Gift Fic for Darkdropout

[aibamods]

Title: Walk This Way
Rating: G
Word count: 2,000~
Pairing: Aiba/Jun
Warnings: None
Summary: Dog walker Aiba meets and captures the heart of salaryman Jun with the help of three pups.
Notes: Dearest Darkdropout. I fixated on your Aiba and puppies prompt and this is the result. I hope you enjoy this!



“Okay guys, here we go!” Aiba says to his three clients. He takes hold of all three leashes and guides them to the exit of the building and towards Yoyogi Park.

It isn’t a long walk, but the three clients he walks at noon Monday-Friday are probably the most difficult combination he deals with. None of them are bad dogs, they just have such different personalities that it’s hard to keep them all together. The streets are crowded, so he does his best to keep as little slack on the leashes as he can while not tripping over the three dogs.

He likes this park because it usually isn’t very crowded around this time of day like it is on weekends, so he can give the leashes a little more slack than he normally would.

This is his first mistake.

The second is trying to check his messages while also juggling three leashes. The same moment he starts scrolling through his inbox is the same moment Nino—the shiba inu—decides to take off in a full sprint, jerking the leash out of Aiba’s lax grip. The next thing Aiba knows, Nino is 50 yards down the path and swiftly becoming a blur.

“Nino!” Aiba shouts, then throws a panicked look at the other two dogs who look back at him curiously. He scoops Ohno (the pug) up and gives Sho’s leash a tug as he takes off after the rogue dog since the collie can hold his own when running.

The leaves crunch under his feet as he tries to keep up with the pup, but Nino’s four legs serve him better than Aiba’s two.

Aiba finds Nino a few minutes later sitting directly in front of a guy in a suit who is trying to eat his lunch. A very attractive guy. Aiba sends a silent thanks to Nino and decides he’ll slip him an extra treat before he takes him home as thanks for letting him talk to this hot guy.

“Listen, you’re cute, and I’m flattered that you seem to like me, but I’m not feeding you,” The guy is saying to Nino as Aiba walks up.

“That’s a smart move. If you feed him then he’ll never leave you alone, and he seems enamored enough as it is,” Aiba replies sagely.

The mystery man startles slightly and looks at Aiba. “Is he yours?”

“He’s a client.”

Aiba can see the small crease in the man’s brow as he tries to work out just what he means. It’s kind of endearing. “I’m a dog walker. He’s one of my regulars.”

The man mouths a small “oh” of understanding before pinning Aiba with a stare, “You should keep a better hold on his leash then,” he retorts.

“You’re right,” Aiba says, setting Ohno down and grabbing Nino’s leash before he can run again.

“I’m lucky whatever you’re eating seems to smell good enough to draw his attention. Sorry for bothering you,” he apologizes and gives the man a small bow before tugging on Nino’s leash to get him moving.

“It’s fine,” the man replies waving off Aiba’s concern with a small flick of his wrist. “He wasn’t hurting anything, and I never get to be around dogs, so it’s a little fun for me.”

Aiba smiles in return, “Well, we’re here at pretty much the same time on weekdays, so if you ever need a dog fix you know where to find us.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” the man says.

Aiba is just about to ask for his name when a sharp bark from Sho reminds him that he’s on the clock and should probably let the dogs do their business. He gives him another smile and wave and follows his clients insistent tugging down the path.

They finish their walk, the spring sun shining down on them and Aiba keeps Nino’s little adventure to himself when he returns him to his owner.

On his walk home he can’t help but let his mind wander back to the man in the business suit and his crooked smile.

…

The next day Aiba and company take the same route and spot the same man on the same park bench. Aiba wonders if it’s because he wants to see them again, or if he just eats lunch here. He debates saying something to him, but this time both Nino and Ohno make the decision for him when they start tugging the leash towards him. Sho goes along for the ride because he’s an easygoing dog who just goes with the flow, and Aiba appreciates that.

When they near him, Aiba puts on his best smile, “We meet again.”

“We do,” the man replies and stands to meet him. “You said you’re here basically daily, but is this your usual route? I haven’t seen you here before yesterday.”

He comes to a stop a couple of feet in front of Aiba and all three dogs start sniffing around his shoes and hands interestedly. Aiba starts to pull them back, but the man beams down at the dogs and pats at them so he lets the dogs continue.

“We usually start at the west entrance, but yesterday I felt like changing it up,” Aiba replies and gives a gentle tug on the leashes to try and get the dogs to leave the poor man alone when Nino starts to jump up onto him. “So we were here earlier than we usually are.”

“And today?”

The man is now crouching down to pet each of the dogs, and, Aiba presumes, so Nino will hopefully stop jumping on him. Aiba finds himself endeared by the fact that he would risk getting dog hair on what appears to be a fairly expensive suit.

“Maybe I wanted to see if you really would be here again?” Aiba teases and reaches down to scratch behind Sho’s ears to try and hide the blush he can feel creeping up his neck.

“Smooth,” the man scoffs and stands back up.

Aiba follows suit so they’re eye level again. “I actually didn’t get your name yesterday,” he says as the dogs start exploring their surroundings.

“Matsumoto Jun,” the man replies giving Aiba a small bow. “Pleased to meet you.”

“Aiba Masaki, and I am pleased to meet you,” Aiba replies with a quick bow of his own. “Since you know I’m here every day now, what about you, Matsumoto-san? Do you eat lunch here every day?”

Jun nods, a wry grin tugging at his lips as he studies Aiba, “Yeah, this is the only time I can really be outside during the day, so especially during nice weather I bring my lunch out here to eat. It gets so stuffy staring at a computer screen all day.”

The sudden feeling of something pushing at the back of his calves has Aiba flailing as he pitches forward unexpectedly into Jun’s front. They both end up on the ground groaning slightly in pain.

On the ground a few feet away Nino pants happily at the pair, his leash thoroughly tangled around Aiba’s legs.

“That dog’s a menace,” Jun states as he pushes himself up on his elbows.

The brunt of Aiba’s weight is still on him, so he can’t get very far. Aiba may be taking his time extricating himself from Jun, but he doesn’t think Jun minds too much. “He is, but he’s cute so I give him more slack than he deserves.”

Nino yips in agreement and Jun stares in wonder at the pair.

Once they’re both upright again, Aiba untangles himself from Nino’s leash.

“We need to be going now, but I’ll see you tomorrow?” Aiba asks Jun hopefully.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

…

Over the following weeks Aiba, Jun, and the three pups strike up a routine of meeting at the bench and taking their walk together. Jun had started bringing more walking-friendly lunches so he could wander the park with him during his precious break from work. They got to know one another, and that is how Aiba learns that Jun works in an advertising firm proofreading copy before it gets used for various commercials and print campaigns around the city. Aiba often suggests new slogans for products Jun’s firm is in charge of, and Jun laughs louder with each suggestion more ridiculous than the last.

Aiba in turn tells Jun of his days spent growing up in Chiba, both close enough and far enough away from Tokyo to enjoy all aspects of city and suburban life.

Their conversations grow more and more comfortable over their days together. Jun happily taking Sho’s leash from him on days when Nino lays down in the middle of the path and refuses to move unless Aiba coaxes him with a treat, or when Ohno falls asleep under the bench they’ve taken a break on and Aiba has to carry him back to his apartment.

It’s Friday of their third week together when Aiba decides to take a chance and see if the vibes he’s getting from Jun really are romantic ones instead of just friendly ones. He’s talking himself into asking Jun out as Sho noses around one of the bushes that line the path.

They’re nearing the end of the path where Jun forks right and Aiba forks left to return the dogs home for the day.

“Hey, Jun-kun?” he says slowing his pace a bit to draw out the time left.

“Yeah?” Jun asks turning his full attention to Aiba and readjusting his grip on Nino’s leash.

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” Aiba asks, tone as casual as he can make it with is heart thumping loudly in his ears.

“Hmm, nothing really? I was thinking of checking out this new yakiniku restaurant by my place, but nothing definite.”

“Would you want to do that together? Like as a date?”

Aiba’s eyes are hopeful and the surprise that crosses Jun’s face has him wincing internally.

“You want to date me?” Jun asks.

“Well, I mean, kind of? You’re really nice and fun to be with, and super good looking, so I thought we could try.” Aiba can feel himself rambling, but Jun is smiling widely at him the longer he keeps talking. Aiba trails off in a nervous giggle a few seconds later.

“Let’s try it then,” Jun smiles fondly at him.

“Really? That’s great, I’ll pick you up at 7 then? Give me your phone so I can give you my number.”

Jun obliges and Aiba types his contact information in before sending himself a quick text to get Jun’s information as well.

…

The restaurant is a little crowded, but the grill is warm and the scent of the meat cooking has Aiba sniffing the air impatiently. Jun is an expert in grilling, so he had taken command of the tongs immediately after they sat down and Aiba let it happen because he liked watching Jun’s hands.

“I’m glad you asked me out,” Jun says quietly, not quite able to meet Aiba’s eyes as he serves them both perfectly grilled beef.

Aiba feels his face split into a smile at the shyness exuding from Jun. He reaches over and squeezes Jun’s hand briefly before pulling back to pick up his water glass.

“Besides dog walking, what else are you into?” Jun asks a while later as they both tuck into their meal.

“I don’t just walk them, I also do some obedience training. I’m kind of a dog whisperer,” Aiba tells him seriously.

“Oh, I’m in the presence of an actual dog whisperer, am I?” Jun asks, mock admiration lacing his words.

Giggling, Aiba gives him a little bow and preens under his gaze.

Aiba orders mochi ice cream for them to share so he can extend his time with Jun. He’s having way too much fun and thinks Jun is feeling the same.

They linger by Jun’s door later and before he can talk himself out of it, Aiba leans in and kisses Jun, pinning him against the door for a brief, but intense, kiss. “I’ll call you tomorrow,” he says before leaving Jun standing and staring after him.

…

Monday Aiba is grinning as he spots Jun waiting for him at their bench as he and the pups approach. Jun greets him with a quick hug and then takes Nino’s leash, electing to be the one subjected to the shiba inu’s whims today. They walk the dogs hand in hand, starting their new routine and possible life together.

Comments

[sk1726]

This is really cute! Aiba as a dog whisperer fits him best. The dogs are all adorable, each of them have the very same personality with Nino, Ohno, and Sho in person.

Aiba is so brave taking his move with no doubt, and glad that Jun returns it positively. Their first date is so cute.

I like this. Thank you for writing this cute piece