Chapter Text
It’s always lively in Vlad’s house. Even when Vlad’s gone on hero patrols and Neito is left at home, Alfie and Vlad’s dog Harriet are always here. (Neito had a good laugh over Harriet’s name when Vlad first introduced them. She’s a hulking, slobbery, graceless, wrinkly bulldog despite her elegant name.) Neito and Vlad worried how Alfie and Harriet would get along, but Alfie is open-minded and Harriet is easygoing. So after being wary of each other for a few days, the two settled in. Now, they’re definitely friends.
Playful Alfie grabs Harriet’s legs, bites her tail, and ricochets off her blubbery body. Most times, Harriet takes it all as a nice itching or massage. Occasionally, when she’s understandably fed up with Alfie, she puts a clubby paw on his back to make him lie down, and licks him from nose to tail like an irritated parent, until Alfie either flops over lifelessly or struggles free and hops up to his cat tree to lick off the dog slobber.
Today, Alfie is bothering Harriet as usual. Harriet is sprawled in a comatose wrinkled heap by the door, waiting for Vlad’s return. Vlad’s been working really late this past week. He was on a case of Trigger dealers, and while of course Vlad is an amazing and capable hero, Neito worried. It was one thing to know Vlad and Eraserhead and all the heroes at UA dealt with things like this all the time, but it’s another to live with them and be acutely aware of every minute they’re gone, they could be facing off against dangerous robbers and murderers.
Thankfully, Vlad and the other heroes apprehended the criminals two days ago. Now Vlad’s coming home earlier today. He says he’s grabbing a few groceries at the store on his way, so Neito texts him the couple of things he remembers they need, and then jumps to his friends’ chat group while he waits on the couch. Both Class A and Class B chats have merged into another giant chat, including the several more Shiketsu and Ketsubutsu students, Hitoshi, a support student named Mei, and a few gen students. Needless to say, the chat is busier than a beehive.
When he’s not gathering quirk info or teasing Katsuki or praising his classmates and Denki and Izuku (those two are mostly exempt from Class-A rival status) for recent accomplishments, Neito spams the chat with photos and videos of Alfie and Harriet. He’s far from the only proud pet owner. Itsuka sends pictures of her surprisingly cute ball pythons, Juzo of his smug Akita, Mina of her gregarious zebra finch flock, and Ochako of her pet hissing cockroaches. Neito is scrolling through the latest slideshows of pets, when keys jingle at the door.
Vlad eases the door open. “Welcome home,” Neito says. Alfie hops down from his cat tree with eager mews, and Harriet wobbles to her feet and warbles, her curly tail rocking happily.
“I’m back.” Vlad smiles at them all. And Neito suddenly really wants to hug him. So once Vlad sets the grocery bags down, Neito throws his arms around Vlad.
“I just…wanted to,” he says by explanation when he steps back. Probably it’s because of his worrying about Vlad during this last week, but whatever. Vlad isn’t going to call him childish no matter the reason (isn’t going to make him feel he’s doing something wrong) so Neito doesn’t give himself time to feel embarrassed for his impulsiveness. Instead he grabs the grocery bags and hauls them to the kitchen. He puts them away by himself because he keeps the pantry organized.
Vlad makes dinner and retells how they caught the drug dealers, making sure to give some useful advice for Neito’s own future hero work. Alfie, ever the concat, weaves through their feet meowing for treats, while Harriet flops on the floor and gazes with longing hooded eyes. As always, Neito caves and grabs their treats and asks himself when did he ever become such a foolishly spoiling pet owner.
Neito remembers when Mr. Aizawa dropped by for a visit, and he and Vlad got into a cat-and-dog fight when Mr. Aizawa didn’t fall for Harriet’s puppy-dog begging eyes but only Alfie’s. (Speaking of, Mr. Aizawa seemed equal parts annoyed and impressed when he learned Neito dared to hide Alfie in the Class A dorms.)
After dinner, Vlad asks if Neito wants to watch a movie. “There’s an interesting bird documentary series I checked out from the library,” Neito says. “It’s called The Bird Way. Shoto positively insisted everyone should watch it.”
Vlad chuckles. “Sounds good. I betcha Alfie’ll like it.” Alfie likes watching birds, butterflies, and dogs on the TV.
Neito and Vlad slouch on the couch. Alfie stretches across Neito’s lap, snapping dilated eyes to the TV screen from time to time when a scene catches his interest. Harriet lies at their feet, snoring and snuffling. Neito gradually slumps until he’s leaned against Vlad’s side. By the time the episode ends, Vlad’s almost asleep and Neito’s pleasantly drowsy.
It’s so peaceful and near-perfect. At the thought, Neito’s mind attempts to crawl into shadowy crevices. Neito shakes off its grasping tendrils. He doesn’t have to think about it today. He has everything important he can think of right now, people that are real and tangible, right here with him.
Neito lifts Alfie to cuddle under his chin, and reaches with a foot to rub Harriet’s back. Alfie purrs, and Harriet’s sighs. Neito leans more heavily against Vlad and whispers, “Vlad?”
“Mhmm?” Vlad hums, attentive despite being nearly asleep.
“I love you so much.” It goes beyond those words. It’s backed by every time Vlad has coached Neito’s attitude with patience and given reassurances the times Neito felt he would shatter and drown, to the little things like frequently nudging the doormat so it’s centered just because Neito likes to see it perfectly aligned. Everything that makes Neito trust that Vlad truly means every word, when Vlad replies, “I love you too.”