Work Text:
"He's such a good boy, isn't he?"
A dog.
Leon said he didn't want a dog, but now a drooly, old German Shepard sat wagging it's tail in the kitchen. Despite Leon's usual tough but still kind demeanor, he looked down at the dog with pure adoration. Hell, he looked at the dog with more love than he tended to show you.
He'd seen the dog a few weeks prior at a rescue shelter. The two of you had discussed adopting a cat since it could sleep most of the day while you were both at work, but Leon was more interested in the old mutt section. After watching him teeter between being amused by the dogs up for adoption and talking himself out if it, Leon had settled on "They're too much work. Not for me."
You were foolish to believe him.
"I was thinking Riley? Whadda you think about Riley, boy? Do you like it?"
Leon patted his knees and bent down slightly, trying to hype up Riley into agreeing with him. It worked, and the dog let out a short yelp as he tried to jump up and get Leon to play with him.
"Aren't they too much work, Leon...?"
You tapped your foot against the ground, but your tone of voice gave away your thoughts in the matter. Riley wasn't the worst choice ever. He was old, pretty dopey, and manageable with your desk job. Leon was still occasionally away on work matters, but he could hold his own and would never leave you for long.
"We'll be fine, yeah? Sweetheart, just look at him."
Riley was already tuckered out from all the jumping and letting out a soft huff as he settled on the tiled floor. Leon seemed to relax too as he kneeled beside Riley and unbuckled a collar. He'd really planned this all out, it seems.
"Even says Riley. Etched and all."
"Cute." You let out a nose exhale, mildly amused by the effort Leon went to.
You took the collar and examined the nametag. It had Riley's name and the number of the phone you two shared. Being careful to not pinch Riley's skin or catch his fur, you buckled it around the good boy's neck. Then, you placed your hand on Leon's thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Just give me a heads up next time?"
"Sorry, sweetheart...
...You do think he's cute though, right?"