The Collar of Super Buff Heroism (Preview)

Another weekend off, another attempt at jogging through the park. Raphael was a fit, buff guy and his partner, his boyfriend, the love of his life wasn't so fit or buff. Not a problem or something that would make him love him less, but he did want him to exercise a bit more. Best to keep in shape as time went on.

Plus, it gave them another fun thing to do together. Although, it was far more fun and enjoyable for one rather than the other.

“Well, if maybe someone stayed in shape all the time like a certain white dog, you wouldn't be about to pass out here.” Raphael nudged him playfully. JD only gave him a look in return, not even responding with a word or grunt.

The blue-haired man shrugged. “Well, fine, you did your best. We can head on out now and walk back home. How's that?”

“Thank you,” JD said, nodding gently. He slowly bent up straight, groaning a little before taking a moment to wipe his glasses with a not-as-sweaty part of his shirt.

After a few breaths, the two began to walk, side by side together. There was silence at first, eventually broken by JD as he let out a sigh. “Man, I'm gonna need to lie down when we get home. My feet are on fire!”

“Oh, don't be such a big baby!” Raphael rolled his eyes but went quiet again for a moment after. “Though, I guess, I could, if you want me to, massage those feet a bit when we get back. Only if you want.”

His blond, glasses-wearing boyfriend looked at him. For the first time in a bit, there was something sweet and happy in it. “That would be nice. Thank you.” He scratched his face. “Ya know, I complain a lot but… until I almost passed out there, it was nice to be running with you. Maybe… maybe we could do this again sometime.”

“I’d love to.” The two leaned in and kissed gently. Raphael's heart fluttered. Despite being together for over fifteen years, they could still act like such sappy teenage lovebirds.

The couple continued on their way, chatting now about what to do when they got home. Eventually, they stepped outside the park and onto the sidewalk. “Come on, don't you think we earned a little ice cream after all of tha-”

The end of his sentence was cut off as the blare of sirens could be heard. Across the street, the doors to the fire department rolled open. Trucks and vehicles of all kinds and sizes raced out at once, their sirens even louder now.

They stepped back even though they were in no danger, watching the trucks turn and speed right past them. Raphael turned to watch, quickly seeing what the matter was. Off in the distance, there was a thick, large plume of smoke rising into the air. It was disturbingly black, blacker than any smoke he had ever seen before.

Shit… that can't be good.

“Gees!” JD remarked, looking in the direction of the cloud as well. “Hope everyone is alright. That looks nasty!”

Raphael looked at the plume and then at JD. The gears started to turn in his head, looking back between them once more. “Yeah… I'm sure they'll be alright.”

The nerves that acted up in him upon seeing that ominous sight began to dissipate. “They'll definitely be alright,” Raphael spoke, his lips pulling into a smile. “After all, they're going to be getting a little help from a certain hero.”

“Hero?” JD looked back at him. Raphael reached into his pocket and pulled something from it, holding it out to his partner. It was a red leather dog collar. Attached to it was a golden dog tag emblem with a red board. It had a single, red letter on it: “K”.

JD stepped back. “What?!”

“Mhm!” Raphael grinned, casually spinning the collar with one of his fingers. “Good thing I've been carrying this around whenever we go places. It's finally paid off!”