Notes: For Flufftober - Animal Shelter

High School AU

Shelter Me

Cisco had several reasons for volunteering at the animal shelter. The one that got his parents to agree was that it'd look good on his college resumes when he started applying next year.

But mostly Cisco just wanted to spend time with cute fuzzy animals. Though he also wanted to get out of the house this summer. And, well... he wasn't as close with his friends as he used to be before lockdown. And even with school semi-back to normal, he wasn't in any of the same classes as his friends this year and most of their after school activities were still canceled. No robotics club or chess club.

So truthfully, Cisco did need activities to pad out his resume. He'd entered a few robotics contests solo during the school year, but volunteering showed a different aspect of his character. Or something like that. It'd show that he gave back to the community.

He might have picked a different shelter if he'd know Hartley Rathaway was volunteering too, but this was the one closest to Cisco's home. On nice days he could hop on his bicycle and ride over without getting too sweaty or gross. And on too hot or humid or rainy days, Dante would drop Cisco off on the way to the mall where his friends were waiting for him.

Every cage in the place was full these days. Not exactly uncommon, but apparently they'd doubled up the animals a bit more than advisable because of all the 'returns' from people who 'didn't need the animal now that covid was over'. Which, first of all, pandemic was still on. And secondly, what about the animal's feelings? Not that people like that should be pet owners anyway, but...

Definitely steamed Cisco right up that people were like that. And it ticked of everyone else at the shelter too. Even Hartley.

Who knew that guy had a heart?

Though... Hartley did spend an awful lot of time in the rodent room. Where all the rats and mice and hamsters and guinea pigs lived. Which... they were surprisingly cute little critters. Cisco would give the rodents that much. And they were affectionate and soft. Much less creepy than Cisco used to think they were.

Dogs and cats were still Cisco's favorites, but the fuzzy little rodents were growing on him all the same.

Hartley, though. If he was on duty then he'd jump at taking care of the rodents first before anyone else could claim it. Which the rest of the volunteers were generally happy to let him have. Though Cisco could do with getting stuck with the bird room a little less because Hartley leapt at the rodent room before Cisco could finish opening his mouth. However... even if Hartley wasn't scheduled to volunteer, he could often be found in the rodent room.

Cisco was pretty sure Hartley was avoiding going home and he wasn't sure what to make of that yet.

After finishing up with the dogs today, Cisco clocked off and had his volunteer sheet signed off on. And then, instead of leaving, Cisco peeked into the rodent room.

There was Hartley, sitting in one of the chairs with a guinea pig on his lap that he was petting with one hand while holding a tablet he was reading some book on in the other. Like always.

Taking a deep breath, Cisco let himself into the room, picked a rat to play with, and then settled in a chair by Hartley while letting little Gabby have fun climbing all over his hands.

"My dad's allergic to cats and dogs, so my parents won't let me or my brothers have any pets at all. But I've been kind of thinking of getting a rat when I go to college. I'll have to wait until I get out of the dorms, but rats are way friendlier than I ever realized." Feeling the weight of Hartley's confused stare on him, Cisco looked at him and said, "I'm a little surprised you haven't tried to adopt all these little guys. Or at least some of them."

"My parents think all animals are dirty and gross," Hartley said, after a long silence. "If they knew I volunteered here, they'd make me stop."

"That sucks," Cisco responded, wondering just what Hartley's parents thought he was doing with his long hours here every day.

Hartley bit his lower lip and nodded, then turned back to his book. Which was for the best because a bright hot bloom of want flickered to life in Cisco's stomach.

Because of course he'd find Hartley biting his lip attractive. Just his luck.

Cisco turned away, still playing with Gabby. Hartley was standoffish and kind of a jerk at school. But also clearly lonely.

He wasn't doing this because Hartley was hot. That was a new revelation and potentially a little dangerous to contemplate. Cisco was doing this because no one should be so lonely.

"I take it you don't have to go straight home after volunteering then?"

Hartley gave Cisco a look that clearly said 'no, duh'.

"Then maybe we could hang out somewhere?" Cisco offered.

Tension in Hartley's shoulders got even more noticeable. "I'm not... I don't really hang out. With others. For fun."

"Because you don't like to or 'cause you haven't really had anyone else to spend time with?" Cisco hesitated and then added, "just talking here and playing with the rodents works too, it's just... I thought maybe we could hang out elsewhere. Try new stuff, see if we can find more things to do we both enjoy."

Hartley never looked this nervous when he was answer questions in class and being a smart aleck about having to have the most correct answer. "If this is just you feeling sorry for me..."

"My friends and I drifted apart and we barely do anything together anymore," Cisco said. "And it seems like maybe you could use a new friend too. This isn't pity, Hartley. It's opportunity for both of us."

Another hesitation and then, finally, Hartley nodded affirmatively. "Sure. What other stuff were you thinking of?"

Over the next few weeks they try a bunch of different stuff in the afternoon when their volunteer hours are over. They figure out quickly that Hartley doesn't like the arcade because it's too noisy and he can't hear, which is how Cisco learns that Hartley has an auditory processing disorder. They both enjoy biking around the park together, but it's getting hotter and hotter, so that's off the table until things start cooling off again. They escape the heat in a bowling alley one afternoon, which is loud like the arcade but less off putting for Hartley. He'd never played before so Cisco put out the bumper guard rails for the gutter and Cisco taught Hartley to play while Hartley taught Cisco a few basic ASL signs.

They wander the library together one afternoon, learning about each other's favorite books and genres and music. But Cisco also learns about the rather unrealistic expectations Hartley's drowning in with his parents... and the fact that Hartley's gay. Which isn't something his parents know about because Hartley knows they'd disown him.

And Cisco figures out, during all of this, that he'd really, really like to kiss Hartley. Not just because Hartley's attractive, but because under his prickly bluster Hartley's actually a rather sweet guy. It'd probably scare the other guy off, though. He's more relaxed around Cisco now, but still so skittish.

Yet, somehow, their favorite place is sitting side by side in the rodent room at the shelter, playing with the furry little friends there while they talk.

Hartley is crying one morning and Cisco winds up taking him along to do the dog rounds because, well, the dogs don't like it when humans are sad. There's so many attempts to cuddle Hartley and lick his tears away and play with him while they walk the dogs and clean the cages.

"Want to talk about it?" Cisco asked quietly.

"My parents found out I've been volunteering here. When they get back from out of town next week, they're gonna make me stop." Hartley was clearly panicking. "And then I won't be able to see you again until school starts and I know it's only a few weeks, but it'll feel like forever and..."

He trailed off as Cisco wrapped his arms around Hartley in a hug. "I don't suppose they'd accept the volunteer hours making your college resumes look nice as a reason to let you keep volunteering," Cisco offered.

Hartley sniffled. "I-I don't know. Maybe. I can try."

"We can still call and text and try to find times to hang out that your parents won't notice." Because Cisco had the distinct impression Hartley didn't think his parents would approve of the two of them being friends.

A little despondently, Hartley nodded.

"And when we start applying for colleges, we can make sure to apply to ones in the same cities. That way even if we don't attend the same schools, we'll still be able to hang out together after high school ends."

Hartley's arms tightened their grip on Cisco. "You're amazing, Cisco. Really." And then, clearly not thinking it through because Cisco was certain the only way Hartley could have done it was on sheer impulse, Hartley pulled back and pecked a kiss to Cisco's lips. And then went wide-eyed with panic.

"I-I'm sorry," Hartley said, pulling away. "I-I shouldn't have..."

"Hey." Cisco caught Hartley's hands and smiled softly. Reassuringly. "I liked it."

"Really?"

Cisco nodded and then reached up with one hand to cup Hartley's cheek. "May I?"

"Yes..." and hopefully Hartley knew he was agreeing to another kiss, because Cisco drew him in for one.

And, oh, it was slow and soft and perfect, despite the tears still on Hartley's face.

It's not what Cisco imagined his first kisses would be like, but it's really quite nice. And he knows the next year would be difficult. That he couldn't take Hartley to the school dances as his date and they'd have to be sneaky about making sure Hartley's parents were really only vaguely aware of who Cisco was, but... Hartley was worth it all for the day they could date more openly. Cisco was sure of it.

"So, Hartley, would you be my boyfriend?"

The smile on Hartley's face is gorgeous as he says yes. And there's pride bubbling in Cisco's chest because that smile? It's all for him.