Archive of Our Own ^beta

„Mojo come back!” Louis heard Lestat shout then seconds later he saw their dog trot happily into the kitchen without a care in the world, a sock hanging from his mouth. Louis bit his lip in order to keep a straight face as he looked at Mojo who was standing next to the counters.

„Mojo.” he said, his tone sharp, gaining the pup’s attention immediately. „Drop it.” he commanded and Mojo immediately obeyed. Louis picked it up and delivered it to it’s owner who was now pouting, sitting on the edge of their bed, pouting.

„It’s not fair that he listens to you better.” Lestat said and frankly Louis didn’t have anything to say to that. It was true.

„Les, honey, Mojo listens to me more becasue I do not let him get away with anything.” Louis said with a fond smile. What cluld have been said. Lestat literally let Mojo get away with anything. Or he would have if Louis would let him. As much as Louis too came to love the furry ball of energy now known as their dog he quickly realized someone had to put down their foot when it came to things like stealing articles of clothing, or running across clean bedsheets and pillows with muddy paws, and it wasn’t going to be Lestat.

Lestat grumbled a little more but that quickly turned into a smile as Mojo trotted back into their room, and stood on his hind les, bracing his front paws on Lestat’s knee. Lestat’s hand moved on  its own accord and tangled up in the black fur on  the pup’s head. „You are in trouble young man.” he said but they all knew that the threat was empty.

„Are you two ready?” Louis asked looking at the pair. Two pairs of eyes immadetely snapped to him, Lestat’s head lifting up, while Mojo turned around, his tongue out with a dog version of smile on his face.

„Of course we are mon amour.” Lestat answered, standing up, crossing the room to reach Louis in a few strides, his arm sneaking around Louis’ waist and pulling him closer for a kiss, which then turned into two then three. Their noses bumped into each other and Lestat tilted his head, his tongue tangling with Louis’ and he was ont he verge of saying that they should forget the walk when barking interrupted them. Separating their lips, but not pullin away from Louis, Lestat leaned his forehead against Louis’s breathing through his nose deeply, trying to calm himself down. „Come mon coeur.” he said. „Our son demands our attention.” he said with a smile as he slowly pulled away from the other man’s arms.  

Louis blinked the couple of times. Son. Lestat used the phrase ’our son’ when referring Mojo and Louis felt his heart swell at the thought. He heard many people referring to their pet as their child and it always sounded strange but now he could understand the notion behind it. Mojo really was an overly enthusiatic child and try as they might ever since they adopted him, the dog became one of their main topics of conversation no matter who they were talking to. Helll, Louis even tried to look for art featuring animals/dogs for his gallery. The three of them really became a family and Louis felt warmth spreading through him at the thought.

„Mon cher!”

„Coming Les!” Louis called back and joined his family. Lestat already put his leash on Mojo and had a tailored wool coat on. Louis quickly put on his own coat and the three of them were out of the house.

Mojo ran ahead as usual, excited about all the different smells he could sense out on the streets while Louis and Lestat walked leasurely next to each other, fingers entwined as they talked about anything and everything, one of them calling Mojo back to themselves every so often but mainly they let him walk ahead, in hope that he will tire himself out. They turned another corner, and eventually walked into a park, and after a little while Louis called Mojo back to heel, crouched down and unclipped the leash from his collar. „What are you doing mon cher?” Lestat asked clearly surprised by this turn of events. „He will run.”

„No he wont.” Louis said. „And if he will he will come back aren’t you boy?” he asked patting Mojo’s head and standing up but not before picking up a stick. „Calm down honey. „he said, kissing Lestat’s cheek before throwing the stick for Mojo who immediately ran after it. Lestat’s hand crushed his but after maybe half a minute Mojo came, trodding back happily with the stick in his mouth, and the blonde man let out a laugh. „We were practicing being without a leash while you were rehearsing.” Louis said as an explanation but Lestat barely paid attention to him, as now he was thw one crouching down to Mojo’s level, hands running through the thick fur.

„Oh you so clever, aren’t you?” Lestat cooed to Mojo as he petted the pup. „So clever.” He took out the stick from Mojo’s mouth and threw it again, and again until Mojo’s enthusiasm died down and he was panting and happy to walk at their speed next to their feet. His leash was not put back on as the pup near dragged his paws as they walked on, so they doubted he would run away.

„Mum look! A puppy!” a shout could be heard and suddenly a child not older than the twins were suddenly in front of them, little hands reaching out to touch Mojo.

„Stop!” Lestat said, his tone sharp and the child pulled his hand back like he was burned. Louis looked at his husband ready to jump and save the situation and/or comfort the child. Lestat crouched down, one hand holding onto Mojo, while his eyes locked onto the child. „You cannot run up to dogs do you understand? You don’t know them and they don’t know you and there is a chance that they will bite you.” Lestat said to the child who now looked more scared. „You can pet them if there owner is with them and you ask permission, do you understand?”

„Yes.” the child nodded. „Can I pet your puppy?” he asked after a couple of seconds of hesitation.

„You can.” Lestat said and Louis felt his eyes grow huger and huger as he observed the interaction.

„Tommy!” a woman approached them pushing a stroller. „I am so sorry, he saw your dog and ran away, I sincerely apologise. He is usually better behaved than this.” she said.

„No need.” Louis said. While they were certainly surprised Lestat handled the situation surprisingly well.

„Mum, look he is so fluffy.” The boy apparently named Tommy giggled from the ground, still petting Mojo.

„I see. Now thank these two men for letting you pet their dog, and come. We have to go home and I believe we have things to talk about.” his mom said her tone leaving no room for arguement. Tommy obeyed, petting Mojo one last time before hugging Lestat’s leg and waving goodbye to Louis then grabbing his mom’s hand the two of them walked away. Lestat put the leash back on Mojo and they started to walk back home.

„You handled that well.” Louis said with a smile after a few seconds to Lestat who was -if his epression was anything to go by- a bit shocked from the unexpected burst of affection from a stranger child.

„Did I?” he asked snapping out of his shock and turning towards Louis with a smile on his own.

„Mmm.”

„Is that a praise mon amour. Am I about to recieve a prize?” Lestat asked, now both of them stopped on the sidewalk, Lestat crowding in on Louis’ personal space.

„Do you think you deserve one?” Louis’ arms sneaked around Lestat’s neck. Their lips bruhed together but before they could become completely lost in each other Lestat felt a pull on his left arm. Mojo yanked on the leash, clearly ready to move again, making Lestat curse under his breath and Louis laugh. „Come on, cher. Our son is ready to go home.”

„I’m not finished with you mon coeur.” Lestat said, his voice low, arm that wasn’t holding Mojo’s leash sneaking around Louis’ waist, pulling him close as they walked.