Chapter Text
Victor and Yuuri headed for the local shelter the next morning, excited to find the perfect little family member for their little pack.
"We are thinking of a small dog, someone good with cats, travel and other dogs," Yuuri explained as Victor peered into a visitation room where a young girl was getting to know some cats.
"Okay, we have a couple of little someones who match this, although travel behavior is more of a training aspect, but most of our dogs are well behaved," The desk attendant said, "Let's set you up in a room and we'll bring in the dogs for you to meet."
"Perfect," Victor smiled and they followed her into a meeting room. They had agreed that this dog would stay with Yuuri until Victor and Yuri came up with a schedule for themselves. Yuuri himself was rooted firmly in Japan and Yuri could train from anywhere if he wanted, but he had Yakov to answer too so there was that. This new pup would be staying in the onsen until Vicchan was no longer able to travel. Victor was even thinking that he would be staying in Japan until Makkachin was no longer with him. His poodle was so deliriously happy and he didn't want to take that from him, but that was another plan for later.
"Okay, here we go!" The attendant smiled and brought in four small dogs and let them off leash. There were two Inu Shibas, one terrier mix and a cotton ball with legs. The Inu Shibas dashed for Yuuri and he giggled, petting them both as the terrier went and found something else to do. The other pooch sniffed around the floor before prancing over to Victor and promptly lay down in his lap. Victor made a high pitched noise and ran his fingers through long silky fur and looked at Yuuri with delight. The Shibas were adorable, one black the other blond but they were high energy and so very stubborn, the little dog in Victor's lap seemed quite content and very happy to be there.
"Hello pretty," Victor cooed and laughed as the dog rolled onto her back and sneezed, her entire body jerking with the movement. She was bigger than Vicchan, but not by much, was an orange colour with dark brown markings around her neck, ears and tail. White paws, chest and face with a dark nose and paw pads. She had contorted herself on Victor's lap and he was playing with her paws.
"She is some kind of Pomeranian cross, we think with a collie or sheltie dog, very smart, very sweet,"
"How old is she?" Yuuri asked as he scratched at her chin and muzzle, laughing as small paws flapped around in the air.
"We think she's three or four, she's been spayed, has all her shots and she passed her behavioral testing," The attendant smiled, calling someone in to get the other three dogs. "We have been calling her Suki."
"Suki," Yuuri said and pulled her out from Victor's lap and laughed when she pressed her paws on his chest and licked at his face. Victor snorted as Yuuri's glasses skewed, but his laughter was true and Suki barked as her tail wagged behind her. "Your name means love."
"Oh that's perfect," Victor said and laughed as Suki wiggled, getting out from Yuuri's grip and bouncing back to Victor, paws on knees with tippy taps. She was excited with them and they had fallen for her big brown eyes and charm.
"Well, Suki, I think it's you and us, what do you think?" Yuuri asked and stood up, watching Suki as she backed up and looked up at them, sitting herself down and trembling. Yuuri wondered how many people had seen Suki and bypassed her and why they would. He supposed her excitement and energy could turn some people off from her, but she was so sweet and attentive and that was what they needed. He reached down and picked her up and watched her face brighten, her little legs tucking in against her as she opened her mouth and panted. Her tail smacked against his body as they moved to fill out the adoption forms for her.
"Do you mind if we...?" The attendant held up her camera, "We take pictures for the adoption wall."
"Oh sure!" Yuuri smiled, looking up at Victor who nodded. They signed the papers, paid the fee and fitted one of Vicchan's old collars and a lead to their new little family member. Suki was losing her tiny little mind, barking, whining and wiggling as they posed under the 'Adopted!' sign. Victor laughed as he and Yuuri held her between them and smiled, the little pup reaching up to try and lick a face, any face, she just wanted to love one of these humans.
The picture that was taken was of Yuuri and Victor standing side by side with Suki between them, her tongue lolled out as she looked at the camera, distracted by a squeaky toy mid face lick. It was perfect, and it hung in that shelter quite proudly next to all the other happy dogs and cats that had gotten to go home.
"Okay, next stop is a pet store so we can get you a proper collar," Victor cooed as they got in the car. Suki was energetic at first, jumping from one side to the next to look out the windows. She barked a couple times but after the excitement settled she found a place to lay down and did so, her paws crossing in front of her.
"What a little lady!" Yuuri laughed as Victor grabbed his phone to take a picture. Suki tilted her head, her long upright ears perked in the most adorable way. She looked fancy, with her long silky coat and colours, big round eyes and dark nose. They parked at the pet store and grabbed the list, Makkachin and Vicchan needed some supplies too. Little Suki bounded out with them and pranced as they headed inside.
"Come on Suki, let's get you all dressed up," Victor said and plucked the pup up into the cart as Yuuri went to get her some tags made up. Victor got the easy stuff first, dog food, dog beds and some treats. He then found the toy section and grabbed a few things for the boys and then let Suki get her own. They were just testing out a pet carrier for Suki when Yuuri caught up with them.
"I thought this was perfect," He said and held up the purple collar with a heart shaped tag with Suki's new information on it. "Pink seemed too much."
"Maybe, yeah," Victor said, laughing as Suki rushed to Yuuri and hopped up against his leg, paws on his calf and tail flying behind her.
"Do you like it Suki, here," Yuuri crouched down and fastened the new collar around her neck. She spun around in her excitement a couple of times, running to Victor and then back to Yuuri before she settled on jumping into the carrier Victor had been trying to coax her into.
"I think she likes it," Victor laughed, "And I think this will do just fine."
"Alright, let's get her home," Yuuri chuckled and clipped the matching purple lead to Suki's collar, checking the list to make sure they had everything for Makkachin and Vicchan before checking out and loading up.
"I'll have to bring Yuri back so we can load up on supplies for Potya," Yuuri said as they pulled away.
"He's been going with Mari," Victor explained. "I have been sending them out on shopping trips so that he can enjoy it without me. Otabek has been taking him out too."
"Has he been?" Yuuri asked, "He's getting taller, so I would assume he's not getting a lot."
"No, he's been getting mostly his comfy clothes replaced, nothing he can get attached to, he's going to be taller than me at this rate," Victor sighed.
"Hopefully everything settles down before Phichit's wedding so we can get him something nice to wear for that and not worry about him out growing it," Yuuri chuckled. Victor hummed and laughed when Suki jumped into his lap, putting her paws up on the dash and looking out the windshield.
"I'm sorry, were we ignoring you?" Victor asked and Suki barked in response. They continued to dote on their new furry friend until they got home. Victor whisked her away to put her into their room so they could unload the car and get her ready to meet Makkachin and Vicchan. Once everything was put away and dogs were secured with leads, Yuuri brought Suki down to meet the poodles and Potya.
"Okay everyone, be good," Yuuri said and put Suki down so Makkachin and Vicchan could get a sniff of her. Vicchan was excited, this dog was him sized so he immediately wanted to pounce on her but was held back by Mari. He danced against his lead and sat down when he couldn't get what he wanted, which allowed for Makkachin to come in close and get a good sniff of her. Nudged at her and Suki spun around before laying on her belly, wagging her tail with a small yap up at Makkachin. The dogs seemed happy and no one looked like they would cause trouble so leashes were taken off and Vicchan pounced, the two smaller dogs taking off to wrestle in the living room. Makkachin followed at a more leisurely pace.
"How's Potya?" Yuuri asked and Yuri smiled as his cat lazily lounged in his lap, the feline looked up for barely a moment before she yawned and plopped back down.
"I think Potya's fine," Yuri said, clearing his throat as his voice cracked mid sentence. He had been embarrassed about it before, his voice had just been cracking more frequently but no one paid attention to it unless he did first.
This was life at the moment, a new dog in the family, Yuri's growth and maturity and Yuuri and Victor figuring out how to balance their work and life. There would need to be some painful and even embarrassing conversations. They would need to figure out how to work together or apart, but they were willing to put in the effort.
For love, and for life.