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“Oh, it’s supposed to rain soon,” Milena says, looking down at her phone. Beside her, Lambert makes a nose of acknowledgement. “Bluebell will be in the reading nook by the time we get back, no doubt.”
Her arm tightens around his for a moment as he laughs his agreement. “You’d think we moved into that apartment specifically for her to fucking do so.”
The couple walks on in contented silence, the sounds of Sgian-dubh’s collar jingling merrily and the ambient noise of the city fill in what their voices do not. True, the sky was starting to turn grayer by the minute, but Milena could not find it in her to worry too much about the rain. Mainly because they were near the tail-end of their walk; the Malamute was starting to fatigue, and she knew that once Sgian-dubh was ready to rest, they ought to be near their apartment. In fact, Sgian-dubh was walking so easily with them, not pulling on his lead at the sight of the pigeons that appeared and disappeared at a movement’s notice. This meant, however, that Lambert’s grip on the leash was lax as well.
And when a black streak of animal ran past them, Sgian-dubh’s leash slips right out of his hands as their dog chases it. Milena and Lambert stay frozen in their spots for half a beat before the two of them take off, following their dog. Lambert outstrips her soon enough, something she was expecting. But soon another voice appears, shouting, “Bichuwa! Bichuwa, heel!”
Milena turns around and sees a man running towards her with a broken leash in his hand, his hair held back by a headband of some sort. He is rather handsome, from what she can tell, as he soon passes her, too. The eye patch, she thinks, adds to his rakish look. His dark skin contrasted well with the silver jewelry and green button-down he wore. Upon realizing she’s falling behind the two men and two dogs, Milena picks up her pace, hurrying after her partner and the other man. She is relieved to see that, when she finally does reach them, that both her partner and their dog are alright. The other man is frantically apologizing, gripping the collar-harness of his dog.
“I cannot express enough how sorry I am about that,” he says. “Bichuwa likes to go her own way,” he throws a look at the dog. She’s staring up at him, tongue lolling out as she pants lightly. “She doesn’t normally go racing away from me.”
Lambert has his typical scowl on, but Milena can see that he’s just as taken aback at the other’s handsomeness as she. When the silence begins to stretch, she jumps into the conversation.
“I’m Milena, and this is Lambert. We were reaching the end of our walk, anyway, so you don’t need to worry too much about all this,” she says, waving her hand in the air between them. The man rubs the back of his neck, still clearly embarrassed at the situation. The silver bracelets on his arm jingle brightly at the motion.
“Ah,” he says, “still. My name is Aiden.” He holds out his hand, the rings catching the light that made it through the cloud covering. “Lovely to meet the pair of you.”
Milena shakes his hand with a smile, and it seems by then that Lambert regains his bearings. He also shakes Aiden’s hand and then jerks his head at their dog. “This’s Sgian-dubh.”
While Aiden properly greets their boy, Milena looks around and sees that they are across the street from their building. “It appears we are much closer to the end of our walk than I had thought, my love.”
Lambert takes his eyes off Aiden and the way that Bichuwa is greeting Sgian-dubh, and flicks his eyes about as well. “Fuck,” he says, casually. “Nice fucking coincidence, that.”
Aiden breaks away from the two dogs and looks at herself and Lambert quizzically. “You live there? In Kaer Morhen?”
Her beloved’s eyes narrow in suspicion. “Why do you ask?”
“I,” Aiden blinks a few times and shakes his head as if in disbelief. “I live there, too.”
Milena laughs, “Oh, my! How have we not yet crossed paths?”
“Moved in with my sister, my brother, and my brother-in-law earlier this month,” Aiden explains. He looks at the building and then back at the couple, his silence asking if they all wanted to cross now. She and Lambert share a look before nodding, and the three humans and two dogs make their way across the street and into the building.
Milena had been thinking about Aiden’s words regarding his living situation, and is still chewing on it as they get on the elevator. And after they pass a floor or two, it hits her, how she knows him. Or, well, of him. Without thinking about it, her hand grips Lambert’s arm in excitement. “They’re the new tenants that Eskel had been telling us about over that one dinner!”
Recognition lights in Lambert’s eyes, and he turns to Aiden, ever-present scowl less scowl-y. “You’re the ones that Triss almost had an indecency complaint filed against. Fucking hilarious, that. She had only given a shit about what the two men were doing because Zia was with her. ‘Therwise she would’ve just rolled her eyes and huffed at them.” His scowl turns into a smile. “Best fucking dinner ever. Geralt’s face was fantastic.”
Aiden gave a tentative smile, as if he wasn’t quite sure he could or not. “I’m assuming that those two men were Cedric and Axel… They’re not exactly known for their subtleties in affection in our family.”
Lambert snorts. “Aye, but your sister seems to be. Only knew she and Oliwia were fu-” He looks at Milena and amended his words, “courting because Livi let slip that Dragonfly was designing matching tattoos for their, fucking uh whatsit, their two-year anniversary or something.”
Milena has no issue, really, with Lambert saying that Livi and Dragonfly are fucking, but she knows their feelings run deeper than that, and, well, she does love courting and the things that come with it. So, she appreciates her beloved changing what he said for her benefit, though it was unnecessary.
Aiden lets out a laugh at that. “Dragonfly clings to Oliwia like, like, like a kitten does to its tail. I’ve never thought about what they’re like outside of home. This is wonderful news, and I cannot wait to use it against my sister.” Bichuwa lets out a snuffle as if to show her agreement in Aiden’s delight. Sgian-dubh briefly lifts his head from where it rested across Milena’s sneakers at the noise, before settling back down. Aiden looks at the little display over the door and says, rather disheartened, “Ah, I’m off at this next floor.” Bichuwa stands again and prances in place a little bit.
“Well,” Lambert starts awkwardly, bringing a wave of affection once again across her heart, “if you’d like to take the dogs out together again, can’t find it an awful idea.”
“We’re on the eleventh floor,” Milena continues, “apartment eleven thirty. You are most welcome to drop by.”
Aiden smiles, the cloaked sadness he had wearing away. “I might just take you up on that, Milena.” The elevator stops with a three-note signal, and the doors open. “Thank you, and I’m glad to know little Livi’s friends are good people.” He looks down at Bichuwa and clicks his tongue, and the two of them walk off, doors closing all too soon.
“Well, that was…” Milena starts, trying to parse her thoughts together.
“Fucking interesting,” Lambert finishes, running a hand through his bright, long, red hair.
“Yes,” she agrees, “fucking interesting is, I think, the best way to describe it.”
He pulls her into a kiss, smiling at the little giggle she lets out. “D’you think he’ll take us up on the offer?”
She takes a breath, holding it for a few seconds, before letting it out again as the elevator stops at their floor, the three notes sounding. “I very much hope he will, love.”