor. “If this keeps him contained, it’s a good temporary solution,” he said, nodding slightly. “But we still need to figure out how to undo the hypnosis.”

“Yeah,” Charlie muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as he watched Nick roll onto his stomach. “The sooner, the better.”

Nick flopped down at Isaac’s feet, his hazel eyes wide and his tongue lolling out as he panted softly. Isaac stared down at him, then looked back at Charlie. “He’s remarkably committed to this.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Charlie muttered, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

Elle crouched down to wipe at a muddy patch on the floor, glancing up at Charlie with a smirk. “You know, it’s kind of sweet how much effort you’re putting into this.”

Charlie sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t have a choice, do I? He’s my boyfriend. I can’t just… leave him like this.”

Tao grinned, picking up his towel again. “Well, if nothing else, you’ll have one heck of a story to tell someday.”

Charlie groaned, sinking onto the couch as Nick crawled back toward him, barking happily. “Yeah, if I survive this.”

Nick crawled toward Charlie on all fours, his diaper crinkling loudly with every movement. He stopped in front of the couch, tilting his head as he woofed softly, his imaginary tail wagging with excitement.

Charlie slumped further into the cushions, staring down at Nick with a mix of exhaustion and disbelief. “You’re not going to sit still, are you?”

Nick responded by nuzzling Charlie’s knee with his head, letting out a playful whine.

“Unbelievable,” Charlie muttered, rubbing his temples. “You’ve been a person your whole life, and now this is what you’re choosing to be?”

Nick barked again, his moving side to side, wagging his imaginary tail harder as he pawed at Charlie’s leg.

Elle stood up, tossing her muddy towel into a nearby trash bag. “Maybe he just needs more attention,” she said, a grin tugging at her lips. “You know, like a real dog.”

Tao smirked, leaning against the wall. “Yeah, Charlie. Why don’t you give him some belly rubs? That’ll calm him down.”

Charlie shot Tao a glare. “Do you want to do it? Be my guest.”

Tao quickly held up his hands. “Nope. He’s all yours.”

With a resigned sigh, Charlie slid off the couch and knelt on the floor. “Alright, fine. Let’s see if this works.” He gently lifted Nick’s t-shirt just enough to rub his stomach. Nick let out a whine of approval, his imaginary tail wagging enthusiastically.

Isaac, perched on the arm of the couch, flipped through another book he’d picked up from Charlie’s shelf. “Well,” he said, his voice even, “there wasn’t much in here, but I did confirm one thing: hypnosis like this isn’t permanent. Eventually, he’ll either snap out of it on his own. Or, if we don't want to wait for that, we can try and reverse it ourselves.”

Charlie sat back on his heels, narrowing his eyes. “And how exactly do we reverse it?”

Isaac shrugged, calm as ever. “Typically, you need to introduce a suggestion that counters the original one. Something that forces him to remember who he really is.”

Charlie groaned, running a hand through his curls. “Great. So I just have to convince him he’s Nick Nelson, human. While he’s running around on his hands and knees, barking at everything.”

Nick barked at the mention of his name, wagging his imaginary tail proudly as though he agreed with Charlie.

Elle crouched next to Nick, her expression softening. “Hey, Nick,” she said gently. “Do you remember who you are? You’re Charlie’s boyfriend, remember? Boooyyy-Friend.”

Nick blinked at her, tilting his head. For a brief moment, Elle thought she saw something flicker in his eyes—recognition, maybe? But then he barked happily and crawled in a circle before flopping onto his back with his legs in the air.

“Never mind,” Elle muttered, standing up. “Still a dog.”

Charlie buried his face in his hands. “This is hopeless.”

“No, it’s not,” Isaac said, his tone steady. “You just need to be patient. Keep reminding him of who he is, and eventually, something will click.”

“Patient,” Charlie echoed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Sure. I’ll just patiently wait while my boyfriend eats crisps off the floor and drinks out of the toilet.”

Nick barked softly, wagging his hips at the word “crisps.”

Tao stretched dramatically, tossing his towel into the trash bag. “Well, Charlie, as much as I’d love to stay and help babysit your dog-boyfriend, I think it’s time for me to call it a night.”

Charlie shot him a glare, still crouched next to Nick, who was busy pawing at the rug. “You’re kidding, right? You’re just going to leave me with this?”

Elle raised her hands in mock surrender. “Charlie, we’ve done all we can tonight. We cleaned up most of the mess and kept Nick entertained. We’ll be back in the morning to help.”

“Morning?” Charlie repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. “What am I supposed to do until then?”

“Figure out how to get him to sleep,” Elle suggested, grabbing her jacket. She leaned down to ruffle Nick’s hair, earning a happy bark. “He’s still your boyfriend. You’ll manage.”

Tao smirked, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “Yeah, you’ve got this, Charlie. I believe in you.”

“Gee, thanks,” Charlie muttered, rolling his eyes.

Isaac stood up, carefully tucking his book under his arm. “I’ll keep researching tonight,” he said, his calm tone cutting through the tension. “If I find anything useful, I’ll text you. Just… try to keep him from destroying anything else.”

Nick barked at Isaac’s voice, wagging his imaginary tail as he crawled toward him. Isaac glanced down, once again refusing to interact and raising an eyebrow. “Good luck, Charlie.”

“Thanks,” Charlie said, though his voice was weary. He stood up, hands on his hips as he watched Nick try and nuzzle Isaac’s leg before crawling back toward the couch.

Elle opened the door, glancing back at Charlie with a small smirk. “Don’t worry. We’ll bring breakfast in the morning.”

“And coffee,” Tao added, already halfway out the door.

“You’d better,” Charlie said, crossing his arms. “And you’d better have a solution by then.”

“We’ll try,” Isaac said, nodding as he followed Elle and Tao out into the hallway.

The door clicked shut, leaving Charlie alone in the now-quiet apartment. He locked the door and turned to Nick, who had crawled onto the rug and was happily rolling around again, the crinkling of his diaper echoing softly in the quiet space.

Charlie slumped back on the couch, letting out a weary sigh. Nick curled up on the floor at his feet, resting his head on Charlie’s knee. His hazel eyes blinked slowly, the kind of contentment that might have been comforting if not for the absurdity of the situation.

Charlie sank onto the couch with a sigh, his hands dragging down his face as he muttered, “What am I going to do?”

Nick woofed softly, wagging his imaginary tail with his hips as he pawed at the edge of the rug, completely oblivious to the exasperated look Charlie gave him.

“You’re supposed to be a grown man,” Charlie muttered, stroking Nick’s hair absentmindedly. “Not a dog who just rolled around in mud and drank from the toilet. Ugh!”

Nick woofed softly as his eyes fluttered shut. Charlie let out a long breath, relieved that, at least for now, Nick seemed calm. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was indeed getting late.

Alright, bedtime,” Charlie murmured. He gently nudged Nick’s shoulder. “Come on, up. Let’s get you into bed.”

Nick blinked up at him, tilting his head curiously before barking softly. Instead of getting up, he stayed curled on the floor, his body twisting slightly as if settling in for the night.

“No,” Charlie said firmly, standing up. “Not the floor. Our bed.”

Nick let out a low whine, looking up at Charlie with pleading eyes.

“Oh, come on,” Charlie groaned, crossing his arms. “Don’t give me that look. You can’t sleep on the floor like this.”

Nick remained where he was, his imaginary tail wagging softly against the rug as his hips moved slowly. Charlie sighed, crouching down and patting his knee. “Come on, boy. Follow me.”

Nick perked up at the gesture, woofing once before crawling after Charlie as he led the way to their bedroom. The sight of Nick’s diaper crinkling with every movement was almost too much, and Charlie couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry at the absurdity of the entire situation.

When they reached the bedroom, Charlie motioned to the bed. “Alright, up you go.”

Nick stared at the bed for a moment before scrambling up onto it. He curled into a ball on Charlie’s side, wagging his imaginary tail with his hips as he nuzzled the pillow.

“Great,” Charlie muttered, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “Now, stay there.”

Charlie let out a long sigh, running a hand through his curls as he looked down at Nick, who had already curled up on Charlie’s side of the bed. The soft rise and fall of Nick’s chest, the way his damp hair stuck to his forehead, and the ridiculous crinkle of the paw-print diaper as he adjusted himself were a bizarre combination of endearing and exasperating.

“You’re really making me work for this, huh?” Charlie muttered under his breath.

Nick let out a soft woof, nuzzling the pillow with his face. Charlie shook his head, pulling back the covers and slipping into bed beside him.

As soon as Charlie lay down, Nick shuffled closer, resting his head against Charlie’s shoulder. His hands curled up near his chest like paws, and he let out a soft, contented sigh.

“Nick,” Charlie murmured, his tone equal parts affection and exasperation. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

Nick responded with a soft “woof,” as he snuggled closer, his hips continuing to gyrate. Charlie rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at his lips. He wrapped an arm around Nick, pulling him closer.

“This is, by far, the weirdest night of my life,” Charlie whispered, staring up at the ceiling. “But even with you thinking you're a dog, I’m still so in love with you.”

Nick let out another soft bark, his breathing slowing as he drifted into sleep. Charlie felt the tension start to leave his body, the weight of the day easing slightly as he lay there, holding Nick close.

As bizarre and frustrating as the situation was, Charlie couldn’t help but feel a sense of calm in that moment. Nick, for all his chaotic dog-like antics, was still Nick—still the person Charlie loved, even if he currently thought he had four legs and a tail.

Charlie pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Nick’s head, his voice soft. “Goodnight, Nick. Please, please wake up as yourself tomorrow. One day of this was more than enough”

Nick let out a soft huff, nestling closer, and Charlie finally allowed his own eyes to close. Despite everything, he felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, things would be better in the morning.