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“Ow! Archie, how many times do we have to have this conversation?”
Pitts frowned, shaking his head as he placed the turtle back in its terrarium. Tutting, he closed it and stalked into the back, bending down to grab the first aid kit only to bang his head as he stood. He cursed as quietly as he could, clutching his head with both hands whilst trying to keep his bleeding finger raised.
“Hey, Gerard- Whoa, you good, bro?”
“No, Christopher, I am not,” Pitts huffed, dropping the box onto the counter as he rinsed his finger under the tap, wincing as he did. “Archie’s getting worse with the biting. That’s four times today.”
“I wonder what’s causing it-.”
“Well, gee, I don’t know, Chris. Maybe it’s letting kids constantly hold him the wrong way,” Gerard fumed, interrupting his colleague as he dried his finger, wrapping a band aid around the cut. “Red-eared sliders frighten easy. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you guys this. It’s common sense!”
“S- sorry, Ger-.”
“Stop calling me Gerard. I’m your boss.”
“Sorry, boss,” Chris muttered quietly, ducking out of the staff room to let Pitts cool down.
Pitts wasn’t one to lose his temper quickly; he had the reputation of gentle giant for a reason; but there were only so many times basic instruction could be ignored before he did. He spent hours training the guys on how to look after all of the various animals in this pet store and most of them seemed to have brains like sieves. He didn’t understand why they kept messing up so often; did they not care? He supposed he was going to have to keep an eye on them; he’d rather fire someone than have them treat one of his animals wrong.
Gerard Pitts had never been very gifted academically; he barely managed to graduate from Welton; but he knew a lot about things he loved. He’d managed to gain a grade eight on both piano and guitar by the age of fifteen, had been captain of his school’s track team for the last three years of his life there, and could make the best spaghetti and meatballs anyone had ever tasted. The thing Pitts knew about better than anyone, though, was animals. Well, nature in general. He was a fountain of knowledge when it came to that subject. There was only one thing he loved more than that particular subject, and that was Stephen Meeks.
Meeks had been his best friend since they were kids, rooming together from their first year at Welton academy. Stephen was smart and kind, helping Gerard when he struggled with his studies and tried to help him through his dyslexia. In return, Pitts made Stephen laugh and gave him a shoulder to cry on when he needed it. They’d been through so much together and neither of them could imagine life without each other.
They didn’t realise they’d felt more for each other than just friendship until they lost one of their closest friends. When they’d lost Neil and seen how that loss had devastated Todd, they knew they wouldn’t be able to live without each other. They spent the night crying and comforting one another, and Stephen had finally said it. Confessed to Pitts that he loved him, despite the chance of ruining an eight year friendship. It was looking down into his best friend’s tearful, frightened eyes, that Pitts had realised he felt the same. They’d been together ever since. When Stephen had gone to MIT for college, Pitts had gone with him and found some courses he could do at the local community college whilst working part time.
They’d found their happiness together, and Pitts wouldn’t change it for the world.
Chris avoided Pitts for the rest of their shift together, making himself busy cleaning cages and feeding the cats. Gerard didn’t speak to him, too irritated to bother. He took care of all the more exotic animals, not trusting the boy to handle them properly now. He shut himself in the office for the last half hour of the day, cashing up and typing up a memo for the staff room about a mandatory team meeting after hours on Sunday; if they weren’t going to do their jobs properly, he was going to make sure they suffered for it. It was their job to care for and look after these animals and it frustrated him how many of them treated this job as just a way to earn money. He needed serious people who were serious about animals. People like him.
Locking up the store and pulling down the shutters, he bid Chris a half-hearted goodbye and began the short walk home. Pitts had always liked walking opposed to public transport; any kind of transport; especially on days like this. The last thing he wanted when he arrived home to his boyfriend was to be in a foul mood; that wasn’t fair on Stephen, especially when he was most likely working on his latest proposal. Pitts didn’t always understand the technicalities of Meeks' designs but he was always proud of him.
It was strange that he hadn’t received a call or message from his other half, though. Normally, they always talked on his way home, so the silence had Pitts worrying. Thankfully, he was home within fifteen minutes, closing the door quietly behind him as he entered their flat. It was dark inside and he cocked a brow, dropping his backpack by the door as he ventured further inside.
“Steve?”
Stopping in his tracks, an affectionate smile curved the giant’s lips as he sighed contently. He should have guessed Meeks had fallen asleep at his desk, pencil still gripped between his fingers. Pitts laughed through his nose as he walked quietly towards the man, crouching beside him and running his fingers gently across Stephen’s cheek.
“Steve. Babe. I’m home.”
“Ger?” Stephen slurred, looking adorably dazed and confused as he sat up and turned on the lamp, his glasses askew. As soon as he spotted his tall boyfriend beside him, his face split into a wide grin. “Hey. What time is it?”
“Late enough for me to be home,” Pitts laughed, kissing him softly, Stephen humming approvingly as he pulled away. “Want a coffee?”
“Please,” Meeks said as he stretched, straightening his glasses as Pitts went to make his way to the kitchen. Grabbing his boyfriend’s hand, Stephen frowned and lifted the bandaged finger, “Archie?”
“Archie,” Pitts grinned, kissing the top of Meeks’ head before going to make them coffee.
Pitts loved his job, but he’d never love anything as much as he loved Stephen Meeks.