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If there’s one thing that Casey has known about Severide for like ever, it’s that he has always wanted a dog. The only problem with that was that he never lived in a place that allowed dogs. Not that it stopped him from trying to have a dog.
In many different ways.
First, he’d tried to sneak a dog into his various apartments, but somehow, he was always caught – the landlord just happened to visit, a neighbor happened to see, or the dog got out. All happening in the first week of getting the dog.
Once, he’d tried to get Andy to get a dog for his boys that would secretly be Severide’s dog (even promised to come over and take care of the dog), but Heather nixed that idea because Andy could even consider it.
Then, he tried sneaking in a street dog into the firehouse (but Boden a bit more of a stickler on the rules back then and made him take him to the pound).
He’d been thrilled with Pouch, but Pouch liked Mouch better and didn’t want to hang out at the Squad table with him and he wanted his dog, not to borrow Mouch’s dog.
He’s been trying to convince Boden to get a Squad dog (because it’s only fair, Chief), but he’s argued that Squad at 51 is only on second watch and therefore, it makes no sense to force the other watches to take care of the Squad dog.
So, when he and Severide decided to get their own place after a world-wind confession and first kiss at the firehouse (to be fair, they were already planning to get their own place as friends), Casey made a point of checking to make sure that they would be allowed a dog.
And now, not a week after moving into their own place, Casey’s grinning as he brings him to PAWS Chicago, where they’ll be able to pick out a puppy together. He hadn’t told him about his grand plan to get a puppy together, so Severide is looking quite surprised as he pulls over in front of the building.
“Case…” Severide says, slowly when he parks outside the shelter. “… is – are you teasing me right now? Bringing me to a shelter to play with puppies that I have to leave behind?”
“Not at all,” Casey replies with a smile. “We’re picking out a puppy together.”
“Really? Does our new place even allow puppies?” Severide asks, trying not to sound too excited, clearly worried that this is nothing more than a tease. Given the near-misses before, he can understand the hesitance, but he’d never torture him like that.
“Of course it does,” Casey says, with a laugh. “Did you think I planned this surprise and didn’t check that?”
Severide shrugs. “Maybe?”
He sounds like he’s trying to temper his excitement, but the utter glee in his eyes at the possibility that he would be leaving with a puppy – their puppy – is evident on his face. He’s clearly thrilled. It’s a dream come true.
“Come on,” Casey says, offering his hand. “You’re going to love this.”
Severide smiles and shakes his head. “I have no doubt.”
“Good.”
***
It was hard to choose just one.
So many of the puppies were so cute and lovable and Severide honestly wanted to take them all home. It’s only too bad that they’re both city boys, otherwise they could have a farm or something and adopt them all.
Still, Casey’s made it clear that they’re only adopting one puppy, so he has to choose.
He’s spent so long wanting a puppy, but he’s never really researched anything that would help with his choice. He always kinda figured that the right puppy would just be obvious.
Luckily, Casey doesn’t seem to mind them just spending a ridiculous amount of time just playing with the puppies as he decides. He plays with a fluffy white one, and sleek black one. There’s one that’s checkered and one that is long and brown.
So many puppies, all cute, all wanting him to adopt them.
He can’t get enough of their wagging tails and eager licks. He wants them all.
“Look at this one, Case,” he says, lifting this adorable little tan puppy and the white spots on the paws and belly. “Isn’t he so cute?”
“All of them are cute, Sev,” Casey teases as he cuddles with a white puppy with black spots not unlike a Dalmatian. “We should get this one, he’d fit in well at the firehouse, don’t you think?”
“The guys would mock us forever if we literally got a dog just because it fit in with the firehouse,” Severide retorts, laughing slightly.
“Sorry, buddy, you’d fit in too well,” Casey teases as the puppy wiggles out of his arms, clearly not wanting to go with them anyway. “Luckily, he doesn’t seem to like us anyway.”
Severide offers the one he’s holding to Casey, and the little puppy bounces directly over to him, licking his face, clearly liking him just as much as Severide.
“I think he likes you, Case.”
“I like him, too,” Casey says, after a minute as the puppy attempt to climb into the hood of Casey’s sweatshirt (well, Severide’s sweatshirt, since he likes to steal sweatshirts). “You?”
“I think he’s perfect.”
“Then, let’s get him.”
***
“We may have gone a little overboard,” Casey says as he glances around the ridiculous amount of things they’d bought their new puppy. Some things he needed, clearly. Bowls, food, treats, a bed… but there had been far too many toys and things that he probably should’ve suggested they wait on. Especially since he’s probably going to grow out of them.
“Huh?” Severide asks, clearly not paying attention as he dotes on the puppy.
He’s sitting on the floor with the puppy between his spread-out legs, teasing him with a little rope. The puppy is happily attempting to get said toy away from Severide, and Severide is clearly letting him win sometimes.
“I said that we might’ve bought too much,” Casey repeats.
“This is our baby, Case, he deserves the world,” Severide retorts, batting his eyelashes and giving that smug grin that tells him that he knows Casey’s going to cave because he always does when he gives him that look.
“Uh-huh, you’re so going to spoil him rotten.”
“That’s why I have you to even things out,” Severide retorts with a grin.
Casey laughs and shakes his head. “Alright, well, you remember this when he’s chewing on your shoes and waking you up in the middle of the night because if you’re going to spoil him, you’re the one that gets to take him out, too.”
“Which I will do, gladly.”
He pulls on Casey’s hand to get him to fall to the ground, too. Once on his knees, he pulls him in for a kiss.
It’s short and sweet and he loves that he gets to do this now.
“Seriously, Case,” Severide says, genuine happiness in his eyes. “Thank you, it means a lot to me that your first order of business as my boyfriend was to give me something I’ve wanted my entire life.”
Casey smiles. “Anything for you, Sev. I’m going to be your best boyfriend ever.”
“You already are,” he assures him.
“Good.”