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“What do you mean ‘no’?” Romeo asked quizzically, cocking his head to the side. Specs sighed, it pained him to shut down his incredibly thoughtful and romantic boyfriend, but he had made a promise.
“I told Buttons I’d watch Splasher today, he’s been having a rough time recently, so I thought he deserved a day off.” Seeing Romeo’s face fall almost made Specs wish he never offered to watch Splasher in the first place. He reached out and tilted Romeo’s drooping chin up to look at him and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead before quickly leaving the ghost of a kiss on his lips. “You can surprise me another day, I promise.” And Specs didn’t promise something if he didn’t mean it. Romeo attempted a half smile, falling quite a way short of any expression that could be described as joy. Specs opened his mouth to shower him in words of comfort and affirmation when the front door opened wider to accommodate the small darting figure that was Splasher. He dashed between the two boys staring up at them with his big blue eyes.
“What’s going on out here?” He asked brazenly, aware of precisely none of the nuance of the situation. Romeo smiled a thin smile and ruffled Splashers hair.
“Nothing much kiddo, I came to take Specs here on a surprise adventure, but he said he's having far too much fun hanging out with you.” He looked up at Specs, his dark eyes betraying every emotion swirling inside them. “See you tomorrow?” He felt a sharp tug on his shirt.
“Hey, wait a minute, I want to go on an adventure!” Demanded Splasher looking quickly between Specs and Romeo. “We can come with you. Right Specs?” Specs looked between the bright blue eyes of Splasher, brimming with excitement and hope and Romeo’s deep eyes that were not unlike a dog at the pound waiting to be adopted, full of hope and wanting.
“I guess we’re going on an adventure then.” Spec conceded, a smile spreading across his face as the two boys shared as a high five and Splasher ran inside to put on his boots. “Sorry to ruin your plans, is it okay if he comes?” Specs checked, entirely unsure of the surprise Romeo had actually planned. Romeo looked down for a moment as is calculating something in his head.
“No this is good; I can make this work. Anything for you.” He added with a wink. Splasher reappeared, now in his signature yellow rainboots.
“Okay, I’m ready. Where are you taking us Romeo? It better be good.” He asked with the youthful candour that is textbook of a 9-year-old. Romeo finally cracked a smile and wait for Specs’ to lock the door before taking his hand and the three of them walked down the stairs to the street.
“Don’t worry kiddo, it’s gonna be great.” Romeo assured, though if he was entirely honest this had thrown his plans a little bit and he was going to have to think quick to find a fun adventure that the three of them could go on. He didn’t think Splasher would be particularly interested in the book binding workshop he had found for him and Specs to do together, Splasher wasn’t one for books…or sitting still for any period of time for that matter. For now, Romeo was very content walking down the street arm in arm with his boyfriend as they let Splasher lead the way. Splasher was of course taking them on a scenic route, which for him meant the route with the most puddles. The two lovebirds trailed behind at a safe distance to avoid getting splashed and to allow themselves a happy little bubble to hold hands and whisper to each other. This whole relationship thing was fairly new for Specs, but he couldn’t help feeling like the universe was spoiling him with Romeo. He might a bit biased, but Romeo might be the world’s most perfect boyfriend. “Hey, Splasher come over here and keep Specs company.” He turned to Specs and gave him a peck on the cheek. “I’ll be back in a second.” Before disappearing into their usual coffee shop.
“Where do you think we’re going?” Splasher asked, again interested in the specifics now that he wasn’t distracted by puddles.
“I don’t know but knowing Romeo it’ll be somewhere good.” Splasher parked himself alongside Specs leaned against the old brick building.
“Are you in love with Romeo?” Specs blushed at the blunt delivery of the question.
“Um…yeah I guess I am…” He mused, surprising himself at how simple the answer was.
“Are you going to get married?” Splasher continued, not at all deterred by the fact that the two of them had been dating for less than a month.
“I think it might be too soon to tell on that front Splasher.” Specs concluded quickly before pointing him towards a particularly large puddle. “Have you tried that one yet?” With that Splasher was off again, happy as a pig in mud, leaving Specs alone to entertain the lovely possibility of a small intimate wedding to the man he loved. He closed his eyes for just a moment to indulge the fantasy, in a park, or a garden, or even a library. Could you book libraries for weddings? They’d have to look into it. Lord knows Romeo could make anything happen if Specs really wanted it, he had a way of charming people. No, it was far too early to be dreaming of things like this, Specs shook himself out of it and opened his eyes, readjusting to the world in front of him. He scanned the sidewalk for Splasher, the small boy was curiously nowhere to be seen.
Until Specs saw him, he had stepped into the street to investigate a large puddle that had taken up residence in the bike lane. Specs didn’t have time to yell, his body sprang into action as the world slowed down and saw the cyclist coming straight for Splasher. Before he could think he grabbed Splasher’s arm yanking him back onto the sidewalk and pulling himself into the street and then he was on the ground, sputtering in the mucky water. He could feel the dull throb of his head and sharp pinpricks of pain start to appear all over his body. In the back on his mind he heard the faint call of his name and then he was being pulled to his feet and shuffled out of the street by a strong pair of arms.
“Specs…Specs? Are you okay?” Romeo asked, hands firmly planted on his shoulders, holding him steady, while his eyes scanned Specs for any major injuries.
“Splasher…” was all Specs could make himself say.
“He’s here, he’s okay. Are you okay?” Romeo repeated. Specs nodded.
“Just a bit shaken up, I think I’m okay though.” From the look in Romeo’s eyes, he did not believe him one bit.
“We’re taking you to a hospital.” Romeo concluded.
“No don’t be silly I’ll be alright. And besides I don’t think either of us can afford that.” Specs added and Romeo couldn’t deny that he was right. “But I do know somewhere we can go. Come on.” Specs lead the group down the street to a small animal rescue.
“Specs I know you just had some head trauma, but you know this is an animal hospital, right?” Romeo asked, as politely as he could muster. Specs responded by opening the door to the clinic.
“Just go with it okay?” And with that the three of them were greeted with the sounds of crying cats and barking dogs, a mix of confused, lonely, stressed, and excited animals. It was fairly overwhelming to the senses. Splasher instantly began making friends with every dog in sight, they seemed drawn to his energy, seeing him as one of their own. Specs walked up to the desk and had a short, familiar conversation with the receptionist before gesturing for the other two to come with him as he walked down the hall to exam room 3. He knocked on the door and waited for a response. Romeo looked at him expectantly, waiting for any sort of explanation but before Specs could explain the door opened and Specs was pulled into a bone crushing hug. “Ow”
“I don’t care, that’s what you get for ignoring me for a whole month.” Said the girl before welcoming the three of them into the clinic and closing the door. “Who have we got here?” She looked at Specs, hands on hips.
“Stray, meet Romeo, and Splasher. Romeo, Splasher, this is my sister, Stray.” Specs introduced, as he sat himself on the exam table.
“A pleasure to meet you boys.” Stray said with a mock curtsy. “Now, what have you done to yourself this time?” She chastised. Romeo crooked an eyebrow at Specs, reminding himself to ask about all the other times Stray was implying.
“Picked a fight with a bicycle.” Specs joked, trying not to make poor Splasher feel too bad.
“I’m real sorry Specs, I shouldn’t have been doing that.” Splasher pouted, dangerously close to tears. Stray knew just the cure.
“Hey kid, do you like cats?” She asked, Splasher just nodded quickly, not wanting to talk in case that sent him over the edge.
“Let me show you a secret then.” She walked over and opened the door to a smaller room and out popped a tiny black puff ball of a kitten. Splasher’s face instantly lit up with a smile and he went over and scooped up the cat, who was purring like an engine in his arms. “Do you think you can keep him company while I patch up your friend here?” Splasher nodded again furiously, this time afraid to look away from the kitten lest it disappear. Romeo squeezed Specs’ hand and walked over to Splasher, putting a hand on his shoulder and guiding him into the other room.
“I’ll watch him for a bit.” Romeo confirmed, shutting the door behind him to give the siblings some privacy.
“So…” Specs began. “How’ve you been?” Stray turned around to face her brother with a knowing smile.
“Clearly not as good as you’ve been. How long has he been around?” She nodded her head in the direction of the other room.
“Splasher? You’ve heard me talk about Splasher before surely.” Stray didn’t budge. “Oh you mean Romeo?...Around a month?” She let out a light chuckle.
“And here I was thinking you were depressed or shooting up heroin or something. You do realise all of your excuses for missing our dinners were clearly absolute bullshit, right?” But Stray couldn’t help smiling at her brother. “You really like him don’t you?” Specs flushed again lightly.
“I think I might.” He responded as Stray started cleaning up the cuts and scrapes along his arms and hands.
“And he’s nice to you?” She asked very seriously. Specs let out an involuntary laugh.
“The nicest. He’s probably nicer to me than you are.” Specs pointed out.
“Oh, toughen up.” Stray barked. “Good. You deserve someone who’s nice.” She continued to bandage up some of the worse scrapes. “You know you could’ve just brought him to family dinner.” The thought had crossed Specs’ mind.
“But that’s our time, I didn’t want to make just any other dinner, and I mean I didn’t really want to be all in love in front of you after…” Stray paused mid wrap before quickly resuming.
“Well, that’s very nice of you but I told you, I’m completely over Spot, I’ve moved on.”
“Okay, well what if I bring Romeo over one night so you two can properly meet?” Stray looked up at him and smiled.
“I think I’d like that.” She said before turning away to look through her desk drawers. “And just so we’re an even number…I might invite someone too.” Specs looked up from where he was examining one of the bandages on his arm.
“And who might that be?” He inquired. Stray came back over with an armful of dry scrubs to replace Specs’ puddle-soaked clothing.
“Charlie? The receptionist.” Stray said, and Specs grinned at her. “Well, when you cancelled on me last minute the first time I asked if she wanted to come round to mine for dinner and then you kept cancelling so…we haven’t made it official or anything but it’s going really well, I think.
“It’s a date then, me and Romeo and you and Charlie.” Specs declared. “And I promise to not let boyfriends get in the way of our dinners again. Better than that.” Specs stuck out his pinkie finger. “I pinkie promise.” Stray interlocked hers with his and they shared a moment of intense eye contact before breaking out in laughter.
“It’s a promise then.” She affirmed.
“I hope you realise you’re never going to be able to take that kitten away from that kid.” Specs said.
“Oh, that definitely sounds like your problem more than mine.” Stray remarked. “How did you meet Romeo anyway?” She asked.
“I was in the library, and he walked up to me and said ‘I want to impress a cute stranger with my book choice. What would you pick?’”
“And that worked?”
“Not quite, he came back the next day and said ‘Do you have overdue books? Because you have fine written all over you.’” Stray stifled a laugh.
“I’m not judging you at all for this.”
“Oh it gets better.” He promised. “The one the finally got me to agree to go out on a date with him? ‘Can I get your reference number so I could look you up and check you out?' and then he followed it up with up 'Oh, am I too loud? Perhaps you should shush me with your lips'”
“That’s horrible.”
“I know. I love him so much”