Break All the Rules (LGBT) ✅

Sunday Morning 5

They first bond over kittens.

It's a Friday and he's working his shift down at the local vet surgery when the bell at the front desk rings and, since he's available, Scott goes over to answer it. He's just been cleaning out one of the cages, which isn't pretty but is necessary, so he's probably not looking great but he doesn't think he's going to see anyone he knows.

It's a surprise to be wrong.

"Hey," Isaac says, crooked grin on display, "I brought you a present."

There's a box on the counter, small and hardly warranting a second glance if not for the soft, barely audible mewls coming from it. And, now that he's looking at it, he can see that someone's poked holes through the cardboard and the flaps are pushing up and, soon enough, there's a kitten staring at him. They lock eyes for a moment and then it loses its footing and tumbles back into the box.

It might just be the most adorable thing Scott's seen all day.

"So Ethan found these guys abandoned near where he works," Isaac's saying, "and he would've taken them here himself but he just got off an eight hour shift so we made him shower and sleep. He was worried about them, though, because he's a massive softie underneath all the prickliness and I'm under strict instructions to keep him updated."

"Huh, I wouldn't have guessed."

"The twins are great once you get to know them," he says, pulling back the flaps of the box, "we've got some surprising common areas of interest. They're my second favourite people and, sometimes, they sneak me candy and pizza when I'm studying even though Jordan says that's not brain food and it won't help."

Scott's only listening with half an ear, his attention focussed on the inquisitive kitten he's picked up in his hand, and he nods along as Isaac talks. The kitten is squirming and trying to wriggle free and, with that much energy, he has no doubt that this one's healthy and a quick glance over at the other two tells him the same thing. He brings them into an exam room anyway, just to be sure, giving them a physical onceover as he checks for mites or any sign of infection.

"They're looking good," Scott says as he puts down the last kitten, going over to the sink and washing his hands, "but, for your peace of mind, you might want to come back another time and get some diagnostic tests done."

Isaac frowns, "I thought you said they were healthy."

"I can't see anything wrong with them," he agrees, "but blood and fecal matter could tell us more."

"And you can't do it now?"

"We're closing up for the evening, I wouldn't be able to fit you in."

"But what am I going to do with them?" Isaac asks, looking hopelessly lost in the face of this, "I don't know how to take care of kittens, I don't even know if I'm allowed to."

"The university's fine with it," Scott assures him, "I know that the Rho Omega sorority has two cats and you've got a whole frat of people, someone will know what to do."

"But—"

Scott takes pity on him because Isaac's a good guy and he kind of loves animals anyway, "How about I book you in an appointment? It doesn't have to mean anything, I'm not asking you to take them on forever, but it means we can be sure they're healthy and it'll help if you do decide to take them in."

"Okay," he says, nodding, "we can do that."

The appointment is an afternoon when Scott isn't working and Isaac looks uncertain at that but Scott assures him that Deaton, his boss, knows his stuff. Since Isaac wants the check up done sooner rather than later, he agrees, and it's a coincidence that, as Scott writes the details into the computer, Deaton appears in his heavy duffle coat with his scarf in his hands.