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savemyempire · 6 days ago

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absolutely love this and Colby's personality describes one of my sweet kitties almost to a T. He is nearly 3 and still is not a fan of loud noises. I attribute it to being found next to a major interstate at 4 weeks old and all of that noise from traffic is triggering. This little guy would be happy if I could hold him and carry him around 24/7.

Joe coming home with that kitten and wifey’s reaction 👀

(I lowkey feel like their communication style is too healthy for a surprise as big as a pet, but let me dream)

author's note⠀⁎⠀fluff, this forced me to actually sit down, research, and do what i said i'd do like a month ago lol.

read more⠀⁎⠀joe burrow masterlist / series masterlist.

Every year, the organization partnered with a local shelter for an Adoption Day held at Paycor. Most years, Joe didn’t pay it much mind. He stopped by to show face, smiled that tight-lipped smile for a few photos, and got out before any of the animals could tug at his heartstrings.

It was never the right time for any attachments. If he wasn’t injured one year, there was too much going on the next. Year 6 was decidedly different from his previous years in the league. This was only his second off-season without an injury to rehab or a random chance emergency appendix removal. His first was spent turning his home into our home after successfully convincing his girlfriend to move in with him.

This year, this second year, had awarded Joe the luxury of being settled. There were no plans of moving houses. No pressure to start a new routine. No anxieties about contracts and extensions. For the first time in a long time, Joe felt like he could breathe. And maybe that was why a furry little face stuck in his mind.

Adoption Day started the same way it always did. A quick detour after leaving the practice fields, a few photos for the team’s social media, and a few words of approval for the good work the shelter was doing. There was no plan to be stopped in his tracks by a tiny orange kitten that seemed to have been painted with the same brush that colored sunsets. But any plan to let his cleats hit the pavement and turn over his shoulder towards the showers was derailed the moment he looked into wide, green eyes.

Orange, burnt orange, and white swirled together, giving way to a white belly and the softest fur Joe had ever felt. The kitten was so small it could easily fit in the palm of his hand. And when it mewed at him, those big eyes blinking up at his face, Joe felt something in his chest tighten.

“His name is Colby,” the shelter employee dressed in a sky blue polo shirt with a nametag that read ‘Sarah’ told Joe with a warm smile. Colby purred contentedly in his arms, his tiny paws playing with Joe’s thumb. He noticed she was whispering, keeping close enough to not startle the kitten.

“He’s a domestic short hair, born right here in the shelter. We picked up his mom and two siblings. We couldn’t keep them together, though, since they’ve all been adopted. He was a single kitten-birth, so we’ve been waiting for him to get strong enough to go home with a good family.”

“How old—” Joe started to ask before he was cut off by the startled kitten jumping away from his voice.

“Two months. He’s a little shy, easily startled by loud noises, but he’s super affectionate with those he trusts,” Sarah explained, her voice still soft. “He’s come a long way from when he first arrived, but we’re hoping to find him a quiet home where he won’t be overwhelmed.”

Joe nodded, stroking the kitten’s fur. He always considered himself a cat guy. Dogs were nice for a few minutes, but he didn’t have the energy for a full-time commitment. Pets in general seemed like a future thing, something to do once his football career had wound down and the house was filled with more than just the two of them.

“He seems to like you,” Sarah commented, watching Colby accept the scratches behind his ear with a soft purr.

“No one’s considered him?” Joe asked curiously, watching as Colby leaned into his touch.

“He’s been picked up a few times, but when things get loud or hectic, he gets nervous and withdraws. So most families with kids pass over him,” Sarah replies. “He’s not aggressive, but he likes his alone time, likes gentle whispers and soft strokes.”

True to her word, when a group of DBs passed by, their laughter echoing through the corridor, Colby froze in Joe’s hands, his body tightening until the noise passed.

Joe’s head turned at the sight of Bryce, a new member of the social media team, approaching with his phone outstretched. He knew the drill. A few pictures, some videos for content, and then he’d be on his way. After Bryce gave him a thumbs up, Joe reached out an arm, stopping the new admin in his tracks to quietly ask, “Could you do me a favor and send me those pics?”

Bryce nodded, a confused smile playing at his lips as he sent the photos over. Joe had never asked for photos of himself before, but he didn’t question it. “Messages okay?” he asked, sending them through once he saw Joe nod.

Almost took this lil guy home

Joe texted his girlfriend once he finally pulled himself away to head to the locker room. He attached the photos taken by Bryce, the kitten nestled into the crook of his arm, eyes closed in comfortable ease. He didn’t expect much of a response. Maybe a cute remark or an emoji reaction. But what he received was a flurry of texts.

Look at that face :(

She texted back almost immediately, her heart melting at the sight of the tiny kitten snuggled up to Joe.

Wish we could take him home

They’d talked about getting a pet before, but, much like their late-night conversations about children, it never went further than hypotheticals. She had no preference between dogs and cats, but Joe had always leaned towards the latter. They had interacted with the pets of family and friends on occasion, but those conversations never dipped into the realm of reality.

But the reality was that Joe had never seen such a perfect fit. Colby was shy. He liked his space, but when it came to the right person, he was all love. If the idea of your pet being the one to choose you had any truth to it, Joe was choosing to believe Colby had chosen him. And if Colby had chosen him, then there was no doubt in his mind that he would choose her, too.

He reread her message a few times, chewing on his bottom lip, hesitating before he pulled the trigger.

Do you mean that Like actually

Her response came swiftly.

Yeah

If you’re open to it

His fingers tapped at his phone case, contemplating her words. Could they? Should they?

I have meetings until 4 If you think you can get here before they pack up to leave, maybe it’s worth a shot?

Joe texted back. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but the idea of bringing Colby home was already starting to feel like fate.

Do you think it’s realistic to expect he won’t be adopted by then??

Maybe not? But if he’s still here when you get here you should try it out and see if you like him as much as I do

Joe encouraged her, though he tried to keep his expectations in check.

Between the drive, locating a pet store, and picking out a carrier, she arrived at Paycor with the clock ticking down. Her hope continued to spark as every step fell perfectly in line. She spotted a group of Bengals personnel near a banner, gathered around to speak with a few fans attending the event as it wound down.

“Cheyanne!” she called out, flagging down the strawberry blonde woman who smiled upon recognizing her.

“I knew he fell in love with that kitten, but I didn’t think he’d have you drive all this way to do something about it,” Cheyanne joked, bringing her in for a brief hug, already reading the urgency in her eyes.

“It feels right,” she said earnestly as she followed the employee over to the shelter area. The area was quieter now, the bustle of the event winding down, leaving a few lingering families looking over the animals that hadn’t yet found homes. Cheyenne led her over to a uniformed shelter employee, exchanging a few words that had the woman smiling before she turned to her.

“Hi, I’m Sarah, you must be Dr. L/N,” she said warmly. “Your boyfriend was absolutely smitten with Colby. Would you like to take a look at him? See how you two hit it off?”

Colby looked up at the sound of their approach, his green eyes locking onto her with an intensity that took her breath away. Sarah bent down to unlock the cage, and as she reached in to retrieve him, Colby reluctantly allowed himself to be picked up, his tiny body tense. She slowly offered her hand out to him, letting him sniff and explore before he cautiously gave into her touch, purring when her fingers scratched the right spot behind his ear.

“There you go,” Sarah cooed softly, shifting the kitten into her arms. The warmth of Colby’s tiny body immediately began to melt her heart. “He’s such a sweetheart, isn’t he?”

“He is,” she murmured, feeling the gentle vibrations of his purr against her skin. Colby’s eyes remained shut, trusting in the new, gentle touch. “Hi, Colby,” she whispered, her voice as warm as she could muster. “We’re gonna take you home today. Does that sound alright?”

The kitten’s purr grew stronger, his tiny body relaxing into her embrace enough for his tail to swish against her arm. It was a sign. She knew it in her bones.

“I think he likes that idea,” Sarah said with a knowing smile as she watched Colby nestle into her arms. The kitten had made his decision, and now it was up to her to make hers.

“What are the next steps?” she asked, tenderly cradling Colby to her chest as she glanced at the watch on her wrist.

Sarah led her to a small table laden with paperwork. “First, we’ll need to fill out an adoption form. Nothing too crazy, just the usual details about your home environment and what you can offer him. Then you can pay the adoption fee, and we’ll go over the basics of care with you,” she explained.

She nodded, her heart racing as she took a seat and began to fill out the forms. Colby remained calm in his carrier, peeking out occasionally as she answered questions about their home and lifestyle. The adoption process was straightforward, and before she knew it, she was signing her name at the bottom of the last page. The fee barely registered between her peeks at their soon-to-be new family member.

Once the paperwork was done, Sarah took her aside and began explaining the basics of caring for a kitten, especially one as young and timid as Colby. He was eating solid foods, litter trained, and had all his shots. He would need some time to acclimate to his new home. She recommended a small, quiet space where Colby could feel safe and secure before venturing out into the rest of the house.

The shelter had packed up a starter kit for them, which included a bag of food, a small litter box, and a couple of toys to keep him entertained. With the last of the fans and players leaving, the shelter employees began to dismantle the makeshift adoption center. She thanked Sarah for her help and gently placed Colby in the passenger seat, the blanket she had picked up from the pet store cushioning his sealed carrier.

Taking him home! 💞

She texted Joe, attaching a photo of Colby tucked away safely in his carrier, curled in his new blanket.

Joe’s response came soon after, as if he were waiting for the final confirmation.

Hell yeah I can’t wait to get home to you two

A few hours later, he arrived to an almost silent home. The living room was dimly lit from the light that spilled over from the kitchen. He wandered in to find her sitting in one of the smaller rooms in the house, one they slowly built into a reading nook. She’d set it up like a sanctuary for Colby, with a litter box in one corner, a water bowl in another, a cozy carrier with a soft blanket that served as his temporary bed, his food bowl, and a couple of toys scattered around. The room was quiet, with only the occasional purr breaking the stillness.

“Hey,” Joe called out, his voice low and gentle as he didn’t want to startle the newest member of their family. She looked up from her book, pressing her index finger to her mouth. Her chin tilted up as she puckered her lips for a silent kiss.

“He’s still getting used to everything,” she whispered as Joe took a seat behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She leaned back into him, placing her hand on his exposed knee, feeling his chin rest on her shoulder. Together, they watched as Colby padded around the room, stopping to sniff at the unfamiliar smells and sights.

“I’m surprised he’s not hiding under the coffee table,” Joe murmured, his voice filled with affectionate amusement.

She released a breathy laugh. “He was shy at first, but I think it’s quieter here than it was at the stadium. He’s getting brave.” She leaned her head back against Joe’s shoulder, feeling the warmth of his embrace. His lips kissed a line from the tip of her shoulder up the side of her neck, holding her as close as possible.

“Look at us. We’re fuckin’… parents now,” Joe whispered in her ear, humming softly as he felt her turn her head to peck at his cheek.

“Don’t use that language around my son,” she teased, her words muffled by his lips pressing against hers, gentle, sweet love in a moment that was already so filled with it.

“Your son?” Joe laughed, his breath warm against her cheek.

“I thought I’d at least have a ring before we started popping out kids,” she quipped, a playful smirk curling her lips. Joe laughed at that; an impulsive, full-bodied sound that filled the room. It was a sound that Colby seemed to enjoy, evident from the way he carefully slinked over to them, his curiosity piqued.

“Well, accidents happen,” Joe shrugged, his attention already shifting to Colby as he tentatively crawled into her lap. The first little mewl that passed through his little mouth was met with an instant duet of doting coos from both humans. The kitten looked up at them with those wide, green eyes, reaching out a paw to playfully swipe at Joe’s finger.

Colby seemed to bask in this gentle attention under the warm lights of the room. His slow ease only reinforced that pattering at both of their hearts, tugging and wrapping tightly around the idea that this was it—this, he, was theirs.

#love these two and now a little family of three #joe burrow #joe burrow fanfic #&. joe x doctor!reader: blurbs.#such a cute and well written

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