“Got the puppy as soon as I could…Happy birthday darlin! And Happy Valentine’s day. Hawhaw…this is gonna be a lil’ interestin’ tuh git used tuh.”

[Submitted by Ask-Keith]

Riggs’s fluffed tail wagged with cheerful anticipation as Keith carried him into the house, intelligent eyes flicking back and forth as the clever puppy took in his surroundings. The canary yellow of his collar fits well around a scruffy neck, the personalized tag draped from its band glittering in the living room lighting. The blanketing scent of the roses - fresh like spring and crisp like winter - greet the first startled breath Ellis draws through slightly flared nostrils, happy surprise dousing his cheeks in pink. 

“Aw, Keith,” the brunette says lamely, mouth shifting nervously like his smile is too shy to break through. The puppy kicks its feet at Keith’s arm, wanting down to explore its new surroundings with shrewd interest. Instead of freedom, it gets Ellis’s arms wrapping around Keith’s torso, careful of the dog and the roses both as he toes up to kiss Keith across the mouth, crooning wordlessly against his scarred lips. 

Riggs cocks his head, sneaking a sharp-toothed nibble at the plastic film wrapping the roses. 

“Happy Valentine’s Day, babe,” Ellis agrees, nuzzling his nose along Keith’s without his hat obscuring the gesture. “Thank ya s’much… m’happy tuh call yew mine, Valentine~” He laughs, short of breath and bashful, and kisses his boyfriend again.

Riggs nibbles through the plastic and into the stem of a rose before Keith catches him at it.