Keep up pup Who: Madock and Oz Where: High school track When: Afternoon
So what if it was the hottest part of the day. Oz had gotten off of work and he was practically bouncing with energy as he started on his way home. Until he realized that he did not really want to go home. What was he going to do there? Okay, maybe catch one of his sisters and go for a swim or something but today felt more like a running day. Way too hot for the activity, really, but when Oz wanted to do something he tended to do it without giving all that much consideration to the logistics. Only... he hated running alone.
The teen came to a halt right on the sidewalk, eyebrows knitting together as he tried to figure out what he was going to do. And then it hit him - Madock. He wanted to see if the other boy was any faster after his little 'incident' anyhow. Grinning, Oz pulled out his phone and found the right number. He started walking again, headed towards the high school because that was where the track was and why run somewhere else? When he heard a click on the other end Oz declared, "Puppy! Come on man, let's go for a run. See if you're as fast as me yet."
Being called 'puppy' certainly wasn't something that Madock wanted to be called, but he'd learned to deal with such names from his friends. The tiny little jabs were just expected between boys and it was really more like a term of endearment anyways. At least Madock kept telling himself that. Since the full moon, Madock had been a little tense. A little more wound up than normal and a run, no matter what the reason, was definitely sounding like a good idea. "And what if I totally leave you in my dust?" Madock asked as he moved to his dresser, finding a pair of shorts to get changed into. "Would you cry, Oz, man?" Which seriously, if he did? That would be epically hilarious. "Name the place and I'll meet you there."
Oz rolled his eyes as he slipped through the gate leading into the football field and the surrounding track. This was where he was comfortable running, reminded of days spent doing laps for football practice. "You'll never leave me in your dust, just so you know," Oz said with a roll of his eyes. "Puppy or not I've still got better legs so bring it on. And the place is the track around the football field. Expect to see you soon." After getting an affirmative he hung up the phone and started stretching, not wanting pull anything when he was just messing around. That would look so bad when training camp started up for the college team.
Madock got himself dressed in a pair of shorts and an old tank top and his running shoes and got to the football field. There were certainly a lot of memories that ran through his head. One in particular with Jessa, but that went without saying. Then of course there were all those football memories and that made him really miss the game. Really miss high school in general, but he supposed it was time to grow up. Getting to Oz, he gave his friend a grin and a slap on the back. "Hey." he said. "What put you in the mood for running today?" he asked. Not that he minded, he needed the chance to unwind.
Oz could smell Madock coming. It was not quite the familiar scent from high school but something more. There was definitely a bit of the wolf to him now just like with Gabe and Oz? Found it kind of hilarious. Oh sure they went through some sort of torment or whatever on the full moon but they were like him now! Stronger and faster and just that much better for all of it. "Man, have I told you yet that you smell like a dog?" Oz asked, grinning down at his friend. There was something that being bitten was not about to change. Madock was still, to Oz at least, short. "And I was just all restless from spending most of the day in the shop. Gotta stretch my legs! You doing alright after your first night howling at the moon?"
Used to the typical teasing and random jabs that seemed to be a thing with Oz, Madock just rolled his eyes as he started to stretch. "Bitch." he told his friend. "You don't smell like awesome either, just so you know. And if I was in wolf form, I'd totally eat you. Bastard." Not that he really would, but it sounded like a nice enough teasing threat. He let out a breath after being asked about how he was doing after the full moon. "I've been better." he sighed. "It sucked." But more so than that, Jessa wasn't taking it so well. He knew she felt guilty and that blew for him. He didn't want her to feel guilty, but she was a girl and girls did what they wanted to do. "I feel like I just need to run. For like ever."
"No, you're the dog so that makes you the bitch, get it straight. Wait no... you're dating a bitch. Literally." The only place where Oz could be quick at anything was comebacks. Unfortunately the moment the conversation turned to anything serious or intelligent-seeming he would stop and be at a complete loss. Thankfully his friends were not the sort to start rambling off about the news or history or any of that stuff he found useless. Stretching out some more, Oz raised an eyebrow at Madock. "Now does Jessa know that you're wanting to eat me? Because I'm sure you're hot and all but noooooo sir and I bet she doesn't do three-ways. We can still run forever though. Because that's how long it'll take for you to catch me." Wolf or not, Oz was an otter and he was fast with that added advantage of all his height. And oh, he knew it.
"She's not a bitch." Madock said, his line of vision narrowing as he gave Oz that 'don't even fucking play like that' look. He didn't mind the teasing for himself, but Jessa was a totally different story, damn it. "And you wish that she'd do three-ways, but sorry, boy, you'll just have to go back to Dagmar." Not that Madock really wanted that to happen. Dagmar was someone he dealt with for the most part, but she wasn't exactly his bestest friend or anything. "And yeah, yeah, that's only because you're a damn treelike freak of nature. Fast bastard." It didn't hurt Madock's feelings to know that Oz was like the fastest guy he knew. That was just fine and dandy, thanks. It helped a lot of games be won, thanks to those fast feet of his.
Oz had a quip ready, about that being what female dogs were called, but Madock gave him that look and Oz held his hands up in mock surrender. "Oh please, like I want to lay down with the dogs and get all dirty. No thanks. Dagmar's prettier anyway." There was nothing wrong with Jessa, but Oz did not totally get the wolf-girl. At least he understood Dagmar, bitchiness and all, because he had practically grown up across the river from her. "Damn straight on that." Oz's chest puffed up a little at the compliment, even if it was not exactly meant to be flattering. If not for being a treelike freak of nature as Madock put it then he would not have been sitting on a full-ride scholarship and a hopeful future in sports. "Alright, enough chatting like girls, let's race! Whole lap?"
Madock was not happy with the way that Oz was talking about Jessa and the more he talked, the more annoyed he got. "I'm not a dog, I'm a wolf, motherfucker. And whatever." he rolled his eyes. He totally did not get where Oz thought that Dagmar was prettier, but to each their own. He didn't have to agree with the guy on women, and he certainly didn't at the case in point. But at the same time, he was glad that he thought that Dagmar was prettier. It meant that he wouldn't be hitting on his Jessa. That would have ended badly for everyone involved. "Fine." he told him. "A whole lap it is." Though it wouldn't be much of a race. Not with Oz always winning. "I don't understand why you race." he told him. "You know you're faster than me." And he wasn't ashamed to admit it. There was no point in pumping out male bravado just to have his ass handed to him.
"Wolves are dogs," Oz pointed out. "You're just upset because you can't really insult an otter. What're you gonna call me? Playful little clown? Adorable? Awww-worthy?" But there was almost a sense in the air that he was going too far with the whole Jessa thing. Though since when had Madock been so touchy about girls? There was something there, maybe, but Oz shrugged it off since it was easier to deal that way. "And I race because I think it's fun, keeps me in shape and hey - bet you won't lose by as much this time! Aren't wolves supposed to be all about running and endurance? Bet cross-country you'd whip my ass." Which was why Oz did not do really long distances, he was so not made for that. "Okay... ready? Go!" Then there was no more thinking, there was just running.
"How bout 'musky'?" Madock told his friend with a teasing little smirk. Not that there was much time to talk because after Oz's reasoning for why he raced, the guy took off like a bat out of hell and Madock had to push himself to even catch up to Oz's heels. "Fast... mother... fucker..." he breathed as he tried to keep up. Sure he was faster than he was normally, but like he'd figured, Oz was still faster. And that was just dandy really. Madock was too surprised at just how much faster he'd gotten now that he was a were. It was almost surreal the difference. This new speed enhancement was certainly one of the few pluses about being a werewolf.
Oz's sharp ears caught that comment about what to call him, and then the thing about being fast. Oh yeah, damn straight he was one of the fastest things out there. The were thing was just as much at work there as his height, but damn, was Madock not that far behind him? Glancing over his shoulder Oz was actually surprised to be able to see Madock clearly. Huh, he thought as he turned his eyes forward again. He got boosted quite a bit. Where's the problem with all of this again? Oz totally was not seeing it when he crossed the line they had started at and wheeled around to grin at Madock, sweat dripping off his face but not near as bad as for a regular human. "Gotta admit that you getting bit should have happened years ago if it would have made you that fast. Less sacks."
Madock wasn't nearly as out of breath as he would have been pre being bitten and as he crossed the line shortly after Oz, he leaned over a bit to take that in. "I haven't ran since I got bit." he admitted. "That's... just ridiculous." More than that really. It was crazy to see and feel just how different his abilities were now that he was part animal. "Damn." Shaking his head a little, he pushed his fingers through slightly damp with sweat hair. "I guess it's one of the plus sides of being bit. Still kinda doesn't outweigh the whole forgetting myself for an entire night. Oh and being a monster. That blows too."
Oh. The monster thing. Oz really had not paid any attention to that part of the whole being a bitten were thing. Oh he knew that was what happened because of his little brothers. Delsin had almost bit Otter that time and his parents had freaked out about why they could not go around biting people just because, or even for a reason. Bitten's were not the same as born's, they had that uncontrollable side that he would never be able to understand. "You know, I am sorry you got the monster side," Oz said, patting Madock on the shoulder. "But other than that it's awesome, right? You been a wolf yet? It is SO awesome to run around as an animal, freeing and wild and able to do whatever you want without worrying. Especially for you, a predator!"
He shook his head a little. "No." he said. "I haven't been a wolf yet. But yeah, I mean, there's like that one big, bad thing and then there's a lot of good things too." he shrugged. "It's hard to explain. I'm conflicted. I mean half of me wonders what I've been thinking and the other half of me wouldn't change a thing even if given the chance." He'd have to talk to Jessa about that whole shifting thing. See if she'd come with him to try it out. Maybe that's what he'd do this afternoon. It sounded like a good enough idea to him. "What's it like being on the prey end of things?"
A big bad thing... yeah no, Oz would not understand that. At all. Bad things just did not exist in his mind, they slid right off and went away. Unless it involved people littering because then he would be all up in arms. One of those rare things he could be totally serious about. "Well half of you is clearly still thinking like a human and the other half's caught up what you really are. A were! Not human, not animal, right in-between and awesome for it." Yeah, Oz knew exactly where he stood on the matter and who would be surprised about it? His entire family was were and proud of it, praised for it by the tribe even. "Oh man, I don't think of myself as prey." Oz rolled his eyes and glanced down at his body. "Nothing around here would try to eat me, even in otter form. Pups like you sure shouldn't be trying."
"Yeah, you're not prey when you're a human." he told him. "Because you're taller than, oh, everyone that I know." Which totally wasn't fair, but what the fuck ever. "At least I don't have to duck to get through the doors at school." he teased, smirking a little at his friend. "And I'm not a 'pup', thank you very much. I'm a grown ass wolf." Damn if that wasn't weird as hell to say out loud. "But that's besides the point. I wouldn't want to eat you anyways. I doubt otters taste very good."
"Wouldn't your eyes bug out if I told you that I've got a cousin whose taller?" Oz smirked. It was really weird to be around him but hey, that was how the Snow family worked. Tall. Poor Otter and his stunted self not even coming in at six foot despite being sixteen and an incoming junior, Oz gave him all sorts of hell for that. Mocking him for not being a real otter may have been off limits but his height was totally fair game. "You may be grown in form but you're so new to being a wolf that I bet there are half-growns out there who could take you on. Instincts are half of it but practice is the other half and you've got none of that on your side yet." His eyes narrowed a little and he reached out to poke Madock on the chest. "I'd be fucking delicious, thanks, but you couldn't catch me unless you're gonna be a swimming wolf."
"I think I'd rather lick my own butt in wolf form than taste you." Not that he'd be licking his own butt like ever, but that went without saying. "I'll just have to practice and see what happens." he shrugged. "I gotta figure all this stuff out it's just a lot to take in at once. You've had your whole life to learn this stuff and I've had like, not even a month yet. It's crazy. It took forever for me to be able to handle the fact that I smell and hear everything."
"That's good," Oz said, honestly relieved. "Because like I've been trying to tell you; Madock you're not pretty enough for me. And I know... but I'm no good for wolf-y stuff. You are nothing like me. Run around the woods and I go play in the water because the water's better." So far as he was concerned that was completely and totally true. Unless there was snow involved because then he was able to slide around on his stomach with the rest of his family and the Diaz's when they were around. "But yeah... it's gotta suck, realizing that you've been practically senseless your whole life, huh?"
"What the fuck ever, man. I don't want to be 'pretty', so that's just fine by me." He nodded a little when Oz said he was a no go for the wolf stuff. "I think I'm going to talk about Jessa for all that wolf-y stuff. She'll be able to help." She'd been one her whole life, who better to go to for advice? "It's just weird. It's like... everything's stronger, more loud. I don't know. It was crazy hard to deal with at first, but I'm getting used to it, thank god."
As much as Oz tried to imagine what it would be like to have his senses enhanced he just could not get it. His were already plenty strong in comparison to a human and any more would drive him crazy. Like what Madock was describing probably. "Right, the girl-wolf can show you all the ropes... say man, don't wolves mate for life just like otters? Because oh if that's the case does it not suck?" Oz had been catching flack for that since high school started, only back then it had been worse because he could not just tell people he did it for his own sanity. Now there were people who understood why he was still a virgin and Oz was relieved by that.
Madock let out a little breath at the question. "Yeah, they do mate for life." he said, nodding a bit. "And I don't know if it sucks or not because I kinda... already did." he admitted. "And no, from where I'm standing currently it doesn't suck because at least I know she's not going to cheat on me and vice versa. And you're probably going to crack on me for being like a married man or some shit, so go ahead, lemme have it." Madock said, folding his arms across his chest and awaiting the expected teasing. "Give me your best shot."
Oz's mouth dropped right open. Madock had been a were for what, a month? If that? And he was already mated?! What the hell was wrong with that boy's head to be settled down already? "You're already mated," Oz repeated, still a little dumb-founded by the whole thing. "To Jessa I'm guessing. Well damn, you've killed my brain." Oz usually had quips and there were a few bubbling at the edge of his mind but it was hard to use them when he was realizing that is was totally and completely not fair that Madock had a mate and he, Oz - who was so better looking - did not. When did the universe got knocked out of order?
"Sorry." Madock said, scratching his head and scrunching up his nose. "If it makes you feel better, I was a total virgin til Jessa in the first place. So even as a human I wasn't a whore, despite popular belief." He usually wouldn't admit such things, but he wanted to make Oz feel at least a little better about not having a mate. If he cared. Most people didn't want one at their age. "To Jessa though, yes. It'd be a bit odd to be mated to someone I wasn't dating. Talk about fucked up situations, yeah?"
That did make Oz feel a little better and he perked right up. At least, prior to the whole Jessa thing, he had been more experienced than Madock. That was a little something to be proud of. Not that he was jealous of Madock having a mate. Hell no, that was the last thing Oz wanted. He was eighteen and free and that was just how he was supposed to be. Besides, most all the girls he knew were nowhere near ready to settle, just like him, and mating with someone who would just run off was a Bad Idea, capital letters necessary. "Fucked up is right," Oz agreed, dropping down onto the ground. Not because he was shocked but because he felt like sitting down. "Whatever floats your boat I guess. If you want to be eighteen with a ball and chain then hey, have fun with it at least you can get laid whenever, right?"
Madock shrugged. "I don't see it like that." he told his friend. And at the moment, he didn't. He loved her, she loved him and they were mated now and he didn't question it. Perhaps he would, eventually. Perhaps he'd wonder why he settled down so early, but then maybe he wouldn't. Maybe he wouldn't question it because things with Jessa were just meant to be the way they were. Struggles and all, she was still it for him and right now, despite everything, he was fine with that. Better than fine actually. "But I guess it probably looks that way to you, huh? Like a ball and chain. As for the getting laid stuff? Kissing and telling is bad, you know." he grinned.
Of course he did not see it like that. Oz knew what people got like when they were mated, it was pretty obvious if they were around each other. like how his father doted on his mother and the way the Diaz males were with their mates. They did not see it the same way other people did and Oz? Was so not ready for that. Not even close. A century or two away for that matter as far as he was concerned. "It messed with your brain, man," Oz declared with a shake of his head. "You don't see it because you're in it but that's how it rolls and come on! If you're going to be mated you've got to at least share a little! You know I would."
"Yeah, well, I guess you have a point, but it doesn't really matter how you see it because you don't have to be in it and I do and from where I'm standing... well, it looks pretty damn good to me." He smirked a little at Oz when he pressed him for some sort of details about Jessa and their little romps and he shrugged. "Just imagine the most awesome thing ever and you'd have it." he said. "And she might look all sweet and innocent on the outside... but she's definitely got a little sex kitten on the inside."
"No one made you be in except you, man," Oz pointed out. Sure girls could be persuasive but he had managed to go this long without getting himself a mate so he believed everyone was as capable. Madock was just wired differently - weirdly - if he wanted it and had it. Though hearing Jessa described as a sex kitten was a little bit odd to tell the truth. He knew the girl, yeah, had grown up going to the same school as her and her big brother and all of that but... wow. "I hope you realize you just gave me mental images."
"Well I didn't mean it like that." Madock said, shaking his head a little bit. "I don't feel like I'm 'made' to be there. I mean, I want to be where I am. I'm happy where I am. I just suck at explaining." he shrugged. "Dude, don't tell me you're thinking about my girlfriend naked. I might have to sock you one." Madock teased. He knew Oz wasn't doing it on purpose, but still. Jessa was his damn it. No one was allowed to think of her that way.
Oz did not even try to understand how Madock may have actually meant it. Did not really matter since he had taken it another so who cared? Not him. Shrugging, he reclined back on his elbow to entertain the thoughts his mind had cooked up with what his friend said. "I wouldn't say that I'm thinking about her naked," Oz returned honestly. "It's more like you called her a sex kitten and come on, Madock? Like you can blame my mind for plastering about a thousand images when you said that. But it's okay, I don't want her. Aaaaall yours even if she wasn't your mate."
Madock finally decided to settle down beside Oz and shrugged a little himself before leaning back and propping himself up with his hands. "Well I'm glad you don't want her." he told his friend. "I might have to kick your ass, seriously." Not that he wanted to fight with his friends like ever but if it came to it, Jessa would certainly be one reason to get into an altercation with someone. "So what have you been up to in the girl department anyways?" he questioned. "Any new blood?" It felt like it had been forever since he'd caught up with Oz when it came to girls.
"I'd love to see you try, puppy." So Madock was a were wolf now, Oz was still bigger and had the muscles to back up his mouth. Not that Jessa was worth it to him since, well, she was not his. He knew better than to try poaching on his friend's territory especially if they were as touchy as wolves were supposed to be. "Oh god, man, when isn't there new blood to play with?" A confident grin slid onto Oz's face and he shrugged. "There's always Dagmar since she's back from college for the summer and she's so hard to keep hands off." Ice bitch, yeah, but pretty. "Then there's always everyone. Thinking of calling up Rowan and seeing if she wants to hang later. Not dating anyone though. Not right now."
There was Dagmar in Oz's brain and Madock's brows went up just slightly. "Sounds like someone's toting a torch for one ice princess." Madock said. He'd suspected as much for about as long as he'd known Dagmar and Oz. "Rowan is like the opposite of Dagmar. Damn if your taste doesn't fluctuate like crazy." he teased.
"Me, a torch for the ice girl?" Oz started laughing at the thought. Yeah Dagmar was pretty and fun when she was not in one of those moods, but it was Dagmar. Like she was the sort he would ever settle down for... she was just easy to be around, prank, joke with and most importantly, was not one of the girls who thought he was incompetent because he refused to just fall into sex. "You're funny man. And hey, gotta see what's out there or else I might miss out on what could turn me into - god forbid - you. All mated and settled and well-behaved."
Madock rolled his eyes. "You never know." he told his friend. "Life works out crazy. I didn't think I'd be settling down either and here I am. Don't tell yourself you won't because you'll just prove yourself wrong. But yeah, see what's out there and lemme know all about it." Madock chuckled. "Whenever you do settle down, I so reserve the right to tell you I told you so."
"I told you so's won't apply by the time I settle down," Oz snorted. "Because isn't that what people do after college; settle down and all that? Gotta make me some baby otter's sometime you know. Not that I'm going to be starting a pack like you or anything. Bunch of little puppies running around yapping at my heels, good god man tell me you didn't get her pregnant or something." Oz's eyes were huge at the idea of Madock being one of those guys.
"Baby otters." he said, shaking his head. "What if you fall for a non-otter. Won't you maybe end up with some non-otter babies?" Not that Madock wanted to be thinking about babies, Oz's or otherwise, for a good long time to come. "I'm not having any babies any time soon." he told him. "She's not pregnant, thank you very much." Thanks to Clarissa, he probably had enough condoms to last him til forever was over.
Oz thought about that for a minute and shrugged. "Dad married a non-otter and eight of us were still it so I figure it tends to go more that way." That made no sense but Oz did not really know how percentages worked so the fact that their family was unbalanced and odd for it went right over his head. "I think dad's kinda set on me finding an otter to make sure though, since Joe's not really showing any signs of doing anything ever." His older brother was definitely weird. "But thank god! Whew, I was worried for a whole second there that you'd gone and done something stupid. Besides that - baby otters are way cuter than puppies."
Madock rolled his eyes but grinned all the same. "Whatever man. I don't plan to find out which is cuter anytime soon so you can just think that all you want." Babies were the last thing on Madock's mind, puppies, otters or otherwise. He'd like not to have to think about them for a good long time and he planned to keep it that way.
"Already know so I don't have to make my own." Still, Oz was running out of things to remark on and a nap was starting to sound really, really good. He had gotten up too early to work and then gone running even if it was hardly anything... and it was hot... "So I think that maybe I'll be letting you run off to find that girl of yours because I? Need a nap if I'm going to be of any use to anyone the rest of the day." A grin lit up his face and he closed his eyes, completely comfortable right where he was. "And I'm totally going to be useful for something if you know what I mean."
Shaking his head, Madock got up from the ground and gave his friend a light clap on the shoulder. "Dude, I totally don't need those sort of mental images." he smirked. "But you do that. A nap sounds like a damn fine idea. And finding my girl? Yeah, an even better one. Text me later and we'll figure out something to do before summer ends and the real world sucks us into it, yeah?"
Oz smirked, though his eyes stayed closed. "Yeah you did and you know you love it," he chuckled. "And yeah, I'll give you a text when I'm not totally taken up with this or that or her." He lifted one hand up and flapped a wrist at Madock. "I'll even find you a nice bone to gnaw on, puppy. Leave it in your mailbox or something." And he would so do that too, now that he had gone and thought of it. Maybe he would get a second one for Gabe.
"Fuck you, cocksucker." Madock said as he headed off towards his car. "I'll talk to you later, man. Try not to do anything I wouldn't do. Course there isn't much left, now that I think about it. Just don't die or get arrested."
"Arrested is for Hunter!" Oz called at Madock's back. That was the one who hit up the drugs and all those other illegal things. Grinning, he settled in, happy in the sunlight and felt himself already drifting off to sleep.