Work Text:
Adam sat on the porch of his new house and watched the fireflies in the empty street. He and Gwenllian had moved in the day before. He’d spent the day cleaning and unpacking, but hadn’t even made a dent in the boxes. Everything was chaos. He’d found the important things, though – Gwenllian’s litter box, food, and favorite blanket; sheets and pillows for the mattress that currently sat in the middle of his living room; his phone charger; his laptop; and, of course, the coffee maker.
Gwen lay by his side, paws crossed daintily in front of her, occasionally glancing up to give him a slow blink. He was relieved that the move hadn’t been too upsetting for her. She’d hid for about an hour upon their arrival, but had been coaxed from beneath the new couch by a promise of treats and a battered felt mouse. She slept on his pillow that night, as was her custom, wrapped around his head.
Adam took a swig from his bottle of water and yawned. There was a slight breeze picking up and the stirring of the air was a relief after the oppressive heat of the day. He thought about pulling his sweaty shirt off, and then decided he didn’t really want to meet any new neighbors half-dressed. He’d already met one next-door neighbor – Persephone – when she dropped off a rhubarb pie. When she saw Gwen, she’d smiled and scratched her chin, and promised to bring over some of the catnip that grew in her garden.
Adam was thinking about taking a cold shower when he heard the yelling.
“God fucking damnit, Glenny!”
Before he knew what was happening, a huge, furry beast was pushing open the front gate and bounding up the porch steps. Adam jumped to his feet, scooping Gwen up in the same motion, and backed up several quick steps. Gwen climbed onto his shoulder and hissed down at the giant dog who now had Adam pinned up against the screen door. He gave a low, good-natured woof, and panted up at Adam drooling and grinning.
“Fuck! Sorry! Glenny – down!”
Adam managed to tear his eyes momentarily away from the huge dog, who was now snuffling at his crotch, and looked up at the frazzled man running up the front path.
Adam swallowed, and his eyes went wide.
He was gorgeous.
He was also wearing a nearly nonexistent pair of running shorts and very little else.
The man pulled the dog off of Adam, and managed to slip a collar that would have fit a baby rhinoceros around its neck. He clipped the leash to the collar and pulled him back, giving Adam just enough room to open the door for Gwen to slip through. Out of harm’s way, she put her tiny orange paws up on the screen and hissed menacingly at the intruder.
“Oh sure, now you’re ready to throw hands…” Adam muttered down at her, quietly relieved that she hadn’t actually tried to defend him.
“To be fair,” the man said, panting, “She would have been out of her weight class.” The dog gave another low woof and bounced toward the door, tongue lolling. The man braced himself to keep from tipping forward. “Fucking Christ, give it a rest!” he gritted out before partially collapsing against one of the porch columns, clearly exhausted.
“Can I… uh… can I help you with him somehow…?” Adam asked nervously, hoping that the answer was “no.”
“Could you just take the leash for a second…?” the man asked, holding out the leather strap, “Just… gotta… catch my breath…. I was just getting back from a run,” he gestured vaguely down at his sweaty body and Adam tried not to stare, “and he got past me when I opened the door…” He took a deep breath, “…and I was already out of gas at that point…”
Adam stepped forward and took the leash. He had to brace himself as the dog immediately began to try to get at Gwen through the door.
“Leave the fucking cat alone or no History Channel tonight!” the man yelled.
This bizarre threat seemed to actually get through to the animal. He dropped his butt to the ground with a thump and a small whine.
“Did you just… threaten your dog with no TV?” Adam asked, perplexed.
The man shook his head and gave him a rueful grin, “I don’t get it either, man, but he’s obsessed with Ken Burns documentaries. Watches ‘em for hours. It’s his owner’s fault – he’s not mine,” the man said putting his palms up like he was an innocent bystander in whatever fucked up dog-parenting would result in an animal watching hours of grainy footage of the Roosevelts. “Uh, I’m Ronan by the way…” he said, glancing down at the porch floor and crossing his arms awkwardly over his bare torso, his breathing finally under control. “Usually meet the neighbors wearing slightly more clothing… sorry…”
“It’s fine!” Adam said, perhaps a little too quickly and definitely a little too loudly.
“Uh…yeah,” Ronan scratched at his neck awkwardly, “Well… we’ll get out of your way. Sorry again.”
Ronan reached for the leash, and without thinking Adam pulled his hand away, “Would you maybe want… some… water? You’re so hot. I mean IT’S SO HOT. The weather’s hot!” Adam clamped his jaw shut to keep anything else from coming out of his mouth.
Ronan’s eyes widened a fraction, and the pink flush in his cheeks spread down his neck, “Water would be great. Um, yeah, thanks.”
Adam shoved the leash toward Ronan, and retreated through the door. Gwen was now perched in one of the front windows, and Glenny was gazing up at the cat looking more lovelorn than threatening. Adam grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and squeezed his eyes shut.
Oh god. That was mortifying. OK, Parrish, you can come back from this. You have, at some point in your life, had some level of game.
He straightened his shoulders, sniffed his shirt – not great, but not horrendous – and held the cold bottle of water to the back of his neck, cooling himself down. As he left the kitchen he grabbed a bag of Gwen’s treats, dropping one in front of her on the window. “Wish me luck,” he whispered to her.
Ronan was sitting on the top step when he returned to the porch, and Glenny was lying at his feet a couple steps down, clearly exhausted from his big adventure. Adam handed the bottle to him, and sat down a few inches away, picking up his own discarded water, “I’m Adam by the way.”
Ronan took a deep drink, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. A drop escaped and slid down his neck and over his bare chest, and Adam managed to pull his eyes away before Ronan noticed him staring.
Ronan turned to him, “Nice to meet you. Sorry it involved you getting ambushed by this idiot,” Ronan prodded gently at Glenny’s butt and the dog responded by whacking him lazily with his tail. “Take it you just moved in?” Ronan gestured to the broken down cardboard boxes stacked on the curb.
“Yeah, just moved up from the city. Tired of that whole thing. Still commute in though, which kinda sucks.”
Ronan nodded and chewed at one of the leather straps that circled his wrist.
Adam went to take a sip of water and realized the bottle was empty, “What do you do when you’re not chasing presidential scholar dogs?”
Ronan grinned, “I own the bar in town.”
“Oh, I walked by there yesterday! I was gonna try it out later this week.”
Ronan bit his lip and rubbed at his neck, “You should. Drinks are on the house – you know, for not calling the dog cops on me.”
“Sounds good,” Adam grinned.
Ronan was nearly finished with his water. Adam really didn’t want him to leave, though. He cast around in his mind for a way to keep him there.
As he was mulling over his options, the sky opened up – the heavy summer downpour that had been threatening all day finally upon them. Ronan lifted his face and laughed, “Fuck that feels good!”
He turned his face to Adam, “Well, I guess that’s our cue…” he rose reluctantly from the step and Glenny hopped up. “Better get back before…” he was cut off by a deafening crack of thunder overhead. “Shit!”
Before he could think too much about it, Adam grabbed Ronan’s hand and pulled him through the front door, Glenny in tow, “You should wait out the storm here. Wouldn’t be safe for you to be out in this.”
Ronan tightened his grip on Glenny’s leash as the two men and the dog stood dripping in the foyer. Gwen had wisely retreated to the top of the refrigerator at the first clap of thunder.
“I’ll get towels,” Adam said, backing further into the apartment. “And a shirt…if you want,” he added against his better judgment.
Ronan nodded, “Thanks. We’ll just… stay here.” He looked down at the expanding puddle below him and Glenny sheepishly.
Adam suddenly realized he had no idea which box the towels or the rest of his clothes were in.
Shit.
“Uh,” he poked his head up from behind a wall of boxes, “Slight problem. I’m still figuring out where all my stuff is…”
Ronan bit his lip and tried not to smile, “If this is your way of keeping me wet and topless…”
Adam flushed, “I… no! Wait… I know… hold on…” He jogged into the bathroom and returned holding a bundle under his arm. He offered it to Ronan, “You can have my bathrobe. It’s very…uh…. absorbent.”
Ronan took the faded flannel robe from Adam and handed him Glenny’s leash, “Thanks… I’m just gonna…” he gestured to the bathroom.
“Oh, sure, be my guest!” Adam waited until Ronan had shut the door before he looked down at the giant dog and let out a low groan, “Could I be any more awkward?” he asked, rubbing the dog’s wet head. “Shit, you should get dry too. Alright, come with me, buddy.” Adam led Glenny into the kitchen and rummaged around before finding a stack of kitchen towels.
He looked down at Glenny, “If I put the leash down, are you gonna be an asshole about it?”
Glenny looked up at him, the picture of innocence.
“Uh huh.”
Adam laid the leash down, keeping one hand on Glenny’s collar and using the other to rub him down with several kitchen towels.
“Oh, so for him you find the towels. I see how it is.”
Adam looked up to find Ronan leaning in the kitchen doorway. Adam blinked at the sight of him in his ratty old flannel robe.
God, he looked good.
No one should look that good.
“You need help?” Ronan asked.
Adam blinked again. “I…what?” He shook his head dazedly. “Uh, no, I think I got him pretty dry.” He noticed that Ronan was holding something in his hand. His shorts. Ronan followed his eyes, looking down, “Uh, do you have a dryer? Thought I could maybe just…”
“Yes! Sure! OK! Of course! Absolutely!” Adam said quickly, realizing that Ronan was only wearing his robe..
Ronan laughed, “So, that’s a no then.”
“What, no! Here I’ll take those,” Adam stepped forward, slipped in a puddle of rainwater, and fell directly into Ronan’s chest.
Ronan caught him, his arms wrapping around Adam’s waist, keeping him from sliding to the floor, “Woah, there. You OK?”
Adam swallowed. He was only a little shorter than Ronan, and his mouth was inches from Ronan’s collarbone. He had an impulse to let his head fall forward and nose at his throat. Ronan smelled like rain, and sweat, and, yes, a little bit doggy, but Adam could ignore that part.
“Yeah,” his voice came out rougher than he intended, and he cleared his throat. He realized he was gripping Ronan’s arms, just above the elbows. With Ronan’s hands still gently gripping his waist, it was like they were about to… if he just tipped his chin up…and leaned in…
Ronan’s lips parted slightly and he left out a soft breath. Adam watched his eyes flutter closed. He was lowering his head…
Gwen chose that moment to jump from the refrigerator onto Adam’s shoulder with a plaintive mew. Her claws dug into his shoulder and he spasmed in Ronan’s arms. Ronan’s eyes flew open and he jerked his head back “Jesus!”
“Goddamnit, Gwen!” Adam let go of Ronan and stepped back, nearly falling over again as he slipped in the same damned puddle. He gently prised her from his shoulder, and put her on the counter. She climbed into the box of kitchen towels and curled up, contentedly purring – chaos and cockblocking accomplished.
Adam turned sheepishly back to Ronan who was smirking at him from the doorway, arms crossed.
“Sorry,” Adam muttered, “I love her, but she’s a hellspawn.”
Ronan gave a low chuckle and smiled at Adam.
Adam blushed, “I…can dry your shorts.” He bent down to pick them up from where Ronan had dropped them when he caught Adam.
Ronan stepped forward as Adam went to crouch down and stopped him, taking his elbow. Adam straightened up. Ronan leaned forward so his lips were close to Adam’s ear.
“Is she gonna jump on us if I try to kiss you again?” he asked, his voice low and playful.
Adam swallowed, “I think we should brave it.”
Ronan put a hand on Adam’s hip, pulling him closer. Adam’s breath hitched. He closed his eyes, and felt Ronan’s fingers trail across his jaw. He let his mouth fall open just a bit, and Ronan pressed lightly on his bottom lip with his thumb.
And then he was kissing him.
Softer than Adam expected, but insistent. Adam let himself fall into it. He felt the heat of Ronan’s body. The surprising softness of his lips. The rough glide of his tongue. The way his fingers flexed around his hip, and pressed through the fabric of his damp jeans.
Adam rested his palms on Ronan’s chest, feeling the soft flannel of his own robe beneath them. And beneath that the hard muscle of Ronan’s chest. He wrapped his arms around Ronan’s neck and pulled himself closer, wanting every inch of their bodies to be touching. Ronan made a noise deep in his chest – it was somewhere between a growl and a groan and Adam felt it reverberate in his DNA.
Ronan pulled back, gentling Adam as he tried to follow him with his lips. He touched Adam’s cheek, and Adam opened his eyes.
Ronan’s eyes were nearly black – the blue just a sliver of color around his dilated pupils. He had a small, crooked smile on his face.
“I’m realizing that I’m a lot more naked than I usually like to be during a first kiss…”
Adam’s eyes went wide, and he let go of Ronan’s neck and gave him a bit more space, “Oh, shit, right….sorry…”
Ronan took Adam’s hand and brought it to his mouth. He kissed the knuckles. “Nothing to be sorry for. I just… um… usually go a little slower than this. Not that I’m complaining.” He smiled reassuringly at Adam, and Adam felt like he could breathe again.
“OK, good.” Adam smiled back at him.
“Yeah.”
Glenny chose that moment to make his presence known by butting his head into Ronan’s thigh. Ronan looked down at him, “Shit, it’s TV time, isn’t it…?” He looked back up at Adam, “I don’t suppose you want to watch something with us? You can choose… he’s pretty easygoing as long as it’s black and white and really fucking boring…”
Adam grinned, “Does he mind if we watch on my laptop? I wanted to watch the Hemingway one actually.”
“Yeah, he’s seen it, but he wouldn’t mind watching it again – it really drives home what a fucking asshole that guy was.”
“Good times.”
Adam finally managed to get Ronan’s shorts into the dryer, and somehow managed to find a box full of his clothes. He came out into the living room wearing sweatpants and a fresh t-shirt.
He made a sad face and shook his head at Ronan, “Sorry, I could only find these….you’ll have to stay in the robe…”
Ronan gave him an unimpressed look, “It’s nice to know early on what a terrible liar you are.”
Adam laughed and threw the sweats and t-shirt he had behind his back at him.
They set themselves up on the mattress in the middle of the living room as it was the only comfortable place two fully-grown men and one overgrown dog could fit. Gwen chose to perch on the fireplace mantle and watch the proceedings from afar. Whenever Ronan would touch Adam – wrapping his arm around his shoulders, rubbing his knee, kissing his shoulder – he would glance warily over at her.
“Is your little gargoyle over there going to intervene again if we get too friendly?” he eventually asked, whispering the question against Adam’s ear and making him shiver.
Adam looked over at Gwen and cocked an eyebrow, “She’s got her ‘fuck around and find out’ face on, so I suggest you keep your hands to yourself.”
Ronan chuckled and rearranged himself on the mattress so that he could rest against Adam’s chest and drape his legs over Glenny’s sleeping form.
“She’ll fall asleep eventually.”
They all fell asleep eventually.
They slept with the windows open and the cool, rain-soaked breeze filled the room. Glenny snored at the foot of the mattress, occasionally letting out a low woof in his sleep. Sometime in the middle of the night, Gwen climbed onto Adam’s pillow and wrapped herself around his head. Adam woke to find Ronan’s arms curled around him, and his breath soft and steady on the back of his neck. He turned his head as slowly as he could so as not to disturb the man spooning him, or the giant dog lying across his feet. He wasn’t sure where Gwen had gotten to.
“Good morning,” Ronan said softly, his eyes already open.
“Hi,” Adam breathed out, and nosed at Ronan’s cheek, “Sleep OK?”
“Mmhhh,” Ronan hummed, “even despite the cat butt in my face for most of the night.”
“That’s how she shows her love,” Adam said, pushing himself up on his elbows. “Speaking of, where is she?”
“Look down,” Ronan said smiling.
Adam peered down at the foot of the mattress. Glenny lay on his side, snoring deeply, Gwen was sprawled across him, purring and kneading her paws into his belly as she rose and fell with each of the dog’s deep breaths.
“Oh. My. God.”
Ronan laughed into Adam’s shoulder and pulled him back down onto the mattress, “We’re just gonna have to give them a lot of opportunities to hang out.”
Adam laughed, snaking an arm across Ronan’s chest and resting his head against his shoulder, “Yes, we are.”