Work Text:
Ace was a big boy, he knew not to jump, his fur and paws were freshly clean, and he had not killed any squirrels in a whole two days. So then why was he not let outside?
The room he could hear the voices of his pack, he could smell them too. But no matter how he pawed and scratched and bit at the bottom of the door, no one would awnser him.
Miffed, he shoved his nose in the crack, taking in deep breaths of the air slipping to him.
He smelled the grey man, the one who slipped him scraps in the kitchen and put ice cubes in his water dish.
Master was there too, but he smelled salty, and sad. He would not let Ace in to comfort him.
And he smelled his two boys, his tail wagged, thumping against the wall. It had been so long since both his boys were home.
His small boy smelled off, he smelled hurt Ace wanted to lick his face, make him laugh. He'd done so many early mornings when his master and boys returned. Grey man would bring him in the cave, and he would lay by the cot and make his boys feel better.
But they wouldn't let him in.
This door was now his nemisis. Ace huffed, shaking his head as he tried in vain to gnaw at the handle.
His ears perked footsteps. Ace smiled, jumping back, and tail wagging as they drew close. Finally, he would see his boys!
The door burst open and there stood his biggest boy, he was panting, and his fur needed a good brush. He paused, looking down at Ace.
Slowly he kneeled, carding his hand in Ace's scruff, his tail hitting the floor as he tried to lick his boys face. He sucseeded, it was salty.
"Oh yeah you... you wanna see him huh?" His big boy chocked out, he sounded sad. Ace tried to lick him more, but his big boy stood- for a moment Ace was tempted to be a bad boy, to jump, lest he be left alone again.
But his big boy did not run away, he shifted and opened up the door to the outside. Ace spotted them, his master and the grey man. And his girl! Oh his girl- he didnt much like her new chair, he couldn't sit in her lap, but that was okay. She allowed him to jump.
With no delay, Ace hurried past the door, looking back to ensure his big boy was following. And only a moment he managed to flail his paws and slow down.
He brushed against his girl, she did not smile at him, but did ruffle his fur as he passed. He walked over to the grey man, pawing at his pantleg.
It was cold otside, he could smell the rain to come. And his food bowl was empty.
But the grey man only gently shooed him away. Ace did not mind, the grey man was busy. Besides, he looked over to the other side of the dirt.
His master was kneeling by the stone, and perfect height for kisses!
Ace licked his masters neck, it was weird, his master was on the floor. He never sat down with Ace, even when he really begged him too. Only his little boy did that.
Ace shifted past as his Master did not acknowlege him.
Where was his little boy?
Sniffing the air, the world came to life around him. He smelled his pack. And- his boy?
Ace tipped his head down, sniffing around the stone and into the dirt. It smelled like his boy. But why was he in the dirt? Was this a game? Hide and seek but in the ground instead of the curtains.
His boy was never good at hide and seek, Ace could always smell him. But this was new. Ace wagged his tail as he began to paw at the ground, he found him! And now his boy would laugh, and scratch his belly- then they'd play again.
"NO you damm mutt!" His Master bellowed, arm flying out and shoving Ace aside.
Ace jumped, moving away and tail tucked. Why was master mad at him? He was trying to play with his boy. He turned back to the stone, they couldn't leave him there.
His master turned away, the grey man pulling him back. Ace rushed forward, both paws dgging furiously at the dirt.
Where was his boy!?
Master was yelling now, and Grey man was holding him back. He was mad at Ace, he didnt understand.
"Ace ace cmon please dont, Ace please" His big boy begged, grabbing at Ace's collar and trying to pull him back.
Ace was not a bad boy, he wanted to listen. But he didnt understand. Where was his boy?
"Ace? Come." His girl ordered, she held something out.
Ace paused, allowing his big boy to pull him away. Slowly, he walked over, ears back and tail tucked.
His girl was shaking, smelly salt on her face. She held out something red. Oh- he knew this game! Ace tail was still tucked, but he would be a good boy, he would find the treat.
He leaned forward, and took a big wiff of the fabric.
It smelled like his boy.
.
.
.
Ace shoved his entire nose deeper into the fabric, sniffing more and more. It- he knew that smell. It was like the squirrels he buried in the yard so the grey man wouldn't find.
But it smelled like his boy, and the fireplace. Ace- he didnt understand.
He turned to his Master, now packing back down the dirt he had distrurbed.
And suddenly- Ace understood.
His boy was gone.
Ace curled up on the ground, one paw laying on the dirt, but he did not dig.
He stayed, even as the rain came and turned the dirt to mud. They all did.
And when the grey man finally forced them to move. Ace waited to be carried to the bath, he was dirty now.
But the grey man did not come. Ace slowly made his way inside, careful not to shake, the grey man hated that. And he made his way to his bed by the door. The fireplace was closer, but he would not sleep there.
With muddy paws, he climbed into his bed, stuffing his head over the blue bone his boy had gotten him. And Ace watched the door, like a good boy.
________________________________________________________
Ace was a bad boy, that is what master told him when Ace tried once more to dig the spot he wasnt allowed. The spot with the stone and his boy.
But it was different.
His boy was gone
Ace could not smell him anymore. Not even in the dirt.
But Master did not understand, and he put a fence around the stone and dirt. Ace was not allowed. No matter how much he whined and scratched, Master did not budge.
The grey man did not listen either, he kept his bowl full, and ice cubes in his dish, but scraps were fewer and far between.
His big boy and his girl did not come anymore. He missed them.
But not as much as his boy.
He no longer played hide and seek. He did not run in the halls. Or pretend to be asleep curled up as his boy read to him. He was not allowed in the bed, but the grey man and master had never stopped them.
The door was locked now, and no matter how long Ace sat outside. It never opened.
.
.
.
A new boy came, Master was not happy. Ace was not happy.
He growled whenever the boy tried to approach his bed by the door. He was being a good boy, keeping away strangers. And this boy was a stranger.
But despite his scary growls and hackles raised. The boy did not run. He just smiled at Ace, and dropped a treat in his bowl.
Ace was a good boy, he did not trust strangers. But he did eat the treats.
The warning was not working, so Ace tried something new. He would follow the boy. Through the manor, and even the cave. Ace was no longer locked out of doors.
The grey man had forbidden it after Ace did a bad thing.
He scratched and scratched until his paws bled. Now only the dirt and his boys room were off limits.
He did not scratch there.
The new boy did not seem to mind Ace, only ever tossing treats down and walking away. He did not try to pet Ace, and Ace did not trust him, but he did not growl, and he ate the treats.
Then one day, the grey man came running into the cave, Ace hot on his tail.
Master's car roared in, it was too loud. But Ace was brave, he did not run.
The doors opened, and out came his new boy as Master rushed him to the cot. The new boy was bleeding, He was hurt, whimpers falling from his chest. Like a hurt puppy.
The grey man rushed to help, and Ace was a good boy, he slowly approached.
Master watched him, but Ace did not growl. One paw after another, he jumped onto the bed, curling up and starring down at the new boy.
"Ace?" The new boy asked, nervous. A puppy with his tail tucked, that would not do.
The new boy was not his boy, but he was hurt, and Ace was good, he would do his job.
Slowly, Ace leaned forward, resting his head on the new boys lap. He closed his eyes, forcing his body to relax.
A shaky hand curled into his fur, carefully stroking bit by bit. Ace tail thumped as he scratched behind his ear. Not the way he liked, but it would do.
Ace was older now, he was not as fast, nor as playful, but he decided, Ace would protect this new boy.
His boy would have liked him in their pack.
_________________________________________________________
There were more beds throughout the manor for him. But the one by the door stayed his favorite. It was where his blue bone was, even his bone had been broken and stitched over and over again.
Master took away the fence, and Ace did not try to dig again.
He would only pick up his bone and walk outside, curl up on the grass by the stone, and chew.
Sometimes his old new boy would try to move him inside when the rain would come. He would help the grey man wash him and his bone. But they never got mad at him. He even got treats from his old new boy.
And slowly, as slowly as his steps got heavier and his fur continued to dull. More packmates came and went.
His girl came back, with more girls of her own. The dark fur one was nervous around him, but liked when he showed his belly. And the golden one was excited enough to get him to play on his good days.
And came his favorite. His Masters pup. A boy who growled at all the strangers just like Ace used to. He did not like his old new boy, just like Ace. It was silly, he was just a puppy himself.
Masters pup had yelled at the grey man and his big boy as well, and locked himself in the room.
That would not do.
Ace pulled himself from his bed, bone tucked into the side of his bed. And he made his way over to the hall that smelled like pup.
Slowly, he pawed at the door, and every second, a bit louder.
.
.
.
BANG
"Can you insolent welps ever leave me alo-!?" His masters pup threw open the door, hackles raised and snarling, but he stopped when he saw Ace.
Ace sat back, tail wagging softly against the floor. He looked at his masters pup and waited.
Masters pup paused, looking around, and then slowly stepped aside.
Ace happily walked in, the door shtting and locking behind him. That he did not mind.
Without further ado he hopped onto the bed, a quick circle, and then laid down, facing his masters pup.
The boy smiled, hackles lowering as he approached, "Someone who knows they are worthy of our families namesake- at last."
Ace huffed, scratching at his collar.
Masters pup walked forward, careful and catious of his space. A good boy. Ace did nothing except pant. A small hand turned his collar, his tags jingling.
"Ace huh? A respectable enough name," His masters pup hummed, dropping the collar and slowly sitting by his side, "And a german shepard, strong and stubborn breed, a good fit for our legacy"
Ace watched masters pup hand curl against his knee. His foot trembling. His new old boy tucked his tail, but masters pup was just as nervous.
He looked around, sniffing the air and paused when he spotted a book laid on the bed next to him. Slowly, he pawed at the cover until Masters pup looked over.
"You- the book?" Masters pup slowly picked it up "What you want me to read it to you?"
Masters pup was joking, but Ace simply nuzzled forward, tucking his head on the crook of his arm just like he used to with his boy. Masters pup needed to sleep, and this always helped his boy.
Masters pup huffed, but it was not an angry sound. "I suppose if we are allies I must... value your request, besides this seems like a worthy enough pass time."
Ace tail wagged as Masters pup began to read. He did not do the voices the way his boy did nor did he ask for Ace opinion. But that was okay.
Masters pup fell asleep with Ace curled alongside him.
Master opened the door at some point, and when Ace picked up his head, tail wagging to greet him.
Master only smiled, waving him off with a quiet "Good boy" and shut the door.
Ace missed his boy, so did master, but that was okay, they had other pups that needed them.
_________________________________________________
The door creaked open, and Ace ear picked up. He did not get up, nor did he bark.
Not because he was a good boy, but he was not a puppy anymore. He was slow, and his voice was raspy. Titus was the guad dog now- his deep bark and long legs eager to greet anyone friend or intruder alike.
But Titus was with Masters pup and the new new boy upstairs, lazy dog. But Ace did not blame him.
Now it was his job to sound the alarm if the stranger in the door was friend or foe.
"-is a mistake I should tell them I got in a car crash and died on the way over, hell they'd probably take it better the second time. Oh fuck this is fine- its fine- its fine" The man whispered under his breath as he walked further in.
Ace picked up his head fully, the man did not see him, his bed tucked under the stairs. He did not know that voice, it was deep, raspy, almost like his masters.
But he was a good boy, and he would protect the home. He had many boys and girls now, he would not lose one again. Not to the dirt.
Slowly, Ace let out a soft woof of warning. Not a threat, but letting this stranger know his Masters home was protected.
The stranger froze. Fully stopping in their yipping and walking. Ace listened closer.
"...Ace? He asked, voice sad and- familair.
Ace slowly rose to his feet, padding as he approached. His head was low and ears pointed as he took in the stranger.
"How you- holy fuck you're still alive I dont- oh god-" The man was crying now, Ace didnt understand.
But Ace wasnt a puppy, he was wise now, and when he didnt understand he knew what to do. He took a big sniff of the room an-
That smell
Ace walked a bit faster, ignoring the pangs in his joints as he approached, sniffing louder now.
It smelled like-
He was close now, but the figure backed up. Nervous, like a stray. Ace took one more big sniff.
Acid... sweat.... exhaust... and-
Ace was a good boy, but he did not care as he lept across the room and into the figures arms.
His tail flipping around in circles as he rubbed his head across the mans neck over and over. Marking his scent once more.
His boy.
Ace was good, he was quiet, he did not bark even at squirrels- it warned them of their demise. But he could not restrain the yowls and whimpers as he snuggled into his boys arms.
"Oh oh ace im so sorry" His boy cried, he did not fall like he used too when Ace tackled him. Now as big as Master, he held Ace against his chest.
His boy did not smell like a puppy, or dirt. And as his hand curled around Ace ear to scratch that perfect spot, they were rough. But Ace did not care.
His yowls turned into practically screams, and he could hear footsteps rushing to him. He smelled Titus from afar. But Ace did not care.
"Jaylad- you okay?" Master called, rushing in as Titus had stalled at the door. The rest of his boys and girls trickling in.
"Oh... good boy you-" The grey man spoke from the hall, crying as well. He was always quiet, maybe only Ace and Titus heard him.
"Someone missed you," His big boy teased.
The rest of his boys and girls only watched. They had no tails, but Ace knew they would be wagging. They were happy, he was happy.
Ace stretched his legs against his boys thigh and drew a tongue over salty cheeks. And his boy did the most wonderful thing. He laughed.
And everything was okay.
Ace had done it. He had found him. He won the game.
His boy was home.