A New Family Member
Chapter 39: A New Family Member
Breakfast went smoothly enough. Kevin had only almost accidentally knocked over his glass of orange juice twice and both times managed to save it. The second being when he finally moved it to a different spot where it wouldn't be under threat from his hands that he was using to talk.
Once they had eaten and settled up with the bill they settled back into the car. Kevin thought they were just going home and Loki had decided to surprise him with their little trip to the animal shelter. About halfway there Kevin finally realized that they weren't just going home.
"Where are we going?" He asked curiously as he leaned forward from the backseat.
Mobius smiled in the rearview mirror and Loki did as well. "It's a surprise."
Kevin's brow furrowed a little as he looked at the scenary going by, but they hadn't been out this way to often before.
***
When they finally did pull up and find a spot to park at the shelter Kevin's eyes were wide and he was undoing the seatbelt before was fully shut off. "Are we getting a dog?"
Loki nodded as he got out of the car and shut his own door. The locks clicking and the alarm beeping once to let him know Mobius had locked it up. "Yes. I dont like being home alone and now with Sean out of the house it's a little quieter."
Mobius lead the way inside and Kevin raced ahead of both of them. Talking to lady behind the desk and explaining that they wanted to see the animals. Loki sighed, but at leas the young man had remembered his manners.
She didn't seem to have much of problem with it. Just set down a guest book on the counter and asked for Mobius and Loki to put down their names. They both did before she lead the way back.
Kevin again ran ahead. Already calling out which ones they should look at.
Mobius laughed. "Champ, we're letting Loki pick out who comes home with us."
"Oh...okay!" Kevin called as he stopped in front of one of kennels and dropped down to greet the dog wagging his tail on the other side of it.
Loki wrapped his arms around Mobius's arm as he set a much slower pace. Considering every one he came across. He would admit he was finding it a little hard to choose. Every fuzzy face he passed looked so hopeful and wagged their tails so endearingly. He occasionally stopped to read the introduction next to the kennels about some of them.
"They're all puppies though."
Mobius looked to him. "You don't want a puppy?"
Loki sighed. "I don't mind puppies, but I was kind of hoping to find a slightly older dog. One who has already kind of been potty trained."
"Well lets keep looking. We're only halfway down the hall." Mobius said as he gave one of his hands a pat. "Also I know it's a bit of a hassle having to train them, but you are very good with animals. It wouldn't take you that long to do so."
"No....I know. Just don't want to work as hard for that I suppose." He said as he stopped by another one of the cages and read another introduction. It said the dog in the kennel would not do to well with a children so that one was a pass. He kept going.
The passed another three kennels before he came to a sudden stop in front of one. "Mobius..." He said quietly as he pressed a hand against the bars before he stooped down to one knee.
The dog insides ears perked up and she came trotting over to him. Leaning up against the bars to suck up the head scratches that Loki was able to give. "Mobius she...she looks like Fenrir. What kind of a dog is she?" He asked as he admired her gorgeous coat of grey black fur streaked here and there with white.
Mobius stepped up to read the introduction page. "She is a Shiloh Shpherd Dog. She's four years old, came to the shelter from a hoarder home when she was just a puppy." As he continued to read he frowned a little. "She was adopted as a puppy, but was brought back to them shortly after she turned two because the owners were uneasy about how much she looked like a wolf."
Loki looked up to Mobius with a stricken expression. "They what?"
"They were uneasy with how much she looked like a wolf." Mobius repeated.
Loki looked back to the poor baby. "So she's been here for three years..."
Kevin came running back over and stood next to Mobius. "This ones pretty." He said as he reached out his hand for her to smell. She was quick to warm up to him and rub against the bars and Kevin's hand.
That was all the push Loki needed as he got back to his feet and looked to Mobius. "I want her. How dare they bring her back for something so superficial? I can tell already how sweet she is."
Mobius smiled a little. "Let's go tell the workers then."
Loki nodded as he wrapped his arm back around Mobius's, but as they started back down the hall she started to cry out for him and it just about broke his heart.
Mobius saw the look on his face and smiled a little. "Hey. Kev and I can go get someone, why don't you wait here with her?"
Kevin looked to him. "Actually, I saw a little store off to the side of the lobby where we can get some starter stuff. I could go and start rounding up supplies while you guys do that."
Loki looked down to Kevin in surprise, but after a moment he nodded. "That would be helpful Kevin. Thank you." He said as he pulled out a card from his wallet and handed it over to him. "Food and water bowls, get some fun toys, a leash, hold off on a dog bed. I'll find her a much comfier one soon. I would prefer a green collar if they have one. Oh and hold off on food for now. Let me find out if she has any special dietary needs first."
Kevin gave him a quick salute. "I'll pick out some really fun toys for her." He promised.
Loki chuckled as he watched both of them go before he went back over to the kennel and got stooped back down. "It's alright, I'm here." He assured as he reached back through the bars to give her another head scratch. "How would you like to come home with us today huh? You'll never have to this Norns foresaken cage ever again. Three years is more than enough."
***
It was a little bit of a wait while Mobius handled the paperwork, but thankfully that's ninety percent of what his job had been at the TVA so he breezed through it. How his husband could even stand to look at another piece of paperwork after how much of it he had had to do still baffled him, but he was grateful.
One of the workers was smiling as she approached the Kennel that Loki was standing in front of. "She's not going to scare you is she?"
Loki shook his head as he stood. "Not even a little. She...reminds me of another companion I used to have." He said fondly as he stood and moved aside.
The dog wagged her tail at the worker which Loki took as a good sign because to him that was a good sign that her stay hadn't been entirely awful. The worker opened the kennel door and slipped inside. She looped a loose leash around her neck and the dog took up position by her side. "I've been working with her a lot on leash training for her. Dogs like her are unfortunately targets for people who like to make a stink about 'vicious dogs' so the more they have going for them the better. I actually fostered her for two years, but I'm moving at the moment so she's had to stay here the last couple of months. I'm glad she's getting a new home though."
Loki listened to her ramble as he dropped down to his knees in the kennel and called her over to him. The worker dropped the leash so that she could know she was free to go to him and she ran over and threw herself into Loki's arms. Her tail was whipping back and forth and she was trying to lick his face. He laughed as he pulled his face out of reach and reached his arms around her to hold her close for a moment or two.
"What do you think you're going to name her?"
Loki stared at dog for a long for a long moment. Really getting a feel for the dogs personality before he smiled. "Dregnr."
The worker raised a brow in surprise. "What language is that?"
Loki hummed as he stood and took up the leash. When Dregnr took up a spot next to him and waited patiently for his first move he reached down and gave her a pat on the head.
"It's an Old Norse word for someone who is courageous or daring, especially in the face of danger." He said as he followed the Worker as she started lead the way out. Dregnr trotted along at his side. Looking around in excitement. "I can tell she will be a brave protector. Which is something I value for my family."
"That's really interesting. So then, your accent...is it like, Danish?"
"Ah, Norwegian. With a bit of British as I lived there for a time before I moved to the states."
She held the door open to the main lobby where he saw Mobius and Kevin waiting for him with a bag stand that held a food and water bowl. "It was nice to meet you." She called with a wave.
"You as well." Loki called back before he made his way over to his little family. "Her is Dregnr." He said as Kevin got up and made to let her sniff him, but she beat him to it and reached out to his hand.
"Her fur is so soft." Kevin said as he ran his hands through it. Loki collected the bag and Mobius collected the stand and bowls. "Alright, let's get her to her new home."
***
The ride home was an adventure and a half and watching Dregnr hang her head out the window along with both her front paws was quite the sight. Once they got her home Kevin took her to the backyard with one of the tennis balls he had picked out for her. Loki chuckled as he set up her bowls in the kitchen and put some water in the bowl for her.
He stood at the sliding glass door and watched them play for a couple minutes and smiled as he felt Mobius's arms wrap around him from behind. "Do I really have to let him go to New York Mobi?" He said quietly.
"If that's where he wants to go Lokes, I don't think we'll have a choice. Besides it would be unfair of us to not let him go after we let Sean go."
Loki's eyes lit up. "I know. Him and Macy are still going strong. I'll start talking with Stephanie about different colleges outside of New York, which will get Macy talking about other schools. Maybe I'll get lucky and he'll follow her."
"Hey. You're not going to manipulate our kid. Sean's been in New York for a couple months now, and nothing terrible has happened. I think we're okay Loki."
"For how long?"
Mobius shook his head. "Loki our happiness doesn't have an expiration date on it any longer. It's been a while since you were thinking like that. You want to have session with your therapist? Might be a good idea."
Loki thought about that before he nodded. "I'll give them a call tomorrow."
Mobius smiled. "Now why don't we make dinner together? Let Kevin burn off some of his energy."
Loki was happy to let his husband lead him into a distraction that would stop his catastrophizing.