Work Text:
Joe looked out over the horizon and could see the sky become darker and darker with every passing moment.
Joe texted Nicky: "Should I come running towards you with an umbrella? "
Nicky texted: "We don't even owe one umbrella. I'll be home in 10 minutes, so stay put. Oh, something else. I might have gotten a kiss from a bearded guy named Fernando. I'm bringing him home, so you can tell him it isn't ok to kiss other people's husbands."
Joe texted: "Oh, that's a new one. Bring home your lover to your husband. And I who thought our wild days were over."
Nicky texted: "I thought after almost 15 years together I wanted to spice up our life a bit. You know the dull and boring one our friends complains about."
Joe texted: "I love our dull and boring life. It's the best thing in the world."
Nicky texted: "Me too. Be home in a minute."
Joe walked out to the front door to open it for Nicky.
"What happened to your face?" Joe asked in shock when he saw all the scratches on Nicky's face. "You look like you have been in a fight with a cat."
"It wasn't a cat," Nicky replied. "It was a thorn bush."
"And does that have anything to do with Fernando?" Joe wanted to know as he ran a finger over Nicky's face.
"In fact yes," Nicky replied. "We both had an encounter with the same thorn bush."
When Joe stepped closer to Nicky his jacket started to move.
"Is that your tummy growling?" Joe joked.
"No, yes, I'm hungry," Nicky replied. "But it's Fernando."
Nicky opened his jacket and a puppy with a beard appeared. It licked Nicky's face.
"He was sitting under a thorn bush, shaking, hungry, wet, looking like he had his life's worse day," Nicky said. "It took ages to get him out from that bush."
Joe took the puppy with a smile.
"Oh, are you cute," Joe said. "And so kind to kiss Nicky's ouchies."
The puppy licked Joe's face.
"How do you know his name is Fernando?" Joe wanted to know.
"It said on his collar," Nicky replied as he handed it to Joe. "Could you see if there's someone who is missing him, while I'm taking a shower?"
"Of course," Joe replied. "And then I'll clean your scratches."
When Nicky returned 15 minutes later, Joe was bathing Fernando in the sink. You could only see Fernando's face because the rest of the body was covered in bobbles.
"Oh, I found out that Fernando is a Miniature Schnauzer," Joe said with a big smile. "And I also found out that Fernando loves your meatballs."
Nicky laughed.
"What?" Joe asked.
"You're making silly faces and noises," Nicky replied with a smile. "Just as you're doing with our nieces."
"I'm not," Joe protested as he wrapped Fernando in a towel. "Right you little..."
Joe stopped when he realized that Nicky was right.
"Did you find an owner?" Nicky wanted to know.
"I also googled that, it is for the local shelter," Joe replied. "Or jail if you want."
"Joe," Nicky said. "Not all shelters are like that."
"I know that," Joe replied. "I just don't get why a cute puppy like Fernando ended up there."
Nicky placed a kiss on Joe's face.
"If no one wants to adopt him," Nicky said. "We'll adopt him and give him a home. But let me make it clear. He isn't allowed to be in the bed or eat meatballs."
A year later:
Nicky woke when someone licked him in the face.
"Fernando," Nicky muttered. "Didn't we talk about staying in your own bed?"
"Come on, Nicky," Joe said as he sat up and placed Fernando in his lap. "Fernando was scared of the thunderstorm last night."
"And the day before that it was because it was a full moon," Nicky said.
Fernando had slept in their bed every night since Nicky had brought him home.
"And so?" Joe asked. "Didn't you sleep between your parents when you were scared at night?"
"I did," Nicky replied. "And Fernando can sleep in our bed since he isn't the one taking up the entire bed."
Nicky placed a kiss on Joe's mouth before getting out of bed.
"What do you mean with that?" Joe wanted to know.
"You know what I mean," Nicky replied. "Could I ask you to make me a piece of toast or something? I got to be at work in 30 minutes."
"Yes," Joe replied. "And yes. Come, Fernando. Let's make breakfast for papa Nicky."
Nicky laughed because Joe was still making silly faces and noises around the dog.
"Thanks," Nicky said when Joe placed a bowl of porridge between Nicky's hands. "This smells good as always."
Nicky sat down to eat while Joe placed a bowl with kibble on the floor for Fernando before sitting down to eat.
"Wanna tell me," Nicky asked. "Why there is missing four meatballs?"
"Making art makes you hungry," Joe replied. "And we're both hungry for your amazing meatballs."
Nicky stood up and placed the bowl in the sink before he patted Fernando on the head.
"Don't eat them all," Nicky said. "Or else we won't have enough for tonight."
"Promise," Joe replied. "We'll only eat one each."
"That's fine," Nicky replied. "I better get going. Love you."
Nicky kissed Joe.
"Love you too," Joe replied. "See you at lunch."
"Yes, remember to bring snacks," Nicky replied. "Don't get into trouble."
"Us?" Joe asked. "We know how to behave."
They laughed before Nicky left. When Joe left for his gallery Fernando went with him as usual. At lunch, they went and found Nicky in the park waiting for them. During lunch, they talked about it was about time to get Fernando a human sibling.