Chapter Text
Coming back home Xiao would expect to have a home-welcoming smile and a kiss from his lover, some dinner, annnd maybe some fun time together in their bed after a stressful time he had in his job. No one would expect a Karen client just to storm up the place and start yelling about a dumb thing in their order but that wasn’t their fault if they kept an eye on it instead of talking on the damn phone so loud that everyone could hear what the conversation was about. Of course, he had to deal with it since he is the part manager of the place, but come on. They were testing his patient if it weren't for his brother stepping in time and dealing with the client himself professionally.
Thus, he has full on right to have a great time at home if it wasn’t for a small dog greeting him when he first open the door.
“....”
He just stares at the small dog while the dog just wags his tail and smiles happily at him…that is when the dog stopped and whimpered away when Xiao was giving the dog his signature death glare. He doesn’t like dogs one bit. But he knows who does.
“Aether? Are you home?”
“Xiao! I’m in the living room!”
He follows where the voice leads him and thus making it to the living room he finds his lover on the floor it seems he was busy fixing what it seems the dog bed and a few toys.
“What’s all this stuff? And where did you get the dog?” Xiao crosses his arms and squints his eyes at him.
“Oh! It’s all dog stuff like bed, toys, etc etc” He smiles at him, a bit nervous about answering the second part.
“Ok. But where did you get the dog ?” He repeats himself with a bit more stern in his tone. Aether knows full well that Xiao doesn’t like to repeat himself when it comes to certain things.
Aether looks at him and looks away nervously, fiddling with the item he was holding. “Somewhere…”
“ Somewhere ?”
“....”
“....”
“Aether.”
“Ok ok! I got him from a post online saying the owner was giving away a corgi and of course, I had to get him!” He finally spills, looking up at Xiao whose expression doesn’t change.
“Without talking about it with me? Aether you know how I feel about dogs-”
“I know but we got a cat because you like them tho!”
“But that's because we both agreed on it”
“B-But you know I love dogs! A corgi at that!”
“You still didn’t talk about it with me. And you would know what my answer would be too.” Not letting the other win on this argument knowing full well how serious it is to take care of another pet. Heck, he doesn’t want the dog to suddenly attack the cat too.
“...I-I know…and I’m sorry but…can we please keep it? I’ll take good care of it! I promise!” The blonde pleads, looking at Xiao and giving him his famous puppy eyes. How funny. Although, sadly for him, Xiao had already put his foot down and there was nothing to convince him otherwise.
“I’m sorry Aether but my answer is still no.” He sighs and shakes his head, his mood wasn’t improving from this at all and only makes him a bit annoyed. He looks at the dog only whimpers and lowers its head. “I want that dog gone tomorrow. I don’t know how but I don’t want that mutt gone before I get back home. You hear?” Looking back at Aether the other just looks down in defeat. Nodding with a frown but doesn’t move from his spot.
“Good.” Xiao sighs and heads to their room to grab some comfortable clothes and heads to the bathroom to take a shower.
Coming back out and changed he heads to the kitchen to see the food is already ready at the dinner table. Across from his chair, Aether is already there with food on his plate but isn't eating but instead picking at it. The teal hair man just sighs and sits in his seat, saying his thanks for the food, and starts eating. It was silent while eating since usually, Aether would be asking him how his day was or talking about what Tofu (Xiao named the cat) did. Instead, things were quiet and Xiao knows it was Aether's way to have Xiao at least reconsider his mind by giving the silent treatment. Xiao scoff in his mind while he eats, thinking to himself how childish Aether is for acting up all because of a dog. Ridiculous.
After finishing up eating he picks up his plate and washes it and looks back to see if the blonde had finish his food, to only see he hasn’t eaten much. Just move it around before sighing. As Xiao opens his mouth to say something, Aether just gets up and puts away the food in the fridge. Doing his job and cleaning up the table before heading back to the living room and spending his last moments with the dog. The teal hair man sighs and shakes his head, telling himself not to give in to Aether's antics, but he is worried about him not eating much. Once he finished cleaning the dishes and dries his hand, he heads over to the living room to only spot the others hugging the dog. Something sparks in him to which he quickly shakes his head, grits his teeth, and sighs, thinking to himself ‘ I’m seriously getting jealous because of a dog?! Foolish!’
“Aether you didn’t eat much, why?” What a foolish way to start a conversation.
“Not hungry”
“But why?”
“....mm” Aether just focuses on the dog and hugs it, nuzzling it while the corgi just licks his face. Making the blonde giggle.
Meanwhile, Xiao just felt ignored by the treatment and just sighs again. “At least eat something later then, I’m going to work a bit. Call me if you need anything, okay?”
Aether makes a small nod and continues giving his attention to the dog, not sparing a glance at Xiao.
The teal man left to go to the room and set up what needed to be done. Looking through emails and answering what is needed. While working the cat suddenly appears and comes closer to Xiao and settles onto his lap, curling up and staying there. Xiao looks down and smiles, petting his cat.
“Nice to see you too Tofu.” He sighs, “At least you remember me.” Not noticing that he is pouting and remembering how Aether is mostly giving all the attention to the dog that he just saw and took in. Not spearing a glance at Xiao even though Xiao clearly had a tough day, but no. The mutt takes all his attention and does even not eat because of it! Clearly, it’s dumb!
Without realizing it’s past midnight and Xiao finally finishes his job and closes his laptop and puts it away. He then goes ahead and heads to the living room and not surprised, Aether decided to sleep with the dog and not him.
He groans and sighs. If Aether is like this because of a dog. Then what can he do other than accept defeat or else he has a feeling Aether won’t be talking to him for a while and be depressed for a while. And of course, Xiao doesn’t like Aether to be depressed.
He kneels down and gently tries to shake Aether awake, but only the blonde shrug off and curls closer to the dog. This just makes Xiao want to take Aether away from the dog.
“Aether….baby….Love, wake up. You can’t sleep here” He tries shaking him again but was left with a ‘hmph’ from the other.
“mmhn…Who said I can’t? I’m spending my remaining time with sunny!’’ He pouts and hugs the corgi.
“Sunny?” Despite what he said, Aether still named him.
“Mhm! Sunny…the little corgi…” He frowns and nuzzles the dog, his lips trembling as if he was about to cry.
Xiao sighs. “If we keep the mutt, will you stop being depressed and sleep with me in our bed?” The man says in defeat.
Aether quickly looks at him, and his eyes widen. “Really?!”
“Yes really.”
“Then YES!” He smiles, at last, turning to the corgi “You hear that sunny! You are staying with us!” The dog barks and licks Aether's cheeks which Xiao cringes on.
“Alright, Alright that’s enough licking.” He goes ahead and picks Aether up in bridal style. Ignoring the other protest. “You gave enough attention to that mutt and that thing is already staying now. So focus on me now and come to bed…I want to cuddle you” He looks away while walking to their room, his face blushing on the last part as trying to not admit his jealousy of not getting attention.
Aether, on the other hand, looked at him in shock until his face break from a smile to a grin, poking Xiao's cheek. “Awwww….is someone Jelly?” He giggles as he wraps his arms around Xiao's neck and nuzzles him. “Well I’m here now, so you can stop with your pouting. Also, stop calling sunny a mutt. He has a name.” He pouts at him.
“Well, I can’t help to feel jealous that what belongs to me is paying attention to something else.
They make it to the bedroom, gently putting down Aether and then climbing onto the bed after him. Both of them get comfortable as Aether enters Xiao's embrace, cuddling into his chest, and sighs happily. The other places his head on top of Aether and kisses his head. Not long after snuggling, Aether was already asleep. Meanwhile, Xiao was about to sleep…
Until he heard whimpering and whining from none other than the dog.
Xiao groans in annoyance.
“Stupid dog…” He mutters.