(no subject)

[stuckonyourheart]

If you'd told Patrick that he'd be standing in a dog shelter with David Rose, of all people, as they worked to adopt a dog, he'd assume that he'd been drugged and was living in one of those really nice lucid fantasies that people had when they learned how to control their heart rate. The reality of it is a little less exciting, staring down the barrel of paperwork and training, but that doesn't stop Patrick from being wildly excited.

He's gripping David's hand firmly as they stand in the hallway, waiting to be let in to see the dogs. If he had a tail, he's pretty sure that it'd be wagging right now, as happy as he is.

"Thank you, again," he tells David, earnest and honest and so damn eager. "I know this isn't the easiest thing for you, that you probably never saw yourself with a dog, but I promise that I'll take care of the training and the walks," he vows, as if he needs to sell this, even though they're here and David's on board. He just, he really wants David to understand how much it means to him. "I really think this is gonna be good for us," he promises, tugging David's hand when he hears one of the staff members call them in.

It's time to go meet some potential dogs.

"You ready?" he asks, even if he's not giving David much choice, pulling him along like he is.

Comments

[very_uninterested]

"No?" David asks, although it doesn't matter if he's ready or not. This was a gift he'd wanted to give to Patrick and he had sincerely meant it at the time, even if now he's having many, many regrets.

Not enough regrets to stop it, though. If he wanted to, he could shut it down and Patrick would be broken hearted and he'd feel like a complete shit, but they would get over it. David can't do that, though. He knows how much Patrick wants a dog and he thinks, given a choice between a dog and a human child, he will pick the dog every single time. At least a dog dies quicker than a human.

"I mean, yes, definitely," he says. "Until one of them jumps on me and then I won't be ready again."

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick's not really set back by David's denial, because they're here. It doesn't matter how much David says 'no', he already said yes when it mattered, which is why Patrick's in such a good mood. "I think I can defend you from some overly lovable dogs," he says, squinting at David like he might have to think about that one.

He turns towards the volunteer, talking about size of dog (nothing too big), and age (he doesn't need a puppy, which seems to offer some relief). She says she thinks she's got something for them, and heads off.

"Just remember, stay behind me, I'll protect you," he vows.

[very_uninterested]

"Ha ha," David says, but he does notably step behind Patrick. He's never really been interested in dogs, not since that time Kellan Lutz's rescue dog jumped on him and left muddy paw prints all over the very expensive white jeans he had been wearing at the time. That's a nightmare he doesn't want to repeat.

"What does not too big even mean?" he asks as they wait. "I've seen really big dogs before."

David is hoping for something small. Something he can pick up with relative ease if he needs it, even if he never plans on it.

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick glances over his shoulder and gives David a fond grin, deciding not to tell him about certain dogs that are the size of a small horse, mainly because that's not what he's in the market for. Luckily, the three that she brings around are all fairly what he'd had in mind.

Nothing like a purse dog, but not so big that it'd trample them. "We've got three here for you. A beagle, jack russell terrier, and a corgi," she says, holding onto three leashes. "Any preference on which you might want to take around?"

Patrick turns to David, eyes bright. "Well? Any preference?"

[very_uninterested]

None of them are jumping on him, which is a good sign, but there is still three of them all at once and David isn't even sure which ones those names refer to. He thinks the corgi is the one with stumpy legs and the wiggling butt, but he honestly doesn't know and so on impulse, he points at the one on the end, the only one of the three that seems relatively calm.

"That one," he says.

"The jack russell," the woman says, trying to hand the leash to David, who gestures for Patrick to take it. "He's a great choice. Very sweet and very calm, especially for a jack russell. His name is Henry."

"That is the cutest fucking dog name I've ever heard," David says in a voice that almost makes it sound like he's disgusted. He's not. He loves it.

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick heads for Henry, crouching on his knees and trading leashes with the volunteer. From David, that compliment is practically a winning announcement, so he gives his attention to Henry, the jack russell, and scrubs right behind his ears, watching as he burrows into Patrick's chest like the sweetest thing he's ever seen.

He keeps his smile tempered, though, not wanting to clearly favour this dog because it's adorable and calm and has a great name, but when he stands, Henry is in his arms as he reaches for the leash of another one to walk around a bit, his eyes on David the whole time, like he's just waiting for another opinion.

"I bet you could train him to fetch things for you, you know," he says, casual as you like, like it's no big deal.

[very_uninterested]

"No dog mouth is going on my things," David answers, although it's kind of offensively sweet, how cute it is when the dog sort of burrows into Patrick's chest. "What's he going to get for me, a roll of quarters from the bank when we run low?"

Actually, that would be kind of useful. Not to mention a cute dog would be a great mascot for the store. People love cute dogs and he bets they'll get way more people coming in just to see one. Then they'll buy things David talks them into.

"So... is this a good dog?" he asks Patrick. "I honestly have no idea what we're looking for here."

[stuckonyourheart]

"Or you could train him to sit there and look cute while people buy way more than they should," Patrick says, rubbing a hand over his fur, not wanting to make a choice this quickly when there are other options in the mix, and he doesn't want to rule any of them out.

He balances Henry down to the ground, his heart breaking when the dog whines a little, but he has to give the others some attention too. "I've never picked out a dog as an adult," he admits. "We had one when I was a kid, but my parents did the picking."

"I guess, just, what feels right. Which one feels like they could belong with us."

[very_uninterested]

This decision cannot be left to David. None of the dogs seem particularly smart or clean to him, but he glances between them and then settles on Henry, because at least he has a very good name.

With a wince, he reaches out and takes the leash from Patrick, holding it between his fingers like it might bite him.

"Okay," he says, trying not to sound scared. "Come on, Henry. Don't make me look bad."

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick's in the middle of getting to the ground to let the other two crawl over him, but his attention is fully on David, scratching behind the dog's ears as he watches David take the leash. He is, unfortunately, kind of holding his breath.

If David can get on board with any of these options, he knows it's going to be a win, and he can't help the mental chanting of 'please, please, please' because so far, Henry's just peering up at David in a perfect sit, almost like he's confused why David would even ask that.

"You can pet him, you know," Patrick coaxes. "It might even be nice."

[very_uninterested]

"I think maybe we'll build up to that," David answers. "I'm not sure this sweater can handle dog fur."

Patrick's clothes, luckily, are made for dog fur, especially since he's just going to roll around on the ground with the dogs now, apparently. In a public place. Where dogs have probably pissed all over this floor.

"So... which one do you like?" David asks. So far he still prefers Henry, who is sitting and looking up at him with his head slightly cocked. The other two are running around like monsters.

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick has a feeling that pretty much all of David's sweaters won't stand up to dog fur, but that's not something he intends to really mention so much as buy a bulk pack of lint rollers and subtly stick them around the house.

The ones he's with right now seem a bit yappy and hyperactive, while Henry seems to be sniffing around David's feet, going back into a good sit right after. "Is he pretty calm like that all the time? Henry?" he asks the volunteer.

"He's a very sweet dog," she confirms. "He's a little older, which is why a lot of people haven't given him as much of a chance. They tend to want younger dogs, and they worry about the vet bills."

Older means that he won't really have puppy energy, which is good, and there's a part of Patrick's logical brain that also wonders how long they'll be in Darrow, so maybe that's not bad. He hands both the leashes back to the volunteer, taking the one from David. "I like him," he says, nodding towards Henry. "Do you like him?"

[very_uninterested]

There are things David knows he isn't supposed to say in front of the volunteer, things that would probably result in them being unable to adopt, because the volunteer will think David hates dogs. Which isn't entirely true. It's not untrue either.

"I like that he isn't jumping all over. Like a puppy," David says, then clears his throat and looks at the volunteer very seriously.

"I might be described as some people as... fastidious. About certain things. Is Henry already trained to go to the bathroom outside?"

"Yes," the volunteer says, smiling, as if she already knows David is fastidious. "He's potty trained and he knows most basic commands. Sit, down, stay, release. He was a surrender, his owner passed away, so he's been well loved and very well trained."

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick watches David the whole time, quietly handing back the other two leashes to the volunteer as he gets back to his feet, knowing that there's a decision that's already been made, and he's more than happy to go along with it. "Great," he says. "In that case, show us the paperwork we need to fill out and we'll take Henry."

He gives David an encouraging, warm smile, squeezing just above his elbow as he leans in to kiss him. "I can take him," he promises, sliding his fingers over the leash to gently tug it towards his own hand, feeling very proud of David for taking him for so long.

[very_uninterested]

A big part of him can't believe they're really doing this. Getting a dog. Alexis and Stevie would both think he'd had a lobotomy or something. Another, bigger part of him knows he's doing it because he loves Patrick.

Because, short of having a child, David knows he would do anything for this man.

"You're lucky he and you are very cute," he says in a prim voice, then kisses Patrick again just because he can.

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick feels like he's got a very cute smile on right now, because David's agreeing to a dog, and it's one as cute as Henry. He really thinks they lucked out, and as he reaches for the leash, he can see the volunteer thinks the same.

"Don't worry, you're still the cutest," Patrick promises, once he drifts back from that kiss, giving David a fond grin. "Now, come on. How about I take him to get settled and let you do all the shopping for the fun stuff?"

[very_uninterested]

"Oh, you're not being trusted with accessories," David says, as if that had ever been up for debate. There is absolutely no way in hell he's letting Patrick pick out the leash or the collar. Definitely not the bowls, because those will have to sit in their kitchen and David will need them to go with the entire aesthetic of their apartment, never mind just the room.

"Don't we have to like, do a criminal record check?" he asks. "Aren't they going to want to make sure we aren't satanists?"

Satanists probably sacrifice dogs, he thinks.

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick is fully unsurprised and far from shocked that he won't get a say in the aesthetics of the dog, but then, he'd already planned that. "I'll work on the paperwork and all the boring stuff, yeah," he promises, because taking the dog is a shortcut, but he's pretty sure that he can get started.

He also may have done some of that legwork. "I kind of put together some information for any shelters and rescue operations in a video package and the necessary forms before we started looking," he confesses, since planning and organizing and getting things done is his thing.

"Go," he encourages, kissing David's cheek. "Let me handle the boring stuff."

[very_uninterested]

"You put together a video package," David echoes, staring at Patrick in disbelief for a moment before he rolls his eyes fondly and lets out an exhale. "You are the weirdest, sweetest man I have ever met."

He kisses Patrick's cheek again, then gives him a little shove toward the volunteer, already bringing up his phone so he can begin to look for luxury Darrow dog brands online. There is no way his dog is going to be sporting some shitty polyester leash that looks like it was bought in a dollar store.