Page 70 of Love Unlimited

Puppy Ash was Zhong’s responsibility and delight in a completely different way.

He really, really hoped that the actuality of today lived up to his hopes and memories.

Zhong looked up when a shadow crossed in front of him, and then Ash was bounding into his arms. Since the soft puppy bed was just behind him, he let the momentum carry them both onto it.

Ash cuddled into him and then squirmed to be free. Somehow, Zhong ended up on his back with Ash straddling his waist.

Daddy! You got me a puppy bed! And a new ball! A bed and a new ball! So I can take naps and we’ll play chase?

Yes, he agreed. He couldn’t wait to share the other toys. I think the bed will be good for tummy rubs, too.

Yay! Ash’s wiggling fingers danced over their head. So is it puppy time now?

Well, only if you let me up.

Ash made a face at the suggestion and pretended to consider it.

Zhong took advantage and ticked them. Ash squeezed their arms down, which was all that Zhong needed to roll them over onto their back and clamber up to his knees.

They just lay there, fisted hands already curled up into paws by their chest.

He’d read that other people needed time to ease into pup space, but with Ash it had happened in a blink. Ash told him that they went into little mode much more easily around him than they did with almost anyone else, so it made sense that puppy mode was the same. He took it as a point of pride.

He did have one more question, though. Are these clothes OK?

Ash was wearing a pair of green shorts, cut high up on their thighs in a women’s style, and a white undershirt. It didn’t have the same color-coordinated effect as the all-black ensemble they’d prepared for the mosh, but if Ash didn’t care then Zhong didn’t either.

Ash snapped their teeth playfully in the air while looking around at the ceiling, either uninterested in the question or pretending they couldn’t understand it. Well, that was clear enough.

Zhong found himself continuing to sign, even though Ash wasn’t going to answer. Alright, puppy. Let’s get your knee pads on. He fished them out of the bag and strapped them over Ash’s raised knees. Good puppy, he praised. These will let you jump and run.

Now your paws. He reached for one of Ash’s hands, but they batted him away.

His mischievous, adorable puppy.

He opened the pint of blueberries, held one up so they could see it, and then held out his other hand flat for them to place a paw in.

That worked much better. He dropped the berry into their mouth and watched with enjoyment as they chomped on it. While they were distracted, he slid the mitt over their fingers, pulled it down slowly to let them get settled, then closed the velcro around the wrist.

They tried to pull the paw back, but he captured it and pressed a kiss to the padded teal paw prints. Ash gave him a dopey doggy grin and pawed clumsily at his cheek to return the affection.

Zhong grabbed another blueberry, then waited for Ash to acknowledge it and hold out their other hand. In a moment he had the second paw on and he gave it another little kiss while he fed them their reward.

Time for another blueberry. Roll over, he signed clearly, index fingers making wide arcs as they circled around each other.

Ash rolled inelegantly onto their hands and knees, then shook themself from head to tail. Well, not exactly to tail yet. Zhong found that in the bag, too. Their perky, fluffy tail was attached to a sort of harness that went between their legs and around their waist. It looked like it could be unclipped and re-fastened. Yup, easy.

Ash wore soft canvas shoes with short socks, which seemed flexible enough to stay on and would probably protect their toes. Since they’d clearly put them on just for this, he left them alone.

That only left the mask, except that of course Ash had already started nosing around the ball Zhong had left on the table. And, naturally, the whole container of blueberries.

Zhong rescued it just before Ash buried their face in it, laughing aloud.

What was it about puppy Ash that just made his heart soar?

Ash looked up at him hopefully. No, not at him. They were tracking the blueberry carton.

Want more? he asked. Want to eat? He rose far enough to sit on the couch. Ash came right up to him, nosing around at his knees.