Chapter Text
Shiro was like a kid in a candy store when they finally had a weekend to go look for their new best friend - Keith's insistence that their home be filled with proper dog accessories had delayed his good boy acquisition by at least two weeks and Shiro had been perfecting his pout the entire time.
What if their new best friend was already getting adopted as they waited around? What if the Good-est Boy in the World was sitting sadly in a kennel while they lounged on the couch?
What if-
“Shiro.” Keith's sharp voice had been laced with exasperation as he shook the ladle across the kitchen. “I'm going to put you in a kennel if you don't chill out.”
Shiro had wilted back into the couch at the reprimand... but he couldn't help it! They were finally going to make their little family complete. Keith could stop worrying about something totally unnecessary, and Shiro would get his newest partner in crime to knock around the house with while Keith was out...
It was going to be amazing.
And today is finally the day! Keith trails after his husband as Shiro practically flings the door to the shelter open, bouncing up to the counter.
“I'd like one dog, please!”
Keith can see the moment that Shiro's excited smile melts the poor girl at the counter as she flushes and fumbles with the clipboard in front of her.
“The um... dogs are over there.” She smiles at him shyly and points to a big grey door. “But you need to-”
“Thanks!”
Shiro is already bounding off again, pushing the door open as the girl gapes in his wake. Keith steps up to the counter with a chuckle and eases the paperwork out of her slack grip, flashing her a knowing grin.
“I'll take care of it.”
Her eyes flash to his wedding ring and she shoots him a sheepish look.
“Yeah... one for the household is fine.”
He nods his head in thanks and tucks it under his arm before following Shiro through the door.
The other side is basically Shiro heaven.
Instead of the sad kennels that his husband had been moaning about all week, Keith walks into a wide open playroom filled with spongy mats and training pads. He has to gingerly step through toys and dodge a pair of corgis chasing each other across the room. Playful yips and barks echo off the walls and in the middle of it all is Shiro.
He's flung himself into what can only be described as a pile of fur - more legs and tails and snouts than Keith can make sense of are clamoring for his husband's attention and licking happily over his head. The look on Shiro's face is utter bliss as he sprawls, arms open wide and fingers wriggling into paradise.
Keith makes a mental note to have him brush his teeth before they kiss.
He steps up to the dog pile and nudges Shiro's boot with his toe.
“I see you've found some dogs.”
Shiro nods into the flank of a dalmatian before turning to nuzzle at a little German shepherd. He breathes in deeply and let's out a fluttery sigh, his eyes sparkling like a shoujo character as they land on Keith.
“Can we have all of them?”
Keith snorts and kicks his boot again.
“Not likely, love.”
Shiro's pout is exceptionally wounded as he throws his forearm over his eyes.
“But they need me!” He throws the arm out wide again and gestures to the wagging pile. “Look how sad they are!”
That gets a full belly laugh from Keith as a little Yorkie plops right down on Shiro's chest and licks his face with a happy yip.
“Yeah, Babe.” Keith deadpans as he surveys the frolicking pups. “It sure looks like they're suffering.”
Shiro's answering whine just barely misses the pitch of the dogs he's laying under.
“Fine.” He sits up, gently resettling the puppy curled onto his abdomen to his feet. “But just so you know, you're in violation of the Geneva Convention right now.”
Keith quirks an eyebrow at him as he surveys the other dogs not currently slobbering all over his husband.
“How so?”
The petulant huff draws his attention back.
“This is clearly torture.”
'Pffft!” Keith smacks the clipboard against his knee as he doubles over laughing at Shiro's Extra Serious Face while puppies leap to lick at his nose. Every time he catches his breath Shiro's scowl deepens a little and another dog makes a pass at his nostrils.
Torture indeed.
“Alright big guy, up you go.” He reaches out and clasps Shiro's forearm, hauling him upward as the dogs spill from his lap and have to make due with slobbering on his knees.
Truly Tragic.
“Do we want a puppy or an adult dog?” Keith gazes out over the sea of happy dogs, less condensed now that their new best friend has stopped handing out snuggles freely. Shiro hums thoughtfully beside him and snags the clipboard to look over the paperwork.
“Well, we want them already fixed, right?” He flicks a questioning glance up to catch Keith's nod. “Okay, then not a super young puppy.”
Keith nods again and starts to wander away as Shiro skims through the list.
“And you said you wanted a guard dog, so we probably don't want to get a little breed or a dog that would have a ton of growing to... Keith?” Shiro looks up from the papers and pushes his glasses up onto his forehead. “Where are you going?”
Keith doesn't answer as he makes a beeline for one of the quieter corners of the room where the walls are lined with bean bags and dog beds. Shiro sighs and shakes his head as he trails after his husband.
“You want an older dog?”
Still no answer. Keith continues to walk until he hits a little set of tunnels and drops to his knees, holding his hand out. Shiro can just barely make out a pair of nearly glowing eyes from within.
“Hey buddy.” Keith's voice is soft and low as a snout appears from the tunnel and sniffs at his hand warily. “How are you, huh?”
A black nose nudges at Keith's palm and two paws inch forward, dark as pitch with lighter grey streaks that look almost blue in the lighting. Big eyes are strikingly yellow as they appear from the dark.
Keith flips his palm over and gives a tentative scratch to the floof on the side of what must be a massive head - a rumble shakes the tunnel as a tail thwaps against the inside.
“Keith...” Shiro trails off as the yellow eyes snap to him and the dog shuffles closer, resting a giant head on Keith's knee with a chuff.
Shiro knows right then that he's going to have to share Keith's heart from now on. The pleading look on his husband's face as he turns is enough for Shiro to plop down right next to him and unclip the pen from the board.
“So, what are we naming our new baby?”
He clicks the pen once and looks up at Keith with a smile before the unexpected tackle sends him crashing backward into the ground.
“Thank you, Takashi!” Keith presses kisses all over Shiro's blushing face, breaking out the first name for maximum impact. The dog whines once and lets out a short bark before crawling from the tunnel and flopping down on both of them, tongue lolling as he nuzzles into Keith's hair.
It's perfect.
But Shiro's ribs are starting to creak under the weight.
“Keith, air.” He gasps out, nudging his husband and their new child to the side as he heaves in a gasping breath.
Keith rolls off and throws his arms around the dog's neck, pressing a kiss into his furry mane.
“What's your name buddy?”
He definitely does not baby-talk to the dog.
The dog definitely does not dog-talk back.
“Hmm... well you'll tell me eventually.”
Shiro leaves the spot blank on the paperwork and fills in the rest of their information with a smile as Keith fawns over his new best friend.
“You're such a big boy.” The behemoth chuffs right into Keith's face before licking up the side and Shiro's heart grows three sizes at the sound of Keith's giggles.
Keith turns and nudges Shiro with an elbow, jerking a thumb back at the dog.
“I think we're gonna have to adjust our kibble budget estimate for this guy.”
Shiro meets intelligent yellow eyes with a smirk as the dog places a protective paw on Keith's knee.
“Nah, I think I'll be feeding this Good Boy some special treats.”