Prompt: Beau is the stressed college student cramming for finals at the library, Sid and Geno volunteer with the service dog group that brings therapy dogs to the school for stress relief
“Oh my god.”
Beau nearly breaks something in his haste to crouch down and scratch the adorable yellow lab behind the ears. She wuffs happily and turns her face into his hands, trying to lick them as her tail beats a tattoo on the ground. “Oh, you’re a good girl, aren’t you?” Beau croons, running his hands over her and giving her a good scratch. Her eyes half close in bliss.
“Her name’s Maya,” says an amused voice from above, and Beau looks up into the dancing hazel eyes of the man holding her leash. He offers Beau a crooked smile that Beau returns, not really prepared for this much attractiveness on top of the adorable dogs scattered haphazardly around the library courtyard. He has a Chemistry final in less than 24 hours, he probably doesn’t have time for this.
“Hi,” Beau manages, looking back down at Maya, who licks his arm. “I’m Beau,” he says, looking back up at the man. “And I should really be studying Chemistry right now.” He reluctantly tears himself away from Maya, who gives him sad eyes. Sidney smiles cheerfully at him.
“We’ll be here for a couple of hours – and then again at this time for the rest of the week. Stop by and say hi, pet some cute dogs,” he says, grinning. Beau smiles back, gives Maya one last scratch behind the ears, and then buries himself in Chemistry until he starts dreaming the periodic table.
0o0o0o0o0
The next day Beau goes straight to the library after his Chemistry final is over. He’s had about three hours of sleep and way too many energy drinks, and he’s exhausted but too hyped up on caffeine to be able to crash the way he wants to. He figures he’ll go to the library, pet some cute dogs, maybe flirt with Sidney some, then go home and sleep for 10 hours before starting to work on his Poli Sci review.
He doesn’t see Sidney when he gets to the library, though – he might be around, but there are a lot more people here today than there were yesterday. He guesses word got around about the dogs. Instead, his attention is caught by an enormous fluffy dog, and the equally enormous man holding his leash.
“Oh my god,” Beau breathes, walking over to them and sinking to his knees, burying his fingers in the dog’s fur. “What’s his name?”
The big man’s eyes crinkle up at the corners. “Is Gregory,” he says, his voice deep and thick with a Russian accent. “And I am Evgeni. What yours?”
“I’m Beau.” He really, really wants to just put his arms around as much of Gregory as he can and hold on until finals go away, but he can’t. He settles for stroking the thick fur while Gregory pants happily in his face. He’s already feeling a lot better, but it’s a little bit of a surprise when he yawns hugely. Evgeni laughs at him, his whole face crinkling up.
“You fall asleep on Gregory? He best pillow.”
Beau blinks up at him sheepishly. “Uh, maybe? Finals week, you know,” he mutters, and Evgeni clicks his tongue sympathetically. “I should probably get back to my dorm before I really do pass out on you,” he says, after another huge yawn is followed by the feeling of the caffeine buzz ebbing away.
“Go, sleep,” Evgeni waves him away. “Maybe come back tomorrow, pet Gregory some more.”
“Definitely,” Beau nods, and picks up his backpack to leave. He sees Sidney and Maya on his way out, and Sidney lifts a hand to wave at him. Oh, yeah. He’s definitely coming back tomorrow.
