Overtake • F1 One Shots

man's best friend • george russell

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"We don't have time for a puppy." George remained firm, trying not to look into his girlfriend's eyes, otherwise he would cave.

"But why can't we look?" He had always admired her persistence, the way that she had always preserved but right now? It was exasperating in the worst way.

"Because." He groaned, hating that they had been having this conversation for what felt like an eternity. "If we go look, we'll bring one home."

She grinned, he knew that had been her plan. He was only human, if he saw a puppy, saw how happy the puppy made her — he would have no choice but to adopt them.

"The shelter is right here, let's go." And before George could protest, she was tugging him across the street to the animal shelter nestled on the corner.

George hovered in the doorway as Gracie talked to a volunteer before making her way back to the dogs, averting his gaze to all of the dogs desperate to find a new home. It wasn't that he didn't want to give one of these dogs a home, he just really didn't have the time to devote to a dog. It wouldn't be fair to the dog to basically live at a boarding facility.

"Excuse me, sir." A young voice forced George to look up. "A few kittens got out of their enclosure and I was wondering if you could help me catch them."

"Of course." George couldn't help but smile at the girl, she couldn't be more than 12.

She motioned for him to follow, so he followed her into a big room with an enclosure in the middle. Nearly half a dozen kittens were running around the outside, tussling with each other.

George couldn't help but grin, they were so tiny and so cute.

"See, I like kittens more than puppies." The young girl, Elizabeth as her name tag read, broke the silence.

"Why's that?" George bent down, scooping up one of the kittens. The brown tiger striped kitten instantly nuzzled under his chin.

"They're a lot less work." Elizabeth shrugged. "With puppies you have to potty train and take them on walks. It's exhausting." George couldn't help but chuckle at her exasperated eye roll. "And adult cats are even easier. As long as there's food and a litter box, they're happy."

"Really?" The wheels turned in his head. He knew his sister or his mother would be more than happy to drop by and make sure the car was fed.

She nodded as they finished rounding up the rest of the kittens. "Do you want to see the cats?" She asked when they were done.

George found himself nodding — this could be the perfect compromise. It's not a puppy but it's still a pet, a much less demanding pet.

"We have twelve cats." Elizabeth introduced. "What would you want in a cat?"

George's eyes widened, he hadn't even thought about his ideal cat. "Something low maintenance?" He offered. "A cat that likes to travel." He added as a joke.

Elizabeth's eyes lit up. "Perry would be perfect." Elizabeth squinted at the enclosure that the adult cats were lazing around in. "Perry loves car rides, I would even bet he would love plane rides." She winked, signifying that she recognized him.

George chuckled, he could only imagine the teasing he would get if he brought a cat with him to the track but when Elizabeth presented Perry — all fifteen pounds of him, George wasn't sure he cared.

Mostly black with white patches, Perry had huge round eyes and a calm demeanor — evidenced by the way he flopped onto his back, waiting for George to pet him.

"Oh." He murmured, bending down and petting Perry's soft fur.

"Well I guess we should go." Grace's impatient voice rang behind him. "Since there's no way we're getting a puppy."

"Look at him, G." George motioned for his girlfriend to get a look at him. "Elizabeth said cats are low maintenance and Perry likes car rides."

"You want to get a cat?" Grace crouched next to George. "I didn't even know you liked cats."

George shrugged. Truth be told, he hadn't either. But when Perry looked up at George with his big eyes, he felt his heart ooze love.

He couldn't leave this shelter without Perry.

"Do you think they'd even let me adopt him?" George asked Elizabeth. "I do travel a lot but I can make the necessary accommodations, no matter what they happen to be."

Elizabeth grinned and nodded. "I think I can pull a few strings."

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"Is there really a cat on this plane?" Lando let out his signature laugh as he boarded the plane.

George couldn't help but grin, "Indeed there is."

"You really brought your cat?" Alex chimed in behind Lando.

"At least Perry doesn't have his own Instagram." George shot back.

"I don't run it." Alex argued. "And besides, your account might as well be Perry's."

George stuck his tongue out before bending over to peer at Perry, who was sleeping in his cat carrier. He had been waiting for a track that he could bring Perry to and when he found one, he didn't hesitate to load him in a cat carrier and pack a whole suitcase full of his belongings too.

He hadn't realized how much he'd enjoy Perry — his calm demeanor didn't mean that he wasn't a devoted companion, which became increasingly appreciated as his relationship with Grace soured and then ended.

Grace had always told him that dogs were a man's best friend but George disagreed.

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