Lunar Cycle

It was late in the day when Lyle woke up, and he mostly did so only because the sunlight seeped through his too thin curtains a little too well. He sat up groggily and started moving on auto-pilot through his morning routines around his little apartment. It wasn’t all that bad, he’d certainly lived in worse, but it was bare.

He had a small kitchen that held all the necessary appliances and was usually stocked with enough food for a week. His living room consisted of a 27” TV on a small table against the wall, a rug, and a small futon couch. The bathroom was next to his bedroom and although small, it did have a tub/shower arrangement. His bedroom had a fairly new bed and a nightstand/dresser, but the best thing about the apartment was the bedroom window. He was located on the seventh floor of the apartment complex and the view he had from his window, at night especially, was breathtaking. Unfortunately, though, other than the necessities, that was all he had.

The emptiness seemed to make the place seem at once bigger and smaller than it actually was. Sam kept getting on him about finding things to brighten the place up, make it more like a home, and for once Lyle actually had the money do so. Only, every time he thought about buying something to furnish it he found himself thinking of all the ways it could be taken from him and then he started thinking that he shouldn’t be so frivolous; what he had sufficed for his everyday needs, even if it made the apartment feel like a temp home instead of a place he’d lived in for almost two years.

He glanced at the clock as he pulled on a pair of his favorite ragged, faded jeans. For some reason the random tears made him happy, it made it seem like he really lived as he remembered where he got each tear from. He shook off the lingering thoughts as his mind processed that it was after one. Dull pain moved sluggishly through his left arm as he pulled a faded gray t-shirt over his head. He ignored the pain and instead looked at the Skittles' logo that shone in faded rainbow colors across the front. It made him smile faintly, most of his clothes he got thanks to Sam and the man had odd shirt fetishes. He owed Sam a lot, which reminded him of the date and made him quickly check his phone messages on his cell.

No messages from Sam, but one blinked from Kenny’s place. His eyes widened as he remembered. He quickly grabbed his keys and locked the door before dashing to the stairs. There was only one reason Kenny would have called instead of just letting Lyle show up on his own. Something had happened.

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“Can I trust you to behave, if we do this?” Kenny said to Garin with as much authority he could muster. He still wasn’t sure about this idea, being strangely protective of Lyle, but he had to admit if everything worked out this would be the best plan of action for now.

“Of course! I can’t do all that much in this form and you know it, anyways. Plus, the next cycle is two weeks away, I’ll make it back before then, I’m sure.” Garin said in over exasperated tones, they had been through this several times already.

“I know, I know, it’s just,” Kenny had to pause to think ‘just’ what it was, “Lyle.” He finished lamely.

“What about him? I thought you said he was of noble character.” Garin cocked his head to the side curiously as his old acquaintance searched for more words.

“He is! He is…but he’s also, I don’t know, lost, maybe? He seems to have been through something in his past, and I just, well, I just don’t want anything to happen that could hurt him.” Kenny’s eyes took on a distant look, “That boy, the first time we met, he was, well, more disturbed than I act, I’m not even sure what it was exactly, but when he came here, he was hurt in more than just physical ways.”

Garin regarded Kenny thoughtfully for a few moments before replying with all seriousness, “I will do everything in my power to make sure my presence doesn’t somehow inadvertently hurt him.” Kenny studied him closely and then nodded.

“Thank you, my Prince.”

“Now, if I get to call you ‘Kenny,’ I would like it more if you called me Garin,” his canine grin returned. His head tilted at the sound of a door opening almost violently and the grin widened, “Seems like our subject just burst in.”

Sure enough, not two seconds later a winded and flushed Lyle came barreling through the door to the small living area attached to the vet center. His eyes quickly scanned the dog and then the doctor and when nothing seemed too horribly urgent he took a moment to catch his breath.

“I, I came as soon as, as I got your message,” Lyle panted out. He took a few more deep breaths before fully entering the room.

“Apparently so.” Kenny stated with a raised eyebrow as he glanced down at Lyle’s feet, “Did you run all the way here? Barefoot?”

“Eh?” Kenny gave another pointed glance down. Lyle looked down as well. Sure enough at the end of his pants stuck out two, dirty, bare feet. “Well, would you look at that…” Lyle said, embarrassment coloring his tone. “Guess that’s my blond moment of the day?” He joked weakly, the truth was he still sometimes forgot that he actually had shoes to wear and with the urgency he felt at the missed call the fact that he had shoes he could have put on was the last thing on his mind.

Kenny shook his head and smiled, “Indeed, well come have a seat so I can make sure you didn’t run over any glass.” He waited until Lyle was seated before continuing, “Any particular reason for your frantic pace?”

Lyle glanced over to the Rottweiler who was staring at him, “Uh, I thought, well, since you called, that something had happened to our, uh, friend here.” For some reason he was finding it increasingly difficult to look away from the animal. Now that he didn’t look like he would keel over at a moment’s notice, he was actually quite handsome, for a dog that is. The sleek black coat with the patches of burgundy-brown around his feet, stomach, tail, and muzzle, with just a hint above the eyes that gave the impression of eyebrows fitted the muscular form that all rotties had. Deep, dark, soulful brown eyes studied him with an intensity and intelligence that made Lyle want to do a double-take. Instead he turned his attention back to the doctor who was babbling about something. Something about Lyle taking the Rottweiler home. Lyle’s head whipped fully around, “WHAT?!”

“I think that would be the best, until I can find the owner. Besides your apartment allows animals and I am much too busy to be able to take care of one.” Kenny went on.
“But, but I-”
“No ‘buts,’ young man, you found him, he’s your responsibility.” Kenny said in a no-nonsense tone. His tone softened after he took in Lyle’s uncertain look, “I’ll look for the owner, all you have to do is keep him fed and healthy. No more than two weeks, alright?”

“It’s just, I barely know how to take care of myself, even Sam’s said so, I don’t want to hurt him or do something wrong or—hey, stop, that tickles!” A wet snout had wormed its way through his hair to snuffle at his neck and Lyle had to lean away or risk choking on a laugh that was bubbling in his throat.

“See! He likes you! And as for caring for him, you can feed him whatever you eat, I’m afraid dog kibble would be a bit rough for his stomach to handle at the moment, and just pay him a little attention every now then. I know you usually take walks through the park, bring him with.” Kenny smiled as he saw Lyle softening when Garin whined toward him, “Oh, yes, and I’ve decided to call him Garin, for the time being.”

Lyle glanced up, “Garin?” he questioned, carefully reaching out a hand to the dog. ‘Garin’ immediately nuzzled it.

“Got a problem?”

Lyle shook his head vehemently, “No! No, it’s just…different.” He grinned at Kenny, “Guess I should have expected nothing less coming from you!” Kenny took a play swipe at the back of Lyle’s head.

“Alright, now off with you and your new pet, I’ve got work to do! And be careful walking home! ”

Lyle looked down at the brown eyes and realized he had just lost the battle, not that he was putting up much of a fight, but he still rose with some mock-reluctance in order to give the impression that he really wasn’t sure about this, which he wasn’t. He really did have no idea how to take care of anything in a normal way. Oh well, he shrugged, he’d figure it out. He looked down at his expectant new roommate.

“Whelp, let’s get you home, Garin.”

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Lyle was surprised that he didn’t need a leash or any other means of guiding his new temporary companion. Garin stayed glued to his side almost as if afraid Lyle would leave him stranded. It made his life easier, knowing he wouldn’t have to use anything restraining, and they made it to the house in a relatively good amount of time.

He paused at the steps, his room was up seven flights and while he knew he could make it, he wasn’t so sure about Garin, who had been to the point of passing out just yesterday. He looked down, considering.

Garin sensed the pause in Lyle, and looked up. He had been keeping a close watch on the man, trying to steer their course as much as he could away from anything that might be detrimental to Lyle’s feet. It was difficult to do when he had no idea where they were going, so he simply stayed close to the human’s side and pushed every now and then to stop him from stepping on glass. He cocked his head to the side as he noticed Lyle staring at him. A sudden rush of movement from the human caught him off-guard and with little resistance he found himself being bodily lifted and then cradled within surprisingly strong arms. He almost started to fight the indignity of it, but Lyle was already starting up the steps and Garin really didn’t want to hurt either of them.

Lyle looked down at the animal in his arms and almost tripped. He settled for chuckling, “Are you pouting?” The dog glanced up at him and then hastily huffed his annoyance before turning his head away. “You are!” Lyle shook his head, still chuckling and almost tripped again. He was finding this animal more and more amusing.

Lyle carefully set Garin down as he reached the seventh-floor landing. He opened the door leading from the stairwell to the hall letting Garin go first. He shook his head and smiled at the craziness of him treating the dog like a person and the dog responding. As he made his way to his room something caught his eye. He froze.

Garin stopped too and looked back at Lyle curiously.

Lyle’s door was partially open. Although he had forgotten to put on his shoes he knew he had shut and locked the door before leaving. His right hand whipped to the small of his back for a weapon he no longer carried. Cursing silently, he knelt next to Garin and turned the dog’s head toward him, “Stay.” He put as much power into that single word as he could muster before shooting to his feet and approaching his door. Thankfully, Garin stayed behind.

The door was halfway open giving a direct view into the kitchen and part of the living room. Lyle moved cautiously to the door, back to the wall, straining to hear any sound. He was rewarded, there was a loud thud and curse from his bedroom.

“MONKEY CURSE OF SAAAATAAAAN!”

He relaxed and let his head lean against the wall. This was a curse he knew. He briefly rubbed a hand over his face and considered laughing at himself. He felt a nudge on his leg, he looked down and chocolatey eyes looked up at him. He smiled a little, “It’s okay, Garin. I’m okay.” He said absently as he pushed from the wall and rounded into the room.

He found the boy where he usually did, trying to straighten his nearly non-existent wardrobe. The skinny boy of fifteen was a neighbor of his who was fascinated with him for some reason. Bright red-orange hair stuck out in disarray and the freckles on the boy’s face were clearly visible. He wasn’t particularly handsome, but also not an eye-sore, as of right now the boy was a gangly youth who would most likely grow into his looks one day. Lyle shook his head at the boy’s predicament. One of his very few dress shirts’ buttons was caught in the boy’s untidy hair.

“Don’t just stand there, tough guy, come help me out!” The youth quipped out, whipping his head a little toward Lyle. Lyle was still amazed every time he did that. The boy was blind after all.

“I’m coming, Ricky, I’m coming,” he said amused, “I keep telling you one day my things are gonna bite back.” Pale green pupiless eyes glared up at him for his comment.

After a minor struggle the hair was free and Ricky stood glaring at the clothes as if they really had done it on purpose. Lyle braced himself for what was next. Ricky turned slowly and then with no other warning threw himself at Lyle. The hug was a fierce one and Lyle began to wonder if something had happened in the boy’s home. He pushed some of the bangs back out of the young face as they parted.

“Everything okay, Ricky?” Lyle tried to be discreet with the concern in his voice, but even his own ears could hear the tight worry. Ricky gave a sad smile.

“As good as it can be, Chief.” Which was Ricky speak for ‘it’s been worse.’

“Sorry, I wasn’t here when you called, but you really shouldn’t break into other people’s homes, y’know.” He gently chided, but Ricky waved him off.

“I know you don’t really care, besides I want to meet your friend.” Ricky turned his head in the general direction of Garin, who looked a little wary.

“Oh, my bad. This here is Garin.” Lyle led Ricky over to where Garin was sitting, but paused when Ricky held his hand at human height for a handshake. He looked down at Garin and found an almost human-like look of surprise on his face. “Uh, sorry, Ricky, he’s a dog.”

Ricky turned to him, startled, and then looked back in Garin’s direction, “Really? That’s interesting.” His voice held a strange tone that Lyle wasn’t sure how to catalogue. Ricky carefully knelt before once again extending his hand, “Nice to meet you, Garin, I hope we will become good friends.”

Garin, to Lyle’s surprise, held out his paw and made eye contact with the blind Ricky. Things were getting very weird. Ricky grinned conspiratorially as he glanced up at Lyle.

“Make sure you take good care of our boy.” Green eyes sparkled with a mischievousness that Lyle had seen from the boy before. When Ricky knew something he didn’t.

Garin gave a canine grin and a little ruff of affirmation. Very weird, indeed.