Chapter Text
The kind of stillness you get in an empty street at 3am is unique, a feeling Arthur often enjoyed on his walk back from the pub. He didn’t always like going out on his own, but sometimes it was needed to just clear his head for a while after the social strain of so many people he already knew. It was good to just kick back and not worry about having to see someone again for a while. But now, he was totally alone as he walked, his path illuminated by the street lights ahead of him. Sometimes a car would drive by to break through the silence before fading off and leaving him once again to this peace. His half drunk state really did help to keep it comfortably numb, like he was floating on a cloud to his destination.
He didn’t actually own a key to the little retro house he eventually stepped up to, it wasn’t his, and he probably shouldn’t be trusted with immediate entry whenever possible. But it was late, and he really needed to crash head first into some pillows. It wasn’t that he was uninvited, in fact, he was supposed to be staying here anyway, just not blessed with easy access, and at this time of night, knocking was out of the question.
By some stroke of luck, Arthur wasn’t drunk enough that he couldn’t bend down and retrieve the spare key hidden under a false rock – otherwise this would have been a disaster and he might as well have knocked in the first place. But, as he clumsily slid the key in and stepped inside the dark home, he felt a sigh overcome him. Comfort. With a hint of dog. Speaking of which, the two he had expected didn’t rush towards him like they usually did when he visited, which meant they could only be in one place.
Quietly, he climbed the stairs, creeping onto the landing and down towards the soft light of the room ahead. It was dim, but as he entered, he noticed a head pop up, ears pointed and eyes fixed on him before deciding he wasn’t a threat, while it’s lazier companion only shifted it’s head slightly.
“Ladies.” He nodded to each of them, pulling off his shoes.
“Your back late…” A voice grumbled from somewhere on the bed.
Behind the larger dog, Ludwig turned over, eyes barely open as he did his best not to disturb the two dogs he had been sleeping beside.
“Yeah, got a bit carried away in a conversation about something.” The Englishman waved his hand, “There enough room in there for me?”
“Always.”
The duvet was moved, revealing a comfortable spot just between Ludwig and the Alsatian currently trying to get back to sleep. Warm and inviting, it was hard not to dive right in. Instead, Arthur chose to carefully climb over the animals, apologising as he went before slotting in nicely, still in his jeans and t-shirt. Despite this, he pressed himself up against the warm muscle of his partner and immediately felt comfortable.
“How gentlemanly of you to save me a spot.” He sighed, nuzzling his face in the crook of his partner’s shoulder,
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Dunno. Because you have two pretty girls in bed with you?”
Ludwig chuckled, a soft, low chuckle as he struggled to stay awake for the conversation, nose in the Englishman’s hair, “They missed you too.”
As if on queue, the yellow dog on the end of the bed shifted, flopping heavily onto the legs of her companions.
Blondie, a younger golden retriever with a heart of gold and an unhealthy obsession with food. While well trained and wonderfully gentle, she was cunning and cleaver, opening doors and going down bins to get at something to eat or chew. She lay there on her back in the slight crevice between the two men, tail sweeping over the duvet, eyes squinted happily. Arthur reached over awkwardly to pet her cheek, watching her tail go faster and her head move back to guide his hand under her chin.
The other girl, Brownie, was an Alsatian. Loyal and brave, the older of the two and often more restrained, but faced with a ball she was outright goofy and had no sense of the fact she only had one skeleton. She rolled over, realising there was attention to be had and pushed her face under Arthur’s arm. He laughed lightly, moving to scratch the softest part behind her ear.
These dogs were Ludwig’s pride and joy, they were on a tight schedule with daily walks and two meals a day, the occasional treat here and there. To befriend them was something the Englishmen felt was an accomplishment, and made him feel all the more closer to the man he would share a bed with whenever possible. He looked back to the German beside him, finding his eyes open, admiring how Arthur pet each of his babies.
“What?”
“Nothing…” He smiled, “You’re just… cute.” Before a reply could properly form, Ludwig reached out, brushing his thumb over the flushed cheek of his partner, “Thank you.”
“For what? Letting you keep them in the bed?” Arthur joked,
“Yes actually.” He let a light laugh move his chest before shifting forward, using his hand behind Arthur’s head to guide in him into a gentle kiss. The Englishman moved his hand from the dog and let it land comfortably on the one at his cheek, stroking it as they kissed sweetly.
When it broke away, Ludwig made a noise. Something like a grumble and a huff, and oddly enough quite dog like in itself. He dipped his head down, eyes closed as he pressed a few trailing kisses against his neck as he settled there. His arms pulled his partner closer to him, tightly around the man’s waist as he sighed.
“I want you… Only you.” He muttered into the skin.
The words made Arthur blush, but he smiled softly and wrapped his own arms over him, encasing those large shoulders as best he could, “I could hope for nothing more, puppy.”