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Chrom honestly preferred cats to dogs, they were quieter and and he appreciated when his small kitten curled up by his side when he studied. Of course, that isn’t to say he didn’t like dogs. He had just grown up with cats, most of them being his older sisters'. Besides, with Lissa’s allergies they never got the chance to have a dog. Bringing a dog near her would cause her to start sneezing and get red eyed with a dry throat.
So they never had the option of getting a dog unless they wanted to constantly stack up on medications to stop Lissa’s symptoms. Honestly, Chrom didn’t mind. He was able to pet any of his friends dogs when he got the chance, but he still preferred cats.
His own cat, Lucina, was picky when it came to affection. She was constantly all over Chrom but when it came to other people she would watch them silently and glare until they gained her trust. Most cats were like that, but Lucina was extra picky, seeming to hiss at some of his friends as soon as they step in the house for the first time. But she wasn’t mean, other than that really, she would just run off and hide in some corner until they were gone.
After a few visits she would come out and meow at them for attention. She preferred Chrom to anyone else, curling up in his lap and purring loudly.
But sometimes he liked to walk in the closest park to him and glance at any of the dogs that passed by with a childlike adoration. He would be trying to study but sometimes he longed for a dog, causing him to stare and smile at any dog who passed and turned it’s head towards him on the street.
There were two black dogs that seemed to be curious about him, constantly tugging on their leashes and leaving their owner to struggle slightly to sniff at him. He’s always wanted to reach out and pet them but their owner would call them back and tug softly before giving him a smile. It wouldn’t have mattered anyways, whether the owner pulled them back or not since he was hesitant to touch the dogs. Chrom figured the owner wouldn’t appreciate it if he did.
Their owner was a different story entirely, not only were the two dogs he walked were adorable but the owner himself was just eye-catching. With white hair that seemed to fall softly around his face and an easy smile that Chrom just found charming. He never bothered to talk to him though, just like with petting his dogs, Chrom was hesitant to approach him.
It seemed that whenever Chrom was there, the dogs and their owner was there too. He figured it was a walking schedule but surely the owner must’ve had several routes in the park. Chrom thought that maybe he just preferred that route to all others.
It wasn’t like he minded, he got to see a cute dog owner and two cute dogs whenever he was there. Of course, he wouldn’t pet the dogs. He thought that Lucina might get jealous if he did, he wasn’t sure about her standpoint on dogs but having an angry cat wouldn’t be the best for him since she was so testy.
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Chrom figured that since it was cold outside that he should stay inside, to avoid a cold or just for the sake of being comfortable while he studied. Despite the idea of being comfortable and warm, Chrom decided to face the briskness outside and sit in his usual spot. It was going to be his last chance to study outside till the spring, so he wanted to enjoy it while he could.
That’s why he was sitting with his long legs tucked up and a book balancing on his thighs as he leaned against the trunk of a tree. Chrom was glad that it wasn’t windy outside, making sure his pages and papers stayed where they needed to. There wasn’t to much homework for him to do, since he did the majority in whatever downtime he found in the past week.
It was about 20 minutes into when he sat down that he heard barking and a voice yelling; “Morrigan! Morgan! Come here!” the voice wasn’t to deep, but deep enough for Chrom to presume a masculine presenting person behind it.
A black furred blur almost ran past him but Chrom managed to lurch forward and grab onto the leash as fast as he could. The dog skidded to a stop, whining that it’s mad dash was interrupted. He glanced down at his stuff, relieved to see that it hadn’t been knocked down far away or ruined. Chrom sighed in relief, looking back at the dog which was still trying to pull on the leash.
“Sit?” the order sounded more like a question than a command, but the dog sat down anyways, looking at him. The dog panted, staring at Chrom almost accusingly for interrupting its run. He pet the dog gently, “Good… boy?” when the dog wagged it’s tail at his unsure statement, he continued to pet it with another “Good boy,” more sure this time.
The dog seemed to be calming down, less eager to leave and start running again. After a few minutes, the sounds of feet jogging and paws hitting the ground made Chrom pick up his head and stop paying attention to the dog that was now on his back. Chrom was met with the site of the cute dog owner and the other black, almost identical black dog he owned. The white-haired male was panting just slightly, a small flush in his face.
Chrom wondered how long he was chasing after his dogs.
“There you are, Morgan,” he seemed visibly relieved and Chrom stood from his kneeling position. He handed the shorter man the leash. “Thank you, I wasn’t sure where he ran off to. Him and Morrigan just ran off on their own and…” he seemed flustered, and Chrom could understand why.
Chasing after two, rather large newfies was probably exhausting and nerve racking. Especially when you were the presumed owner of the two dogs.
The man shifted the leashes, holding one and stepping on the other. He glanced down at the dogs, as if to glare at them into staying and not running off again. He looked back up at Chrom, a small smile playing at his lips.
“I’m Robin, by the way, I see you around here a lot and figured I should introduce myself since these two devils seem interested in you,” he glanced back down at the dogs for a moment, affection filling his eyes, “Thanks for capturing Morgan, by the way,” Robin stuck out his right hand.
Chrom returned the small smile, shaking Robin’s right hand. “Chrom, it’s nice to meet you,” Morgan--the boy dog he presumed--nudged the palm of his left hand curiously.
Glancing at Chrom’s stuff and then glancing back at Chrom, Robin released his hand. “You know, there are better, warmer stuff to do homework than the cold ground.” Chrom smiled, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly while petting Morgan, who was clearly asking for his attention.
“I guess there is, but it’s my last chance to really sit outside and study before it gets really cold,” Chrom shrugged.
Robin hummed, picking the leash under his foot back into his hand. “I guess it is,” Robin watched him pet Morgan. “He likes you, Morrigan seems to find something about you interesting to sniff though,” Robin returned his attention on Chrom. The small smile was cuter up close, Chrom decided.
“She’s probably smelling cat,” at that, Robin’s smile fell just slightly.
“Oh, you’re a cat person,” there was a glint in Robin’s eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched as he tried to be serious. Chrom tried to stop his smile from widening a fraction, but failed when Robin’s mock seriousness failed.
Chrom stopped petting Morgan, who tried to lick at his hand. Morrigan was now trying to receive Chrom’s affection as well. “You’re dogs seem to like me a lot, would you really stop them from liking such a mean, grumpy cat person?” Chrom joked, petting Morrigan this time.
“I suppose I can’t stop you’re r vile ways, next time you might turn them into cats,” Robin was grinning by then.
“Next time?” Chrom blinked at Robin, stopping his affections to Morrigan. “I thought a dog person like you would resist taking a cat person’s number,” Chrom was already searching for his phone.
“How could I resist letting these two see someone who’s clearly deprived of a dog's love?”