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Lando never thought about becoming a dog parent, and he likely wouldn’t be one without Oscar Piastri. But Oscar comes as a package deal with his two Dachshunds, Ralph and Rudolph, and when they knew they were serious, Lando had no issues with this change in his life.
They move in together, and he goes shopping, getting two lovely dark blue dog beds, and some new toys.
Oscar puts the last box on the floor, wiping his face with his hoodie sleeve. Lando brings the dog beds, and the toys from the bedroom, watching the dogs sniffing their new things. Ralph, the wire-haired one curls up on his bed while Rudolph, the smooth brown one picks up a toast-shaped toy, padding away to explore other rooms.
”I’d like to eat before doing any more unpacking.” Lando doesn’t disagree with that. At least every possession of theirs is now inside the apartment. Anything else could wait until he has put something in his stomach, and stopped feeling so weak and dizzy.
”It’s nice to watch you with them.” Oscar nods at Ralph who is about to fall asleep.
”I like taking care of my family.” It has already become a routine. Oscar likes going to bed early, so often, when Lando was staying the night, he easily took the leashes from his hand.
”I’ll take this shift, you’ll do the morning”, he told the man, pressing a kiss on his cheek.
When Rudolph wasn’t feeling well, Lando accompanied them to the vet, hugging worried Oscar with one arm, and keeping the situation under control.
He doesn’t know the full story of Oscar’s mental health issues yet, but maybe he would. One day. Oscar had been opening up little by little, sharing pieces of his mind.
”Maybe it’s silly, I don’t know”, he told, smiling at the dogs who were sleeping side by side, ”but first I got Ralph. Then I got Rudolph, and they gave me a purpose, a reason to get up in the morning.”
”It’s never silly if it helped you.”
Oscar tries so hard. Lando is aware of the pill packet in the nightstand drawer, and him having psychiatric appointments every now and then. Sometimes life is dull through his eyes, Oscar feeling disconnected from the world surrounding him, but every day he is fighting, getting up, making them breakfast, and kissing Lando silly.
He is so gentle with the dogs, ensuring they always have the best care. Lando watches Oscar throwing them balls at the dog park, his face carefree for a change. Sometimes they take Ralph and Rudolph to the dog friendly beach, where they both have the time of their lives. The dogs are so happy with the smallest things, and Lando is also trying to remember appreciate what he has.
It has to be frustrating at times, but he is always the same person. The reserved, warm person, who likes Lando resting his head in his lover’s lap, Oscar playing with his hair. Oscar doesn’t enjoy being around too many people, so if Lando wants to go out, he picks a friend in his circle. Later he comes home a little tipsy, having his man making him a grilled cheese, and one of the dogs poking his ankles, asking for cuddles. They do other things together, going for runs around the lake, or spending cozy, quiet time at home.
For Oscar’s birthday they had gone to the coast, shivering in the icy rain, but the sea had been wild, scary and beautiful. Later they returned to the hotel room, sharing a hot shower, and dressing in comfortable, warm clothes.
They put on a scary movie. Lando has never understood the idea of being scared for fun, but he happily hid his face against his boyfriend’s stomach. The Australian giggled softly, Lando smiling at the vibrations.
”We’ll pick something lighter next time”, Oscar promised, pulling him up for a kiss.
Oscar looks at the box of kitchen things with a little desperate eyes, and smiles at Lando. ”Let’s order in?”
”Sure.” Soon they are sharing pizza and drinks, cozy on the spot they had cleared in the living room. Oscar, like the wonderful man he is, had located the remote, and they had been able to get Netflix on.
Lando is excited of this new step with his person, hopeful about all his tomorrows with Oscar.