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It was late on a cold night, and it was drizzling gently. The group of four friends were returning from a local fast-food cafe, not really minding the light rain. Even so, Piers Nivans snuggled into his scarf. It’s hecking cold, he thought. He didn’t bring any other warm clothing, at least he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt.
The Redfield siblings, Chris and Claire, kept talking about how they are finally going to live apart, but they were both happy. Chris was happy. A new life with the person he loves in Southern California is all he had planned, and his sister didn’t hesitate to help with the move. Merah Biji, Piers’ best friend, also came without thinking twice. She wants him to have the best life possible, and she used her vacation to help them out, but she’ll need to get back to Raccoon City the next day. Vacations are short and she didn’t want Captain Enrico picking on her.
After Merah threw her soda cup in the trash, a noise sounded not far away. Not a noise but a cry. A cry for help and love. Merah put her hands in her jacket pockets and looked back at her friends, who had also stopped because of the sound. Piers looked right to left without moving his head and lifted his scarf, covering his mouth.
“Did you hear that?” asked Claire, rubbing her hands together.
“It was definitely a meow,” Chris answered. He wore a fluffy poof ball hat, which Piers gifted him last Christmas. It has become his favorite beanie since then.
Piers pointed to a cardboard box lying in an alley near where the group was. In a low, sleepy tone, he said:
“I think it came from there.”
With gentle steps, the group walked slowly towards the box and found a tiny creature, its fur darker than the cold night. The cub meowed in despair upon noticing the presence of curious eyes.
“Oh, my God. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Merah, putting her hands on her knees and leaning forward. “Where’s your momma?”
Chris snuggled into his black overcoat, with sadness on his face.
“Poor thing, it must be starving and freezing.”
“We can’t leave it here, or it will die!” Claire approached the cat, but it growled aggressively in utter despair. “Whoa, looks like it’s a mad one.”
Piers spread his weight between his legs. He just wanted to take a nice hot shower and sleep for at least half a day, the end of the move left him totally exhausted and there were still a few boxes to unpack. He was so tired he wasn’t even so excited about the poor kitten.
“It needs a home,” Merah said. The kitty growled at her too. “And, for someone who has just started a new life, I think a tiny partner is completely necessary.”
“You went insightful,” responded Claire.
“I thought about that too, Merah,” said Chris, stepping closer to Piers. He held his hands the same way he does when he is going to ask for something. “What do you think, babe? Do you want to raise this kitten with me?”
Piers’ cheeks flushed. What? A cat? Me? Many questions ran through his head, but, in answer, he just closed his eyes slowly. The responsibility is not that big, he has raised several cats from his childhood to adolescence, but this was completely sudden. The move is not even over yet and already thinking about adoption? Piers did not want to have to make this decision, but he also felt afraid for the poor little thing crying for his life.
“Why are you asking me?” It was Piers’ answer. “If you want it, go ahead.”
Chris knows Piers doesn’t know how to handle decisions, and it didn’t bother him.
“We are moving in together, Piers. We will need to make decisions together if we wanna have a healthy relationship. This is all new to me too, I’m used to sharing the same decisions as Claire, but everything will change, and I need you to answer this first and simple question: will you accept to raise this kitten with me?”
Piers’ cheeks flushed again. He hates it when Chris acts romantically with him, especially with friends around. He approached the kitten and the crying stopped, but it didn’t growl either. This time, it meowed affectionately and rubbed his tiny head in the hand Piers held out towards it.
“It liked you,” commented Merah, smiling. “I think it is a boy.”
Sharp little claws dug into Piers’ sleeve, and the tiny cat climbed like a professional climber. Chris enjoyed watching the scene and smiled. The kitten reached Piers’ shoulder and rubbed its tiny face against the big man’s cheek, then it snuggled into his warm scarf, purring, and closed its eyes.
“Meow,” meowed the kitten.
Claire took advantage of the fact that the cub was quiet and stroked its messy fur.
“Aww, what a cute little thing,” she said. “It such loves you.”
Chris hugged his beloved, kissing his dew-covered hair.
“As I do.”
Piers smiled and stroked its fur as well. Suddenly, an enthusiasm for fathering a new kitten rose in his chest. He took off his scarf and wrapped the sleeping kitten, protecting it from the rain, that began to get stronger. Chris didn’t want Piers to catch a cold, so he removed his warm overcoat and draped it over Piers’ shoulders. It won’t make much of a difference since he was wearing a sweater underneath.
“We’re gonna be great parents,” said Piers. “What do you think of Miles?”
“Perfect,” Merah replied. “It suits the knight he is.”
Chris is happy for Piers’ enthusiasm.
“I will love whatever name you choose.”
Chris lifted his lover’s head and gently kissed his rain-soaked lips. Piers ran his fingers through Chris’ beard and they both smiled graciously, but the rain got even more stronger, and the group decided to run, the apartment wasn’t that far away. Merah insisted on carry the cub in her arms, delighted by its purr.
As they ran, Piers began to imagine a happy life in the not-too-distant future — just the three of them, living and loving forever.
However, a year late, Piers finds himself cornered with the house all in a mess and the crumb of pillows falling eternally on all sides. His arms bitten, his face scratched, and his white shirt covered in black fur. And all this because the cat refused to take a tiny flea pill.
When Chris comes home, he bursts out laughing.
“Don’t. Say. A word.” Piers is clearly furious.
“Honey, you definitely knows how to be a crazy cat dad.”
He approaches his lover and kisses his cheek, right where Miles left a slight scratch. Piers blows his breath and looks at his cat, who stares back at him just like a statue from the top of a kitchen cabinet.
“I hate you two.”
But deep down inside, Piers loved them heavily, and he wouldn’t know how to live without them.