Requested by: @Bookk14g
Travis was known for his big heart, both on and off the field, but when he stumbled upon the tiny, trembling black puppy outside the practice facility, even he knew he was in over his head. The dog looked abandoned, cold, and hungry, with matted fur and those wide, pleading eyes that dug right into Travis's soul. His instinct kicked in—he couldn't just leave the poor thing out there.
He crouched down, extending his hand slowly toward the puppy. The little creature hesitated but eventually inched closer, sniffing at his fingers before timidly licking them. Travis's heart melted. "Hey, little buddy," he murmured, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. He couldn't help but smile. "You lost?"
There was no collar, no sign of anyone looking for it. His mind raced—Taylor was at home, probably curled up on the couch with one of her cats. Olivia, Meredith, and Benjamin ruled their household, and Taylor was undoubtedly a cat person through and through. But something about this dog felt different.
"Alright, little guy," Travis whispered, scooping the dog into his arms. "I'm not supposed to do this, but let's get you warmed up."
As he pulled into the driveway, he glanced nervously at the house. The puppy nestled into the passenger seat, its tiny body visibly relaxing as it dozed off. Travis shifted in his seat, rubbing his hands over his face. How was he going to explain this to Taylor? She wasn't just a cat person—she loved her cats. She was practically their spokesperson.
"Okay, here's the plan," Travis whispered to the puppy as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "We're just gonna sneak in, get you set up in the guest room, and figure out the rest later." The puppy blinked at him sleepily, clearly unbothered by the whole situation.
He tucked the puppy into his coat as he stepped out of the car, carefully closing the door behind him. Taylor was usually pretty absorbed in her music or reading when he came home, so maybe—just maybe—he could get away with this.
Opening the front door as quietly as possible, Travis crept through the entryway. He could hear the faint sound of Taylor's voice upstairs, singing softly along to a melody she was working on. Good. She was distracted.
He made it to the guest room, which was mostly used for storage and occasionally when family stayed over. The puppy perked up slightly, curious but still tired. Travis grabbed an old blanket from the closet, creating a little makeshift bed on the floor.
"There you go, bud," Travis said softly, setting the puppy down. "You just hang tight in here, and I'll... I'll figure this out."
The puppy, blissfully unaware of the chaos it was about to cause, curled up in the blanket, letting out a soft sigh. Travis stood there for a moment, staring down at it with a mix of pride and dread. He had a soft spot for animals, but this was uncharted territory. He wasn't a dog person—or at least, he wasn't supposed to be.
A couple of days passed, and somehow, Travis managed to keep the puppy hidden. He snuck out early in the mornings to feed it and spent his nights sitting in the guest room, playing with the little guy while Taylor was occupied with her music or her beloved cats.
But the guilt was starting to weigh on him. He couldn't keep this up forever. Sooner or later, Taylor was going to find out, and he had no idea how she was going to react. It wasn't like they needed another animal. Especially not a dog. But the puppy had grown on him—its playful little hops, the way it followed him around the room with those big, adoring eyes.
He had to tell her.
One evening, Travis came home, and the house was unusually quiet. He peered around the corner into the living room, half-expecting to see Taylor lounging with the cats. But the room was empty. His stomach tightened. Where was she?
Just as he turned toward the stairs, he heard it—soft footsteps behind him. He froze. Slowly, he turned around, only to see Taylor standing there, arms crossed, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"So..." she began, tilting her head slightly. "When exactly were you planning to tell me about the dog?"
Travis opened his mouth but no words came out. He had no defense, really. The jig was up. "Uh... it's not what it looks like?" he tried weakly, cringing the moment the words left his mouth.
Taylor raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Oh, it's exactly what it looks like." She sighed, dropping her arms and shaking her head. "I found the little guy this morning when I went to grab some old books from the guest room."
"Babe, I was gonna tell you, I swear," Travis said quickly, stepping toward her. "I found him outside the practice facility, and he looked so lost and cold... I couldn't just leave him there."
Taylor softened a bit at his words, her eyes flickering with understanding. She glanced over at the guest room, where the puppy was currently playing with an old tennis ball Travis had given it.
"You know I'm not a dog person," she said quietly.
"I know," Travis said, taking her hand. "And we've already got the cats, but... I don't know, Tay. This little guy just seemed like he needed us."
Taylor sighed again, this time with a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "You're lucky I love you so much," she said, nudging him playfully.
Travis grinned, wrapping his arms around her. "Does that mean we can keep him?"
Taylor looked up at him, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "We'll see," she teased. "But you are handling the walks and the baths."
Travis kissed her forehead, feeling a wave of relief. "Deal."
As they stood there, watching the puppy bat around the tennis ball with its little paws, Taylor leaned into Travis's chest and whispered, "What are you going to name him?"
Travis grinned. "I was thinking... Loki."
Taylor laughed softly rolling her eyes. "Of course you were."
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