CRISSY THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT.
Okay, in all seriousness - I can't find the post anymore, but there was this AU post floating around tumblr - something along the lines of "aus where you know the other person, but you also don't", was the theme, I believe, and there was one prompt which was something along the lines of: "character a is an artist, and character b is a fan; also, character b has a dog and the person who walks it keeps leaving cute notes" - and character a is the dog walker.
I immediately went to Crissy and screamed about Aomine being a dog walking artist because Aomine is super precious with Nigou.
And so, this AU was born, and today I gave into the overwhelming desire to write it, despite the fact that I knew it was going to be multi-chap, and that I have other fics I need to finish. orz
It wasn't something planned.
Ryouta's not really a pet kind of person. Or, well, okay, that's not entirely true – he loves Kuroko's puppy a lot, and he would like to have a dog of his own, really – but he doesn't exactly have the time spare to care for a pet. He's a busy guy, and sometimes he spends days away from home for shoots, whether overseas or otherwise.
So he had been content to sort of dote on Kuroko's own dog, which was a sweet, playful animal, like a loving uncle, until one day, one of his co-workers is trying really hard to give away her golden retriever's babies.
He's got a beautiful little thing in his arms before he realises what's going on, and if he could ever say he'd experienced love at first sight, this might have actually been it.
Ryouta's always been a capricious sort of person, and also very selfish. He already knows he shouldn't take the beautiful little puppy, but he wants her, so he claims her anyway.
"What are you going to call her?" his co-worker asks, curious.
He hums. "I'm not sure," he admits. In his arms, the mass of golden fur is wriggling to try and get at his face.
"She still needs a few of her shots, and to be fixed and micro-chipped," he's told, "but I'll take her home for now." He's fairly sure she targeted him for ownership when she ties a golden ribbon around the puppy's neck, but he can't bring himself to be particularly upset about it.
He already knows Kuroko's going to tell him he's far too irresponsible to have a pet, but as much as he adores him, Kuroko's never really been able to talk him out of doing something he really wants to do, whether it's doing a racy photoshoot, dating that guy or girl Kuroko has (usually accurately) pegged as being no good, or making a completely superfluous and expensive purchase.
Ryouta knows he can't really do this on his own – he knows absolutely nothing about training a dog, after all, even ones as supposedly intelligent as golden retrievers are – and he also knows that Kuroko will be a great source of help to him, and that while Kuroko would make a lot of pointed comments, he would also never leave an animal in the care of someone who couldn't look after it properly.
It's with this in mind that he stops by at the home base of Kuroko's dog walking company on his way home.
It's not too late in the evening that all the dog walkers will be back yet – so the door is still open. Kuroko himself is in his office doing paperwork, probably – at the very least, he's not at the unattended desk, and Ryouta's known him long enough to check carefully. He takes great pleasure in making the little bell Kuroko installed ring so that he can get his attention.
Kuroko's soft service smile disappears from his face the moment he sees its Ryouta and not a customer. "Kise-kun," he greets him. Ryouta would be offended, if he didn't know him better.
"Kurokocchi, hi!" Ryouta leans halfway over the bench. "Can I come back there?"
"If you must," Kuroko says, and ducks back into his office.
Ryouta follows, smiling. There's an extra chair in Kuroko's office, but it's not for clients, who aren't really invited back here, and is only very rarely used for Kuroko to speak to his employees or interviewees. It's a surprisingly comfortable armchair, after all; its true purpose is for Kuroko's partner to doze in when Kuroko has to stay late to do paperwork and such.
Kagami's a sweetheart; Ryouta sometimes wishes that he'd been the one to catch his eye rather than Kuroko, but they really make each other too happy for him to think on it much. It's rare that someone will look past Ryouta to see Kuroko, after all, and he definitely thinks Kuroko deserves someone who never even takes a second glance away from him.
"What brings you by, Kise-kun?" Kuroko asks. His desk isn't neat, but there's a system to it, though Ryouta doesn't quite understand it, even after watching Kuroko place various paperwork into various piles. "I wasn't expecting you."
"Can't I just want to spend some time with my dearest friend?" Ryouta asks. Kuroko glances at him momentarily, and Ryouta can almost hear the retort that they're not that close. Instead, Kuroko waits him out. It's not hard to tell that Ryouta is extra excitable today, after all – he's still practically bouncing in his seat.
"I'm getting a dog," he finally caves, and grins.
"Dogs are a lot of work, Kise-kun," Kuroko points out. "And while I don't doubt your enthusiasm, you don't really have the time for one."
Ryouta pouts. "But I love her. She's mine."
It's at this point that Kuroko sighs, stops sorting the paperwork on his desk, and turns to look at him fully.
"What kind of dog is it?" he asks. Ryouta beams.
"She's a golden retriever! Well, at least, partially, anyway, I didn't ask Nishioka-chan about the details but the mum is definitely a golden retriever—"
"Kise-kun," Kuroko interrupts him. "That's not a small dog."
He frowns. "I know that."
Kuroko sighs very softly. "Alright. Well, they're a smart dog, which is just as well, because that'll have to make up for your lack of brains—"
"Rude, Kurokocchi—"
"—but they have good natures. She'll need a lot of brushing with the coat she has." He pauses for a moment. "Are you sure you're up for this? It really is a very big responsibility, Kise-kun, and Kagami-kun will not accept a second dog in the house as large as a golden retriever in the event that you decide you're not capable of taking care of her."
"I'm sure," Ryouta says. "But..."
"But?"
"But she'll need to be walked a lot, right?"
"At least once a day," Kuroko agrees.
"I have to exercise to keep in shape."
"You don't exclusively do cardio work, Kise-kun. You go to the gym with my boyfriend for a reason."
Ryouta laughed. "Well, then maybe I should hire you, Kurokocchi," he says. It's a joke, or he means it as a joke, but almost instantly the potential of it is apparent to them both.
"Well, I suppose this way I'll know when to call Animal Rescue," Kuroko mutters, and he opens up one of his drawers and shuffles around until he finds and pulls out a clipboard.
"She'll need to have all her vaccinations and have been spayed," Kuroko says as he takes one of the sheets of paper out. "If she still doesn't come when she's called, you'll tell me so I can tell her walker not to let her off leash until she will come reliably." Kuroko's blue eyes bore into him as he passes it over what Ryouta realises is a form.
"I already have a key to your apartment, I'll use that one to have a copy made once she meets the requirements for being walked," Kuroko adds as he sits back in his chair. "Just so you know, Kise-kun, I'm going to charge you extra."
Ryouta looked it over briefly, then put it down on top of Kuroko's desk so that he could hug him. "Thank you, Kurokocchi!"
"Please get off, Kise-kun," Kuroko complained, muffled against his shoulder.
"Kuroko, are you still here?" There was a shuffling noise as someone came to the back, and then a large red-head looked in. "Oh, Kise's here."
"Kagamicchi, I'm getting a puppy!" Ryouta announces. "Isn't it exciting?"
"No," Kagami says, looking pained. "I don't need another dog in my life." His gaze shifts back to Kuroko, and he asks, "Don't you know any cat people?"
"Kagami-kun, perhaps you didn't notice, but I own a dog walking company," Kuroko points out. His tone is very dry. "Also, Kise-kun, please don't make me ask again for you to get off me."
Ryouta lets go, because this is his warning that Kuroko will use violent force if necessary to remove him from his person. Kuroko uses his newfound freedom of movement to get up so that he can go and give Kagami a greeting kiss.
Ryouta sighs, somewhat envious; the noise serves as an unintentional reminder to Kagami that they are not alone or unobserved though, and makes him go pink in the face when Kuroko rocks back down onto flat feet, having pushed himself up on his toes to kiss him.
"You guys are so cute," he comments. "Do you have a brother I can have, Kagamicchi?"
Kagami rolls his eyes at him.
"Himuro-san has a partner," Kuroko says. "I'm afraid you're out of luck."
Ryouta sighs more loudly this time, feeling dramatic. "I'll never find a man as good as Kagamicchi," he teases. It used to fluster Kagami when he said things like this, but he just ignores it now. Still, Ryouta can't help himself.
"Probably not," Kuroko agrees.
Ryouta gets up, mostly because he's done what he came here to do, but also because Kuroko is settling back in at his desk, which means that Kagami is going to need the chair he's sitting in. Also, he's starting to get hungry, and he's going to have to start buying things for his new pet.
"Well, I'll come visit again soon, Kurokocchi!" he tells him. "Maybe you can help me get some things for my puppy?"
"Talk to your co-worker about what she recommends," Kuroko says. "I'm not holding your hand through this. You made the decision to get a pet; you need to do the work yourself."
It was pretty much what Ryouta had been expecting, but still, he pouts. "You're no fun, Kurokocchi," he complains. "But once she's had her vaccinations, I'll bring her over to play with Nigou!"
Kagami grimaces as he collapses into his chair, but Kuroko smiles slightly.
"Good evening, Kise-kun," Kuroko farewells him. Kagami lazily waves a hand at him from the chair as he leaves the office.
By the time his puppy is settling into his apartment a few weeks later, Ryouta's settled on a name, if nothing else. The tag on the plush black collar he bought for her reads Emi – she had struggled with it when he'd initially gotten it on her, but she's finished sulking about the new addition to her body she can't remove, and has resumed cheerfully chewing on and tossing the squeaking bone toy Ryouta had given her.
At the moment, he's on the phone with Kuroko, because after an hour of looking up vets on the internet, he finally thought maybe Kuroko would be willing to help him out with a recommendation.
"All the vets in the area are very good, Kise-kun," Kuroko tells him. "I've never had an owner tell me they were dissatisfied with the service of one of the local vets."
Emi makes the red plastic bone squeak loudly, and Ryouta smiles at her.
"Besides, any vet can do her last shots," Kuroko adds. "Please stop being ridiculous."
"Kurokocchi," Ryouta whines, "I just want to make sure she's taken care of properly!"
Kuroko's slight exhalation of a sigh is more noticeable when he's on the phone, as the microphone picks of the rush of air. "I will give you the details of the vet that we take Nigou to."
"Thank you, Kurokocchi," Ryouta cheers. "Are you going to come over and meet her?"
There's a short pause which Ryouta can't really decipher. "Perhaps after work," Kuroko finally says.
Ryouta hadn't had a shoot today – in fact, he'd cleared out his schedule for the rest of the week – so he was spending most of his day helping Emi get used to her new space, and try to make sure she does her business on the pet loo he'd bought. The few times he felt the need to move she'd followed him and he'd just about died because it was just so cute to look behind him and see her trailing just at his heels.
Around when he expects Kuroko to arrive, he manages to capture her between his knees and use a red ribbon to make a bow on her collar.
"You're going to love Kurokocchi," he coos to her, dragging his fingers through her soft fur. Her little tail is waving at him, and he has to resist the urge to drag her in for a cuddle that will mess up her bow. "Kurokocchi is amazing."
Kuroko buzzes for entry about fifteen minutes later, and Emi starts barking.
"Come on in," Ryouta says, pressing the button to let him in. "Quiet!"
He doesn't hear Kuroko's soft laughter because Emi is still barking.
"Please forgive the intrusion," Kuroko says, right as Ryouta captures an armful of wriggling puppy.
"Kurokocchi!"
Kuroko comes over. "You should hold onto her muzzle and use a low voice to make her stop barking," he tells him. "It imitates how the mother dog quiets them." His fingers curl around her muzzle in demonstration, and though Emi struggles, Kuroko is about as stubborn as anyone Ryouta has ever known, and stronger than he looks. He's looking at her intently as he clearly, firmly and lowly says, "Quiet."
"Kurokocchi," Ryouta says, "that was really hot."
Kuroko stares at him for a moment, judgement clearly evident in his gaze. "I only wish it worked on people too," he comments. "You should put her down now."
Ryouta does as he's told, and Emi skitters on the floor a little before jumping up to put her paws on Kuroko's leg.
"You really shouldn't encourage that," Kuroko says, pushing her down and then crouching to fondle her ears gently. "She's going to get big, and it won't be as cute when she's jumping up to your stomach."
Ryouta laughs a little. "Yeah, good point."
"Your papa is hopeless," Kuroko says to Emi, who is nosing at his free hand while the other one pets her. "Did he finally figure out a name for you, at least?"
He pouts. "There's a tag on her collar, Kurokocchi!"
"It could be blank for when you decide," Kuroko points out.
"Emi! Her name is Emi!"
"It's very nice to meet you, Emi," Kuroko greets her. "Please try not to be too difficult for Kise-kun, as he will just trouble me about it." He looks up at Ryouta. "You're not being a very good host, Kise-kun."
Ryouta's shoulders slump. "Kurokocchi is being very hard on me today," he mumbles. "Did you want something to drink?"
"Tea would be nice, thank you," Kuroko says. He's not even looking at Ryouta, he notices when he looks back over his shoulder as he goes to his kitchenette. He's ruffling Emi's fur between his outspread fingers while she twists this way and that and snuffles while trying to get at his hands.
Ryouta takes a picture to send to Kagami, and smiles to himself.