Caleb hauls the trash bag into the garbage bin with a sigh, turning on his heels to go back inside, when he stops in his tracks.
Following the mewling sounds, he creeps towards the nearby bushes, crouching down. "Kitty? C'mon out, it's okay," he says softly, gently patting the concrete driveway.
From the bushes, a kitten emerges. It's nothing more than a white ball of fluff with piercing blue eyes. It runs clumsily right up to him, screaming at the top of its little lungs as it butts its head into his hand.
After a quick Internet search on his phone, he determines she's a girl. She fits perfectly in his hand, but underneath all the matted, dirty fur, she's far too skinny.
"Let's get you all cleaned up, sweet girl," he murmurs, all plans for the day instantly abandoned.
"Caleb," Sylus says as he finds him at the kitchen sink, arm-deep in water with a screaming, sopping, soapy kitten splashing everywhere. Groggy from sleep, he rubs his eyes, just to make sure he's seeing this properly.
"Mornin'," Caleb replies. Sylus raises an eyebrow. "What're lookin' at?"
"Are we not going to address the elephant in the room? Sweetie, I thought we already had a kitten."
"Look at her sweet face!" Caleb exclaims, holding her up. "I found her in the bushes outside. I wasn't just gonna abandon her."
"Of course not." Sylus yawns, moving past him to grab a cup of coffee. "Well, do you need me to purchase anything for her?"
Later, the front door opens, and at that moment, the exploring kitten rounds the corner. A shriek follows, and Caleb leaps off the couch.
"A monster's invaded our house!" Rafayel yells, his car keys and bag dropped on the ground. The kitten, unaffected by the noise, hops over to him. Rafayel presses himself against the wall. "Caleb, why are you just standing there? It's hunting me!"
Caleb chuckles, picking her up. "She's harmless, Raffy. I found her outsuide. Surely you couldn't leave a sweet little girl like her out on the curb, hm?"
With two pairs of puppy dog eyes, one from the monster and one from the love of his life, Rafayel folds. For now.
Within minutes of Zayne coming home from a stressful overtime shift, he's curled up on the couch with her on his chest, purring loudly.
"I have the day off tomorrow. I'll take her to the vet," he says, soft enough to not wake her, even though she doesn't seem bothered by any noise. Which is a relief, considering their house isn't exactly quiet. He looks at her with such adoration. Should Caleb be jealous?
"Kitty!" you squeal upon returning home, rushing over to the kitten still on Zayne's lap, eagerly scratching under her chin, while Xavier kneels beside you, scratching behind her ears. "Oh my, you're the sweetest little thing! You're never leaving."
"We're going to take so many naps together," Xavier whispers, eyes sparkling.
"We're not keeping her," Rafayel insists with a frown.
You and Caleb share a glance. You're gonna make Rafayel like this cat.
You shouldn't be surprised that within a minute of Valko arriving home, they're roughhousing. He lays on the rug, the kitten climbing all over him, nipping at his fluffy ears, attacking his wagging tail, and chewing on his fingers.
He walks away with teeth marks on his hands, and he's never been happier. It's not a surprise—you've seen worse marks on him after a family reunion.
By the end of the night, Sylus has already filled your home with everything a kitten may need. Two litter boxes, an excessive amount of food, scratching posts, and the equivalent of an entire aisle's worth of toys.
And to Rafayel's annoyance, that night, she curls up in between Zayne and Caleb in bed, getting all the rest she needs after a rough life out on the streets.
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